The inevitable was a Hellcat-swapped Jeep Gladiator. We learned from Jeep executives in April that the 707-horsepower (527 kilowatts) engine fits into the engine bay but leaves little space for airflow and effective crumple zones. It’s therefore unlikely it will ever be a factory option.

It is highly unlikely that Jeep will make a Gladiator truck with two doors. This is because they don’t sell as many as the four-door versions. A two-door Hellcat Gladiator truck from Jeep could still be a great idea, and California-based Dynatrac has already begun to build it. The Codex project is now open.

Dynatrac is known for making some amazing custom Jeeps. But this Gladiator build goes beyond a suspension lift or axle swap. These aspects are still far from complete. The first phase of Dynatrac’s Gladiator build was completed only recently. As Dynatrac’s YouTube video at the end of this article shows, it was not an easy task. America’s Most Wanted 4×4 in Michigan was able to help the company. The brand-new truck saw its first phase completed. Below is a video that explains a little more about it.

The exact details of all changes are not yet known. However, the Gladiator’s new shorter version loses approximately 2 feet from the standard truck. According to the wheelbase, it is between 118 and 120 inches. The rear seating area has been removed but the build retains some of the small extended cab for additional storage. This was possible due to all sorts of custom fabrication. Not least because neither the stock Gladiator tank or a modified one were available.

Wrangler the modified frame would allow the tank to fit. The Hellcat swap was another option, but it seems that this is the only one. It’s easy Part of this project. The first phase took around a week. However, instead of putting the Gladiator on a trailer and hauling it west, Dynatrac was driving across-country. With a new Hellcat under the hood, there was only one way to begin the journey. Dynatrac did a burnout while leaving the parking lot. This gave us an early look at the two-door Gladiator. You know what? We love what we have seen so far.

Additional work will begin once the custom-built ride is back at the company in Southern California. This overlander will be Baja-themed. We are excited to see what the future holds for this crazy build.