It's not mine and it's for sale.
I've been telling you guys for ages to get on and do it.:flipoff2:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Land-Rover-Discovery-w-Leather-REDMOUNTAINROVERS-PRESENTS-2000-DISCOVERY-TURBO-DIESEL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14Q QhashZitem35a375a23aQQitemZ230375662138QQptZUSQ5fC arsQ5fTrucks

YouTube - Custom 2000 Land Rover Discovery 2 TDI for sale. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSHmrlNNbvw)

thats RovingBeetle's old rig. It is done right.

thats RovingBeetle's old rig. It is done right.

kind of funny in the ad that there are no pictures of the engine bay.

-ben

the engine bay is fine. i've driven this truck. it's awesome in everyway, just needs some better shocks, axles gears, and lockers and you'll be golden. too bad doug used magic marker to mark the new redline on the tach.:shaking:

Just finished the head gasket on my 2.5 and went out for a road test. Still gutless. So I stopped at the local diesel engine shop and enquired. $5000 canadian for a completely reconditioned cummins 4bt. Tempting, very tempting. time to start shopping for a Disco with a blown V8.

So for you guys that know the truck and the guy who built it.
How did he fit everything in?
Did he body lift or pack the bump-stops to keep the front axle and engine sump apart?
Does it still have an LT230? Why two levers (hi/lo and diff lock) instead of one?

It was strange to hear another rover sounding exactly like mine on video.

it's nicely done. The builer had to have some pretty expensive bits made (Novak I think) to keep the LT230.
Problem is that all the OBDII stuff had to be pulled to convert which makes it difficult if not impossible to run legally in many states . Never mind what the EPA has to say about it if busted. They are on to that around here.

Hi Folks, i'm new here. uh oh, another great forum to frequent.
Funny you should mention the OBD2 dillema relating to this disco, I just bought (have deposit on) this rover. God this thing is sweet, I want to replace the Cherokee with it for the wife (eventually it would replace the Sami and become my wheeler). Anyway, i won the auction at 17K and feel that it is worth every cent, but i am now stressing on the impossible EPA laws to circumvent and fear that i may need to back out of the sale. a few questions i am reluctant to ask in a public forum, but here goes: would it help if this thing were pre OBD2, lets say it somehow can get titled as a 95 (Vt only checks 96 and newer)? would it help if it were originally a TDI LR (which the ad indicted it was, but I did not double check the vin#)? I somehow doubt anything can be done, which must be why the guy had to sell it. I've run into so much of this EPA crap before, but i always tried to deal with older vehicles and have somehow found a way, but post OBD2 seems all but impossible. WTF do I do??? I would hate to back out of the deal with the good folks at the LR shop where it is located, but i may not have a choice, 17K is alot of dough man! Sure would suck to have it impounded and crushed! So the reality is: twice the MPG from stock + running on a renewable, non toxic waste product = illegal (I've been running SVO for 10yrs). Same old rant, still pisses me off like crazy.
Any advice? anyone interested for 17K? the guy poured tons of money and time into it, it is a thing of beauty.
~Mark

YouTube - Custom 2000 Land Rover Discovery 2 TDI for sale. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSHmrlNNbvw) Link to video description

Disco 1 were available (in some markets) with the 200Tdi (early) or 300Tdi (later) engines. Disco 2 were not available with 300Tdi - the TD5 was introduced with the Disco 2.

So no Disco 2 would have been called Tdi or have Tdi stickers/badges from the factory.

AFAIK VW coined the term 'Tdi' with the meaning Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engine.

Both the Rover TD5 and Isuzu 4BD1T are Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engines. So IMHO it is reasonable to refer to them as 'Tdi', but please don't assume the vehicle originally may have had the old 300Tdi engine because of this.

BTW I have a 4BD1T engine in a rangie - they are extremely reliable, can have a unbelievably long life, and tweaked to give good torque and power.

Disco 1 were available (in some markets) with the 200Tdi (early) or 300Tdi (later) engines. Disco 2 were not available with 300Tdi - the TD5 was introduced with the Disco 2.

So no Disco 2 would have been called Tdi or have Tdi stickers/badges from the factory.

AFAIK VW coined the term 'Tdi' with the meaning Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engine.

Both the Rover TD5 and Isuzu 4BD1T are Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engines. So IMHO it is reasonable to refer to them as 'Tdi', but please don't assume the vehicle originally may have had the old 300Tdi engine because of this.

