To restore or leave as is?

Home Guard · Jul 27, 2011

Having just bought a 1961 2/2a (dont know which it is) swb petrol, I dont know whether to leave it as it or to restore it.

It celebrated its 50th birthday yesterday.

Near enough every single part above the engine, gearbox and chassis has been replaced with the part from a late series 3 including the bulkhead.

Is this too much work sourcing all the parts, or if a bought a series 2/2a with a bad chassis/gearbox or engine, would everything else be a straight swap?

And how do I know if its a series 2 or a series 2a? It was first registered 29.07.1961.

Thankyou

Bump · Jul 27, 2011

It depends what you want - having a nice restored landy to drive around in is great, but, if you want it to play around off-road and on lanes, there's not too much point spending lots of time and money on it.

Early Series 2's and 2a's are starting to become quite valuable now so restoring it to its former glory would probably help its value.

If your Series 3 bulkhead is in good condition it will be worth something, but, getting a Series 2 / 2a one in good conditon will be pricey.

As for Series 2 / 2a - where are the headlights - i can't remember the exact differences, but, head lights are always a good starting point - unless it has S3 wings and grill on it?

scrappyloz · Jul 28, 2011

It could be a series 3 that someone has put a 2/2a reg on to make it tax exempt. Its very common

Home Guard · Jul 28, 2011

The headlights are on the s3 wings, but it is fitted with a series 2/2a front panel and the minor differences in the chassis show its a 2a.

Most of the body parts are series 3, but all of the running gear is series 2a, finding a donor vehicle for the bodywork might be an option, but i cant find any local.

Thanks for the advice.

scrappyloz · Jul 28, 2011

Ive got exactly the same problem i have a 66 2a that was half defender bulkhead and series 3 bits and rotten 2a pieces. Ive either sold or scrapped the bodywork remains. You can buy parts off ebay and get them shipped to you. I got an entire engine and box shipped for 50 pounds so a bulkhead etc should be even less

Bump · Jul 29, 2011

scrappyloz said:
I got an entire engine and box shipped for 50 pounds so a bulkhead etc should be even less

Engines don't rust... bulkheads do...good luck finding a Series 2a bulk head which isn't a pile of rust for under £50 delivered! (If you can buy it, don't even hesitate)

tombardier · Jul 30, 2011

or just buy a wreck of a bulkhead and repair it if you're handy with a MIG?

lynall · Jul 31, 2011

Its all in the chassis details.
Take a couple of pics of the chassis front rail and the bulkhead outriggers and post pic up, if you dont want it on forum pm me.

Lynall

scrappyloz · Aug 2, 2011

Bump said:
Engines don't rust... bulkheads do...good luck finding a Series 2a bulk head which isn't a pile of rust for under £50 delivered! (If you can buy it, don't even hesitate)

Lol I meant as in you can buy a bulkhead from anywhere in the country and shipping it will be around 50 pounds. as i got and engine shipped for 50 (not including price of engine (300tdi))

To restore or leave as is?

Home Guard

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Bump

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scrappyloz

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Home Guard

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scrappyloz

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lynall

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scrappyloz

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