Hello: Land Rover Series 2A restoration

[zoltan]

Hello, I’m Colin. New owner of a 65 Series 2A in need of total restoration, chassis up.

Bit of a LR nut I’m afraid with several projects on the go. Reside in the marshy bit of Kent but inclined to roam far and wide.

I’ve always had a bit of a Dormobile thing since going in a friends parents VW bay van as a kid and thinking that this was just the most exciting go anywhere vehicle. Been on the lookout for a 4×4 camper for a while and recently saw the 2A at the right price. It will be a keeper so I want to do a thorough job. I plan to do everything myself although the retrimming is most likely to be subbed out as a heavy duty sewing machine has not yet made it into my tool inventory.

Anyway, that’s all for now!

[michel.j]

😀 I espere that we shall have photos 😉
Thank you and well courage
You look are not the only one 😆
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=554

[zoltan]

Merci Michel

Vowalla les photos:[attachment=3:3dgctjpe]15022010881v2.jpg[/attachment:3dgctjpe][attachment=2:3dgctjpe]glenn3v2.jpg[/attachment:3dgctjpe][attachment=1:3dgctjpe]glenn7v2.jpg[/attachment:3dgctjpe][attachment=0:3dgctjpe]glenn8v2.jpg[/attachment:3dgctjpe]

Beaucoup de travail n’est-ce pas?

No pain, no gain 🙂

[michel.j]

😀 Yes of the work but with a dormobile, the important is that you have all the spieces,
And there are persons on this forum who began with worse than you 😉
Requests if you want photos

[zoltan]

Yes, mine was quite a sweet deal having all of its parts. I have already got the galvanised chassis which will be painted.

I know it might be considered a heresy but it is likely to get V8 with injection and disc brakes at the front. I am still deciding on this

[Jabbawocky]

Hi Zoltan

Looks a great truck and you have a toilet. They are as rare as hens teeth. If it’s not part of your plans for the rebuild, please post it up north to me.

I am also a bit of a landy nut and have 4 Series 2’s at present (did get up to 8 Land Rovers in the yard at one point). My Dormobile (Barney)is a 1970 2a 6 pot and was in a bit of a state when I got it. The units had been lost, there were no floors, no gearbox, no instruments, the chassis, bulkhead, doors and side frames were all very bad, but the engine did start.

I am glad to say that after 2 years, she is on the road, but is not yet finished. Mostly cosmetic stuff to do, but the original engine is very tired and I am going to drop a 300TDi in for a couple of years.

As for your plans, the v8 is a good engine, but for simplicity of fit, I would drop in a 200TDi and get the 30 mpg it will give you. Also there are no modifications to do to the standard chassis. If your galv chassis is altered for the V8, then ignore what I just said. As for disc brakes, they are expensive, but good. Another alternative is to upgrade to 6 pot brakes and a servo. Being a 6 pot, Barney has these brakes and they are very good.

Will add pictures latter.

Mick

[Indiana67]

Hello Zoltan,

I have been looking for an Elsan Chemical Toilet for some time now. I would be willing to pay £250 for yours, Please let me know if you would be willing so part with it. You can see pictures of a complete Elsan Chemical Toilet at my website:

http://web.me.com/shukait/Dormobile/My_Albums/Pages/Parts.html

Thank you,

Keith Shukait

[zoltan]

Hi Mick and Keith

Thanks for looking.

The Elsan is definitely part of my plans, I had no idea they were so rare. Don’t the new Dormobile Company make them any more?

I’m quite set on the V8 although I do have a 200 TDi ‘in stock’ :o) I know petrol engines whereas diesels are still a new science to me and I am staunchly self sufficient in the mechanical department.

I’m hoping to acquire free wheeling hubs at some stage which should help with the V8 mpg (gpm?) as will a move off of carbs. My 110 CSW V8 is on gas but finding room for gas tanks might be tricky on the 2A which will not be a daily runner. That said, if I could wangle tanks in without spoiling anything undernearth I would consider it

[Jabbawocky]

Hi Zoltan

With Barney being a 6 pot and quite rare, I wanted to keep the 6 pot engine. We looked long and hard at fitting LPG tanks, but decided it was not viable without reducing the usability of the Dormobile. To get decent sized tanks in you would have to alter the chassis. As you have a galvanised chassis, not sure you would want to do that?

Barney when I was told about her

Barney last week

Cheers Mick

[michel.j]

@Jabbawocky wrote:

Hi Zoltan

With Barney being a 6 pot and quite rare, I wanted to keep the 6 pot engine. We looked long and hard at fitting LPG tanks, but decided it was not viable without reducing the usability of the Dormobile. To get decent sized tanks in you would have to alter the chassis. As you have a galvanised chassis, not sure you would want to do that?

Barney when I was told about her

Barney last week
http://www.series2forum.co.uk/Gallery/albums/userpics/10042/Barney%20march%2010.jpg

Cheers Mick

You were very worker and make some good work
😉

[Jonny]

Hi Mick, I hope you are well?

What spring have you got on Barney? The ride height looks quite tall?

I’ll have to replace my springs this year as they are flat and splitting at the rear.

Regards
John

[zoltan]

@Jabbawocky wrote:

Hi Zoltan

With Barney being a 6 pot and quite rare, I wanted to keep the 6 pot engine. We looked long and hard at fitting LPG tanks, but decided it was not viable without reducing the usability of the Dormobile. To get decent sized tanks in you would have to alter the chassis. As you have a galvanised chassis, not sure you would want to do that?

Ive already had my fill of pain fitting the LPG tank under the floor on my 110 and I wouldnt want to undertake the same on the 109 Galv chassis. No. its £1.20 per litre for me ;(

[Jabbawocky]

Hi John

I started off by splitting the original springs, grinding all the rust off, sanding them, painting them with rust killer and then covering them in Graphite grease. The front springs are as you see them. The rear springs were great until we went camping. As soon as I loaded her up, down went the back end. After talking to Phil (Bea) I ordered a pair of 4 leaf Rocky Mountain parabolic springs for the rear axle. They are high at present as Barney is relatively empty.

The shockers are standards on the front and military combat chassis shocks on the rear (they are a couple of inches longer than standard shock). Barney was very interesting to drive after I fitted the new rear springs. The standard rear shocks were too short and every time I went round a corner, the wheels tried to come off the ground. Drives great now I have fitted the extended shocks.

Hope this helps

Mick

[Jonny]

Thank Mick, I was looking to move to a set of parabolics, are the four leaf the heavy duty versions?

John

[Jabbawocky]

Hi John

Info nicked from the RM website.

Rear Springs 73590: Three Leaf
73590 are standard duty three leaf parabolic springs. If you often load your ‘86′ or ‘88′ to the maximum rated load use these springs. Also use 73590 on stock ‘107′ and ‘109′ utility models and pickups with factory hard tops, pickup cabs, and soft tops.
73590 jpg
Spring rate 288 lb/in.

On ‘86′ and ‘88′ models the 73590 spring is the correct choice if you have a Safari roof, use a roof rack, or tow a heavy trailer.
Do not use the 73590 if your standard ‘109′ has a heavy custom camper conversion or other heavy modification to the load area. The 73591 four leaf spring is a better choice in such applications.

Rear Springs 73591: Four Leaf
73591 are heavy duty four leaf rear springs used on ‘107′ and ‘109′ models for service where heavy loading is normal. These springs are usually fitted to five door “Safari” models. If you plan an expedition or have fitted a camper conversion on your regular ‘109′ use these springs.
73590 jpg

Here http://www.rockymountainspares.co.uk/?p=52

Cheers Mick

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