IIa 2.25 Petrol vs Diesel

[Sam]

I am looking for a Series IIa SWB to restore and use as a general runaround weekend vehicle; tow the tinny (500kgs) to the boat ramp; and use on the beach at Teewah and Rainbow in SE Qld.

What are the pros and cons of the petrol or diesel? Which is the most reliable? Which is the easiest to find parts for?

I am looking to restore to original condition, so Holden engine swaps are out of the question.

Thanks in advance,
Sam

[Phoenix]

To begin with, a diesel is almost impossible to find in australia, but the petrol engine isn't a bad piece of machinery.

Series 2A and Series 3 are the most prolific in my area (Not sure about QLD, incisor, outlaw, rocket or ferno will have a better idea.

Parts aren't as prolific as in the UK, but are reasonably available. Also there are plenty of people here who will help you scrounge parts from right around the country.

Good lick on finding a good one, they are a great fun vehicle. Do you know what kind of things to look out for whne looking for a series vehicle to buy?

Oh, and welcome to AULRO style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Sam]

Looks like a petrol then Phoenix.

The main thing I have been told is that look closely at the chassis and firewall area for sign of serious corrosion.

Mechanically I expect that most of them out there will have problems, but I figure everything is repairable, rebuildable or replaceable.

I am fairly handy mechanically and my trusty mig welder is great on aluminium and steel. But I certainly don't want to build a chassis from scratch.

Apart from a compression test on the engine and driving test on the transmission and diffs, are there any other basic tests I can perform on a vehicle.


Another ?, is the SWB IIa registred to carry more than three people?
ie. was their factory seating three across the front and four in the back, like on the old G60 Nissan Patrols.

Sam

[incisor]

Hi

Welcome to AULRO!

the diesel is not as popular as the petrol as it is not real good at sustained hi revs. It was they used in london cabs till they changed to nissan engines.

IMHO you are way better off with the petrol as parts etc are way easier to obtain in this neck of the woods

i have a 59 88" with a holden engine that i want to take back to original and i personaly am definetly going for the petrol engine but will miss the extra power of the 186 in it at the moment,

but i want to get it back to orignal.

[Phoenix]

For more info about buying old rovers, have a look here http://members.ozemail.com.au/~mikeleys/2buy.html

As for seating, i've been asking about such things for ages.

I have a LWB Series 3 with seats for 11 and a soft top.

However, it is registered as a 3 seat Ute (see pics in the gallery of Grover on page 2).

The gregistration papers will say what it is registered to carry, however it is not unusual to have seats for more than the three across the front.

I know some that run people in the back seats, and get waves from cops, but no tickets that I have ever HEARD of (Doesn't mean that it hasn't happened). Just remember that pre 69 (I think) vehicles don't have to have seatbelts if they weren't originally fitted.

[Outlaw]

I picked my S3 Troopy up in January and had to have new boosters for the breaks and seals with the 6cyl LR engine but that was about all. As for registration, they wouldn't give me a safety certificate until I took the troopy seats out of the back and registered it as a ute. As for the 6cyl, not sure if it's just mine or not but it is a very thirsty beast but it crawls absolutely beautifull offroad.

Have fun and good luck... oh, and welcome.

[UncleHo]

Hi Sam
re your quiery about a shorty , if you are towing , a LWB would be better larger brakes 11inch as to 10 inch and better manners with a tinny full of gear, more room for gear in the truck , engines, gearboxes, diffs are the same, as for rego, if it is pre 1970 in Qld it is pre seat belts,and if the standard seats are fitted in the rear should be no trouble as they were an optional extra, if your inspection station complains go to one that knows the regs or check with Transport Dept, as for LWB's I have a 68 2a ex-army troopy fitted with the 4 bench seats (Std Landrover Rear Seats ) and it is regoed as a minibus,

Regards Rocket style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Sam]

Thanks for the advice, especially on the drum size Rocket, didn't know that one.

Next question:
What would I be expected to pay for a LWB IIa 2.25 petrol in fair/good condition (ie. not a ex-Fraser Island rental rust bucket) drivable, but most likely selling unregistred?

Does anyone know of any around Southern Qld to Northern NSW that are for sale?

Sam

[UncleHo]

Hi Sam
style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif You should be able to get a fairly good one for under 3k, check the rear X-member for rust and the chassis above the rear shocker mounts, top face (known rust spots) the front firewall /windscreen support panel, foot well is a prime rust spot ,dont believe the paintwork, a magnet works wonders, Have a talk with Paxton, at British Off Road at Forrest Glen near Nambour on (54 451094) he might be able to put you on to one, tell him that Kevin with the Army 2a dobbed him in. 8) style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif there are lots of rust repair sections available so it is not a totally lost cause it is just a matter of knowing where to source them. :twisted: .

regards Rocket.