help and advice on 2a restore and rectify project

[Jason]

hi all


i recently purchase what i believed to be a 2a with a V8 fitted and uprated suspension to coils
and in reality ive purchased a shed, mongrel, junker

not deterred by this ive been to see a friend nr Alfreton to put a plan together to spend a few ££££ and make this just what i want
the goal for this project is to get it from this:




to something clean smart reliable correct spec to comply and keep the tax exempt status which it dosnt deserve at present but should start the full rebuild in the next week or two

the current chassis is very ruff and has the usual bits under the window starting to go but the main problem is the back member.
i went to tow a big twin axle mesh side plant trailer off a field the other weekend that me and my mate alex had been logging all day
and when a went to pull off Alex had to shout me as i nearly pulled the rear member off
on close inspection it looks like it is full of filler... very dangerous!!! for this reason i sledge hammered the toe hitch off as it had pulled the nut though the inner layer of the chassis then beat the member back straight and left it at that

so currently brought a later range rover classic engine on electric pack distributor instead of points and a ZF 4 speed box with all the bits to go

have made contact with design chassis (really helpfull chap) for a 88" chassis with coils
and brought the 88" tub to suit
not sure how to get the series grill on with the V8 but that is on the cards too.

my problem is, and where i need some advice
ive been busy scurrying around buying these parts but ive had a bit of a horrible scare when a week or so ago i purchased my first copy of. "landrover owner international"
on page 18 top left they is news of:


this has scared me to go ahead or not
as running RR engine and box, defender axles aint going to comply with the article
and dont want to spend well over 2k and to end up with something that is banned from road use, might as well weld on new rear chassis and member, patch chassis and sell on.

spoke to someone i know who is a 4x4 nut for advice, who is also a member on here. he recommended joining and asking for advice

what's your chaps thought on this article and when is this going to come into action

jase

[lambert]

At the moment the worst case would seem to be that your project could need an iva as a new build. However under the current regs I think it would need one anyway as there is sufficient changes to call its identity into question. Once you have an iva though the new proposals will only mean you can't claim it as an historic so it will continue to need a yearly mot.

[Jason]

thank you Lambert

so it want an iva which i dont see as the end of the world
would this proposal of a new rule still effect what would be my "new build" on new iva
because surly wouldn't all those series TDI convertions it speakes about and image suggesting the tray-backs  just nip over and get and iva up, job done..

[lambert]

This has to my mind been the way out spend your 200quid get an iva and be at peace. Much of what has been reported is hyperbole and miss-information to get a reaction and column inches. Besides it had yet to happen.

[Jason]

thank you again

would the iva mean it will be "Q" reg

[lambert]

Not necessarily depends on if the engine box and axles can be proven to be from the same donor vehicle or not.

[brixworth-alan]

Interesting thread----this is why Ive stuck to original spec for my '66 2a, although with a new chassis, props, rear axle, rad, and a million other parts 'on average' its  circa 1989 :)

[NiteMare]

Interesting thread----this is why Ive stuck to original spec for my '66 2a, although with a new chassis, props, rear axle, rad, and a million other parts 'on average' its  circa 1989 :)

which if it is a truly new chassis to original specification or as the factory would have fitted as a replacement means it would legally keep it's identity

swapping axles, engines, gearboxes like for like or for slightly later Series boxes and engines (again as factory would offer) makes little to no difference

fitting a modified to coil spring chassis would lose you 5 points, then fitting a later engine or "wrong" engine would lose you a couple more, another 1 point each for wrong axles, and a couple for a "wrong" gearbox (LT77) , i think the remainder would be lost with modified steering and springs

you have to keep i think 8 points to legally retain an identity, mess with the chassis and you can easily end up below the required minimum

where problems really come into retaining an original plate is if it's been off the road for a very long time, the registration can and does get lost or may never have been put on the computer if it was "retired" prior to computerisation, then if it has been messed about with and it's components have been changed it can be almost impossible to get back onto an age related plate or it's original registration

anyone with a Series2 or 2a that is in this time period difficulty but believe they have an original vehicle that they'd like to put back on the road with a correctly registered motor should check out the Series2 Club as they're an officially recognised organisation that can and do assist with this...

but forget them passing off a dodgy motor that can't be proved to satisfaction, there is too many identifiers on a landrover linking them to the year they were built if not down to a 3 month period and they just will not do it due to the risk of losing thier recognised "expert" status with DVLA

the only other problem is with CKD motors where age is pretty difficult to prove as there is very little or no record of them, i've an ex-military Skippy (Aussie built) that Gaydon holds no records of and know of two or three other CKD landrovers that aren't recorded in this country, i've had to do lots of research on mine in preparation to going through the club and getting them to affirm i do have the motor i claim it to be

[tack43]

The only thing that is IIA in those photos is the bulkhead and screen - everything else is cut down 90. You are on very dodgy ground if you are claiming tax exempt status and in danger of having it crushed by the powers that be. An IVA will call it "questionable" and give it a Q plate as it is "radically altered". If you like it get it upto scatch and IVA it - bear in mind an IVA is at lot more severe than an MOT and current cost is is about £250 plus £55 registration fee plus about £50 if it needs a retest then it needs to be MOT'ed!
I know this is not what you wanted to hear but it's the reality and if europe get there way that LRO column will be reality too. We won't even be able to service and repair our own cars!

Sorry I can't be of more help