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Thread: Holden LS3 and 6 Speed Auto Install Kens’ 2012 110

  1. #1
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    Holden LS3 and 6 Speed Auto Install Kens’ 2012 110

    G’Day everyone;

    I’ve started a new thread re this topic as there’s no one place that I can find that deals with this subject, and no other owners with this mod posting on here, SO:

    What: Holden LS3 and 6 Speed Auto gearbox install.

    Who: Les Richmond Automotive Melbourne Australia.

    Why: As of the time of writing this, I have 185,000 kms on my factory 2.2 with a BAS 170HP tune.
    I find that I need to drop down to 4th gear often on long gentle highway climbs and that my EGT climbs high if I don’t go through the gears. My vehicle is heavy and a keeper, so I want the best available engine re HP and torque, serviceability and parts availability.

    Best of all, who doesn’t love the LS3 V8 engine note, and bragging rights?😉

    I expect that I won’t be selling my Defender in the next 20 years, so why not? I enjoy driving it more than my lovely Discovery 4 HSE SDV6.

    When: Approx September 2020.

    Cost: $50K plus extras if I decide to mod the driveline etc more than I have.

    I feel that the LS3 is the better option for me vs the Ford 3.2 diesel when you factor in the similar installation costs.
    (f you believe more in other engines, then great, just please don’t bag my installation as it’s my vehicle, my money and suits my needs. Your situation will be different.

    Andrew at Les Richmond sat down with me on my recent trip to Melbourne for over an hour to discuss options and their install philosophy, staff, equipment etc. I was more than impressed with Andrew who isn’t after my money, preferring to rely on a mans hand shake re securing my business.

    I’ve offered to pay for the engine and box up front twice, including today on the phone), but he’s happy to rely on the Gentleman’s word. This impressed me no end as I’m also old school, and have similar values (Thanks Dad!)

    Andrew has secured me a very low km combo with only 10,000KMs. He prefers to use low km engines and gearboxes from donor cars vs Crate engines, as it is the more economical option I believe one ancillaries are factored in.

    So, here we are, I’m booked in, locked into the production line, and Les Richmond only use one specialist technician to do the install, that way nothing gets missed, the work is to the same exacting standard, and dealing with original wiring etc is more efficient. It slows the throughput, but I’m happy with the situation and have complete faith in this company and the man doing the actual installation.


    More to follow as the time draws closer and news starts to feed in re the process and what is happening to the vehicle.

    Build duration is around 2 1/2 months.
    D983BE3F-92D3-4ABB-9311-5D129E274BED.jpg8201A557-D2B9-4286-ADEB-79BD8D6AB784.jpgBE734E53-54E8-4FC2-9755-20E6384F3F08.jpg3CD09193-ACB8-4ADC-9420-2ED35BFC49F2.jpegAF35419A-DEAA-40FC-B9A9-0D6BB8F993AA.jpeg49291977-8E9C-48FF-8C10-B7F5397A3A1B.jpg
    2012 Defender 110 (A silver one!)
    Defender:LS3 6.2 V8 and 6 Speed Auto, ARB BP51 shocks, springs, Damper, Gwyn Lewis running gear, Superior Engineering Radius arms, Long Ranger tank, Recaros', Dual battery, LED lighting, ARB Lockers etc etc.

  2. #2
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    Great news, Yes Andrew is a really nice "old school" person, BUT, right up there with modern technology, they will do a professional job with no short cuts.
    Looking forward to following your story.
    Pickles.

  3. #3
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    Look forward to this build up. Great engine with heaps of easy power and torque. And the sound will be that much better

  4. #4
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    Looking forward to seeing this evolve.

    Are you planning on towing anything heavy in the future? I.e. caravan?

    Be interested to know if the LS in a Defender will make it a good tow vehicle,
    Andrew
    1998 Landrover Defender 300Tdi 130 HCPU Expedition
    1972 Peugeot 504 Sedan - Daily Driver

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by 86mud View Post
    Looking forward to seeing this evolve.

    Are you planning on towing anything heavy in the future? I.e. caravan?

    Be interested to know if the LS in a Defender will make it a good tow vehicle,

    Agreed... love to know the end economy too and what sort of range can be obtained...

  6. #6
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    Good on ya.....hopefully the tread doesn’t downgrade to knocking your decision

    Giddy up

  7. #7
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    No, not any more, just a Jet Ski.

    Quote Originally Posted by 86mud View Post
    Looking forward to seeing this evolve.

    Are you planning on towing anything heavy in the future? I.e. caravan?

    Be interested to know if the LS in a Defender will make it a good tow vehicle,
    2012 Defender 110 (A silver one!)
    Defender:LS3 6.2 V8 and 6 Speed Auto, ARB BP51 shocks, springs, Damper, Gwyn Lewis running gear, Superior Engineering Radius arms, Long Ranger tank, Recaros', Dual battery, LED lighting, ARB Lockers etc etc.

  8. #8
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    ‘Thanks mate.
    The knockers will always bag someone else’s decision, but there would be very few who have direct experience of the LS3 transplant, and either way, it’s not their vehicle and the process has begun.👍

    Quote Originally Posted by W&KO View Post
    Good on ya.....hopefully the tread doesn’t downgrade to knocking your decision

    Giddy up
    2012 Defender 110 (A silver one!)
    Defender:LS3 6.2 V8 and 6 Speed Auto, ARB BP51 shocks, springs, Damper, Gwyn Lewis running gear, Superior Engineering Radius arms, Long Ranger tank, Recaros', Dual battery, LED lighting, ARB Lockers etc etc.

  9. #9
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    You won't see me bagging your build. My Indie has an LS3 in his D1 with six speed auto. I've got a bespoke stroker Rover in mine and the myriad of issues that caused. I've met with Andrew and gone through his conversions with him at length. After I did mine. His professionalism and thoroughness really impressed me. You'll be loving every minute of it long after you've forgotten the money spent. Well done. Enjoy.
    DiscoClax
    '94 D1 3dr Aegean Blue - 300ci stroker RV8, 4HP24 & Compushift, usual bar-work, various APT gear, 235/85 M/Ts, 3deg arms, Detroit lockers, $$$$, etc.
    '08 RRS TDV8 Rimini Red - 285/60R18 Falken AT3Ws, Rock slider-steps, APT full under-protection, Mitch Hitch, Tradesman rack, Traxide DBS, Gap IID

  10. #10
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    Lifes too short to give a crap about what anyone else thinks . I'm a little jealous and am curious to see how it would perform off road. I've always wondered whether this engine in this application would benefit from a retune i.e. cam profile and fuel/ignitions maps designed for low end torque, throttle response and economical cruising. Might lose a couple horses in the top end, but would be more tractable. Or is that all unnecessary?

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