AEV J8 MILSPEC – 2.8L Diesel, Military Strength, The Ultimate Platform
April 17, 2009 –
The AEV J8 MILSPEC is not only the most exclusive, but also the most durable jeep platform ever offered to the US public. Stronger frame, stronger body, stronger suspension, stronger axles, stronger brakes…the list goes on. While it may resemble its civilian cousin the Jeep Wrangler, the resemblance is merely skin deep. AEV is now offering these as component rolling chassis (the buyer is responsible for final powertrain installation) set up for either a 2.8L Diesel or a 5.7L HEMI V8. Read More…
Our J8s have the option of Green or Tan, Five Door or Three Door, and a new 2.8L VM Turbo Diesel or 5.7L HEMI V8 (using parts common with our AEV JK HEMI Kit). Check the press release page for more photos, the forum for details, and the application to reserve your extremely limited edition vehicle. No roll bar padding, no carpet, nothing other then the essentials; a real deal military vehicle.
Read the press release and see photos of the AEV J8 MILSPEC here.
Find other people interested and talking about the J8 on our forum.
Are you ready to buy? Fill out the application to reserve your limited edition military Wrangler / AEV J8 MILSPEC now.
How does its strength compare to that of a civilian-version H1 Hummer?
Comment by Brian — April 18, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
I wonder what the full specs are for this rare Jeep…
Transfer case options?
Lockers, rims, lights, your accessories, etc.
Hop-ups for the diesel motor (chips, plug-in modules, spare crate motors)
Heck, even civilize it the way they did the Hummer, but without too much bling.
Just like all off-roaders and trail heroes would do…
Comment by Samuel Kelly — April 21, 2009 @ 8:32 am
Hard to make a comparison to the H1. This is a lot smaller vehicle and in a totally different weight class. Think of the J8 as sort of a mini-3/4 ton Dodge Ram…Stronger than any other vehicle available to civilians in the weight class.
Comment by admin — April 29, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
For transfer case options we only use the 241J, the 241OR like used in the Rubicon may be offered in the future.
Yes, the J8s can be put through the other side of our conversion facility to get creature comforts, lifts, wheels, bumpers etc
We are working on hop up calibrations, its possible to get 360lb/ft out of the 2.8L(!)
Comment by admin — April 29, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
Any clue what kind of paint is used? I love the satin finish….looking to paint my TJ similar.
Comment by Joe Terrell — May 4, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
The paint is just a PGP paint with no clear coat. The colors are AEV selected.
Real military vehicles use an alkaline based paint that we don’t recommend for real road vehicles.
There are satin finish clears iirc but I don’t have any experience with them. Your paint shop should be able to tell you the pros and cons of that paint job.
Comment by admin — May 5, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
What options, if any, will you offer for a minor lift allowing 35″-37″ tires. The rear axle is leaf spring, correct? Any tricks to be offered that will get max articulation on the rear axle?
Comment by CJ Payne — May 17, 2009 @ 8:14 am
Also… any chance your licenced engine installers can do a 2.8L diesel conversion on a TJ? If not, do you have any suggestions on installing a diesel in my TJ? Or do you want to sell your left hand drive TJ?
Comment by CJ Payne — May 17, 2009 @ 8:16 am
Oh, and any idea what the price will be like for this bad boy, production run numbers, etc? A hard top option for the 3dr?
Comment by Hollowgram5 — May 28, 2009 @ 9:52 pm
One of the best jeeps ever and still out of reach for us poor economically disadvantaged kids. My only question is WHY don’t they just import them from Egypt with out the engine, throw in one or the other and call it a day. If the now defunct Pontiac could import a car from Australia and sell it for a reasonable price, someone should with this. But like the Hummer H1 I’ll be drooling over, I love everything about this jeep and the diesel, just not the Hummer price. But 20 years from now if someone hasn’t bashed one too badly I might buy one!
Comment by s. van — June 8, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
Would like more info on this being a kit car? I’m either dumb or haven’t read everything the US DOT and EPA have concerning kit cars. My basic understanding is to be a kit car the unit has to have rolling stock that is US certified IE mustang donor frame and running gear for ford Shelby kit to be built on. Another example is your own brute pickup. It’s built on donor frame. That seems to be the key if my understanding is correct. So the J8Milspec may not comply and not be street-able in the US. Can you clarify?
Comment by S. V. Splinter — June 14, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
What kind of wheels and tires are those? Can I purchase them anywhere?
Comment by R. Gagnard — June 19, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
Will the 2.8L diesel meet 2010 EPA emission levels, or is this project jeep dead before it starts? I’d love to see this on the roads but have a hard time believing that it will be legal in the US. If this is the VM Motori owned by Penske, engine used in the Liberty and which was dropped for the year 2007 EPA reductions, it won’t be a new Jeep and it won’t make it to the US without a huge redesign to the aftertreatment and EGR systems. It will take a DPF and SCR unit depending on the engine strategy to make this here wonder rig street legal.
