jstoddar Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 All, The Defender I have recently bought has (what I have been told) a galvanised Discovery chassis fitted around 7 years ago along with a 200TDI engine. I can confirm its galvanised without much difficulty However either due to the fact its galvanised or the fact I am new to all this I cannot find a VIN anywhere obvious. Any tips on where it should be or can anyone identify/comment from the pictures of the front of it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 does it have a 100 inch wheelbase ? as a Discovery would. if it's a galvanised genuine LR chassis the number should be between the right front spring mount & the steering box support arm on the vertical face of the chassis frame. if it was a new build non genuine chassis, it might not have a number or it could have a unique DVLA issued chassis number or it might have if it was a like for like change retained the original Discovery chassis number [probably unlikely as it wasn't rebuilt as a Discovery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco-Ron Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Mmm, kind of looks like the fornt end of a disco chassis, but they appear to have cut the front cross member out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstoddar Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 if it's a galvanised genuine LR chassis the number should be between the right front spring mount & the steering box support arm on the vertical face of the chassis frame. Have had a crawl around with a torch in engine bay and around front right end and could not see anything obvious. does it have a 100 inch wheelbase ? as a Discovery would. What is the easiest way to check this? Have noticed I have no rear springs, just shocks at an angle. Does anyone have a picture of a Disco chassis I could compare with or am I on wrong forum for that kind of response? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicks90 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 hmmm, having a closer gleg at them pictures, why do i get the horrible feeling this is a defender that had a rotten chassis and it was replaced by the previous owner by chopping up a used disco chassis and they painted it with shiny metallic paint to make it look like a 'new like for like' replacement chassis? either way, vehicles identity is now very much in question. As a disco chassis would be classed as a disco on the V5. Plus a disco chassis wont fit under a defender without some butchery - and therefore be classed as a radically altered and need an IVA/Q plate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco_al Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 going on the way the bumper mounts, that's a defender chassis - disco bumpers have the bolts horizontal. it's possible it had a galv chassis fitted with a discovery engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokey_joe Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 From the view of the bumper mounts, it appears to have discovery front bumper mounts, 2 horizontal holes, in the chassis with 2 pieces of tube welded vertically to the front face of the chassis to take a defender bumper. It would appear to be a discovery chassis from the pictures you have given us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Brock Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Sounds very much like you have bought a lemon i'm afraid Defender body on a Disco chassis, or a cut and shut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Have noticed I have no rear springs, just shocks at an angle. Did I read that right? No rear springs at all? What's the weight of the vehicle on, the bumpstops? I think some photos of the underside is called for, especially at the rear axle and crossmember area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Did I read that right? No rear springs at all? What's the weight of the vehicle on, the bumpstops? I think some photos of the underside is called for, especially at the rear axle and crossmember area. My thoughts too. Can we ask where this was purchased from? I presume it was a private sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24seven Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Can you get some more pictures of the underside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstoddar Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 Giving me a sinking feeling here guys after being all excited with my new toy Hopefully its just my rubbish observation and lack of mechanical knowledge in my descriptions that is the issue but I will crawl around and get more photos once home. It was a private sale but the previous owner bought it from a local 4x4 Garage in its current state, I understand they carried out all the work to get it in its current state around 7 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Well assuming it's the picture in your profile it looks to be sitting level so there is something holding the back end up. Are you looking for leaf springs when in fact if it is a Disco or defender chassis it will be coil sprung? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Easiest way to check the wheelbase is with a tape measure If it's a 90, the centres of the wheels should be 92" apart, front-to-back. If it's a 110 they should be about 112". If it's a Disco they'll be 100" apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Easiest way to check the wheelbase is with a tape measure If it's a 90, the centres of the wheels should be 92" apart, front-to-back. If it's a 110 they should be about 112". If it's a Disco they'll be 100" apart. if a 110 it'll be 110 inches between hub centres NOT 112 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 if a 110 it'll be 110 inches between hub centres NOT 112 Knew that'd be wrong - I couldn't remember if it was just the 90 that they used the elastic tape measure on Still 1" shy of perfection though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstoddar Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 Will get my tape measure out as well then, I had realised I would have to measure something Just not sure from where to where Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Will get my tape measure out as well then, I had realised I would have to measure something Just not sure from where to where from the centre of the front hub or driveshaft end [remove the black plastic end cap] to the same location on the rear hub [obviously on the same side of the vehicle] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtyninety Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 from the centre point of a front wheel, to the centre point of the rear wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 .... [remove the black plastic end cap] .... If they used the disco running gear it might not have the little black plastic end cap.... I know that sounds petty but just trying to remove any chance of confusion.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landrover598 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Thats definately a disco / rangy front end of a chassis, you can see where the front body mounts have been poorly cut off the chassis leg, am interested to see the rest of this chassis ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco-Ron Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Judging by the way they've dealt with the front, and left that huge overhang behind the bumper, i doubt it'll be pretty David!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstoddar Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Ok here goes for a major update.... from the centre of the front hub or driveshaft end [remove the black plastic end cap] to the same location on the rear hub [obviously on the same side of the vehicle] Wheel to wheel (on the same side of the vehicle ) 92 Inches. Some "better" photographs: Front Left Rear Left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstoddar Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I may be making the wrong assumption here but if at has the wheelbase of a 90 and the chassis of a disco then they have had to lose 8 inches somewhere. Now the simplest and scariest way to do that is to cut it out of the side rails and weld them back together. Theoretically you could do it with a staggered and reinforced join .... or you could cut and shut then grind most of the weld off for cosmetic reasons leaving a dangerous vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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