BTW I have a 4BD1T engine in a rangie - they are extremely reliable, can have a unbelievably long life, and tweaked to give good torque and power.

OK, thanks for pointing that out, I thought that maybe LR still used the TDI designation, shows what a noob i am to the LR world. well, it is esentially a TDI, with out the electronic crap, and better yet with a Bosch inline IP - it does not get any better. I do not have experience with the Isuzu, but can see that it is an ideal powerplant for this thing, not to mention the NV4500/LT230 behind it! I still think I may have to pass on it though. I'm waiting to here back from the place, I asked them to check with some other interested parties in states that may be easier. The plan was to keep it forever so I'm not necessarilly worried about resale value, etc. My wife would drive it for 5 years or so and then I'd turn it it into a (street legal) wheeler . Maybe I should get my inspection liscense again, that sure would make life easier (with all my junk). Still don't know what to do, very frustrating.
Oops, did not notice that Dougal already posted the link to vid.

the entire truck is legal. he sold it because he's a professional boat builder and gets that "itch" to build something else once he is finished with it. here is doug's phone number via his website www.desertboats.com :1-207-288-0070. talk to him about it. he'll tell you what you need to know. the guys are red mountain rovers are great, but they don't know anything about the truck. i told them about most of the truck when i drove it.

for sale thread.
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763708&highlight=

Thanks,

I did try to call Doug the past couple of days, i'll keep trying.
That guy does some nice work!
Agreed, the guys at RED MTN are some really good folks, I feel bad that I'm flakin on the deal. If i do end up with it, I will proudly leave the Red MTN tire cover on.

~Mark

for sale thread.
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=763708&highlight=


Oh yea, i read that thread. You know he's got some big money into that thing, not too mention the time it must have taken. You really cannot ask for a cleaner install/better drivetrain combo.

OK, thanks for pointing that out, I thought that maybe LR still used the TDI designation, shows what a noob i am to the LR world. well, it is esentially a TDI, with out the electronic crap, and better yet with a Bosch inline IP - it does not get any better. I do not have experience with the Isuzu, but can see that it is an ideal powerplant for this thing, not to mention the NV4500/LT230 behind it! I still think I may have to pass on it though. I'm waiting to here back from the place, I asked them to check with some other interested parties in states that may be easier. The plan was to keep it forever so I'm not necessarilly worried about resale value, etc. My wife would drive it for 5 years or so and then I'd turn it it into a (street legal) wheeler . Maybe I should get my inspection liscense again, that sure would make life easier (with all my junk). Still don't know what to do, very frustrating.
Oops, did not notice that Dougal already posted the link to vid.

Talk to Mark Letourney at Rovers North, they are a Vermont state inspection facility and know the Grey Market Rover game inside out, they might help make your life a lot easier.

Talk to Mark Letourney at Rovers North, they are a Vermont state inspection facility and know the Grey Market Rover game inside out, they might help make your life a lot easier.

except it's not grey market...

Thanks,

I did try to call Doug the past couple of days, i'll keep trying.
That guy does some nice work!
Agreed, the guys at RED MTN are some really good folks, I feel bad that I'm flakin on the deal. If i do end up with it, I will proudly leave the Red MTN tire cover on.

~Mark

they are buddies of mine, and i usually rock their tire cover for the hell of it. i didn't buy my truck there but i love supporting them.

except it's not grey market...

I wonder if reg'n/inspection grey market is easier then a swap? there's no logic to the system so I can only guess.

What about swapping vin/title to pre OBD2 95 disco (they might look similar enough to the general inspection shop) I know, I know, I'll probably get crucified for suggesting it, I bet the penalties are pretty stiff, federal crime, etc etc etc.
I hate dmv, always have. I remember one time when I was a kid I got shot down trying to reg something at DMV "your paper work is not in order sir", got really pissed and slammed the door really hard, fortunately did not break the window, it was right next to the police station.

Good suggestion thanks, I'll give Rovers North a call for the heck of it, but i think I know what they'll say. I don't really know them, but I sold them a couple of RangeRover parts rigs probly 10yrs ago.

They'll probably be interested to hear about this thing, I should email them a link to the listing. Doing it now.

I doubt that you will have an issue with registration as they will do nothing but verify the VIN matches the title and charge you as much tax as they can get. The civil servants that work there will not know it is a non original diesel unless you tell them.

