Series 3 Series 2 & 3 front ends swap

blueant27 · Oct 12, 2018

Hello all newbie here

I've just purchased my first ever Land Rover, after years of wanting one. Since I've been little I've always wanted a Series 2 with a soft top. After years of searching for the right one I actually ended up buying a series 3.

So am I being mad in thinking I can change the front end to look like a Series 2? Is it just a case of swapping some wings and grille?

Below is the same as what I have and the look I want to acheive.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Mingus · Oct 12, 2018

Basically yes, but for the passenger side wing you'll need a hole for the S3 heater still. When i changed my S2a from a S3 front i changed the centre panel and the wing fronts only by drilling out the rivets and putting in S2a fronts.

rob1miles · Oct 12, 2018

I would learn to love the S3, all the series have a nice look, just different. There's someting nice about a vehicle that looks how it should, that gets lost once things are changed between versions.

Clunkbucket · Oct 12, 2018

rob1miles said:
I would learn to love the S3, all the series have a nice look, just different. There's someting nice about a vehicle that looks how it should, that gets lost once things are changed between versions.

I like a nice original vehicle as much as anyone, but if they were all pristine original life would be a bit boring, so I like a nice conversion too, even this:

jamesmartin · Oct 12, 2018

im no expert but id think legally fitting series 2 lights to a series 3 is probably wrong, but then who would know

FlyingPete · Oct 12, 2018

There is a cutoff date at which the minimum distance of the dipped headlights from the side of the car changed, which basically prohibits fitting an early series 2 front on a series 3.

FWIW, I think a series 3 looks better than a series 2

tottot · Oct 12, 2018

You could go for a late 2a look,lights in the wings but metal mesh grill and badge. [ hard to find though.]

Mingus · Oct 12, 2018

Well someone has gone one better and made their 1956 series 1 look exactly like a series 3!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1956-lan...003756?hash=item4b51bec42c:g:P-4AAOSw1CBbvxRV

rob1miles · Oct 12, 2018

That's an odd one. The reg isn't 56 either. "A" is around 62 - 63.

Mingus · Oct 12, 2018

Registered jan 1971....which looks right other than the grill....best bit is that mot expired in 2013!!!!

Remora107 · Oct 12, 2018

Mingus said:
Well someone has gone one better and made their 1956 series 1 look exactly like a series 3!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1956-lan...003756?hash=item4b51bec42c:g:P-4AAOSw1CBbvxRV

The date must be wrong , as there is nothing Series One about that Land Rover. Why would anyone in this day and age devalue their Series One by turning it into a Series Three ? Should it be 1965 rather than 1956 ?

rob1miles · Oct 12, 2018

Good point, '65 is a better match for an A reg.

Mally T · Oct 14, 2018

rob1miles said:
Good point, '65 is a better match for an A reg.

Or you can have the best of both.

my 72 S3 200tdi.

Bobsticle · Oct 14, 2018

My Henry has bits off every series. Including a few that never made it past the Land Rover litter bin.
It still leaks, smokes and fizzes and sparks now and then. It’s a series.

Bobsticle · Oct 14, 2018

Oh and I am offended by having both sets of lights.

Just not for me I’m afraid.

wireman · Oct 14, 2018

Personally I'd leave alone, there are far too many Land Rovers trying to be what they are not, mess about with it too much and it'll lose value. As FlyingPete and jamesmartin state its probably 'illegal' to have your headlight too close together on a later vehicle.

FlyingPete · Oct 14, 2018

Mally T said:
View attachment 160760
Or you can have the best of both. my 72 S3 200tdi.

Saw an overland truck that had this setup. The second pair were LHD-spec for driving on the right, with a switch to select one set of low beams or the other. All four came on for high beam.

Mally T · Oct 14, 2018

Bobsticle said:
Oh and I am offended by having both sets of lights.

Just not for me, I’m afraid.

It's not my personal choice she had that set up when i bought here two years ago.
Don't totally dislike the look but probably will put her back to original in time.

FlyingPete · Oct 14, 2018

I can't quite figure it out- you first look at it and see either a series 2 or series 3, then figure out that it's actually both. I think it looks alright, personally.

Series 3 Series 2 & 3 front ends swap

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