It is rare to see a 1,500 hp Jeep build out in the wild. Most off-road enthusiasts focus on suspension travel and tire clearance to tackle technical trails. Defying logic, Westen Champlin turned a ’12 Wrangler he purchased at an auction into a burnout machine. Instead of crawling over giant rocks, this rig exists strictly to annihilate rear tires on a concrete pad.
Building The Supercharged V8
To pull off this aggressive build, Champlin flew in an expert named Dale from Australia. The team gained enough room to drop a modified LS V8 engine between the framerails after pulling the original drivetrain. This block runs on methanol fuel and features an 8-71 supercharger pushing 24 pounds of boost. Champlin noted: “Dale’s built a bunch of these cars in Australia so he can help us put together this Jeep and make sure that this one, rips, two, keeps ripping, and three, does a badass burnouts.” Welders locked the open rear differential to deliver power perfectly.
Testing The 1,500 HP Jeep On The Dyno
The crew discovered the raw torque of the racing engine after strapping the vehicle to the dynamometer. Violent throttle inputs instantly snapped the block sideways. Champlin explained: “He got on it and for one, the motor came out of the motor mount and for two, the TPS sensor fell off.” Fabricators secured the engine and front suspension down with heavy ratchets to finish their pulls. Meanwhile, the local police department received four noise complaints while the crew ran the vehicle indoors.
Hitting The Burnout Pad
A quick fast-food run proved just how aggressive the engine tune actually is. The street test burned through 15 gallons of fuel in only 8 miles. Champlin stated: “Guys, all jokes aside, this is the loudest vehicle I’ve ever been in.” During the first official test on the concrete pad, the engine unexpectedly hit a low safety limiter. A quick laptop diagnostic revealed a loose spark plug wire. Mechanics reattached the cord, finally letting the driver spin the rear wheels properly.
Destroying Tires In Style
Dropping a supercharged racing engine into an auction Wrangler creates a completely unhinged driving experience. The absurd fuel consumption of 2 gallons per mile proves just how ridiculous this 1,500 hp Jeep really is. Minor setbacks like broken motor mounts and loose spark plug wires simply add character to a rowdy machine designed specifically to destroy tires.
You might also like
Peck Brothers Tested Their 1000cc Mini Trophy Truck At The Dunes
The Peck Brothers tested their 1000cc Mini Trophy Truck against brutal sand hills. The tiny chassis survived huge jumps and steep climbs.
