blackwolf wrote:

I may well be wrong (it is hard to keep up with the rate of change of legislation) but my belief was that you could replace the chassis with a brand new chassis of the same design without any impact on the vehicle's identity, you only have chassis-related identity issues with a chassis that has previously been part of another vehicle and registered as such.

No-one keeps a record of axle numbers, so no-one would know if you have changed the axle tube (unless of course you fit a different type of axle, for example change from Rover pattern to Salisbury diff).

You are not "changing" the suspension, just replacing service items.

So in essence you are doing an engine swap from a 300TDi to a TD5, which needs to be notified but as far as I know does not raise identity issues.

My feeling is that you may be overthinking the situation (which is better than erring in the opposite direction).

MarkBrown wrote:

So, essentially an engine swap and a new chassis with some replacement parts used to update the vehicle because that was all that was available. I can’t see a problem, it will still be a 110, just with a later td5. I think when they talk about suspension, steering etc that what is required is the same basic design, so swapping out leaf springs for coils would be a different design. The back axle will still be a solid one, so the same.

The only thing technically that would be different would be the chassis as some brackets would be different, but again the same design and wheelbase, made as a replacement part. I suppose it could be argued that you would be turning it into a td5, but it’s pretty much the same vehicle. The other thing is why swap out the axle? Why not replace like for like - a Salisbury presumably. Then you’ll still have the right one, it then becomes an engine swap. You may need a receipt for the new engine to update the V5 with the correct number. What you can’t do is turn a 110 into a 130 or a 90, or a 100 got that matter, this is a different design ( wheelbase ) I believe that you may be able to turn a 110 into a 127, as I understand that the 127’s stated 110 on the V5, but that’s getting into a pretty grey area, so I wouldn’t do it, plus you’d need one of the right year, presumably.

If you do a chassis swap make sure you cut out the vin number from the old one and either re weld it back on or keep it, you don’t need to inform anyone of this.

Would it not be easier to sell it and buy a rotten td5, then swap the chassis on that?

Retroanaconda wrote:

You’re only changing the engine as far as they are concerned, everything else is the same or replacements of the same type.

Do not inform DVLA, you’ll be into a world of pain dealing with someone who has no idea. Folk have lost their vehicle IDs because of this.

Replacing a chassis and swapping an engine is no big deal, tens of thousands of Land Rovers have had it done with no issues. You are not trying to pass one vehicle off as another and are not trying to avoid tax so DVLA should have no interest in it.

What he said..... The couple I've rebuilt and then contacted the DVLA ended in a world of paperwork, trips to Bristol IVA inspection, Q plates and other .

The words of the inspector are still ringing in my ears all these years later....

"Next time you won't contact us, WILL YOU"

It was a mixture of question and statement!