1958 Series 2 worth saving ?

[gromit]

I recently brought an early Series 2 for spares but I'm considering whether I should save it.

The main reason for the purchase was that it came with the original 2litre motor which would be a spare for my series 1. Currently it has a later 2.25 motor fitted but it needs a lot of TLC.
Major problems discovered so far are :- the rear crossmember needs replacing (rear spring hangers have collapsed), the bulkhead needs a lot of repairs (have yet to investigate the full extent of the rust), both doors and the lower part of the rear door need replacing. The tub needs some panel beating to straighten it out but the hardtop is reasonably straight (only a couple of dents ! ).
Just picked up the 2 litre motor this weekend and found it needs a sump pan (had been sitting on a damp dirt floor and has rotted out) plus correct carby & air filter (Holden one supplied). The engine was replaced some years ago because it had low oil pressure but was still running OK.

Chassis number is 143800557 which makes it a 1958 88" CKD
How rare are 2 litre series 2's and is it worth saving ?

Colin

[JDNSW]

"Is it worth saving?" Certainly not from a financial point of view, but then hardly any cars "saved" are worth it.

However, they are very rare, and most have been converted to 2.25 and the original engine lost in the mists of time. There never were very many of them - in the early sixties I had a 1958 88 that had a factory 2.25, but I don't remember ever actually seeing one with an original two litre engine.

On the other hand, even though it is in pretty bad shape, a Series 2 is probably going to be easier and cheaper to restore than a Series 1 (for example, chassis parts such as the cross member available more or less off the shelf), and even with the two litre motor it is more practical everyday transport than any Series 1. I would be inclined to think it ought to be saved, but this will depend on your situation.

John

[chazza]

It would be a great shame Gromit if such a rare car was to be scrapped now, especially with the 2 litre engine!

My 1958 S2 is a rusty pile of parts, which originally I had intended to take to the tip, before the REMLR boys told me there was only 7 ex-army ones known to survive (I think that number has increased to 13 now).

Your car sounds like an absolute gem compared to mine!

Cheers Charlie

[UncleHo]

G'day Gromit :)

I would say that it is worth saving for historical reasons, as it is the 556 th RHD/CKD vehicle kit built in 1958 and also fitted originally with a 2 litre motor, you could replace the Series 1 2.25 ltre into the Series 2 and put the Series 2 motor into the Series1, the gearbox bellhousing differs from the 2 litre and 2.25 litre, this is an easy fix, transfer the motor AND gearbox from the Ser 2 to the Ser1, and vise-versa, as the gearboxes are the same, the bolt pattern on the bellhousing changed with the engine block change, 2litre motor bolt pattern was top bolts 11am&1pm while the 2.25 top bolt pattern is top =12noon, so it is just a straight engine/gearbox-transfer change, hope that helps:)

remember this is the 556th vehicle in 1958 :D

cheers

[gromit]

Thanks John, Chazza & Uncle Ho,

I had a feeling that the 2.0litre S2 was unusual (John, I think I mentioned it to you at Cooma and you said then that is was quite rare).
Looks like I have another 'project' when all I was really after was a few spares. Problem is I have no undercover storage left so it will end up under a tarp for a while.
The gentleman I brought it from said that the first owner was a contractor that used it for water cartage on the Cardinia reservoir project. Another vehicle with a bit of unusual history (like my Series 1 with the home made welder).
I'd better start writing a wanted ad for the Markets section (someone on the forum has an S2 rear 1/2 chassis that should provide the rear crossmember soon).

Thanks,

Colin

[Shonky]

Hi Colin.

My Landy is a '58 SII which originally had the 2L engine (143800259) and I am restoring it. Like yours, mine needs a crossmember and a firewall, but neither of these things are hard to find.

Go for it mate. Every Landy is worth saving. :)

[dickyjoe]

Hi Grommit

I also have a 1958 Series 2a SWB. Chassis number 143800485.

Like others have said, I would consider keeping it together as a complete vehicle. Mine has had a 2.25 from a Series 2 LWB fittted to it and I wish it had the 2litre.

Rich

[gromit]

Thanks Shonky & Dickyjoe,

Looks like it is definitely a keeper, just wondering how long before SWMBO asks why it's not being stripped down for parts....
Need to be more careful with my choice of 'parts cars' in future :)

Hope to get her running this weekend, 2.25 engine hasn't been run for 3-4 years. If she runs then I'll replace clutch seals and move her somewhere out of the way till I get time to work out the next move.

