v8 110 project - sense check please - rules

Hi All,

i'm about to embark on building a v8 110 defender from scratch. I've done a bit of reading around the rules relating to dvla, etc, and it seems there's more of a rough sensible guide, rather than a definitive right or wrong.

My thoughts at the moment are this:

Get an old v8 110 defender to use as the donor. Purchase a new galv chassis - v8 spec - and get the original chassis number stamped on it. Then destroy the old chassis (apart from the plate, and any stamped sections).

In my mind, having read a bit of the web advice, the above seems to comply with the spirit of the rules... can anyone confirm.

The other factor then is the bodywork.. I was intending to just get any-old-v8 110 defender, and then building up my desired body work from spares or new panels. Am I right in thinking that the bodywork format (softtop, hardtop, station wagon, hi cap, etc) is just a "factory standard mod" thing, so doesn't matter what the donor vehicle has?

If my workings out are correct, then I'm looking for a v8 110 from 1990 onwards.... sadly they're not the most common things around, so I wanted to double check this with this very knowledgeable forum. If I could start out with an oil-burner 110 as a donor, finding a donor would be much cheaper and easier.... but I fear I might run into the IVA/SVA minefield because the engine mounts, and therefore the chassis will be different.

thoughts welcomed.

Thanks

Adam

U can't stamp chassis that's fraud u need to leave new chassis blank in the usual place ie dumb iron but u can stamp anything u want anywhere else u want ref body u can fit a cortina body if u want cos the chassis is the Land Rover

Rollecks...... if its a like for like replacement the new chassis takes the old chassis number and can be stamped as such ... most people just don't bother .

Yes. Like for like. That's the question really. If I start with a v8 defender, then it's a like for like... I assume I can't start with a TDI and get a new galv v8 chassis and just declare an engine change?

farmershort said:

Yes. Like for like. That's the question really. If I start with a v8 defender, then it's a like for like... I assume I can't start with a TDI and get a new galv v8 chassis and just declare an engine change?

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i cant see an issue starting with an old tdi 110 and building as a v8 as long as engine change is declared, and your using the donor with repair and renewal were necessary

If I were to start with a TDI, then the deviations as far as I can see would be:

Engine mounts, engine, and possibly rear axle (for disc brakes)

Going with a TDI donor means I can get the right body style (hard top), but going with a v8 donor means I get the right initial chassis. Just a little confused as to the best path, as TDI hard tops are much more available in the mid nineties.

farmershort said:

If I were to start with a TDI, then the deviations as far as I can see would be:

Engine mounts, engine, and possibly rear axle (for disc brakes)

Going with a TDI donor means I can get the right body style (hard top), but going with a v8 donor means I get the right initial chassis. Just a little confused as to the best path, as TDI hard tops are much more available in the mid nineties.

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theres nothing wrong with swapping an engine in a vehicle or fitting new galv chassis , makes sense to buy a chassis with the right mounts, as that is the only difference, 300 tdi is better as they are the best axles and come with discs all round and a wide choice of ali wheels fit , but no reason why you cant swap axles at a later date

So then you think it'd be ok to start with a hard top 300tdi, and then do a galv chassis swap for a v8 spec chassis, and change the engine as well? I realise the only changes there are the mounts and the engine and transmission, but that may not be how dvla see it, especially as the 3.9 or 4.2 v8 versions were never original defender spec.

I went the other way , fitting a TD6 into an original V8 county Station wagon
Admittedly didnt change whole chassis
If you are buying a complete chassis then buy with V8 mounts. then chassis hasnt been altered by you . The other things like axles etc are basically like for like , as they are still solid axles , and disc brakes were fitted to later 110 rear, always front . The only anomally that you might have is that vin does specify what oe build was , as some have found with LEZ it has to be station wagon if diesel .
Keep all receipts ,so you have provenance and detail of parts engine etc.
If you are changing fuel and size /type of engine then DVLA will require
report that the conversion has been carried out in roadworthy and professional manner , this can usually be satisfied by inspection at a DVSA
MOT facility . This will also supply a verification of engine number , and the other details eg fuel CC etc .
Fitting a replacement chassis does not require notification per se,
retain the chassis leg with the original VIN stamp , this proves destruction of original chassis. There is no reason why you should not stamp the old vin into new chassis . It is immediately apparent to DVSA inspector that
it is not original stamp . It does tho help prove correlation with other
data on the vehicle , to a greater or lesser degree, not that it would be subject to VIC as commercial vehicle , and this scheme is terminating shortly anyway. HTSH

Oh ok, that sounds a bit more hopeful. I was worried about falling foul of the sva point system if the galv chassis wasn't the same spec as the 'donor', plus then the engine and gearbox being different.

One thing that I'm certain of is that I want it to be legal... I'm not going to all of this effort to have it impounded.

It is illegal for you to stamp a replacement chassis yourself vosa will stamp a chassis after a full SVA test with a new number this I know to be true as my line of work used to take me down this slippy slope daily so no it isn't ROLLECKS [emoji90][emoji90]

GATSO said:

It is illegal for you to stamp a replacement chassis yourself vosa will stamp a chassis after a full SVA test with a new number this I know to be true as my line of work used to take me down this slippy slope daily so no it isn't ROLLECKS [emoji90][emoji90]

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My understanding is that many of the galv chassis manufacturers will stamp the new chassis for you at your request, so it can't be that dodgy.

Sva test is to be avoided, hence my questions. I know that replacing a v8 chassis like for like with a galv one should not result in an sva, so I can't see how your sva dependent stamping would work.

Stamping a chassis number onto you're new chassis is like putting a tax disc (when they where relevant) in you're screen from another vehicle its fraud like I said before u can stamp it somewhere else that's you're prerogative but u stamping it in the regular place is not legal [emoji41]but just keep the old dumb iron has proof of initial ownership [emoji41]engine mount replacement on a new chassis is not classed as "RADICALLY ALTERED" as per vosa dvla wording so is seen has being acceptable [emoji106]

GATSO , i think you are getting a little bit confused, the vehicle will not need a IVA , as its now called, as it does not meet the requirement . It is perfectly in order for the marking of the replacement . It is not fraud ( Theft act) , and there is also no intent to deceive , there is nothing illegal , I am not able to reveal further .
Points system is not that specific, other than same types. What you have specified as degree of change in respect of a landrover which is modular does not bring you into the radical change bracket .

ok thanx i can and have been confused in the past (but that was due to a water infection) therefore i stand corrected (said the man in the orthopaedic shoes) and bow my head in shame :beer2::confused2::nothingtoadd:

Seems it is ROLLECKS after all

Alright lads... No need to get into anything...

As I said at the start, I'm aware that there doesn't seem to be a definitive right or wrong answer. I'm just looking for the weight of opinion really.

Anyone else got any other thoughts, or direct experience?

Rusty Spanner said:

Seems it is ROLLECKS after all

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:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:::violin:

Im 95% through my 4.6RV8 110 build. Started from a galvanised td5 rolling chassis. I will just declare an engine change when the time comes.

Great. Thanks... That's the conclusion I'm slowly coming too as well. I guess I just need any old late nineties 110 as a donor now then... Best change my wanted ad.