Hello all. UK burning midnight oil

Well, Hi all. I'm a land rover fan although i have yet to own my own. i'm from sheffield, england, And am looking at purchasing a Series 3 land rover 88". Originality = not an option. I intend to modify said vehicle.

Have done some research and talked with my uncle who is a confirmed land rover nut, he has a different one every time i see him.

What i'm looking to do is to take a tax exempt, classic insurance S3 and try to make it as comfortable and economical as possible. I know it is never going to be a rolls royce but if i wanted a rolls royce i am sure i could find one cheap. I don't. Been looking at kits to bolt R380 defender gearboxes to series transfer cases, disco high ratios, and kits to change engines. I'd be looking for a diesel, and there is a kit to fit the transit 2.5di engine to landies.

I am hoping to increase my knowledge sufficiently to embark on the project here

You won't get a tax exempt III, it'd have to be an earlier II (pre 65'......or is it 62'?) then modding it with injuns & gearboxes could lose you your tax exempt status through the points system.

Try a search on here, the tax exempt points system has been covered in some depth.

Oh, & welcome.

vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973 (historic vehicles)

All vehicles except buses and lorries used commercially, that were constructed before 1 January 1973 may tax in the 'historic vehicle' tax class.

Were it? Thought it'd said somewhere on here that it was earlier. There you go then. Someone's had their Weetabix & my anorak's at the cleaners.

Yeah the first 3 years of SIII are tax exempt. 70,71,72. Ive seen some 73s which claim to be tax exempt.

Did some research on the points system.. I'd only do bits which have serial numbers on the V5 for the re-registration of a rebuilt vehicle. I think enough points would be kept. I'd be keeping the original axles, transfer case, mechanicals, body, interior. it'd be like Change the engine, register the change.. wait a few months.. do the rest



I've got... another vehicle to use during the work *phew* but i can't say what it is here because it isn't a landie and i dont want to be brutally murdered.. lol

From what I gather, Fitting a Ford Transit 2.5Di (banana manifold) engine is the way forward for a series diesel. I have considered a modified Perkins Prima, like that i used to have in my (quite modified) Maestro TD - that car went like dookie off a hot spoon (Est. 150bhp before gas - i had a wet nitrous fogger on it - another 50bhp) but I want to go quite long on the high ratio gears (R380, disco high ratio, possible o/d) and i'm not sure it'd have the guts to move it.
According to some articles i have read, people have put 2.5Di's into series landies and attained 40+mpg. Now That's what i'm talking about.

My logic is becoming clear? lol