Project VooDoo- The 5.2L V8 Defender 110

After 18 Months, project VooDoo is complete! This Defender 110 started out as a low mileage 2014 TDCI Utility, in factory Firenze Red. We took this vehicle and rebuilt it from the ground up, starting with a brand new Maer Galvanised chassis. The engine is a 5.2 Litre VooDoo V8 from a Shelby GT350. Producing over 500 brake horse power and a similar amount of torque- this engine is particularly special as it has a flat plane crank shaft, but an American firing order. In reality this means a loud thundering burble at tick over, but when higher in the rev range it sounds like an Italian super car! The Engine came from a fire damaged GT350 with only 600 miles on, we had it air freighted from the USA along with the gearbox.

After building the last ‘DefStang’ With a manual transmission, we decided with this 110 to try an automatic- using the Ford 6R80 gearbox coupled to a Stage 2 performance transfer box built by Winchester gears, UK.

Alongside the new Engine and Gearbox, we fully reconditioned the axles, complete with LSD Differentials from Winchester gears. The Next concern was stopping the almighty V8, we installed a set of the LOF 18″ AP Racing brakes as sold by LOF!

The Base vehicle was originally sourced from Lucari Solutions in Rye, Sussex. The Defender had already been upgraded with the 2 up’ rear executive seating and cubby box layout, as well as the alcantara head lining. We commissioned Lucari to make us an automatic centre console & Cubby box to suit the Ford F150 gear shifter. We also installed the new Stinger infotainment system!

Throughout this project, we worked with Dan Thomas at DT Engine solutions- who made us a 3″ Stainless steel exhaust system and also piped up our automatic gearbox cooler amongst other things!

The Dash controller and electrics was made by Martin at Futuranet, this box makes installation simple- plug and play from the Ford Perfomance ECU to the Land Rover dashboard + Loom!