Intrested Newbie

Hi all, I dont own a Land Rover yet but i will very soon if i have my way, im looking for a Series 2/2A SWB hardtop or pickup and i would really appreciate any help and advice i can get before buying, you probarbly get this same question a lot but i have a few i havent found a definate answer to yet.

1. Petrol/Diesel, are there any advantages of one over the other or is one more reliable?
2. Are they fitted with dynamos or altenators and if it is a dynamo can it be changed easily?
3. Chassis rot, where are the worst places and the main places to check?
4. Bulk Head rot, i gather the area around the top door hinge rots, does this lead to problems lower down the pillar and where else should i be checking?
5. What are terminal problems and what should i walk away from?
6. I have seen 3 for sale on sites here in Ireland all need work and all around the 1500 euro mark does this sound a bit too cheap?
7. How much of the body panels etc can be removed by just unbolting?

I'm not afraid of the work that goes into keeping an old landy alive thats part of the attraction for me, i have some but not an encylopedia of knowledge having always owned somthing old (capri or beetle), i have gathered a good few tools over the years aswell including a decent mig welder.

Thanks for any replies and advice and sorry for asking the question you must be sick of answering by now. Colm.

i may have to duck for this but i suggest you join the Series 2 Forum (google) if you are specifically after a S2/2a

there's folks there that will be able to assist you identify exactly what you are buying (there probably is here as well but i consider this more of a generic Series forum)

1 is down to preference/condition, petrols are pretty much easier to look after

2 they can be fitted with either

3 dumbirons, outriggers, rear crossmembers, main chassis rails (everywhere and anywhere)

4 yes bulkheads rot much like the chassis, anywhere and everywhere

5 there isn't a terminal problem

6 i've no idea what 1500 euros looks like i deal in pounds and condition dictates value

7 all of them, some nuts/bolts may need an angle grinder though

we all need to start somewhere so questions are a good starting point

NiteMare thanks for the reply, will have a look for the series 2 site

If it's an old 'un you need to decide if you can afford/want to spend a lot of time fannying around with stuff. For me that's why I bought one...it's marginally cheaper than the ale.

1) petrol/diesel I'm not sure what the price differential is in the republic but here I'd say it's getting to the point that for an original series engine there's not much in it but I'd rather fix a petrol than a diesel and SWB's do go a lot quicker.

2) fitting an alternator - should be a doddle...unless the car is wired for positive earth then there's a bit more to it. Have a look at which side of the battery is connected to the bodywork/engine. Alternators aren't expensive I think I paid about £50 (it turned out I didn't need one so happy to flog you one!)

3) You may need to do some welding. I'm not sure how strict the new tests are in the ROI. Mine passed here with holes you could get your fingers through all over and I've patched the most dangerous ones. I am still happy to bounce it over rocks...

4) As above if the testers are strict...however a bit of practice with a cheap mig and you can sort anything if you can be bothered. For the raw materials find a metal shop and ask to have a rummage in their skip

5) as 3, 4

6) I guess thats about £1200, you'd be wanting something that would pass an MOT for that price I'd say, though maybe you have to pay a bit more over there...

7) As nitemare says, you can spend ages trying to undo nuts and bolts but half the time you either cut em off or spend half a day trying to undo them then the bastards snap off just when you think you've got them undone. Paddocks/Craddocks will sell you new ones for a reasonable price (often cheaper than buying them from fastener shops).

If you get one then fair play to you but do be prepared to become a sad bastard like me that spends half his time ****ing around with a car that is ....nearly.... perfect, apart from things falling off it every time I go anywhere.

Main point is, have you got an understanding missus?

D