Hello - bought my '11 Yukon Denali after starting LS swap in my Land Rover

[jdwood1111]

Nice build! I actually just purchased a truck 4 months back with almost the exact same specs as the powertrain your put in; 2011 Yukon XL denali AWD with 92k and now have 94k on it. I am getting ready to have the transmission checked out as it has been a little clunky but what all upgrades did you make? I have read about the Sonax zip kits and the upgraded converter you mentioned too but figured I would see what else you did while you were there!

 

[Overland Disco]

I had a 2004 Discovery II that I bought CPO from a LR dealer in Colorado, and loved. While it never gave me any trouble, the 4.6L version of that engine (based on the old Buick aluminum V8 from the early 1960s that Rover bought the tooling for) had oil pump alignment and cracking problems that made it a ticking time bomb. Replacement engines were prohibitively expensive and may have the same flaw, so instead of swapping it out with an LS (the swap kits weren't available yet), I sold it because I needed a 100% reliable vehicle at the time. Wish I still had it. Such a great off-roader.

Pretty much everything you mentioned are reasons I chose to do the LS swap into my D1.

Of course, 450 hp and almost equal torque, plus 2 extra gears helped to make the choice!

Yes, Discos are known as the "most reliable unreliable vehicle" - mine has always gotten me home, but there was work to do once we got home.

 

[B-train]

Welcome from another Newbie here from WI! I love your build and your daily driver as well. Keep us updated on the switcheroo. I also like the color matched paint job for the block, nice touch!

I have just begun my overlanding experiences with some NM, WO,CO, & WI routes. It's a lot of fun. I got my wife a 2017 denali and turned my 2008 into my adventure truck. So far, so good. It's definitely not a Rover as far as the suspension and ground clearance are concerned, but has gotten me to cool spots and back home.

 

[Wbermudez]

Thank you!

@Miami-Dade - yes, it seems to have been adult owned, and an AZ truck all of its life, making things easier for me down the road.
@OR VietVet - Kitty Hawk, eh – I was Persian Gulf Navy, on the Nimitz before the Gulf and on an LPD (gator freighter) USS Denver, during it. I was a Machinist Mate, down in the hole and sweating buckets.

Hello fellow shipmates..
USS America CV66 (D-Storm)…

 

[OR VietVet]

Hello fellow shipmates..
USS America CV66 (D-Storm)…

I believe it was in March that the Kitty Hawk was cut up in Brownsville. She is no more. I had never been to sea on a nuke carrier but had been on them, in port, many times. More room on those big ass carriers. It was really awe inspiring to be on those things at sea. Big, is the only thing I can say to describe them. JUST BIG!

 

[Overland Disco]

I believe it was in March that the Kitty Hawk was cut up in Brownsville. She is no more. I had never been to sea on a nuke carrier but had been on them, in port, many times. More room on those big ass carriers. It was really awe inspiring to be on those things at sea. Big, is the only thing I can say to describe them. JUST BIG!

I was flown out to Hawaii to report onboard the Nimitz, and I clearly remember walking around a giant old warehouse that was at least 4 stories tall and getting my first look at the Nimitz. Every single one of us newbies stopped and stared - the only way to describe her was huge. The flight deck was 100 feet off of the water, and the curve from her bow at the flight deck to the water was at least 50 feet. It took several minutes to walk from her bow to the gangway; that was only midships!

One of my buddies from nuke power school was already on board, and he showed me around - said it was common to get lost for the first month or so. When we pulled out from Pearl, I was too new to be assigned any station, so got to watch us pull away from the pier from the hanger bay. There was absolutely no sensation of movement - it seemed like the land was starting to move, and I stumbled a bit before realizing that my eyes were playing tricks on me.

One lap around the flight deck - when flight ops weren't ongoing - was just over a mile if I recall correctly.

 

[Overland Disco]

Hello fellow shipmates..
USS America CV66 (D-Storm)…

Hello - where was the America during DS - in the gulf or outside?

 

[OR VietVet]

I was flown out to Hawaii to report onboard the Nimitz, and I clearly remember walking around a giant old warehouse that was at least 4 stories tall and getting my first look at the Nimitz. Every single one of us newbies stopped and stared - the only way to describe her was huge. The flight deck was 100 feet off of the water, and the curve from her bow at the flight deck to the water was at least 50 feet. It took several minutes to walk from her bow to the gangway; that was only midships!

One of my buddies from nuke power school was already on board, and he showed me around - said it was common to get lost for the first month or so. When we pulled out from Pearl, I was too new to be assigned any station, so got to watch us pull away from the pier from the hanger bay. There was absolutely no sensation of movement - it seemed like the land was starting to move, and I stumbled a bit before realizing that my eyes were playing tricks on me.

One lap around the flight deck - when flight ops weren't ongoing - was just over a mile if I recall correctly.

My first West Pac, we could look out and see our escorts. Usually destroyers and others mixed in and usually totaled at least 6 other escorts. The seas could get rough and they would be rockin' and rollin' but that carrier would barely move at all. No sea sickness.

 

[avalonandl]

Welcome aboard the Best YUKON site around.

So you bought the Denali ?

 

[Overland Disco]

Welcome aboard the Best YUKON site around.

So you bought the Denali ?

Yes - it has 140K on it now and runs like a dream!