NEED HELP! Civvy body on lightweight chassis?

Hi there,

This is my first post and any input is helpful! I have an opportunity of buying a s3 lightweight chassis for really cheap, I currently have a civilian series 3 that's chassis is rotten to bits.

1) I'm aware that the lightweight chassis is not as wide as the civilian but could I just cut the outriggers off and weld on civilian outriggers?

2) Has anyone ever built a civilian S3 on a lightweight chassis or vice versa?

3) Would it be possible to chop off the straight lightweight rear crossmember and weld on a civilian one

4) would all this work be worth it if I could end up with a civilian spec chassis for under 500

Why would you want to butcher a lightwieght (becoming scarce) just to turn it into another (ten a penny) SIII… :crazy::crazy::confused2::confused2::confused2::confused2:

Would all that work be worth it if DVLA said no? Don't see the point myself. A lightweight is a lightweight and a series 3 is a series 3. Why not buy a Ford transit, chop down the chassis and put a Ford escort body on top?

The reason I was thinking of this is because I have a S3 and the chassis is rotten but my friend has a lightweight galvanised chassis (chassis only no body parts) for sale and he said he'd sell me it for £300 my S3 needs a new chassis anyway so I thought I might save myself a few quid?

I would get out my tape measure
Thats a good price for a galvi ghssis

if you can chop and weld im dam sure you can make the body fit, it cant be that different
As far as insurance goes you are doing a land rover chassis swop

Would it affect the insurance? I didn't know you had to declare a chassis swap?

StuartDowney said:

Would it affect the insurance? I didn't know you had to declare a chassis swap?

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I wouldnt have thought so

any way mines a series on a rang rover chassis and im insured

Spunka said:

I would get out my tape measure
Thats a good price for a galvi ghssis

if you can chop and weld im dam sure you can make the body fit, it cant be that different
As far as insurance goes you are doing a land rover chassis swop

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buy the chassis and flog or swap it for a series chassis ,it would just be a case of swapping supporting out riggers but a real shame spoiling a good light weight chassis

jamesmartin said:

buy the chassis and flog or swap it for a series chassis ,it would just be a case of swapping supporting out riggers but a real shame spoiling a good light weight chassis

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Which do you think is worth more? The lightweight because of rarity of a good Chassis?

StuartDowney said:

Which do you think is worth more? The lightweight because of rarity of a good Chassis?

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both , whats new price £1200

I restored a S3 lightweight a few years ago. I purchased replacement outriggers which are for S3, not lightweight. You couldn't buy lightweight outriggers, maybe still the case. Anyway, I cut them down to size and they fitted okay so I cannot see much problem in using the combination you suggest. You may have to fettle the rear tub mounts, front wing mounts, possibly the steering column through the body, but not much else.

jamesmartin said:

buy the chassis and flog or swap it for a series chassis ,it would just be a case of swapping supporting out riggers but a real shame spoiling a good light weight chassis

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Yup, buy it, flog it or swap for a good S3 chassis.