4.3:1 diffs from Rover P4 cars

[joeguttridge1662]

I am gradually disposing of rover P4 stuff this winter. When I used my S2a everyday, I fitted a pair of P4 4.3:1 diffs which worked well. I now have a fairey overdrive and no longer need the 4.3: diffs. Are they still a favourite for series landrovers and is there any demand for them. I am in the midlands, west Leics. I am not sure if it s permitted to include mobile numbers and/or email addresses, but I am happy to share them if it is permitted. I also have quite a bit of Series stuff, including the mortal remains of a very early S2 (141800120) which, despite having a heritage certificate from the motor museum, DVLC refused point blank to give a V5C for. I learned my lesson and now keep a country mile from them. Anyway, the mortal remains are there, although the axles driveline are later (and completely derelict). It originally had the 2 litre engine and the hole for the exhaust is still on the inner wing, I think. DVLC never really revealed why they did as they did, but the chassis plate I had with the car looked to be a later, badly stamped replacement and I think that outweighed the heritage certificate, believe it or not!. But it has a tree or 2 growing through it at present and it will be a while before I get round to pulling it out.

[Peter Holden]

4.3 diffs are still sought after.

As an aside could your DVLA problem have been the lack of a stamped in chassis number on the drivers side dumb iron.  I dont know how long ago you are talking about but did you use the services of the club VRO?

Peter

[joeguttridge1662]

The dumbiron had been changed several times by the time I tried to correct the chassis number. I used the s2 for some years, then tried to correct the chassis number on the v5c, which had one too few noughts in it, as you can see from attached. I got in touch with Gaydon heritage archive, who went to some trouble to validate the true chassis number. In the end they asked me to remove one of the galvanised body cappings and send them a photo, which I did. That clenched it for them as the original grey colour was quite unusual at the time of original registration. Why DVLC acted as they did, taking away the v5c altogether without giving any clear reason, I don't know. Possibly they had reallocated the chassis number to someone else (this was at the time Land Rover were rebuilding early cars on old chassis numbers). It frightened me to death, but I didn't push things as another car I have had for 50+ years also had its chassis number wrongly allocated to a later V5c and I was terrified that the same would happen. I attach a photocopy of the original V5c (I was told by DVLC to destroy it), also the heritage certificate

[Peter Holden]

DVLA do not re allocate chassis numbers, they are provided when built by Land Rover and the JLR reborn project was carried out using complete vehicles that still had their original identifiable chassis.  Your chassis number wold not have been used on one of their rebuilds.  I dont know why DVLC would have pulled the plug  but if there was any questionable activity around that chassis number/registration mark then you would have had a visit.

Peter