Thread: Stage 1 Identification puzzle

Hello,
a week ago I purchased what appears to be an early stage 1 Land Rover, however I am having trouble identifying it.

Unfortunately a previous owner has removed the Australian compliance plates, ( I will try to track them down )

This Land Rover seems to have had two main owners previously, with the person I purchased it from and myself just short time owners, and not driven it due to it's poor Rusty state.

This Stage one is Chassis number 43978 and engine number 22G0011 it will have been built in Australia as far as I know.

I Intend to use the diffs for another series three, but before I do I decided to check what I had first!

There are a number of curious features on this Land Rover the first being that the engine number is a low 11 the information I have seen indicates that it should be 22G00011 however this is not my mistake it is definitely 22G0011. the tag on the rocker cover states that ( the rocker cover at least ) was produced 4th month of 85 which is consistent with the engine having been changed.
There is also a mis match in the engine mounts and flat plates have been welded on, I don't know what went on there? It looks as a different type of engine with engine mounts further forward was originally fitted, ( perhaps an Isuzu Diesel )

There is a couple of crude floor gearbox plates to meet up to the plastic main G/ box cover.

There is a plate about 3/4" sandwiged between the rear of the bell housing and the front of the main gearbox.

The date print on the brake booster is 03ARP76 which seems to indicate that it might have been produced 3rd of a April 1976. It is [possible this may have been chaged I suppose.

I don't know how to read the glass date but it has dots over the A of Perma and over the G of Glass.

I have started to look for the actual chassis number but have not found it yet, I need more information on it's location.

I have a vague recollection that Rover Australia donated Land Rovers to sea rescue groups in the 70's or early 80's, Perhaps this may have been one of those.
There are Costal ( West Australian ) stickers all over it.

The original engine ( which may have been Diesel ) seems to have been replaced with the 3.5V8. because the plates reach backwards 2 or 3 inches to mate up with the Stage one engine mounts.

It is guess work at this stage, perhaps the numbers might mean something to the more experienced.

Mike from Western Australia.

Thank you for sorting out my pictures.
I have now done another search, and solved the mystery

I now see that there is another digit to the engine number making it 22G00119, this is still a low number and seems to indicate that it took till 1985 for 119 of these V8 stage one models to be produced. ( If the engine tag date is correct ) All this raises the question is this vehicle of any historical significance?

I searched around and found a gearstick knob showing 5 gears and realise the chassis nunber indicated that it was originally a 4 speed, that accounts for the gearbox spacer plate and the modified engine mounts, looks as if originally the Stage ones had an engine mounting with two lower attatching bolts either side and not the circular 4cyl type mount with one stud top and bottom.

The fan must have originally been much shorter too.

Thanks for everyone's help,

Mike