Have your local PD verify vin, do the registration by mail. The last inspection station I went to did not even hook up the OBD2 reader. No check engine or ABS lights on the dash was all they looked for and everything else was ok.

I can recommend a fast and loose inspection station if you need one.

Dan

no. do not swap. it should be the same as any other truck, although you may need to get it registered as a diesel. i don't know if where you live does emissions testing during inspection or not. in AL, it can have parts falling off and no one gives a shit. :flipoff2:

hell, i could straight pipe my rover if i wanted to. they literally don't care about anything down here. just give doug a call.you're worrying about nothing, if you ask me.

I wonder if reg'n/inspection grey market is easier then a swap? there's no logic to the system so I can only guess.

What about swapping vin/title to pre OBD2 95 disco (they might look similar enough to the general inspection shop) I know, I know, I'll probably get crucified for suggesting it, I bet the penalties are pretty stiff, federal crime, etc etc etc.
I hate dmv, always have. I remember one time when I was a kid I got shot down trying to reg something at DMV "your paper work is not in order sir", got really pissed and slammed the door really hard, fortunately did not break the window, it was right next to the police station.

Good suggestion thanks, I'll give Rovers North a call for the heck of it, but i think I know what they'll say. I don't really know them, but I sold them a couple of RangeRover parts rigs probly 10yrs ago.

They'll probably be interested to hear about this thing, I should email them a link to the listing. Doing it now.

Let me chime in... I am not sure of the VT laws but most states require only a safety inspection for a diesel truck and will not even plug in the obd2 when they hear it chug in. Does this make it legal, no, but it will not be an issue to register, inspect, and drive in most states. I was originally buying this truck from Doug and had followed the build on another site of this truck and it is unreal. I even spoke to my inspection station when I was working with Doug and they confirmed that they would be able to select diesel in there computer and complete the inspection. The only reason I didn't buy it was b/c I was tired of disco's and decided to stick with my defenders. Once I decided not to buy it, I called RedMountain (very close friends) and put the deal together for them to buy it. I told Tim all about it and he pulled the trigger for the price I was getting it for so I don't know what Michaels is talking about when he says he had to tell them what it was... If you want to know more about the truck feel free to pm me.

C-

they are buddies of mine, and i usually rock their tire cover for the hell of it. i didn't buy my truck there but i love supporting them.

Weren't you the guy that was bashing them on dweb? Something about throwing their tire cover in the dumpster? I remember telling someone (you) that you were stupid and dont know what your talking about. Maybe im confused (im not)...

Weren't you the guy that was bashing them on dweb? Something about throwing their tire cover in the dumpster? I remember telling someone (you) that you were stupid and dont know what your talking about. Maybe im confused (im not)...

i wasn't bashing them, but i didn't agree with one the prices on one of their rovers. that was before i was buddies with them. i went down their and apologized to bart's face and tim's as well. fact is they told me that truck was priced high because it's really more of an "advertising" truck for them on their lot as well as when they go to events, rather than a truck they are actively trying to sell, which is part of the reason the truck is priced so high. the other reason is there was a ton of surface rust on the frame and they had a shop completely get rid of all the surface rust and a coat of waxoyl or something similar applied to protect the undercarriage.

if you want, call bart or tim. they know i fully support them and do a lot of favors for them. i've bought trucks on their behalf before and have driven them several hundreds miles so they wouldn't need to hire an expensive tow truck to bring them back.

if i'm not mistaken, you called me stupid for thinking they would end up charging $30K+ for the TDi disco.

either way, i have had several long talks with them and the stuff they do to the trucks before they sell them. Whenever i'm in bham i stop by for several hours just to chat. they price them very well, and although they may not be "quick sell" prices, people respect them and they sell more trucks in a month than the local dealership does in two months. all their trucks get tuned up and anything wrong with them is fixed by a reliable local mechanic. i have driven or picked them up from the mechanics myself numerous times. red mountain rovers won't do you wrong. whether or not yous till think i'm stupid is up to you, but i respect and support them wholeheartedly.

I called you stupid for a couple things you had said. Sounds like you got your head out of your ass so it's all good. Tim and I do a lot of business together and I take it personally when someone speaks negatively upon them w/o justification.

