Jeep Wrangler X Sport 2012 on 2040-cars

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FCA plants skipping summer shutdown to keep up with demand

Hopefully, some FCA US factory employees don't have big plans for the usual summer shutdown, because the automaker is keeping several plants running this year. Demand is so high that the company wants to keep models rolling off the assembly lines. Four FCA US assembly plants, all the engine factories, and some locations that build transmissions are staying open throughout the summer, according to the Detroit Free Press. Usually, these sites would see a two-week shutdown for the company to retool and perform repairs. This year, factories are staying open for FCA to support its strong sales. The lines that remaining humming through the summer show an inclination toward the automaker's popular SUV's and crossovers. They include the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Michigan that builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango; Saltillo Van Assembly in Mexico that constructs the Ram ProMaster; Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio that produces the Cherokee and Wrangler; and Toluca Assembly in Mexico that makes the Dodge Journey and Fiat 500. Related Video: News Source: The Detroit Free PressImage Credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM FCA dodge journey fca us ram promaster Jefferson North Assembly Plant

Jeep hiring 1,000 part-time workers in Toledo on Wrangler, Cherokee demand

The new Jeep Cherokee has been quite a success for Chrysler, but its factory workers are getting tired. The automaker has agreed to hire up to 1,000 part-time, temporary employees at its Toledo Assembly Complex where the CUV and Wrangler are built. It will allow the company to keep Jeep production moving, while giving laborers a break.
According to plant manager Chuck Padden in the Toledo Blade, full-time workers are regularly taking on 60 hours a week, and it's beginning to wear on them. "To get them more time off is important to us, to make sure they're refreshed, and can work safely," said Padden.
Chrysler has already hired 380 temporary, part-time workers for the plant, and 50 have been converted to full-time employees. The company is in the process of interviewing the rest of the new hires now and plans to have all 1,000 in place by the summer. They will work between 10 and 30 hours a week mostly on weekends for $15.78 per hour with limited benefits. The temporary positions will last "as long as demand continues for the Jeep Wrangler and the Jeep Cherokee," said Jodi Tinson, Chrysler spokesperson for manufacturing and labor communications, to Autoblog in an email.

Your 2018 Jeep Wrangler can already be fitted with a Chevy LS V8

Over a long enough period of time, every car model on the planet will probably have at least one example receive a Chevrolet V8. And a large number of them will have an LS-series V8, commonly found in Corvettes and Camaros from the last 20 years (plus other GM vehicles in slightly different forms). Sometimes it doesn't take very long, as is the case with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL. The new Jeep has only been available for a couple of months, and already a company called Bruiser Conversions is offering to install LS engines under the hood. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Specifically, the company will install a GM Performance LS3 V8. Though Bruiser Conversions doesn't yet list exactly what specifications the engine has, it offers the LS3 in both 450- and 500-horsepower versions on the previous Wrangler JK generation. The new V8 will be fitted to the factory 8-speed automatic transmission, and the company says that the transmission will function exactly as it does with the original V6 or turbo inline-4. In addition, Bruiser Conversions says all factory gauges, cruise control, hill descent control and other electronic aids will work like they did from the factory. Pricing is currently not listed for the conversion, but the company is taking pre-orders for both in-shop installations and do-it-yourself kits. Going off the conversion costs for an older JK Wrangler, it will probably cost between $20,000 and $30,000 to have Bruiser Conversions do the installation. In the case of the JK kits, they're about $5,000 less than having Bruiser Conversions do the work. We've reached out to the company to see if we can get specific pricing and will update the post if and when we hear back. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Bruiser ConversionsImage Credit: Bruiser Conversions Aftermarket GM Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles Performance ls3