So much for the geek in me, this looks like a great rig, I wish AEV the best rolling this rig out diesel or not.
Can AEV just buy the Jeep line, you guys have the right ideas as to what the machine needs to be and I bet that you could design a 2/3 scale Unlimited that would keep the line under the EPA fuel economy standards for a manufacture MPG rating. You guys rock, keep Jeep alive.
Comment by BS_FIGMO — June 19, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
When will your company begin to fully advertise this vehicle for sale? What about publishing the specs and the cost? Have just, for the first time, read about this J8 MILSPEC vehicle in FOUR WHEELER magazine, August, 2009 issue. I would like more detailed information on the vehicle if possible. Thanks.
Comment by J. ARCHER — June 20, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
Work on a cummins kit and then you will have something. thanks, john
Comment by John — June 21, 2009 @ 12:35 am
I’ve been dreaming about a conversion like this for about 8 yr’s my grand cherokee will be paid off this year and one of these will be in my driveway! What does the base frame kit cost? How much for each engine option? Thanks!
Comment by R.loper — July 7, 2009 @ 11:59 am
Hi …please include me in your e-mail mailing list …I accidentally hit the stop mailing thinking it was a link …you certainly have a better feel for what people want in jeep pick-up,thre is definatemarketabuility in this area…!Bill
Comment by william t. smith — July 30, 2009 @ 8:46 am
OK, how about an itemized price list for both the 3 door and the 5 door? Is there a hardtop option for the 3 door? How about replacement tops? I prefer this model, but if replacement/hardtops are going to be an issue, then the 5 door is the only way to go.If I’m going to drop $50K + (gasp!) for a new jeep, I want to know what my money is paying for.
What if I wanted to buy the diesel engine and auto tranny to install in a new civilian JK? I can get one equipped the way I want for a lot less than the J8, and aside from the heavy duty chassis, the diesel engine is the only real selling point for me, since my brother can build me a set of heavy duty Dana axles.
If I install the engine/tranny myself, is it still going to cost in excess of $50K? That’s an awful lot of money for a utilitarian rig!
Comment by Ty Thompson — August 4, 2009 @ 8:01 am
Along the same lines of the last post by Ty Thompson. I would be interested in say a 5 door without any of the drivetrain and suspension. This way I could select suspension, axles, transmission, transfer case, and engine. How about a price less the suspension, axles, and transfer case. If a guy could pick up one of these for a decent price without all the “Junk” parts on it and then build it the way it should be built in the first place (i.e. Hemi V8, HD T-case, Stonger Axles) that would be very attractive. For example, I have a customer who is into his 5 door JK about $55K and is still not happy with it due to lack of power.
Comment by The Rad Jeeper — August 4, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
I am curious..now that this project is done with…
I truly am wondering what is next?
A JK brute with J8 attitude??
here is hoping for more raising the Jeep bar..
great job guys keep up the hard work..it pays off
Comment by Robert — August 13, 2009 @ 1:47 pm
Why only a lousy 2.8L VM engine? Where’s the Mercedes V6 CRD????!!!
Comment by Joe — August 16, 2009 @ 10:22 am
Will the 2.8 VM diesel engine be OBD II compatible? Will it use the existing Jeep computer, but have to be reflashed? Or will it be sold with a seperate OBD II computer?
Comment by Jim — September 1, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Can somone tell me what warrents the $40k before drive train?
Heavier frame? 44 and 60 axels doesn’t sound like $25k worth of upgrades to me.
Taking advantage of the enthusiast market sounds more like it?
Yes thank you AEV for such a noble vehicle .. sounds like a 100% markup per build to me.
I’d love to get my hands on one! Just send it to me in a crate for $15k i’ll built it myself..
Comment by Matt — November 3, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Actually the J8 is the most expensive car Chrysler makes. It cost more than the Viper to produce. Their are several reasons for this, but primarily its because its a very specialized, low volume vehicle that’s not built on the normal wrangler production line. The engine is outsourced (and expensive), there are 43 separate stampings including new body sides for the three door version which is huge money in tooling, the roll cage is different, the frame is different, the floor is different, the wiring is different, basically everything is different. Not to mention the engineering costs that Chrysler needs to recoup. We mark the J8 up for the time it takes to built it and not much more. If you have a problem with the price, please contact Chrysler International Sales and request that they sell the parts to us for less money, if they listen to you it will be a win/win.
