o_teunico Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Well, it seems that life is smiling me again. After more than one year of unemployment, this week I have started working again, and just today a good old friend has phoned me to say that he is going to sell his Discovery. Destiny and karma are trying to say something to me! The Discovery is a low mileage 200Tdi, white, as I wanted, and with snorkel, suspensión, winch, ARB and tons of spares. All mods have been MoT approved, so headache free. Problem is that it´s a 3 door vehicle, and I will need a 5 door one. It will be nearly impossible to find a 5 door one from a known owner and in this condition. Since my brother has a 5 door half rotten Discovery, will I be able to create a a 5 door body using the 3 door bodyshell as a base with B and C posts, doors, and aluminium skin from the 5 door body? Has this been done before. A full body swap is not posible because the 5 door body is beyond repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marten Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I considered this when I recently subjected my 1992 3-door 200tdi to a total rebuild/restoration. I think it is a lot of work, but feasible, especially if you have access to the original 5 door to use as a guide, and it constitutes a major change in the eyes of DVLA and you will need a formal inspection and re-issue of the registration document. I decided it was too much hassle, and I get on ok with the 3 doors, so I didn't pursue it further. If you really want 5 doors, go for it! The hinge pillar change is the really tricky bit, but forming the door aperture needs careful thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie D Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Good news on the job and karma front! Seems a shame to butcher the 3 door if it's in good order. Would it not be work livig with the 3 door for a whilst to adopt your needs if required? Dimesionally I beleive the bodies are the same - door frames, sills, etc, but having never stripped a 3 door alu skin off I don't know how far the frame parts sharing has gone - quite far if normal landrover stuff is used as the baseline I'm sure. The B posts are different and there's some extra meatal . inner skins where the rear doors would be - here's a link to a partially dismantled 3 door undergoing sill repairs on another forum.... http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?t=12757 I do know that the rear qtr windows are different - there's two part nos for the seals - so would have to assume that the outer skins at least are different - inner trims different in the very rear / boot. Don't think it would be impossible, once the outer rear qtr is off it would be measure, measure, measure, cut and weld 'B' pillars etc if required. Having the donor is a bonus, just do 1 side at a time - don't know how the spanish vehicle registration system nor mot would accept it? Good luck. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 A solid 3-door is a rare thing indeed, especially here with all the rain! If you're determined to swap, you may find a UK restorer who would buy a solid 3-door body from you. I have a friend who was buying Range Rovers / bodies from southern europe as they were rust-free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o_teunico Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 It will be a shame to cut the 3 door, because it´s so straight, but both grandma an mother in-law have mobility problems that will make it useless as a family car. Body swap will need spanish MoT approval, but beeing like for like swap, there shouldn´t be problems. This is Jose Antonio´s Disco. Now it has a different winch bumper and some more suspension lift. Wheel arches have been bought, but not installed yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o_teunico Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 After more than one year of unemployment, this week I have started working again Karma has decided to change plans. Yesterdsay, after a meeting between our office´s manager and company´s CEO, they have decided to close their premises in Lugo. I have been given the chance to join their team at the Vigo office (200 km from home). I cannot move home now, so will be forced to unemployment again this tuesday. Bye bye Discovery... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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