Chassis number swap onto galv chassis

This must have been covered else where but I can't find it.

Just had my Landy rebuild on a galv chassis. How do I go about swapping the chassis number onto the new chassis?

When I did mine I asked the MOT station. I told them I'd cut the stamped number out of the dumb iron and could provide it if the wanted it and asked what else I needed to do. The answer was so long as the VIN plate was still attached to the bulkhead in the window, there was another plate in the engine bay somewhere (I have one on the top of the brake master cylinder) then he would be happy. Having said that, he has MOT'd my Landy for the last ten years and so knows me and the vehicle. I didn't get the feeling he was saying that just for me though. I only see him once per year!

A set of stamps and a hammer

Richards chassis did mine before they dipped it.

You'll get tonnes of different answers regarding the legality, but at the end of it all you'll see that the dvla system doesn't work for landys.

Thanks for the info chaps. I've taken it abroad on a carnet and will do again so want everything as legal as it can possibly be.

What's the 'official' procedure?

payydg said:

Thanks for the info chaps. I've taken it abroad on a carnet and will do again so want everything as legal as it can possibly be.

What's the 'official' procedure?

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There isn't one...

Well, in as much as the official procedure is to keep the old dumb iron, photos of the rebuild, receipts, etc. Officially you're not supposed to stamp the replacements chassis at all.

payydg said:

Thanks for the info chaps. I've taken it abroad on a carnet and will do again so want everything as legal as it can possibly be.

What's the 'official' procedure?

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As farmershort said I think it can get very complicated with the 'amount of bits that have changed', this is used on a points system or something. I just thought I'll be up front and ask the MOT station. I've got an MOT, so I reckon that's as legal as you need to be. At the end of the day I made an official approach to a registered MOT station and hid nothing.

Legally you can change the chassis with one made to the same spec as the original (Richards is ok) and only need the Receipt to be legal ! you don't need to stamp. BUT if you do not stamp and its stolen someone gets a non traceable chassis

Ok thanks it is a Richards chassis.

My only issue is I'll take it abroad again and if I need a carnet they check the vehicle chassis and engine numbers each time it's stamped and you cross the border.

Is there a way you can get the new one officially stamped again?

payydg said:

Ok thanks it is a Richards chassis.

My only issue is I'll take it abroad again and if I need a carnet they check the vehicle chassis and engine numbers each time it's stamped and you cross the border.

Is there a way you can get the new one officially stamped again?

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No.

Richards offer the service... But marsland say they won't do it as it's illegal.

Just find a garage with some stamps, and show them all of your materials to prove it's yours, and that the old chassis has been destroyed.

The dvla system isn't built for vehicles with separate ladder chassis.

farmershort said:

No.

Richards offer the service... But marsland say they won't do it as it's illegal.

Just find a garage with some stamps, and show them all of your materials to prove it's yours, and that the old chassis has been destroyed.

The dvla system isn't built for vehicles with separate ladder chassis.

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That's interesting. Thanks. Ok, what do you mean when you say not built for separate ladder chassis?

I found this on the DVLA website and I'm going to email them to see if I can get details of what the assessment procedure is (FOI if they're not forth coming)

payydg said:

That's interesting. Thanks. Ok, what do you mean when you say not built for separate ladder chassis?

I found this on the DVLA website and I'm going to email them to see if I can get details of what the assessment procedure is (FOI if they're not forth coming)

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What I mean is that most cars don't have the ability to be swapped cleanly onto a new chassis. Whole chassis swaps for normal road cars just isn't a thing any more. Most people/garages/workshops tend to class the landy chassis swap as a dvla "subframe replacement", as there is a vaugely sensible process for that. Of course this won't cover the chassis number swap.

Things that do require new chassis numbers are things that are radically altered or kit cars - in which case you're into the IVA/SVA process and Q plates.... not a path most landy owners would want to go down. A factory built defender would not pass a kit car inspection test (according to all the things I've read, and people I've spoken too anyway).

I'd be interested to see what the latest response is from the DVLA, but obviously don't give them your vehicle details at this point.

I saw the stamp kits for £12 on ebay yesterday, was wondering whether to do that for some piece of mind.

That said it has passed two MOTs since I did the rebuild with no problems, it's just if I ever come to sell it.

It is only a stamped number. It is only to pair a part of the car with its paperwork. If your doing nothing dodgy then you have nothing to worry about. Many land rovers out there have no number on the chassis and this isnt a problem. My series has no stamp. If there isnt a number on it or your not covering or changing an original number you can stamp whatever you like on it. If questioned about it be truthful and explain you have done it for peace of mind and as a security measure. You could stamp every component if you wanted to.

I'll let you all know what they say.

Fully intend to keep my deets anonymous at this point.

payydg said:

My only issue is I'll take it abroad again and if I need a carnet they check the vehicle chassis and engine numbers each time it's stamped and you cross the border.

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Crossing the bridge at Coldstream seems to have got a bit tricky lately!
Seriously though, what countries are you talking about going to?

Al2O3 said:

Crossing the bridge at Coldstream seems to have got a bit tricky lately!
Seriously though, what countries are you talking about going to?

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On my recent trip to Mongolia the only time our car got its VIN checked in 10+ border crossings was in Turkmenistan and even then they were happy with a sticker under the bonnet!

Al2O3 said:

Crossing the bridge at Coldstream seems to have got a bit tricky lately!
Seriously though, what countries are you talking about going to?

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When you cross into countries that require a carnet de passage they check all vehicle numbers as part stamping the paperwork. This was certainly the case in India, where customs went over the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. The countries that require a carnet include a bunch in Asia and Africa.

payydg said:

When you cross into countries that require a carnet de passage they check all vehicle numbers as part stamping the paperwork. This was certainly the case in India, where customs went over the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. The countries that require a carnet include a bunch in Asia and Africa.

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That's a canny trek in a Defender! Did you get it shipped?

Yeh shipped there and back. Didn't have enough time to drive! Next time maybe...