Andyducati

Thanks for the replies, Well I've got my frames and lifting beam all sorted, I just need the time to start. Probably on Saturday morning. I will take plenty of photos and post them here and hopefully it will make it into the tech archive. Wish me luck Andy

Hi all, I'm new to this forum but not to Landrovers. Having had 4 over the last 10 years, and still got 3 of them. I too am looking to replace the rotten 3 door body on my disco. The old 3 door is bad but the chassis is mint. Ive also got a 5 door with a mint body but a bad chassis. Ive got ideas on how to lift the body but want to get some opinions. I have access to a large gantry crane and I want to lift the bare shell from the top of the door apatures and the rear door apature. The load will be spread across the door apatures using large lumps of wood and plenty of webbing straps. The load should be spread evenly between the 'A', 'B' and 'C' pillars and around the rear door frame. It will only be suspended long enough for me to pull the chassis out and then lowered onto a trolley. I will be using a lifting beam to ensure the straps lift perpendicular to the shell. I want to lift the body clear of the chassis in one lift rather than prop the body up on various stands in stages My main worry is, is there enough strength in the body structure to lift from the top of the door frames and through the pillars.? Does anyone have any ideas on how heavy a bare discovery 1 shell is? Are there any differences between V8 and TDi bodys? Here's hoping to some fantastic replies !!! Andy 1991 Disco with 5.7 chevy and about 400 horsies 1990 Rangie (standard, (boo)) 1985 Rangie/hybrid with 4.6i 1993 Disco with a holy chassis

I've just had what I consider to be a rock solid confirmation of the requirements for SVA. I have just spoken to Mark Vickers ,who is the chief SVA technical officer for VOSA. He has confirmed that as soon as you cut into the chassis of your donor it is 'no longer' the original vehicle. It then becomes an entirely new vehicle that WILL require SVA'ing as an amature built vehicle. You need build photographs to prove that you built the vehicle yourself, details of the donor etc. As it becomes a new vehicle you will get a new identity, new log book and if you can prove the age of the parts (ie the donor) then you will get an age related plate, other wise you'll get a Q. Therefore, all LandRangers, Dakars, Hybrids, Bob Tail Rangies and any other vehicles where you have to remove part of the original chassis as part of the build, WILL have to have an SVA. Obviously if you are doing a repair and replacing something like for like then thats fine, it keeps its identity. Sorry for the bad news but I thought I would pass it on. Andy