I called you stupid for a couple things you had said. Sounds like you got your head out of your ass so it's all good. Tim and I do a lot of business together and I take it personally when someone speaks negatively upon them w/o justification.

good deal.

to the OP, just get in touch with Doug, and he should be able to help you out. if he won't answer the phone, his email is also on his website.

Here in VT, anything over 95 gets plugged in. I had a 96 VW Tdi which had to get plugged in, funny thing was that it had a CEL on forever, but it took 30 or so sec to come on everytime - enough time to pull it into the shop without the light coming on, and they never gave me a hard time about the code it had, but I don't even think they bothered plugging it in when they saw no CEL come on after starting. However, one time I removed the light and they noticed it did not come on briefly when turning the key and did not pass it. but this car was originally a diesel and the vin confirmed that.
The vin on the LR indicates it's a gas vehicle, so at VIN verification (done at Troopers or DMV) I'm not sure what they'll do, probably not notice anything, but who knows. I'm not as worried about reg as inspection: It has no cat, it will not come up as diesel when they enter the vin# in computer and if they plug it in I'm not sure what they'll see. Its under 8500lb so its treated like a car here.
VT is adopting all these godamned CA laws, maybe I'm making too big a deal over it, but it really could be a big problem.
Rovers North did not want to discuss it with me at all, just said contact DMV.
Thanks a bunch for your replies!

Register it in Maine.

Let me chime in... I am not sure of the VT laws but most states require only a safety inspection for a diesel truck and will not even plug in the obd2 when they hear it chug in. Does this make it legal, no, but it will not be an issue to register, inspect, and drive in most states. I was originally buying this truck from Doug and had followed the build on another site of this truck and it is unreal. I even spoke to my inspection station when I was working with Doug and they confirmed that they would be able to select diesel in there computer and complete the inspection. The only reason I didn't buy it was b/c I was tired of disco's and decided to stick with my defenders. Once I decided not to buy it, I called RedMountain (very close friends) and put the deal together for them to buy it. I told Tim all about it and he pulled the trigger for the price I was getting it for so I don't know what Michaels is talking about when he says he had to tell them what it was... If you want to know more about the truck feel free to pm me.

C-

Hate to disappoint you, but there are several states that won't pass a a 96 or newer vehicle if it doesn't have a working OBD2 port. In Tucson/Phoenix, if they can't plug in the vehicle, it fails, and won't pass until they can read it. Now that doesn't say you can't get a po box in a part of the state where they don't do emission checks and get it taggged...

Hate to disappoint you, but there are several states that won't pass a a 96 or newer vehicle if it doesn't have a working OBD2 port. In Tucson/Phoenix, if they can't plug in the vehicle, it fails, and won't pass until they can read it. Now that doesn't say you can't get a po box in a part of the state where they don't do emission checks and get it taggged...

Your not dissapointing me. I know there are several states that it won't fly, hence the reason i did not say all states. If the state does not require a diesel to pass an emissions test it becomes a matter of how there computer works and whether they have the option to select diesel on the particular vehicle. In NC, diesels do not have to be plugged in and the inspection station computer allows them to select diesel on this particular truck which means it would only need a safety inspection. When I was going to buy it for myself, I had a shop input the vin into the computer and the drop down box on the first screen allowed them to select diesel. With that said, not all states are the same so any potential buyer should do his/her due diligence to see if it will be possible. My point is just b/c its obd2 does not mean it will be a problem (depending on the state) it just makes it a little tougher.

C-

Yea, it is different state to state. I'm afraid in VT it will not fly, unless I get lucky and find a lazy ass inspection shop everytime, which i do not want to rely on. If it were pre OBD2, or diesel to begin with it would be easier - but bottom line is that this vehicle is non compliant, period.

btw, I did speak to Doug today and yes, part of the reason he got rid of it was due to the laws in ME (which are about the same as VT - or soon will be)
C-[/QUOTE]Thanks to all for discussing it with me.

Yea, it is different state to state. I'm afraid in VT it will not fly, unless I get lucky and find a lazy ass inspection shop everytime, which i do not want to rely on. If it were pre OBD2, or diesel to begin with it would be easier - but bottom line is that this vehicle is non compliant, period.

btw, I did speak to Doug today and yes, part of the reason he got rid of it was due to the laws in ME (which are about the same as VT - or soon will be)
C-

Did you talk to them about the title saying diesel on it?

except it's not grey market...

yeah, but they know how to get semi-legal stuff plated in vermont!

