1998 defender 90 tdi with isuzu engine for import

[guy4ever]

Guys ..please help me.
We are planning on emigrating to Aus.
I have a 90 with an isuzu 2.8tdi engine.
According to the import rules ..it's considered a significant modification and not be allowed into the country.

Please advise how will it be possible to bring it in.?

What's confusing me the forum have modification section ..with defender with different engines.

Please assist me how does this work ?

[Tins]

Guys ..please help me.
We are planning on emigrating to Aus.
I have a 90 with an isuzu 2.8tdi engine.
According to the import rules ..it's considered a significant modification and not be allowed into the country.

Please advise how will it be possible to bring it in.?

What's confusing me the forum have modification section ..with defender with different engines.

Please assist me how does this work ?

I don't pretend to understand the rules here, but I wonder what would happen if the engine was not in the vehicle.

[guy4ever]

Thanks but in order to have the vehicle shipped the Australian department requires an import approval .
To get that the vehicle needs to meet certain conditions being 1.. an original engine or an engine that's been offered from the factory.
My other question now would be...

It I ship the landy with its original engine ...how difficult will it be to at a later stage fit a modified engine...
Could I fit an Isuzu engine back in there?
Will it be a hassle to register?

The forums help and suggestions is greatly appreciated.


Regard

Mellin

[Tins]

Thanks but in order to have the vehicle shipped the Australian department requires an import approval .
To get that the vehicle needs to meet certain conditions being 1.. an original engine or an engine that's been offered from the factory.
My other question now would be...

It I ship the landy with its original engine ...how difficult will it be to at a later stage fit a modified engine...
Could I fit an Isuzu engine back in there?
Will it be a hassle to register?

The forums help and suggestions is greatly appreciated.


Regard

Mellin

Like I said, I'm no expert, but nobody else is responding, so..

Short answer would be yes, you could get it registered with the Isuzu. Heaps of Isuzu engined LRs here, as well as many other types. You would need to have it signed off by a mechanical engineer. The rules vary from State to State, and from engineer to engineer.

Which Isuzu engine is it? The 4BD1 or 4BD1T should present few difficulties, as they were fitted to our military Perentie variants.

Good luck, and a premature welcome.

[guy4ever]

Thanks for your help J ..I appreciate it .
Let's hope it all works out .

It's a 4jb1t intercooled ...it's solid and economical.
I do have the original engine but would prefer to leave the Isuzu in.

[Tins]

I don't know which part of Aus you are coming to, but it doesn't matter really, I'd suggest you contact KLR Automotive - Everything Land Rover & Perentie Making the Best Even Better. (https://klrautomotive.com.au/)

They know Isuzu engined Land Rovers and could probably give you much better advice than me.

[guy4ever]

Thanks Jaytee

I did try calling them they closed till the 9th.

At the moment I'm really not sure where exactly ..but somewhere in Queensland hopefully ..based on my wife's medical appointment.

I just need to figure out how to bring this landy across.
The other is a 2.8i bmw defender..

[workingonit]

...significant modification and not be allowed into the country...What's confusing me the forum have modification section with defender with different engines.

Please assist me how does this work ?

How to import your older vehicle (25 years or older) | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/news/how-import-your-older-vehicle-25-years-or-older)

Quote: Anyone can apply to import an older vehicle and people often get an agent to organise this for them. Either way, an approval from the department is needed before you import your vehicle.

It would seem your vehicle is almost 25 years old. As the guidelines suggest, see if you can contact an agent - they may know of a work around for all your vehicle issues.

I'm not an expert on importing vehicles but a few things might help you equate your situation to ours in regard to modifications.

Each state has it's own Motor Vehicle Registry authority (MOT?), with rules that are generally uniform across all states, but not always.

From the Northern Territory Dpt of Lands and Planning V2 Vehicle Modifications - Minor Modifications in principle do not require approvals, must not affect vehicle safety and may include bull bars, tow bars, lights, manufacturers wheel options etc - Basic Modifications can be assessed over the pits at a Motor Vehicle Registry (MOT UK?) and may include engine substitution as per table LA1 (which of course I don't have, sorry), turbo chargers, substitute seating, seat belts, raising of vehicle up to 100mm. If there are multiple basic mods then TAC (Technical Advisory Committee), the guys who ask for engineering certs etc, may get involved. Significant Modifications and Extensive Modifications are considered to potentially affect vehicle safety and will require TAC involvement.

When doing engine swaps in Oz, to avoid engineering certs, there is a guideline that the engine being swapped in must not be too much more powerful than the original manufacturers engine by a certain percentage - can't remember the exact details - so I would assume a 2.8 over a 2.4 Tdi may not be a significant mod. Again, a 3.9 litre Isuzu 4bd1 is a reasonable replacement the RRClassic V8.

If engine mounts for the 2.8Tdi had to be repositioned then they must be welded in by a welder certified to weld mild steel vehicle chassis's, the welder providing documentation to you to authenticate the work to Motor Vehicle Registry. The welder must be certified to Australian Standard AS 1554.1 for a particular metal type, ie mild, alloy, stainless.

[Slunnie]

I don’t know the import rules either, but it sounds to me that the easiest way will be to refit the original motor, gain your import approvals and then import. Then refit the Isuzu 2.8TD once you’re here.

I suspect the import rules are just to make sure your vehicle complies with the ADR’s (Australian standards), tick that box with a new registration when you arrive and then change the motor. We can change motors here, but depending on what the motor is changed to then they might need engineering approval - yours would require engineering approval. You wont be able to get that done until you get the vehicle into Australia.

I would also check over any other modifications that the vehicle has to make sure you have an understanding of how they are affected by the vehicle modification laws in Australia. There are limits for what you can do with out engineering approval and there are limits for what you can do with engineering approval.

[guy4ever]

Thanks guys appreciate all the advice.
The original engine was a 300tdi and the Isuzu 4jb1t is relatively about the same in terms or torque and power .
Please could someone if possible refer a vehicle agent to me.
Much appreciated
Mellin

[guy4ever]

Hi guys thanks for all the feedback.
Good news we are in Australia.. Rockhampton Queensland
And yes my landies are here too

[oldyella 76]

Hi guys thanks for all the feedback.
Good news we are in Australia.. Rockhampton Queensland
And yes my landies are here too

Welcome to the land of Oz.
Lindsay

[Slunnie]

Hi guys thanks for all the feedback.
Good news we are in Australia.. Rockhampton Queensland
And yes my landies are here too

Great news. How did you end up with importing your vehicle? Were you able to import with the Isuzu motor or did you have to swap back to the original?

[guy4ever]

Great news. How did you end up with importing your vehicle? Were you able to import with the Isuzu motor or did you have to swap back to the original?

Hi and apologies for the late response life has been a busy.
I had to install the original engine in order to have approved.
Well I did that to not experience an issue.
They both are here in central Queensland and I'm using them .
Now to get Aircon working powerful enough. It just blowing enough air out ..it's cold but no ommhh