Check Out This Drool-Worthy 6.2L L92 Swapped Land Rover Defender 110

While packing an LS motor into a classic GM C10 chassis is all the rage nowadays, some GM engine enthusiasts prefer boxy British body lines over American-made muscle. Take E.C.D. Automotive Design for instance. This Florida-based company is highly revered for its ability to produce some of the world’s top, fully-bespoke Land Rover restorations, with its latest Defender release packing a 6.2-liter Chevy L92 engine.

“Project Galena” by E.C.D. Automotive Design

Referred to as “Project Galena” by its owner, this 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 comes cloaked in Arles Blue, and is propelled by a 403-horsepower V8. Bone stock inside, this engine remains almost completely OEM on the outside as well, all save for a one-off aluminum radiator, and a Borla PerformanceBorla exhaust. The same goes for the 6-speed gearbox, which receives an upgraded transfer case. Apparently, the client opted for this engine due to the 2-year/50,000 mile warranty that comes with Chevrolet’s crate engines, followed by ease of maintenance, and the hefty bump in usable horsepower and torque.

E.C.D. Automotive Design stuffed a GM L92 6.2L V8 into this Land Rover Defender 110 upon the buyer’s request.

When we asked for an explanation as to why this motor was chosen, as opposed to the ever-popular LS, or increasingly commonplace LT engine, E.C.D. Automotive Design had this to say:

“Our client chose the L92 setup over the LS3, as they wanted to build something that resembled a modern SUV in terms of luxury and performance,” says Tom Humble, co-founder of E.C.D. Automotive Design. “The L92 was built for SUV’s and we feel that it delivers the power as efficiently as the LS3, but gives a smoother all-around feel. That’s what our client was looking for.”

Powerplant explanation out of the way, we turn toward the interior, where Project Galena comes clad in rich Italian leather upholstery, along with loads of modern-day amenities. Some of these updated internals include a wireless charging setup for mobile devices, a high-resolution back-up camera, on-board WiFi, remote locking capabilities via key fob, and a tire-press monitoring system for when rugged overlanding gets a a bit dicey. Speaking of suspension, E.C.D. Automotive Design’s adjustable air suspension setup has apparently been installed on the Defender 110 as well, which supposedly makes the ride in this Land Rover as smooth as the vintage-inspired seats found inside.

E.C.D. Automotive Design says that despite the arrival of the new 2020 Land Rover Defender, it has experienced an increase in demand for its classic Land Rover Defenders. In order to meet said demand, the company has expanded its 30,000 square-foot facility by another 10,000 square-feet and added a slew of new ASE-certified mechanics to its team. This 45,000 square-foot facility gives the award-winning team the space to craft purpose-built, fully-bespoke luxury vehicles for anyone looking to blend high-end classic English lines with modern technology and performance.

Founded in 2013 by a trio of British gents with an affinity for vintage vehicles, E.C.D. Automotive Design has obtained award after award over the years for its extremely high standards, and insane attention to detail. Located in Kissimmee, Florida, E.C.D. Automotive Design’s staff of 60 produces 45 vehicles a year on average within the expanses of the aforementioned warehouse, a building that is commonly referred to as the “Rover Dome.” Each vehicle that rolls out of this building is a complete one-off, a machine that has been fully designed around the client’s needs and personal preferences, before being hand-built from a bare chassis over the span of 2,200 hours by master-certified ASE craftsmen. Interest piqued? Check out the spec sheet below, and then head over to ecdautodesign.com to learn more about what goes into making a vintage Defender a four-wheelin’ winner.

Project Galena Specifications

  • Model — Restored 1993 Land Rover Defender 110
  • Engine — 6.2L L92 V8 engine with 403-horsepower
  • Transmission — 6-speed automatic
  • Suspension — ECD Adjustable air suspension with anti-sway bar
  • Exhaust — Borla Performance
  • Additional Features — Upgraded transfer case; upgraded axles; hand-built aluminum radiator

 

Exterior

  • Paint Color — Arles Blue with Gloss Black accents
  • Roof Paint Color — Gloss White
  • Wheels — 18-inch Kahn 1983 Defend wheels in black
  • Tires — BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A K02 265/65R18
  • Front Bumper — Classic bumper with LED daytime running lights
  • Roof Rack — Frontrunner
  • Roll Cage — Safety Devices internal roll cage
  • Additional Features — Fold-down side steps; black mesh grille; LED work lights in the rear

 

Interior

  • Front Seats — Puma Classic (heated)
  • Middle-row Seats — 60/40 split (heated)
  • Load-area Seats — Bench-style seats
  • Leather Colors — Torino Bark; Caviar
  • Steering Wheel — Evander Wood
  • Gauges — Classic Series gauges

 

Audio & Electronics

  • Infotainment — Alpine with CarPlay
  • Sound System — JL Audio amplified system with a JBL sub-woofer
  • Additional Features — Wireless charging for mobile devices; Rear A/C; Back-up camera; Automatic headlights; USB ports; In-vehicle WiFi; Bluetooth audio; Power front windows; Remote locking; Tire-pressure monitoring system

 

Build Price — $209,999*

* This price is an estimate for a new build with similar vehicle specifications.

 

About the author

Micah Wright

Raised on LEGOs by grandfathers who insisted on fixing everything themselves, Micah has been a petrolhead in training since age four. His favorite past times include craft beer, strong cigars, fast cars, and culinary creativity in all of its forms.
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