Corrode Finger

Hi, Long time since i was around these parts, (and apologises if this is in the wrong place/ been asked) but i have a quick question that came about from a chat over the weekend. Person in question has a standard 200tdi 110 Defender, the transfer box is getting abit tired, and will need changing. As the Defender is used on road alot, they are looking at a Disco replacement, to improve high range gearing. However, as most tdi disco etc are pretty long in the tooth, would a Td5 disco transfer box be a direct swap with no adverse gearing affects, or could it actually provide better hi range ratio's? Equally they have suggested that they might even keep Defender gearing, so would a Defender Td5 transfer box work? Nice and Quick Question, Thanks Paul.

Umm, interesting comment about the built pre SVA. According to an article in Practical Performance Car(PPC) which discusses mods and SVA etc, this question is asked by the magazine of the DVLA... to quote the published response "Question from PPC.... Heavily modified cars or kits built before 1997 are exempt from a retrospective SVA. How are owners supposed to prove that their car was constructed prior to that date? DVLA... The owner can provide a number of pre 1998 MOT cetificates which give both the VIN, registration mark and which indicate a kit's make/model details. PPC... What are owners of extensively modified cars built after 1997 but that have benn on the road and effectively legal for five years or so expected to do regarding an SVA test? DVLA...Where there is substantial evidence that a vehicle was modified or converted prior to the introduction of SVA in 1997 consideration will be given to changing the vehicle record without SVA being required. However, it is a legal requirement to notify changes to a vehicles details, and vehicles modified to that extent after that date will require the necessary evidence" Equally it is possible if you use one of the online vehicle checks using reg details, for these to be incorrect.... i tried, my kitcar which was SVA'd in 1999, is listed as a convertible but has make and model as UNKNOWN, the V5 i have states Make Robin Hood, Model Exmo. Equally, my ex Hybrid, built here, when doing same reg check still lists as a RRC, as a pickup, but the V5, after a DVLA inspection, who deemed SVA not needed, changed the details and removed the model description from the actual paper document. So sometimes things are not as straight forward as we might like to think.

Have a query on gearboxes, is it possible to use a Land Rover Lt77 or R380 gearbox from a donor RRC or disco etc in a rearwheel drive format? ie without a transfer box, can a Landy box be used in a conventional rwd setup, taking the drive straight from the rear output shaft? I know its possible to source a SD1 box, but they are not as comon as they once were, but there are lots of land rover donors about? Cheers

Agree with sheeppimp, go to local DVLA office, talk to them, arrange an inspection with all necessary paperwork, then they will decide whether it requires an SVA and refer the vehicle to VOSA. Well, thats what happened with my Hybrid, it was deemed a body swap, and the V5 was amended accordingly to reflect the new vehicle description. Telephoning the DVLA was not particularly helpful, from my experience, the local office was better.

As i understand things, the P38 diesel is the previous generation BMW diesel, so on that basis, you might aswell update it and put the TD6 RR esque motor in, on the basis it is newer.

Ok, as its the last one, i'll have it!!

There's a good reason for that , ooh, sorry you meant the truck!!

It seems that this question is current, link to opinions of AA. MSN story on Petrol Prices

I have RAC solutions 1, which is roadside and recovery, only know this cos the renewal card arrived today and saw this thread. Cost, for one person, is £70, and if you do not use them, they give you a no claims discount at the next renewal, i have a 30% discount this year as i have not called them out in the last 12months. Been with them 11years, i keep it up as i see it as an insurance policy to help me get home if i am miles away, if its local i usually get mates to help, as its quicker, easier etc... thankfully not needed recently.

As i understand that scenario........ technically you are 'ringing' the vehicle. As it is on a new 100" chassis, that is now the basis of a new vehicle..... the chassis has ID, therefore it would be SVA and new Q plate.

With reference to the whys and wherefores, and Will's comment on mudguards, i understand that the outside edge of the tyre must be covered when viewed from above, with the wheels straight ahead. Easiest answer to most of these questions that come up would be to Obtain an SVA/ construction manual, from VOSA, ok it leaves everything open to interpretation, but if you build or mod anything with this as reference then you are starting along the correct lines. EDIT to reply to plasticbadger... Again the manual lists the legal dimensions and requirements of light heights, and distances from the outer edge of the truck/ car etc, aslong as these specs are met, and they are measurable, then you have the answer.

