Rad-Rover Outfitters
Engineered + Hand-Built in Ames, Iowa · USA
ABOUT RAD-ROVER OUTFITTERS
Rad-Rover Outfitters exists for owners who want a classic Land Rover they can actually use. We specialize in Defender and Series powertrain conversions, structural restoration, and complete build planning—engineering each project around real drivability, reliability, and long-term serviceability rather than nostalgia alone.
We’ve refined our process through nearly 100 Land Rover powertrain conversions. That experience shapes everything from engine selection and cooling strategy to driveline geometry, transmission pairing, wiring, and final integration. We do not approach builds as one-off improvisations or universal-kit installs. We build defined systems.
What we do
Some projects begin as focused engine swaps. Others become full restorations or complete custom builds. In every case, the goal is the same: correct the structure, choose the right powertrain architecture, and build a truck that feels coherent from first start-up to highway cruising.
Rad-Rover focuses on proven platforms including LS3, LT1, LT1 E-Rod, EcoBoost, and SBC 350 configurations. Each conversion is engineered around the vehicle, the intended use, and the standard required for a dependable finished product.
Why we build this way
Classic Defenders and Series trucks have character. What they often lack is modern drivability. Factory drivetrains can feel strained at speed, underpowered under load, and compromised by heat, age, or outdated integration. Our job is to resolve those weak points without stripping away what makes the vehicle worth owning in the first place.
Every major decision is made with use in mind: how the truck will drive, where it will travel, what it will carry, and what the owner expects from it. The result is not just more power. It is a Land Rover that feels settled, predictable, and ready to be driven.
Built in-house
Every Rad-Rover project is engineered and hand-built in Ames, Iowa. Fabrication, restoration, and drivetrain integration are handled in-house so the work can be measured, corrected, and validated to one standard from start to finish.
That means mounts are fabricated with intention. Geometry is defined before installation begins. Cooling, wiring, exhaust, and supporting systems are treated as part of a complete architecture—not afterthoughts added once the engine is in place.
Who we build for
We build for owners who plan to use their trucks. Owners who tow, travel, commute, tour, or simply want a Defender or Series vehicle that feels mechanically resolved instead of mechanically fragile.
If the goal is strict originality at any cost, there are other paths. If the goal is a classic Land Rover with modern performance, structured engineering, and a build process defined up front, that is where Rad-Rover fits.
The Rad-Rover standard
Power without structure does not last. A finished build should not feel pieced together. It should feel intentional.
That is the standard at Rad-Rover Outfitters: foundation first, power second, execution throughout.
We build for people
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
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