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

[Overland Disco]

Hello everyone, after spending some quality time reading a bunch of threads here, I wanted to introduce myself and my "projects".

First, I'm impressed with the level of support and friendliness I've seen here – it feels a bit rare these days with the jackassery knob seemingly broken at 11.M

My entry into the LS world was through an LS swap into my 98 Land Rover Discovery - commonly called Disco - with an L94/6L80 unit out of a 2011 Yukon Denali with 93K miles. I think the previous owners used synthetic oil, as the valve covers were super clean, as was the rest of the engine. I tore it down to the short block, did the AFM delete with a slight cam from Comp Cams, trunnion bearing upgrade, smoothed the oil pump and oil filter/cooler passageways, LS3 intake to clear the hood, and had the 6L80 built to remove the known weaknesses, upgraded the torque converter to a 6L90 spec, etc. etc.

I've built the rest of the Disco as an extended backcountry travel vehicle to tow an offroad trailer – way before the "overlanding" crowd came into being. After 230K miles on the original LR 4.0 aluminum engine, it was time for an upgrade, and the LS platform has everything I was looking for. I have been all over the southwest with this trailer.

Here's what it used to look like -

And with camp set up -

This is what the L94 engine looks like now -

My wife and I had been talking about replacing our aging Dodge diesel truck, and she suggested that something with an LS engine would make sense, as I know them a bit after this.

On our 27th anniversary, we were out looking – just "looking" – at a couple of Tahoes and Yukons in the area, and came across this -

A 2011 Yukon Denali with almost 137K miles. Not by design, but just happens to be the exact same as the LS swap powertrain.

For now, I'll do all the usual maintenance - fluid changes, a couple of door seals, and adjust the rear power gate that needs a slight adjustment to stop touching the bumper cover when it opens. Then I'll tune a few things through HP Tuners like the fan mapping to get 100% flow through them before 245F and drive it to see what it wants/needs.

I appreciate the tech answers/articles that I've read - I'm a recovering engineer and love getting into the details of how things work and why.

Anyway, that's me and my rigs!

 

[Miami-Dade]

Welcome from Miami Beach!

Interesting read on your LS Swap into your Land Rover Discovery.

Nice find on your 2011 Denali. Mileage at 137K is very good as I have almost that on my 2016 Tahoe. Looks very well maintained.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Overland Disco]

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.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Outstanding knowledgeable folks here. The ***holes do not last long here.

 

[Overland Disco]

Outstanding knowledgeable folks here. The ***holes do not last long here.

That's what I was seeing - there is a similar LR forum where questions are answered, usually by those who've done it, broke it, fixed it, and learned from it.

I'm coming at this from a completely different angle - making my backcountry Rover as solid as possible, so over-cooling and reliability first are the foundation.

I've learned about the PWM fans here already, and have changed my approach to what to do with the Rover, so I've benefitted already!

 

[OR VietVet]

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.

So you were ship's company like me. I had lots of friends that were in the squadrons. Lots of times, when we did a WestPac, the same squadrons showed up each time. You will be mad when I tell you what I did as ship's company........E4 Photographer's Mate. Plus, the last 1.5 years I was in, I had flight skins.

 

[Overland Disco]

So you were ship's company like me. I had lots of friends that were in the squadrons. Lots of times, when we did a WestPac, the same squadrons showed up each time. You will be mad when I tell you what I did as ship's company........E4 Photographer's Mate. Plus, the last 1.5 years I was in, I had flight skins.

Nice! Glad to hear someone got to see some sunshine!

 

[OR VietVet]

I was able, as an Airman rating, to roam the flight deck a lot and watched lots of flight ops and that last 1.5 years, flew off the flight deck.

 

[Geotrash]

Hello everyone, after spending some quality time reading a bunch of threads here, I wanted to introduce myself and my "projects".

First, I'm impressed with the level of support and friendliness I've seen here – it feels a bit rare these days with the jackassery knob seemingly broken at 11.M

My entry into the LS world was through an LS swap into my 98 Land Rover Discovery - commonly called Disco - with an L94/6L80 unit out of a 2011 Yukon Denali with 93K miles. I think the previous owners used synthetic oil, as the valve covers were super clean, as was the rest of the engine. I tore it down to the short block, did the AFM delete with a slight cam from Comp Cams, trunnion bearing upgrade, smoothed the oil pump and oil filter/cooler passageways, LS3 intake to clear the hood, and had the 6L80 built to remove the known weaknesses, upgraded the torque converter to a 6L90 spec, etc. etc.

I've built the rest of the Disco as an extended backcountry travel vehicle to tow an offroad trailer – way before the "overlanding" crowd came into being. After 230K miles on the original LR 4.0 aluminum engine, it was time for an upgrade, and the LS platform has everything I was looking for. I have been all over the southwest with this trailer.

Here's what it used to look like -

View attachment 378881

And with camp set up -

View attachment 378882

This is what the L94 engine looks like now -

View attachment 378883

My wife and I had been talking about replacing our aging Dodge diesel truck, and she suggested that something with an LS engine would make sense, as I know them a bit after this.

On our 27th anniversary, we were out looking – just "looking" – at a couple of Tahoes and Yukons in the area, and came across this -

View attachment 378884

A 2011 Yukon Denali with almost 137K miles. Not by design, but just happens to be the exact same as the LS swap powertrain.

For now, I'll do all the usual maintenance - fluid changes, a couple of door seals, and adjust the rear power gate that needs a slight adjustment to stop touching the bumper cover when it opens. Then I'll tune a few things through HP Tuners like the fan mapping to get 100% flow through them before 245F and drive it to see what it wants/needs.

I appreciate the tech answers/articles that I've read - I'm a recovering engineer and love getting into the details of how things work and why.

Anyway, that's me and my rigs!

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.

 

[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!