Slight hijack to the thread, but if you want a longer wheelbase.... what about 100"? My hybrid, as in link below is for sale.... also its correctly registered with DVLA so if you bobtail it ought to be ok...ahem!! Linky to Hybrid on here

Mine..... at the moment. Its also got a build thread in the Memebers vehicle section... "Another Shires 100" Kingcab"

Given some thought, i think that the body swapping of 'normal' monocoques onto RRc and Disco's has some mileage, just as long as its done with some thought, there some abortions out there, which are a disaster, but then thats possible with most things people build. With regards the freelander onto the RRc, i think its a good idea. Personally, i would approach it as a bodyswap, and go for a result that looks right, seems to be a relatively unexplored idea, some you might be blazing the trail to a certain extent.

Taken from the above web link. Action shot from the beach race.

Ordered mine, look forward to getting them.

Found this when searching around, i know there has been debate previously as to whether it would affect all post 2001 cars or just the new band g cars of 2007(?) I geuss this will impact on all levels of Land Rover registered post 1st March 2001. ITN VED article

Hotrod, Its a mechanically standard 3.9 Auto rebodied RRC, full length chassis, just a hybrid body swap.

Hotrod, I am keen to have a go at trialing, mentioned this last month when the brickkiln site was mentioned, but was unable to attend due to MOT expiry etc. When and where is the next one? Portland seemed a bit far to be fair, for a first time out. Also what are costs, requirements etc?

This is the approach that i took with my Hybrid, i took it too the DVLA, presented it, and let the DVLA determine whether it was in need of SVA or not..... in my case, they decided that it was not in need of SVA, and amended the V5 to the correct designation, in there opinion. However with reagrds to the insurance, my insurer has a engineers report and a full list of the mods as it was initially insured as a RRC Hybrid, mods being those to make it a Hybrid, once i got the new V5, i sent that to the insuance company for their records to prove that it was registered correctly in the opinion of the DVLA. The fact that i have not been requested to SVA my truck by the DVLA, but it is registered correctly, does that mean that i am falling foul of the law, i dont know, but all i can say is, i did everything in my power to get the Authorities that govern the modified vehicles to decide what my Hybrid should be registered as, under their classification system. All i know from my previous experience of SVA with a Lotus 7, was that the SVA was required by the DVLA to determine what a vehicle is when its registered, it is not kept by the owner/ modifier, therefore a correct V5 for the vehicle is the proof that you are legal..... how else do you prove it? The other unfortunate problem for Bish, as has been highlighted, and as i encountered myself with the DVLA, is that they find it hard to classify a modified vehicle that retains one donor chassis, engine, box, axles etc, as this is how they classify the vehicle, in there eyes it is still the same truck, they only way i could 'prove' the point i was trying to make was with a photo of before and after. I understand from my dealings that the 'problem' with a bobtail RRC is that it is still a RRC and still has the same classification categories before and after surgery, therefore it is still the same vehicle..... if it was pickup RRC, that might enable them to reclassify the vehicle, under its body style. It is a case of not fitting the 'boxes' that they require the vehicle to comply with..... very unfortunate for Bish, and i have sympathy as he asked about my experience several months ago before this thread began. I appear to have been the exception when dealing with the DVLA etc for Hybrids.

DVLA man did scrape the new chassis paint off my Hybrid when he amended the V5 at the VIC.

Dont know if chopping 18inches off is 'ok', but seeing as you are in Waterloovile (Hants?), just go down to the DVLA in Portsmouth. Take the details of what it was, what it is(pics help explain to the counter staff), explain what you have done, and see what they say. Receipts if its 'Kit based' etc etc. That is what Dlander and miketomcat did with there vehicles, ( i believe) and they got the V5 amended. It costs nothing, bar time, and the inspector was helpful, when i spoke to them, and they just amended my V5 from RRC to Land Rover pickup for my hybrid, DVLA inspector deemed that SVA was not required.

I will be there, got Hybrid re MOT'd and taxed now!

As fridge has pointed out, older cars 'escape' this. I spose that the newer petrol cars will be hit hardest as petrol has had a higher co2 rating than diesel, hence the large numbers of derv company cars..... cheaper Benefit in Kind tax for the driver. Anything registered before 1st March 2001, escapes the VED rises, if my 2.0 Accord was 1 year newer it would get hit by the higher rates of VED with 224co2/ km Geuss that people will only take notice of the increased VED on cars once they start paying it, so maybe if it concerns you, sell sooner?

You started it!