P38 to Classic Chassis Swap?

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Richardq

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Due to the quite frankly crazy (€1500/yr) road tax here in Ireland for a large engine size Range Rover, I was considering how difficult it would be putting a P38 Rangie body onto say a 1978 classic Rangie chassis. This would reduce tax bill down to €48/yr) Anyone know if it's physically possible?

Thanks R
 
I think/thought/might have read somewhere that the P38 chassis is a variant of the LSE chassis, its 108" wheelbase I think and very wide at the back but chops in narrow at the engine bay so it can turn slightly better than an oil tanker but not much! Not sure about a swap... Duno if this info might be helpful though? You'd maybe needan old LSE... Anything is possible! Good luck
 
what is cc limit?if motor size is problem why not drop a 3.5 staged xbolted short block and staged heads or merlin heads?with right cam should be just as good but probably better than your 4.6.or is that not allowed.seems to be easier than body change lol or sell the p38 and get a classic with the trim hmm maybe a csk or even a leathered classic.or is it the year not motor size?
 
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It's a totally different chassis, different wheelbase and drive train (Propshafts & diffs are on the other side) so whilst I'm not saying it can't be done, it will be very difficult
 
what is cc limit?if motor size is problem why not drop a 3.5 staged xbolted short block and staged heads or merlin heads?with right cam should be just as good but probably better than your 4.6.or is that not allowed.seems to be easier than body change lol or sell the p38 and get a classic with the trim hmm maybe a csk or even a leathered classic.or is it the year not motor size?

Basically, most cars here over 3000cc will incur the wrath of the €1500 yearly road tax. Thats why large engined vehicles lose their value fast as they age here. The only way around this is to have a veteran (over 30 years) vehicle where the tax becomes €48 per year. This is fine for the classic shape ('93 body on a '78 chassis) as my father has done but I fancied the newer shape.

Our Car Tax office doesn't seem to be very strict as long as chassis number matches the log book. Insurance of course a different matter. Thanks for the input. Would still be interested if anyone thinks it would be a complete nightmare.
R
 
No its all to do with cc's here in Ireland. Age only comes into it if its deemed a classic or veteran at which stage cc does not matter, its a flat rate for limited mileage. Its similar for commercial, its a flat rate for all vehicles per weight band.
Thats why the vast majority of 4x4's in Ireland are commercial, low VRT and low road tax. They do a Range Rover Sport commercial here in Ireland, it costs about €50,000 as opposed to €90,000 in passenger form and for a TDV8 its about €150 per year as against €2,000 per year road tax.

Back to the original question, of putting a P38 body on a RRC chassis, I'd say no chance. As Devac said above, different wheelbase, its about 4 inches wider, a foot longer, completely different chassis shape (the RRC chassis rail is more or less straight from front to back but the P38 Chassis rails get wider under the body and narrower under the engine). Its not even related to the LSE, yes they developed the air suspension on the LSE but thats about it as far as relationship goes, the P38 was a completely different design.
You'd spend far more in time and effort than on say putting a soft dash RRc on an older chassis and I think the end result (if successful at all) would be a complete dog. Also remember the P38 has a chassis number behind the windscreen, you'll never get that past an inspector. If the road tax is a big issue why not commercialise it. There are quite a few Landcruiser amazons knocking about with just the boot paneled out, not the back seats, find out how they're doing that.
 
I'm in the process of doing just that, I have a galvanised early chassis, a spare P38 Bodyshell. I will have to extend the chassis, and make a subframe to fit the bodyshell. Going to use the 4.6 engine with a 4 speed auto without all the electronics. The reason I'm doing it is because I love the P38 shape and they don't rust like the early shell. Having said that I have a 95 percent perfect shell here ,open to offers. I should add I have over 40 years of playing with Rangies, and modifying etc.
 
You could get a 1978 classic rangine in need of resto, or a series Landy and do modern resto and interpretation.. that way you would have a classic chassis with a the right body and what ever mod cons you want.
 
How carefully do they check?

Could you get a knackered old chassis, switch the reg plates and then just cut the chassis number out, weld over the existing one then bin the old knackered chassis. Minimal effort and same result as altering an old chassis to fit.

Of course, that might be slightly immoral but 1500 smackers in road tax is pretty immoral too!
 
Could you get a knackered old chassis, switch the reg plates and then just cut the chassis number out, weld over the existing one then bin the old knackered chassis. Minimal effort and same result as altering an old chassis to fit.

Isn't that called in certain circles 'ringing' ??
 
Would a P38 body and running gear fit straight onto a 1984 classic range rover chassis or what modifications would they need?? Is it the correct chassis for a P38??
 
It's a totally different chassis, different wheelbase and drive train (Propshafts & diffs are on the other side) so whilst I'm not saying it can't be done, it will be very difficult

I'm in the process of doing just that, I have a galvanised early chassis, a spare P38 Bodyshell. I will have to extend the chassis, and make a subframe to fit the bodyshell. Going to use the 4.6 engine with a 4 speed auto without all the electronics. The reason I'm doing it is because I love the P38 shape and they don't rust like the early shell. Having said that I have a 95 percent perfect shell here ,open to offers. I should add I have over 40 years of playing with Rangies, and modifying etc.

Did you not believe them?
 
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