Vermont's inspection page.
http://www.dmv.state.vt.us/INSPECTION/INSPECTION.htm

A quote "1996 and new gasoline powered vehicles, and 1997 and newer diesel powered vehicles having a gross vehicle rating of 8,500 pounds or less, must have an On-Board Diagnostics (OBDII) examination as part of their annual safety equipment inspection. "

So you will have to find a lazy inspection station.

Or get it registered at over 8500lbs....

Reading the inspection laws themselves you find the "homebuilt vehicle" laws which have allowed some interesting things, but even there OBD rears it's ugly head:

Homebuilt Vehicles: All homebuilt vehicles 1996 and newer registered as a pleasure car or
truck must meet all the requirements of the inspection manual, including OBD II. Homebuilt
vehicles registered for a special purpose, as listed under definitions are exempt from OBD II,
but must still include at a minimum; adequate tires, brakes, fuel and exhaust systems.

Reading the inspection laws themselves you find the "homebuilt vehicle" laws which have allowed some interesting things, but even there OBD rears it's ugly head:

Homebuilt Vehicles: All homebuilt vehicles 1996 and newer registered as a pleasure car or
truck must meet all the requirements of the inspection manual, including OBD II. Homebuilt
vehicles registered for a special purpose, as listed under definitions are exempt from OBD II,
but must still include at a minimum; adequate tires, brakes, fuel and exhaust systems.

yea, i checked that out too, and I was told that it is a very tedious and difficult process and it must be compliant with all current law. I could probably figure a way to get it on the road, but i do not want another vehicle that is tough around inspection time and i don't have the time to mess with it, already i spent alot of time on all this. I'm passing on the thing, some other folks are interested so hopefully something pans out, if so i'll get my deposit back (which would be nice) , if not they'll split it with me which is fair enough. Well, atleast i met some nice fellow car nuts and learned a bit about LR's and the current DMV BS.
Thanks to all for your time and effort, guess I'll be heading over to chat with the "peasants" on the Samurai board now :)
My Samurai has been stuck in a mud hole all week, my buddy tried to winch me out in his 69 Jeep but his charging system died (My winch is submerged in mud and got f'd up), so we're both stuck. we discovered a whole new sport that night.... hiking.

My buddy has a fiberglass T-bucket replica on a custom chassis with a 700 HP big block. He had to cover the rear tires and install flashers, thats it. And I get hassled about mudflaps all the time.
It all depends on where you get it inspected and how they feel that day, really. If they were to apply the letter of the law exactly, half of all cars wouldnt pass inspection. Here in Quebec we have no annual inspection or smog testing. But the Rozzers can pull you over anytime, find 3 things they dont like about your vehicule and send you to inspection. the rule here is, dont get caught.
I dont think there is anyway around this except to go the homebuilt vehicule route, But your insurance could be hideously expensive if your vehicule is registered as such.

A ticket for uninspected vehicle was only $106 the last time I got one.
I have a friend that made a sticker on his computer and used it for years. VT has the prismatic stickers now so it is a little more difficult to do that.
Register it in any other state and never get it inspected.
DMV or the PD will only check that the VIN matches the title, they will not know if it is diesel or gas. I just bought a Disco from NY and the PD came to where I work and checked the truck. Never started it or looked further than the VIN plate.

Good Luck, Dan

In NYS you can have the title changed to diesel and then the vehicle emissions are not put on the OBDII system. I was told by a guy in Albany that they do not enforce EPA regs.

Still, its best to have a pre-'96 for a swap for obvious reasons.

In NYS you can have the title changed to diesel and then the vehicle emissions are not put on the OBDII system. I was told by a guy in Albany that they do not enforce EPA regs.

Still, its best to have a pre-'96 for a swap for obvious reasons.

You sure about this...I'll have to dig it up (I have a letter somewhere), but I went thru this when I lived and Syracuse and was told unless it's a type accepted vehicle/engine, they will not let you change the title. Basically, if the D2 was available as a diesel in the US, you could can swap the motor to a one of the same model year or newer and therefore it would be a legit swap...the rules could have changed, but I doubt it...

again, I really think it comes down to who you talk to and if at that time they really give a shit...