Thanks,
Comment by admin — November 11, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
Great looking set up, well thought out; but why price it out of the price range of 90% of the four wheelers out there. I have built many jeeps and trucks to mil-spec for much less money. The price puts it even or higher than the Hummer sut, which I’ve run off road and it went through stuff my jeep couldn’t; even though I could get into and out of the tight areas better. Seems everytime someone comes out with a great four wheeler they shoot themselves in the foot by pricing too high. Anyone can build a mil-spec off road vehicle out of something else after all the services used vehicles from all brands and many of them are now out there for sale as the services changes inventory. I’ve even started running across H1 hummers recently.
Comment by Kevin — November 17, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
No one would have liked the price to be lower more than us.
Still, this is an extremely low volume OEM made vehicle. There are companies that specialize in making military style conversions but this is the real deal. The J8 vehicle is so heavily different than the JK that it could only be made by Chrysler with any practicality. If you think the price is high, if we attempted to take JKs and convert them to J8 vehicles the price would reflect the millions of dollars in tooling alone, figure a final price of $150,000 per vehicle or so. The AEV J8 we are offering is actually quite a deal.
Comment by admin — November 17, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
I noticed that the J8 was compared to the civilian H1 in a few of the comments. I’m an officer in the military and have been to Egypt. I have seen the J8 in action and even got to drive one in a joint operation between the U.S. and Egypt. I own an H1…the J8 absolutly blows the H1 away. It’s more durable, gets better gas milage, can get into tighter areas, better in sand and mud…just better. I would by one in a heart beat for the price.
Comment by Eric — November 18, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
Just in case anyone is curious, the ip belonging to Eric who’s comment is above this one does in fact belong to a .mil address. Eric, we thank you for your first hand experience with the comments and for your service.
Comment by admin — November 18, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Since you have the option of putting a Chrysler Hemi as well as the I4 diesel, have you looked at using the GMC Duramax Diesel? The engine is a GMC/Isuzu product (Moraine, Ohio). The size should be similar to the Hemi and my recollection is that it uses aluminum heads, reducing what would normally be a higher nose weight for the vehicle w/ a V8 diesel. I am thinking specifically of the Duramax LLY & LBZ engine variants. (360hp, 650ft-lb torque – tuners have gotten much more out of them i.e. 600hp+). It could reduce the cost due to the semi-custom VM Turbo Diesel while producing nearly HEMI power at Diesel fuel consumption rates.
Comment by ucodegen — January 7, 2010 @ 3:08 pm
To ucodegen:
Jeep is owned by Chrysler, hence why a Chrysler plant in Egypt is manufacturing the J8. No Jeep currently in production can “easily” handle any GM engine, that is, without heavy modification. That is why the J8 can work with the 2.8L diesel as well as the 5.7L Hemi.
Comment by Michael — January 11, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
It looks like it weighs more than 6000 lbs. Does that mean you can right off $25k? If you can then its the coolest jeep ever! I know that only save around $8k the first year but you could deprecitate the rest and get a tax credit for the diesel!
Comment by Ben — January 19, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
Sorry, the weight comes in around 5000lbs.
We applaud the creative problem solving though.
Comment by admin — January 19, 2010 @ 6:02 pm
Sorry I should have said the GVW is 3600 kgs which I believe is which is just over 7000 lbs. I have to talk to my accountant, but if it comes without a drive train then that would need to be added to make it ready for “business use” which is right off-able as well. I am going to keep the dream alive! I am sick of my truck and I need a right off.
Comment by Ben — January 19, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
Is is possible to get one put together with a manual transmission?
Comment by Adrian Reed — February 1, 2010 @ 9:07 pm
The J8 vehicles will not be offered with a manual at this time. It may be possible in the 5.7L HEMI version to swap a manual in after the J8 is sold (ala our upcoming JK HEMI Manual Trans Kit).
Comment by admin — February 17, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
I know some one mentioned the duramax. How about a 5.9 or 6.7 cummings diesel.
Comment by Shawn — February 24, 2010 @ 9:58 pm
We did that in 2007. Check out the “UAJK” a rig that we built for Peterson’s 4wd and Offroad, a JK with a 5.9L Cummins in it. Very cool, but we had to sacrifice little things like the entire HVAC system. Not really a customer style vehicle.
Comment by admin — March 3, 2010 @ 12:09 pm
Um, the Ultimate Adventure JK was a bit more that a Wrangler with a Cummins dropped in. Tell the people that you took a Dodge truck frame and cut it down and dropped a JK body on it. Matter of fact the JK was a two wheel drive model. Probably to save some coin for the trade. This I know because I have the copies of the build and the UA run. Not even close to being the same. Apples and Orange boys.
So is this truck really street legal? Also, if the defunct Chrysler had an assembly line in Egypt, it should be lower priced. If they are mass-producing them, it should cut the cost, though importing back to US does cost something. Still, foreign country, lower paid workers. Just saying.
Comment by S. Van — March 25, 2010 @ 7:37 pm