Human beings customize Jeep Wranglers; it’s just what we do. Whether it is throwing a few lights and lift or completely rebuilding the little 4x4s into a full-blown rock-crawling monster or overland machine, Jeepsters are going to tinker with their Jeeps. No matter how little or how far you go with your Wrangler, you can rest assured that this 2015 AEV Jeep Wrangler Hemi conversion has been to the mountain top and seen that it is good. All we have to do now is follow in its footsteps. 

Does the Jeep Wrangler come with a V8

The Jeep Wrangler/CJ is not completely unfamiliar with the V8. The proto-Wrangler, the CJ (civilian Jeep) made by AMC, had an optional 304 ci V8 that was an option from the early ‘70s until the early ‘80s. Once the Jeep Wrangler YJ came out in ‘87, the Wrangler wouldn’t see a production V8 until, well, now with the Jeep Wrangler 392 Hemi. So, when AEV decided to slap a Hemi in a 2015 Jeep Wrangler, it was noteworthy.  

Expedition Portal tested a similar Jeep Wrangler Hemi conversion from AEV in 2012, but this 2015 Wrangler is a different beast. This 2015 AEV Jeep Wrangler is top to bottom, dripping in AEV gear, parts, and overland swag. It might literally have every single part that AEV offers. 

When you see $120,000 for a Jeep Wrangler, you might balk, as I did, but the truth is, this one has had so much work and so many after-market parts that I’m kind of surprised that it only costs $120,000. AEV did all the typical stuff here; AEV front hood, wheels, snorkel, bumpers, water carrier, etc…You know, Jeep stuff. However, there are some major upgrades here that bring this Jeep into the six-figure land. 

This AEV Jeep Wrangler is an absolute overland beast

Obviously, the 6.4-liter Hemi conversion is the main thing here. Jeeps have never been fast, but the torque is enough to be strong on the dirt and rocks. With a Hemi, things are a bit different. Expedition Portal nor BringaTrailer (where the Jeep was listed) never tells us how much power this thing has, but I think it is safe to assume; however much it has is plenty.

Even though the Hemi is completely rad, there is another, almost as rad upgrade this thing has that is a little less clear to see from pictures; a six-speed manual conversion. 

AEV decided that the Hemi needed a bit more room to run and paired it with a Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. If you have ever driven a five-speed manual transmission Jeep Wrangler, you’ll know even with stock power; it sometimes feels like you are asking a lot of that fifth gear on the highway. Well, that won’t be the case here. 

This overland beast was a great deal at $70,000

Aside from those major conversions, AEV might have literally fitted everything they make on this Jeep. The seller shows a few invoices from AEV in the auction listing, and one of them was $65,000. Considering that the Wrangler itself was probably around $40,000, there was easily more than $120,000 in this Jeep Wrangler build.

Considering it only has 36,000 miles and all the money spent on supping it up, the final bid of $70,250 is actually a banging deal. That is kind of a hard pill to swallow, considering it’s a Wrangler, but it’s true whoever bought this just shaved a cool $50k, at minimum, off of what the original owner paid.