Those that have had this done by a professional, what did it cost you all in? Do you have a rough breakdown of costs? Engine, transmission, kit parts etc?
Heelfan6
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L.S. swaps
There are many ways to skin this cat so if your number ends up being different from others don't take it personal. There are so many "while we are at this" moments when the truck is being gutted to that level its very easy to dump quite a bit more love on your truck. Keep the end goal in site and remember this isn't a for profit build so make it what you want. I drive my LS powered 109 every day here in Seattle and absolutely love it. This is a hilly town with lots of traffic. Good luck with your project and have fun.
There are many ways to skin this cat so if your number ends up being different from others don't take it personal. There are so many "while we are at this" moments when the truck is being gutted to that level its very easy to dump quite a bit more love on your truck. Keep the end goal in site and remember this isn't a for profit build so make it what you want. I drive my LS powered 109 every day here in Seattle and absolutely love it. This is a hilly town with lots of traffic. Good luck with your project and have fun.
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159 Posts
This is the one I got - you can get it from Amazon, and it has more color options.... https://www.lsdefender.com/product/dakota-digital-vhx1018-recessed-oval-analog-gauge-kit/
then Nick at rw-eng.com has a bezel that makes it fit into your dash - https://rw-eng.com/collections/defender/products/dakota-digital-cluster-bezel-for-defender but you have to email/call him to place the order....
Good luck!
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670 Posts
Sorry for my ignorance, but what is ROW? I bought a 1991 110. Is this ROW?
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1,069 Posts
Rest of world. As in not a NAS. Yes yours is ROW.
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670 Posts
This list is AWESOME! I'll be embarrassed if i missed it, but what headers do you use?
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8,488 Posts
Hooker 8501s i seem to recall.
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670 Posts
wonderful, thanks!
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7 Posts
Which are the best LS conversion kits to use with the Defender?
I have seen LSx everything, but are there more complete / easier to install kits out there?
I am not clear why people are putting Catalysts on cars that are over 25 years old. Is this a legal requirement as I thought these cars were exempt from emissions regulations?
I have seen LSx everything, but are there more complete / easier to install kits out there?
I am not clear why people are putting Catalysts on cars that are over 25 years old. Is this a legal requirement as I thought these cars were exempt from emissions regulations?
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15,944 Posts
Conversion parts and knowledge here: LS CONVERSION PARTS FOR YOUR LAND ROVER
Emission requirements vary by state.
Emission requirements vary by state.
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1,738 Posts
in order to give you a proper reply, I am a licensed state safety and emissions inspector in Virginia. Both licenses are valid thru the whole state and the whole state and localities requires safety inspection in order to use public highways however not all localities require emissions testing.
those which do require emissions testing will legally test up to 25 manufacture years and here is a caveat, virginia deploys mobile "sniffers" which test all vehicles passing thru where the sniffer is deployed that day.
if your vehicle is in compliance when passing thru sniffer, all well no harm no foul. but if it fails 3 times in 90 days you will receive a letter of fail to comply and to test at a certified testing facility to verify pass or fail.
if you fail at a test facility you need to make repairs to make it pass. A road side sniffer will flag any fail back to 1968 year manufacture.
EPA regulations state that a newer engine replacement on any vehicle must have emissions equipment pertinent to engine year of manufacture thus, a 2000 gasoline motor on a 95 diesel chassis must have 2000 gasoline emissions equipment. a repair shop and or person undertaking this upgrade is to abide by EPA rules and regulations regarding engine and emissions equipment install and if not abiding by said regulations, person or shop may be fined.
All of this is explained by EPA and DEQ instructors in class when renewing or obtaining your emissions license in VA.
In regards to state inspection, we in virginia are to inspect that any and all emissions components applicable to engine type and model year are installed and operating if any emission component is missing, inoperable and or tampered with, the vehicle gets rejected.
I am responding in knowledge of virginia state safety regulations and US EPA rules. not other state safety inspection program .
this in my knowledge and point of view as to why some shops and or owners may choose to have cats installed versus not having cats, the other may be extra associated costs. I have know of expensive well performed custom jobs only to skimp on something trivial such as gauges.
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7 Posts
Thanks for the great explanation.
I have found the following conversion kits online:
Conversion kits – includes exhaust and loom
Land Rover Defender Corvette 6.2 LS V8 Conversion
Conversion kit -
83-11 Land Rover Discovery/Defender LS Swap Kit
Conversion kit -
DEFENDER
Only the first kit listed includes a full exhaust system (from what I could see), from the UK
- Do people construct their own exhausts or are there other sources for LS Defender exhaust systems?
Does anyone have experience of these kits and have any other suggestions / recommendations?
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1,081 Posts
Even with a kit I’m sure there’s going to be some things you’ll have to figure out. Lots of info in the Gen 4 swap thread. Most guys seem to go with Nick’s kit, probably the best support. A tailpipe can be done in a day, shipping one would probably cost as much as an exhaust shop.
Sean
Sean
getting to the game late, but thats a good question
Hey Red90, did you do the LS swap yourself or did you use a shop, I am in BC, looking to do something like this, once I find my Defender 110
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Did you do this on your own truck, or do you do this for others?
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on my own vehicle.
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first timer here, does anybody know if i would need a specific mount for the engine or will it need welding to fit?
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8,488 Posts
you will need specific mounts but if they bolt in or require new ones welded depends on what you have for an engine now. Nick has mounts that bolt in if you currently have a v8.
LS CONVERSION PARTS FOR YOUR LAND ROVER
Chevrolet LS engines conversion parts for your Land Rover Defender,Range Rover, Discovery.
rw-eng.com
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I'm just going to say it varies also by quality. For instance, most my R2.8 swap is utilizing stainless braided teflon 6AN lines for all fuel and any oil/cooling/hydraulics. If you are a frugal but not cheap (like me) and do it that way, you spend $800 on lines and connectors. This is for the least expensive option of make-your-own lines available, so you can see that it gets pricey quickly. If I did this with rubber hose/barbs, which work just fine, then it would have been closer to $150. Don't want to spend your money that way? Fine, don't. But you can see how costs change quickly. A full stainless/cat exhaust, mandrel bent, can be $2-3K. Or it can be done with shitty 409 stainless at a muffler shop for $400.
I spent way more than $7K on my LS swap. If I added it up, to do to a high level where I outsourced my harness work and my exhaust, I would be around $25K is my best guess. No labor, so a shop charging $30-35K is great. To do it all over again, if I went cheap, I am sure I could do it for $10-12K legit but cheap. No way I could do it how I did it for under $18-20K. Just too many parts that cost too much. I'll be in for $20k on my R2.8, no doubt. But I haven't skimped on what I want or how I am doing it. To each their own.
I spent way more than $7K on my LS swap. If I added it up, to do to a high level where I outsourced my harness work and my exhaust, I would be around $25K is my best guess. No labor, so a shop charging $30-35K is great. To do it all over again, if I went cheap, I am sure I could do it for $10-12K legit but cheap. No way I could do it how I did it for under $18-20K. Just too many parts that cost too much. I'll be in for $20k on my R2.8, no doubt. But I haven't skimped on what I want or how I am doing it. To each their own.
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