My Samurai has been stuck in a mud hole all week, my buddy tried to winch me out in his 69 Jeep but his charging system died (My winch is submerged in mud and got f'd up), so we're both stuck. we discovered a whole new sport that night.... hiking.

call me and I'll come winch it out with the willys.

...and I have nothing to add to the thread. DMV, Inspections, rigs newer than '95 are all a pain in the ass. That's why I love my willys...not much required to keep it on the road.

A ticket for uninspected vehicle was only $106 the last time I got one.
I have a friend that made a sticker on his computer and used it for years. VT has the prismatic stickers now so it is a little more difficult to do that.
Register it in any other state and never get it inspected.
DMV or the PD will only check that the VIN matches the title, they will not know if it is diesel or gas. I just bought a Disco from NY and the PD came to where I work and checked the truck. Never started it or looked further than the VIN plate.

Good Luck, Dan
Thanks, but my days of bogus inspection stickers are over. This was going to be my wife's car, and I don't want to worry about the wife and kids getting busted with a fake sticker. Those new stickers will be hard to duplicate, and I bet there is a pretty stiff penalty for getting busted with forging one. I had a friend who taped a marlboro box up on the WS, it happened to be the right color, but I thought he was nuts- it obviously did not resemble a sticker at all, he never did get stopped though. I honastly do not know anyone who has had more no inspection stickers then myself, but that was a while ago and i do not want to go there again.
Interesting law in NYS, NY is pretty easy with alot of things since they are (or were) not reciprical with other states, they do they're own thing. This saved my ass for a long time.

Hey J, thanks. I think it'll come out pretty easy once we get the Jeep out of the way, but come on up and we'll do a little wheelin, I have a ton going on this weekend but will find some time sat afternoon.

My buddy has a fiberglass T-bucket replica on a custom chassis with a 700 HP big block. He had to cover the rear tires and install flashers, thats it. And I get hassled about mudflaps all the time.
It all depends on where you get it inspected and how they feel that day, really. If they were to apply the letter of the law exactly, half of all cars wouldnt pass inspection. Here in Quebec we have no annual inspection or smog testing. But the Rozzers can pull you over anytime, find 3 things they dont like about your vehicule and send you to inspection. the rule here is, dont get caught.
I dont think there is anyway around this except to go the homebuilt vehicule route, But your insurance could be hideously expensive if your vehicule is registered as such.

Yea, those guys with the 600HP Tbuckets - god love em. I guess they get away with it since they're all from the 20's or whatever, all these things are grandfathered in, I don't think they even need seat belts. Gotta love a 600HP T bucket, must be scarey.
I saw a bunch of British cars heading up to the British invasion in Stowe which is taking place this weekend, and i also saw a bunch of rods and muscle cars heading N as well. i assume they're all going to the same place but I'm not sure. any shows up in Montreal? Usually British invasion is British only. On my way to work some poor guy was on the side of the highway in an incredibly nice 55 Chevy rod.

Anyway, the new plan is to have the wife continue on with the Cherokee as a winter car, and drive the 82 MBZ wagon in the summer (my baby)

Drive it home through Virginia, get a PO box, then go to a DMV agent (can be found in some country stores) and register it. We only require that all the lights work and the horn honks. I even know a place where I can put my own sticker put on.

You sure about this...I'll have to dig it up (I have a letter somewhere), but I went thru this when I lived and Syracuse and was told unless it's a type accepted vehicle/engine, they will not let you change the title. Basically, if the D2 was available as a diesel in the US, you could can swap the motor to a one of the same model year or newer and therefore it would be a legit swap...the rules could have changed, but I doubt it...

again, I really think it comes down to who you talk to and if at that time they really give a shit...

Well, a friend registered an out of state titled chevy chassis Grumman gas step van as a diesel and it went through. I don't know if the short wheel base, light duty, single rear wheel, boxes came with diesels originally.

He simply filled out the DMV form as diesel and that was it. The clerk said that he had changed the engine type. He told them that the engine was a diesel and that's how it should be listed on the title and the clerk processed it and it was done.

I know that the NYS DMV computer tried to stop me from registering a 1969 Jeep M715 due to the unusual military VIN. The clerk called her supervisor who overrode the system and I got the registration (as a non transferable, but a week later a new registration arrived in the mail that was transferable).

It maybe one of those things that are best left unsaid (pre OBDII) or at the very least, volunteer as little info as possible.


