Holden LS3 and 6 Speed Auto Install Kens’ 2012 110

Love it.
I think the LS3 is the perfect motor for these things. The 2.2 really is overworked on these things. They do
the job, but jeez, they are not the right motor.

The auto (read torque convertor) and low down torque would be perfect
with the clunky driveline on these vehicles. Even after the mods done to smooth out the lash.

Clive

Hi Clive;

‘You’re spot on, and I’d forgotten how clunky the drive train could be. I thought that I’d removed my lash due to my Gwyn Lewis HD prop shafts, new units etc, but the auto would also be a big plus.

‘There just isn’t any noise from the drive train (new HD half shafts, drive flanges and ARB air locker diff centres etc factored in).

When I think of it, I’ve just fitted a new larger motor, auto 6 speed transmission, full drive line, and full suspension, so it should feel some what tighter!😉

So what's it like to drive?

I am thinking of the same drive chain for my rangie ute.

Thanks for the update. It sounds amazing and I'd love to see it in the flesh one day. After speaking to Andrew Richmond and being quoted 55-65k, I've decided to walk away from that idea. Could justify half that, maybe a bit more but the final price was just too much.

I've gone the other way and ordered a BAS 170, BAS intercooler and hoses. See how that goes. Hopefully it helps enough for me to be satisfied with using it to tow. If not, I'll look at buying a land crusher as a second vehicle. Not much different in cost to the LS3 install.

There’s a huge amount of work to do the job to the same level of attention and quality of work that Andrews’ team produce.

‘It’s very much a case of you get what you pay for, including the after sales support if needed.

Id love to compare the end result of anyone else’s work who thinks they can do the same, commercially at a reasonable sustainable profit for much less.

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Originally Posted by Dave83

Thanks for the update. It sounds amazing and I'd love to see it in the flesh one day. After speaking to Andrew Richmond and being quoted 55-65k, I've decided to walk away from that idea. Could justify half that, maybe a bit more but the final price was just too much.

I've gone the other way and ordered a BAS 170, BAS intercooler and hoses. See how that goes. Hopefully it helps enough for me to be satisfied with using it to tow. If not, I'll look at buying a land crusher as a second vehicle. Not much different in cost to the LS3 install.

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Don't read me wrong, I'm not knocking their workmanship or quote in any way. It was just way above what I expected, and can afford.

Hi Dave;

‘Ha, don’t worry, I didn’t take your post that way at all, just pointing out the amount of effort hence hours, hence cost it takes to do the job to the standard that the Les Richmond team produce.

You’re not the first to be surprised at the cost of re engineering, powering and adding a competent automatic transmission into a Defender, let alone using quality componantry.

The Government legislative hoops that have to be jumped through are seriously extensive!

Best wishes mate.

Ken

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Originally Posted by Dave83

Don't read me wrong, I'm not knocking their workmanship or quote in any way. It was just way above what I expected, and can afford.

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Originally Posted by POD

Just having a look back over the last 2 pages of this thread- I assumed from your response to my earlier post that you did not intend to travel across town except to collect your vehicle when it is finished, and then sit quietly at your accommodation in Carrum Downs until you could go home, but you have told the whole internet how you have traveled from Carrum Downs to Thomastown- about 65km from the far southern suburbs of Melbourne to the far northern suburbs, met up with people from that side of town and taken your car for a test drive, and then how you intend to clock up 1,000km during the remaining weeks of lockdown. You're traveling between a part of Melbourne with a relatively high covid case load (northern suburbs) and an area with a (so far) relatively low covid case load and undoubtedly interacting with people from both areas. It appears that you have traveled from interstate knowing that you were coming to a city that is struggling through severe restrictions, and have proceeded to thumb your nose at those restrictions, justifying it because you did a training course forty years ago? How could you imagine that you would not get called on this? I'm sure it would be very disappointing and frustrating to not pick up your beloved car, but it pales somewhat compared to others like my friends who could not attend their son's wedding in the same town, or others on here who have not been able to attend family funerals. I'm puzzled as to how your job in the 1980s or the photo with the mannequin bears on this? I'm very ready to be shown how your actions are ok in the current situation, but I just cannot see it at present.

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I bet you look back on this post pretty embarrassingly.

You signed up to a forum to post that? Not worthy of an answer, but the answer would be- not in the slightest.

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Originally Posted by Baytown

Hi Dave;

Apologies for the lack of updates on how the vehicles been driving since the engine/transmission swap.

‘First thing I need to say is that it’s amazing how fast you forget what a standard Puma 2.2 Defender drives and sounds like, so that biases my impressions some what. Also, my 2.2 had a BAS 170 tune with larger Intercooler etc so was somewhat more responsive than stock before the swap process either way.

I use to tow my 16 ft van with it and it was fine. No rocket ship, but fine. My 21 ft van would be another issue though. I bought the Disco 4 for that.

‘So, after 7000 kms in the modified vehicle:

Pure and simple, I love it. It’s smooth, relatively quiet, no diesel rattle, responsive, pulls, you forget there’s no clutch pretty fast, gear changes are unnoticeable, it’s just a different animal.

Ok, re fuel consumption, I am using around 40% more, I.e, my 127 mai rear tank gets around 640kms general driving before I need to refil, (when the light comes on) as opposed to around 1100km with diesel in the 2.2 but that’s the nature of the beast. I don’t know the fuel consumption figures, I’ve not worked them out, but you don’t buy an LS3 for fuel savings.

I still find myself driving on country roads here in Tassie at 80kph when there’s no traffic, it’s the Defender handling/vibe thing, it’s just it’s sweet spot, and I tent to sit on 100kph on the highway even in 110kph stretches, even though I’ve cruise control. The vehicle can easily handle it, but it’s just where it’s comfortable.

Revs at 100kph highway are around 1800rpm, engine head temp on 25 Deg days around 90 Deg C, water temp around 100 Deg C.

Engine braking is great off road, although I’ve only done very limited soft core tracks in the two months I’ve been back from Victoria after lockdown so can’t say much. I’ve not even in sand or extensive mud etc.

Andrew at Les Richmond has been nothing but supportive and an absolute professional to deal with. I’ve only had one issue with the actual installation, and that was a loose connection on the US supplied loom at the Fuel pump relay end which Andrew easily diagnosed and rectified, as well as as devising his supplier.

‘Justin Cooper here in Tassie has driven the vehicle and was very impressed with the fit, workmanship and drive ability/smoothness as were other Defender Puma owners. Again, I’ve forgotten what stock drive is like.

I tend to forget the sound that my vehicle makes at the exhaust, but so many people notice at car parks and come up to me to discuss, and are blown away when I lift the bonnet!

All I can say to anyone seriously considering the investment involved and keeping their Defender as a long term prospect, do it. Andrew Richmond and his team are gold and you won’t get a better installation or after installation support.

I hope this is of interest Dave.

Best wishes mate.

Ken

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G'day Ken,

Today's post on another thread about your ongoing issue with the aluminium radiator prompted me to check to see if there were any newer updates posted here. I am just wondering now that is over two years since you had your vehicle's conversion done, can you provide an update on how it is going now?

Have there been any surprises, disappointments, regrets. For example, were there other modifications that could have happened two years ago that you wish you had done back then, now that you have the benefit of hindsight?

Kind regards
Lionel