Colin

[Lordmacclesfield]

Hi just joined the site...noticed you are talking about series 2 1958 2 litre 88" s I have 3 1958 s2s two are very early 143800386 and 143800263 have not picked the other one up as yet but its a 21/4 not a 2 litre . Are these rare cars as i have the makings of a perfect early series 2 , hood sticks capstan winch ,pto, no indicators and sparto side lights on the front gaurds.......?

[Olive Drab]

i got a zenith carby, distributor, and fuel pump given to me. The carby needs the float repaired, a quick solder job. If anyone needs them they are free to a good home. the carby was working fine until the float failed.

[Shonky]

Lordmacclesfield - your earliest one is only 4 chassis numbers away from my "Gus"

Gus is 143800259. ;)

As above, he originally had a 2L.

[dickyjoe]

Very interesting my Series 2 is 143800485. Its amazing to think these CKD units would have been rolling off the assembly line at the same time. Tell me do you Series 2's have the Series 1 gearbox mounts? And do they have the horn under the left front guard in a really hard to reach place? Do you have the badge on the firewall which says it was built by the coach builders in Sydney?

[Shonky]

Very interesting my Series 2 is 143800485. Its amazing to think these CKD units would have been rolling off the assembly line at the same time. Quite! We should have a reunion!

Tell me do you Series 2's have the Series 1 gearbox mounts? haven't looked - been too busy trying to get the firewall off! :o

And do they have the horn under the left front guard in a really hard to reach place? Yep.

Do you have the badge on the firewall which says it was built by the coach builders in Sydney?Yes, but most landies in the country do. ;)

We should have a "Show us ya... Early Series II 2L" thread... :D

[digger]

LORD MACCLESFIELD, would you happen to be from the adelaide hills??
(using the name as my "clue")

if so are your vehicles near the bull creek area?
If so I may have seen them some time ago....


digger

[lro11]

My old 58 with a 2ltr engine lives on Straddie and if I could buy it back I would and I would fix what I did to it when I was young and stupid.

[HughP]

11A Experts
My 11A SWB HT is chassis 24302377a, and engine 25131001b.
So what year is it exactly guys??
cheers
Hugh

[JDNSW]

11A Experts
My 11A SWB HT is chassis 24302377a, and engine 25131001b.
So what year is it exactly guys??
cheers
Hugh

I would think 1962, but that is just a guess - it is only the 2377th CKD RHD 88 2a produced, and I think the b suffix came in about '63.

John

[pop058]

initial info points to somewhere between Oct 1961 & Mar 1963.

paul

[gromit]

Does anyone else have the time to take on a '58 Series 2 complete with it's original 2 litre motor ?

I now have one too many projects and I'm considering whether I keep the S2 or let it go.


Colin

[Shonky]

You should keep it. :)

Its a rareish truck and besides, you're tempting me and I only just sold a Landy to make room. :(

[kaa45]

Does anyone else have the time to take on a '58 Series 2 complete with it's original 2 litre motor ?

I now have one too many projects and I'm considering whether I keep the S2 or let it go.


Colin

Hmmmm.....I was born in '58. Have a car as old as me? :eek: Probably in better shape than me. But, too many projects too. :( I know I shouldn't ask.....how much? Doh! I done it now...........Nooooooooooooooo :twisted:
Cheers
Danny

[The ho har's]

I was born in '58 also and my oldest landy is a '59...hhmmmmmmm


Mrs hh:angel:

[gromit]

Danny,

PM sent.


Colin

[Sideroad]

I was born in '77 and my 2A is a '68, But i would like to go earlier one day.

[pop058]

I was born in '58 also and my oldest landy is a '59...hhmmmmmmm


Mrs hh:angel:

58, a very good year Mrs HH :D

[The ho har's]

I was born in '77 and my 2A is a '68, But i would like to go earlier one day.

I have a '59 '60 '63' '68 x2 '73 '78 '80 couple in between I have to go back and read chassis no's again:(

Mrs hh:angel:

[vnx205]

They hadn't even started making Land Rovers the year I was born. :(

[Landy Smurf]

was plenty for me i want a 200tdi

[JDNSW]

They hadn't even started making Land Rovers the year I was born. :(

They started to make Jeeps (the inspiration for the Landrover) almost at the same time as I was born!

John

[numpty]

They started to make Jeeps (the inspiration for the Landrover) almost at the same time as I was born!

John

So they were made to celebrate your arrival John? :angel:

I'll have to get a '53 one day.

[gromit]

The '58 Series 2 is now in Markets.


Colin