I recall that the DMV guy said that it could be done and that was all there was to it. I'll have to double check with a guy in the local County Clerk's registration bureau to see if it can be done.

You really can do anything you want with a pre-96 truck and any American make with is also easier, but anything newer is a different animal...

Didn't really mean to cause any hate, discontent or botched sales. Just seen a few VERY disapointed people try to pull similar swaps around here, and thought I might share some of the difficulties they / I have encountered.

Often cars get titled as something they are not due to DMV employees not knowing / caring / varying state law, or whatever. This can be fine until you crash and need to use your insurance and the insurance company runs the vin and finds the vehicle was never sold in the US. You get dropped like hot brick.

The regulatory offices at state level have nothing to lose by letting these things go as they still get paid (which is their job, to collect $$, not dictate legality). The burden is upon the vehicle owner and "I didn't know" generally doesn't cut it so do the homework before jumping in.

Here in NH (a clean air act compliant state?) an inspection shop cannot even issue emmisions inspection pass/fail, as it has been completely removed from the technicians descretion. They have to plug in on line and the state will issue pass or fail. This is VIN dependant and will become the norm over the next few years. It will only apply to post OBDII.

Beyond the OBDII "tampering" infractions, the argument that the motor (Izuzu) in question is a legal swap as it is indeed a US compliant model does not completely stand either as it very clearly states in the EPA engine swapping literature that under no circumstances can a motor from a heavier GVWR class be swapped into a lighter GVWR class. Which is fawkin idiotic IMO, as it rules out the rear engined Cat 3208 powered street legal swamp buggy I've always dreamt of building.

Again, not trying to rain on parades, or pretend that I know everything.....just sharing some of the technical difficulties I have actually encountered.

Autoholic,

I will send you a link that I have shared with a few in your predicament. Best to just keep it under your hat if you go the route I suggest. Board people will make trouble for you. Pun.

Nice pun. "board" people will indeed make trouble. Covering ones tracks with deception is still "tampering" as far as the EPA is concerned only you've now taken it up one notch. You make your own trouble.

Got any relatives in Canada, eh?

Importing a vehicle to Quebec is a pain, Inspectors dont care about OBD or EPA. But you better have mudflaps and no welds or modifications of any kind made to the chassis.

Have not checked in here for a long time... nice thread. :D

I did talk with Mark - hell of a nice guy! And yes I was concerned about the inspection issues and that *did* factor into my selling it a little of course. I'd be lying if i said it didn't. I sold the truck to Tim and Red Mountain Rovers with a clearly stated bill of sale that it was a trail rig for off road use sold as-is etc. I really LOVED that truck and the project.I put a HUGE amount of time and $$ and energy into it. I have nothing to hide from on that truck - it's a nice clean solid driver. i still miss it a lot.

That said, I was just ready for another project or two or three. I have a serious addiction to funky cars and trucks and swapping this into that etc etc. I can not even list all the cars I've owned over the years - last I counted i think I was up over 60 or more. Some really fun conversions too. Another reason for the sale is I was, and still am itching to get a Defender (wifey loves them as do I) and maybe an RRC to use as a winter beater and light duty plow rig instead of using my big ass International all wheel drive 18K GVW beast. (The IHC is for sale too!)

The truck would pass inspection in a lot of states but it is NOT legal in any way shape or form on a Federal level - none, never, no way. Medium duty engine in a light duty vehicle that was never brought to the States with a diesel - double strike - it's simply not gona' fly in some States. Registration is not an issue - it's inspections. You *can* still plug into the OBD2 port, it works fine and well. BUT there are fault codes (evap emissions and 02 sensor levels) and readiness codes.

As for the red sharpie to indicate the redline of the diesel - it looks pretty good,:p and really was meant to be temporary. There were a few things I still wanted to do to it but the deal with R M Rovers went down SO fast i had less than 2 days if I recall to ready the truck for transport on a carrier.

DWeb is down so I am lurking here....

Doug

Autoholic,

I will send you a link that I have shared with a few in your predicament. Best to just keep it under your hat if you go the route I suggest. Board people will make trouble for you. Pun.

Heh, good one pendy. And sure enough trolled a response right after, just as expected.

Just adding a 2nd gear vid of my own 4BD1T. Roughly 0-40km/h

http://users.actrix.co.nz/dougal.ellen/forums/4BD1%20with%20T25.wmv