Ls Swapped Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender is a timeless icon with a loyal following of enthusiasts. For Justin, that devotion led him to breathe new life into his beloved Defender by sending it to Mark at Rocket 88 for an LS swap—transforming it into a beast with serious performance and personality.

Photos by Lisa Woest

The Quest for Power

Justin’s Defender was plagued by sluggish performance and persistent oil leaks. Crawling up the driveway in low range or limping along at 130 km/h with a tailwind just to crest Key Ridge in third gear at 80 km/h got old fast. Every classic Defender owner knows the struggle—and Justin was ready for a change.

While brainstorming solutions on the South Coast near Ifafa Beach, Justin met Clive Morgan-Davies, who rolled up in his rumbling Defender 110. Over a chat with Graham about all things Landy, Clive popped the hood to reveal an LS1 swap. That was it—Justin’s path was clear, and Rocket 88 became the destination.

The Build: Performance First

The goal was simple: performance, performance, performance. The body was solid, save for some rust at the door bottoms, which GUS Panel Beaters in Westmead fixed and resprayed in four weeks. Justin picked a fresh color from Gus’s slides, keeping the exterior stock.

The original chassis stayed untouched, as did the new shocks, springs, and bushes from Landy Parts in Pinetown. Brakes got an upgrade, sourced from the same supplier.

The Heart: Chevy LM7 5.3L

Rocket 88 delivered a turn-key Chevy LM7 5.3L V8, pumping out 280–300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Pre-wired and bench-tested, Justin got to see it roar before installation—a pro setup he couldn’t fault. Paired with a Flow Tech exhaust and fuel injection, the engine links to a 4L60E transmission via a Rocket 88 adaptor, retaining the Landy LT230 transfer case for full 4x4 capability. Custom coil covers from Rocket 88 add a slick touch to the bay.

Finishing Touches

New Germany Upholsterers refreshed the interior, keeping the original seats, while Justin upgraded the air conditioning. Steering remains stock, but VDO gauges (speedo, water temp, fuel) bring better reliability—all supplied by Rocket 88. The fuel tank is standard, fitted with an in-tank pump for the LM7.

Wheels are 18” Defender Sawtooth rims with Cooper Defender ST LT285/65R18 tires, both from Landy Parts. The grille stays classic, windows are slated for tinting, and headlights/taillights are upgraded Landy Parts units.

The Result

Once a lumbering truck, the Defender now glides effortlessly, owning the fast lane. Total rebuild time? Two months. Justin credits Mark at Rocket 88 and Clive Morgan-Davies for making it happen.