from series to defender

hi there, ive had my series 3 for a few years now and i am thinking of getting a defender for when i can drive, ive found a nice one on ebay but it has a cavnvas hood, how hard is it to convert it to a hard top ? and what about insurance, do i have to tell them about the change?
thanks ben

It is very easy to conert to hard top. Just take the hood sticks off and shark tooth rail, bolt the roof on and fit a rear door if you want instead of the drop tail gate. But to be honest, I wouldn't bother changing. Unless the canvas is knackered it will be warmer and drier in the winter than the hardtop and much cooler in the summer. Insurance wise if you do change, if the V5 lists it as a Light Utility 4x4, without specifying whether it is hard or soft top, then I wouldn't bother saying anything. If you do decide to declare the change, it shouldn't make much difference at all