One of the ways that Texas-based tuning company Hennessey Performance keeps the company's name in the upper echelons of the automotive industry is through extensive marketing efforts surrounding each and every product on offer. From beastly twin-turbocharged versions of already potent supercars to 6x6 pickup truck conversions with four-figure horsepower stats, Hennessey always documents the before and after performance extensively. The latest video posted on Hennessey's YouTube channel reveals all the work required to swap a supercharged Hellcat V8 into the Jeep Gladiator Maximus, along with some of the additional off-roading enhancements that take the rig another step up the ladder of all-out insanity.
Ready To Rumble
From the factory, the Jeep Gladiator may be the single most trail-ready pickup truck on the market, offering all the goodies available on the iconic Wrangler but with a small pickup truck bed supported by a slightly stretched wheelbase. Hennessey has something bigger and badder in mind for the Maximus conversion, however, which stickers for $225,000 including the base truck, while offering 1,000 horsepower and 933 lb-ft of torque in an upgraded four-wheel-drive powertrain.
Pulling The Original Engine
As the new clip from Hennessey shows, the Jeep's entire body gets removed from the frame before the original engine can be fully lifted clear. Hennessey then shoehorns in the venerable FCA Hellcat V8, which has been modified with upgraded fuel injectors, upper and lower pulleys, and cooling capabilities to support the power gains made possible by modifying the factory supercharger.
Re-Assembling The Truck
After the Hellcat swap has been completed, the whole truck is reassembled before Hennessey sets about completing the various off-roading mods, which include a six-inch lift thanks to a King off-road suspension system, plus heavy-duty front and rear driveshafts, Dana 60 front and rear differentials with 4.88 gearing, and 20-inch aluminum wheels shod in BFGoodrich rubber. Once all the work has been completed, the Gladiator has been transformed into the Maximus and is ready to hit the dunes for some serious jumps to prove its newfound power and off-road supremacy.
Sources: youtube.com and hennesseyperformance.com.