1987 LR 90 Rebuild. Future licensing problem?

Hi all.
I'm currently knee deep and now financially committed to a 1987 90 County full rebuild.
My initial plan was to just change the chassis to a galvanised item and change the engine from the knackered and wheezy diesel Turbo to V8 petrol and of course everything else that goes with it when changing from one fuel to another.

So I have a rolling chassis with the engine in - so far so good.

The problems really started to come thick'n fast when I started dismantling the old stuff to transfer onto the new chassis...
This wagon is nasty corroded.
Not a problem, says I. ...We'll just replace with new, all the stuff that can't be refurbished.
And that was fine till I came to remove the tub...

Basically, it is as rotten as a pear.
Now, I know some of you are of the mind that ANYTHING can be repaired but take my word for it that this thing is totally gone!

So I've found a breakers that deals just in modern Defenders and he can easily supply me with a full tub and anything else I might need - and herein lies the crux of my question...
Because he only deals with with Defenders from about '05 onwards, the fuel filler is at the rear of the vehicle whilst the '90's is just rear-wards of the drivers door.
Now bearing in mind that the chassis and motor are now already different to the V5, wont having a modern tub be the last straw to licese the vehicle?

The reason I ask is that a friend told me that some canny Landy owners were building very modern Landy's on old V5 chassis to get around paying car tax. And that the Govt got wise to it and have really had a clamp down.
.....Or is he just yanking my chain?

Of course, what I'd really like is to keep the fuel filler where it is but I've not been able to source a good replacement - they're aaalllll corroded.
Ideas, anyone?

They would have to be using the chassis of an early Series III or older. Why would you go to the enormous expense of doing that to save paying the annual tax? Doesn't sound logical to me, so I think he's pulling ya tassle or just talking carp. Someone on here will know for sure.

As for your tub I'm going to be predictable and say are you sure it can't be repaired? There are some very good repair sections you can buy for the bits that rot most frequently. Pictures are needed on a thread like this.

I think the point your friend was trying to make was that you see the odd "Tax free" 90 / 110 around, as it has had the identity from an older Series transferred onto it. Basically illegal.

If you look at the .gov website then you can find the points system. However I am pretty sure that the tub will make no difference. iirc it is not even counted .
Or you could search on here for points system as it gets discussed every few months.


Cheers

neilly said:

I think the point your friend was trying to make was that you see the odd "Tax free" 90 / 110 around, as it has had the identity from an older Series transferred onto it. Basically illegal.

If you look at the .gov website then you can find the points system. However I am pretty sure that the tub will make no difference. iirc it is not even counted .
Or you could search on here for points system as it gets discussed every few months.


Cheers

Click to expand...

I thought he was your friend

Keep the bit of the chassis where the number is stamped, got to be pretty unusual for them to rot out and if the engine is dead cut out and keep the engine number, with both them items you are covered should anything happen in the future.

Thanks for all your replies, guys.
I'll post up some pics of the "horror story" as soon as I can.

....Cheers,
Snotty.

ok.
Struugling to upload images from my photo gallery to this forum....
Lol, c'mon peeps, what do I have to do here?

snotmonster said:

ok.
Struugling to upload images from my photo gallery to this forum....
Lol, c'mon peeps, what do I have to do here?

Click to expand...

Don't use a photo gallery like photobucket ro somethiing like that. If the pictures are on your computer or phone, just click the Upload a File button to the right of the Post Reply button. (Actually Photobucket now want to charge £400 for you to upload pictures. )

Thanks for the pointers, Al2O3.
I've got more "horror pics" if anyone wants to see them but these 2 are a pretty good representation of what I'm up against

snotmonster said:

Thanks for the pointers, Al2O3.
I've got more "horror pics" if anyone wants to see them but these 2 are a pretty good representation of what I'm up against

Click to expand...

Just a flesh wound, that. Easily reparable.
STRIKE PLATE
FRONT OF TUB REPAIR PANEL
HEAVY DUTY SEAT BELT MOUNT REPAIR
I don't think the strike plate repair comes with pop rivets, so you'll need some of them too.
If you look at my avatar picture, that's my tub corner before I did anything with it. It had the same holes as yours once I took it apart.

Not rust this one but damage all the same...

The first two are the steel tub cappings.
HEAVY DUTY GALVANISED CAPPINGS
What's the aluminium of the top of the tub like, under that rust off the cappings?

That last picture showing the hole in the inner wheel arch could be fixed with a patch pop riveted and glued over it.

You'll have to weigh up the cost of the repair panels against the cost of a second hand tub and having the fuel filler in the wrong place.

Al2O3, you're absolutely right: it's the old cost of panels and repairs vs the nearly new 2nd hand debacle.
TBH, these pics are just of some of the nastiness - if I took photos of all the problem areas this thread would be mahooosive.

I'm just reassured to know that the tub isn't on the points system which gives me a bit more leeway and fewer sleepless nights!

Thanks for your comments guys,
..Snotty.

Shame you have already bought the chassis ! I rebuilt my 'G' plate 90 with rear fuel tank and 200tdi looks like a post 2007 with vents

snotmonster said:

Al2O3, you're absolutely right: it's the old cost of panels and repairs vs the nearly new 2nd hand debacle.
TBH, these pics are just of some of the nastiness - if I took photos of all the problem areas this thread would be mahooosive.

I'm just reassured to know that the tub isn't on the points system which gives me a bit more leeway and fewer sleepless nights!

Thanks for your comments guys,
..Snotty.

Click to expand...

Bear in mind that those repair panels are very easy to fit. You cut out the rotten bits of the tub and the repair panels just bolt over it and cover where it was. You need to drill a few holes and apply Dinitrol/Waxoyl to the surfaces as you bolt it all together. The strike plate repair is a little more involved, but not a lot really. I've got pictures of how to do that if you want.
Also, you'll need to buy the new cappings whichever way you decide to go. So, the front end repair might be cost effective.

You can have an under seat fuel tank and fit a tub that has the fuel filler at the rear.

Cheers