Hellcat motor ‘fits like a glove’ in the Wrangler and Gladiator, says Jeep

Just like “technically correct” is

the best kind of correct

, “technically possible” is the best kind of possible. Specifically, it’s

technically possible

to slot a Hellcat crate motor into the

Jeep Wrangler

and Gladiator, as confirmed by

Jeep

brand chief Tim Kuniskis.

Speaking to Australian media last week

, Kuniskis went on to say that “everybody” keeps asking him if the supercharged, 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 fits in the

Wrangler

and Gladiator, and that the answer is yes. “It fits like a glove,” said Kuniskis. But — there is a but — the fitment is so close for comfort, it makes the combination one that Jeep can never produce.

“There’s no air space around the engine […] so you have no crush space, you have nothing that can be used to absorb energy in a crash. It’s not a problem to put it in — other than emissions and

fuel economy

— except it would never pass any

crash tests

, and that’s a problem,” as Kuniskis told

Drive

.

However, since the Hellcat is now out of the bag, it’s probably only a matter of time until hobbyists with access to these engines will start putting them into Wranglers and Gladiators. And with the time-honored piece of advice — just don’t crash into anything — it’d be a combination worth seeing and hearing. Just to throw it out there, a “Hellcrate” engine

costs less than $20,000 new

.

Kuniskis also said that Jeep is “gauging interest” for the J6 concept, one of the Easter Jeep

Safari

concepts that were just revealed. “[The J6] is just a concept at this stage. But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to gauge interest for it.” However, he said justifying its production is apparently “tough.”