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Hi all,
Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, please feel free to flame me and point me in the right direction...
I have some questions on the legality of body swaps. I have a '68 Datsun Roadster that is a Cali import and although the body is scruffy, it's solid. Pretty much every other component on the car needs replacing. So I began to think about swapping the body on to something more contemporary and RHD, luckily the wheel base is very, very close to an MX-5. I would essentially remove / cut off the exterior panels and A pillars of the MX-5, keeping the floorpan, keep the bulk head (with VIN), keep the running gear and suspension in place. I would cut the floor out of the Datsun and fit it over the MX-5.... sounds easy, right?!?
How have others gone about registering their body swaps? I have seen some that are registered using the identity of the body, rather than the car that the chassis, engine and running gear come from... surely it would be an MX-5 dressed as a Datsun rather than a Datsun with a 'bit' of MX-5 gear?!
My preference would be to keep the identity of the MX-5. Does the 8 points system come into play here?
I'd really like to avoid the dreaded Q plate!
Any advise would be very much appreciated.
Thanks.
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Last Edit: Dec 4, 2017 12:50:30 GMT by MattDaKav
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... so I found some talk of the 'BIVA'... and it seems vague about what will get you the base five points to keep the identity of the chassis vehicle; 'unmodified chassis or bodyshell'... so if I leave the MX-5s floorpan including its rails and the power plant frame untouched... is that enough?
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if the floorplans are mostly structurally sound I wouldnt touch them, you shouldnt need to do much to get an alternative drivetrain in there anyway
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if the floorplans are mostly structurally sound I wouldnt touch them, you shouldnt need to do much to get an alternative drivetrain in there anyway I think you mean that you'd just restore that Datsun with a newer motor rather than body swap it... the thing is, it's not registered, I have no import paperwork, its LHD, everything needs replacing, parts aren't available in the UK... so swapping the body onto an MX-5 would be a solution for all of those problems.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Body Swaps Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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What you are suggesting isn't a rebody, you need to get the idea out do your head that it is.
The term 'rebody' in DVLA terms specifically applies to fitting a different bodyshell to an unmodifed chassis on a SEPARATE CHASSIS vehicle. You cannot 'rebody' a monocoque with any second hand parts without loosing it's ID. Likewise, you can't chop any of a monocoque away without it becoming modified and loosing it's ID.
There is no way to legally do what you want to do without a BIVA test. Shouldn't be too difficult to pass one on a reskinned mx5 though, the majority of it will pass without issue.
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Not something I've looked into but I'd ask about using something with a seperate chassis that's already registered (a Herald?) and swap your Datsun body onto that ? Fit a modern engine/box (MX5 ?) and you should have most of what you want, done legally.
* Advise you check the details yourself - I might have totally misunderstood what is possible !
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,555
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Dec 22, 2017 10:12:40 GMT
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I've got a GT6 body amongst my collection of junk and wondered if using a kit car chassis as a base would be possible. It's a bit of an odd idea as a gt6 would make a reasonable chassis to use for something else if it wasn't for the standard rear suspension. The body is nothing more then a decent roof and it would need pretty much everything else to make it usable again anyway. My understanding is that you would have to attach the body to a completely unaltered chassis so not even sure if you would be allowed to drill extra holes in it if you followed the rules to the letter.
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Darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,668
Club RR Member Number: 39
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Body Swaps Darkspeed
@darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member 39
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Dec 22, 2017 18:18:59 GMT
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To avoid a Q - you would build your own basic ladder frame chassis to join the front and rear subframes of the MX5 - you would use all of the MX5 running gear and parts you can, also keeping the MX5 registration Docs.
Onto this new chassis with MX5 running gear you would build your 68 Datsun replica body and the final registration would be via Kit built vehicle using single donor and it would use an age related plate to the MX5 donor - You would need to comply fully with all the requirements of BIVA.
To make life easy build a race replica with no glass unless you have access to E marked replacements - although to be honest it looks like a Fiat Spider/MG roadster so could probably modify parts from those.
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Last Edit: Dec 22, 2017 18:19:50 GMT by Darkspeed
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scimjim
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,503
Club RR Member Number: 8
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Body Swaps scimjim
@scimjim
Club Retro Rides Member 8
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Dec 23, 2017 10:41:20 GMT
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I've got a GT6 body amongst my collection of junk and wondered if using a kit car chassis as a base would be possible. It's a bit of an odd idea as a gt6 would make a reasonable chassis to use for something else if it wasn't for the standard rear suspension. The body is nothing more then a decent roof and it would need pretty much everything else to make it usable again anyway. My understanding is that you would have to attach the body to a completely unaltered chassis so not even sure if you would be allowed to drill extra holes in it if you followed the rules to the letter. It can be done, there’s a Westfield seight wearing a Scimitar coupe body You can alter the mounting points within the regs.
