The Jeep Renegade is a cute little off-roader that's committed its fair share of automotive sins over the years. Faulting wiring harnesses, lurching transmissions, and that trademark shoddy Chrysler build quality that's seldom ever improved in the last 25 years. But in the hands of the right person, with the right vision and the right set of skills, a Renegade can turn into something spectacular. Want proof positive? Look no further than an Instagrammer by the name of Mike Martin. Why? Because his custom HEMI-swapped 2015 Renegade is nothing short of amazing.
In its natural form, the Jeep Renegade left the factory with everything from a one-liter, three-cylinder engine to a couple of four-pots from Fiat's E.torQ line and even a couple of diesel options in non-North American markets. On the face of it, these motors are "fine," we suppose. But not exactly the kind of drivetrains that inspire an exuberant or even a semi-enjoyable driving experience. Well, that's nothing a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 can't solve in a hurry. That's assuming you have the know-how and the right tools to get the job done. Luckily, Mike seems like the kind of guy that genuinely knows what he's doing.
Of course, a custom build of this caliber requires a full engine out procedure and a more or less complete gutting of the internals and interior of this little SUV. Once this was done, some fairly intense DIY fabrication was needed, including a new set of custom motor mounts to help pair the engine with its new humble abode. But don't be fooled, a lot more work than just slapping a HEMI engine in a Renegade chassis went into this build. The list of goodies Mike lovingly added to this new engine includes an aftermarket camshaft from Texas Speed & Performance, new, lightweight valves from Manley, and a functional Holley high ram intake to keep a steady flow of air flowing through the engine.
The engine is paired with a ZF Friedrichshafen ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic transmission. Under Chrysler's control, this transmission was marketed as the Torqueflite 8. It's all topped off with a front subframe from a 2016 Dodge Charger R/T for better road handling characteristics and a rear differential out of an unspecified Hellcat vehicle. Being a rear-wheel-drive vehicle in its current configuration, that little extra Hellcat grunt is sure to come in handy out on the track.
It's been such a long time since we've seen such a peculiar pairing of vehicle and engine as what we have here before us. We wish Mike all the luck in the world getting the finishing touches buttoned up on his new ride. But something tells us he's skilled enough to where he doesn't need luck. All he needs are his two bare hands. Check out his video down below.
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