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,555
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Dec 23, 2017 11:01:50 GMT
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It can be done, there’s a Westfield seight wearing a Scimitar coupe body You can alter the mounting points within the regs.[/quote] Thats interesting, A Scimitar chassis could make quite a good base for a body swap. Probably worked out cheaper to do that then rebuild all the standard running gear and you would get better suspension and brakes in with the bigger engine. Could you add a welded on cage to effectively make a spaceframe ? I will have to go and read the rules. I think I am right in saying the MX5 based kits like the Tribute only bolt on panels are removed and the only mod to the actual shell is to mod the rear arches.
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Darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,668
Club RR Member Number: 39
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Body Swaps Darkspeed
@darkspeed
Club Retro Rides Member 39
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Dec 23, 2017 12:08:33 GMT
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I think I am right in saying the MX5 based kits like the Tribute only bolt on panels are removed and the only mod to the actual shell is to mod the rear arches. The instructions on the rear arches is that they only need "rolling out" as its a monocoque and the rear arches are welded on they are considered part of the monocoque so only rolling can be advised.
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scimjim
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,503
Club RR Member Number: 8
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Body Swaps scimjim
@scimjim
Club Retro Rides Member 8
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Dec 23, 2017 15:34:22 GMT
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As long as you’re not cutting bits off - the regs don’t say anything about gentle shaping with a sledgehammer
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Dec 23, 2017 16:58:11 GMT
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I'm the guy who clarified EXACTLY how to do body swaps onto rolling chassis ( which a monocoque cut to sill level ISN'T ).There's a specific way to fit bodies that needs adhering to for legality and no issues registering plus specific photos required . Last one I helped with was a twin engined motor on a taxi chassis two seater . One took 6 months to sort out due to too MANY photos and over zealous DVLA employee . Car was 100% legal but needed to BEG to get SGS to look at it to confirm.
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Last Edit: Dec 23, 2017 16:58:57 GMT by kapri
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Dec 23, 2017 17:20:04 GMT
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kapri many thanks for your advice on these technical questions. I often see conflicting opinions about what is - and isn't legal, which at best causes confusion. You input is always appreciated, thanks again for all your efforts (past and present)
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Dec 23, 2017 18:31:23 GMT
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Thanks Nomad . It's difficult in these internet days when the amount of posts 'you' make decides your credibity rather than actual experience. Don't like to put my credentials up on every single post. To most I'm just another online opinion
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Last Edit: Dec 23, 2017 18:32:14 GMT by kapri
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Dec 23, 2017 22:54:23 GMT
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Put 8n google nissan joins force with trojan and you will see my body swap all legal with the help of Kev.
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Peace,Max signature height = 80px
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Thanks Nomad . It's difficult in these internet days when the amount of posts 'you' make decides your credibity rather than actual experience. Don't like to put my credentials up on every single post. To most I'm just another online opinion I think more people than you realise know very well that you are the man who knows facts and gives accurate guidance. A lot of people quietly listen, please keep chipping in with facts to help guide anyone who chooses to listen, you cant do more.
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According to the web; the Datsun has a wheelbase of 89.8 inches, whilst a tvr chimaera has a wheelbase of 90 inches.
Assuming the Datsuns body is wide enough to contain the TVR's outriggers (without cutting them down), and you fancy the wide wheelarch look...that's what I'd be looking at as an option
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Sorry to revise an old post, but.....
I’ve read the above and still a little unclear. Can I double check. If I wanted to chop to outer panels and roof off a modern 2000 era coupe and drop the body of a classic on top, it would lose both identities and have to go on a q plate?
Once the work was complete, who do I take it to for an inspection. Is it the Iva test?
Thanks
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Mar 19, 2019 10:15:22 GMT
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Sorry to revise an old post, but..... I’ve read the above and still a little unclear. Can I double check. If I wanted to chop to outer panels and roof off a modern 2000 era coupe and drop the body of a classic on top, it would lose both identities and have to go on a q plate? Once the work was complete, who do I take it to for an inspection. Is it the Iva test? Thanks you would need to register under a q plate some info here www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-altered-vehicles
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