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Thread: Series 2a 109"GS Suspension mods by military

  1. #1
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    Series 2a 109"GS Suspension mods by military

    Hi All,

    I have a 1971 series 2a 109" GS. I know this vehicle has beefier suspension with more leaves, higher of the ground and suspension buffer extensions, but I'd like to know if the army did any chassis strengthening for such a vehicle.

    The reason I ask, is that at the front of my chassis rails, the suspension hanger brackets seems to consist of much thicker steel which would appear to come up both sides of the chassis rail to pretty much the cross member holding the steering relay. I'd like to know if this is normal, or unique to my vehicle.

    I've had to cut out that cross member, which has a weld seam between the front surface and that thicker metal from hanger, i.e. not chassis rail wall, where as the replacement cross member (I suspect a civilian version) has weld seam for front surface between cross member and actual 3mm chassis rail wall.

    Is my vehicle standard in this respect ? or standard after military mods ? or just unique ??

    Any clues welcome

    Thanks
    John

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    Pics would help explain what ur asking about.

    Cheers Rod

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    Not definitive - but:

    Australian army 109s used heavy duty springs. They also used a lift of about 50mm, which was achieved by longer shackles plus extending the fron mounting points for both front and rear springs. In the front, this involved heavy plates welded to each side of the chassis and extending the dumb irons down, and I think you may be referring to these.

    The lift also resulted in extended spring stops, with a box bolted under the rubber stop, and a cutout in the bell housing crossmember for the front prop shaft. The spring hangers, front and rear, have additional holes in the same place as the standard chassis, so it would be simple to remove the lift (need new shackle plates and dampers though).
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

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    Just had a quick look and mine is the same as your description. The front Dumb irons are heavier and look almost like a repair section welded over the original dumb irons.
    My Series III FFR is similar but the bumper mounts are different.

    Probably a Rover Australia mod rather than Army.

    Too dark to take a photo but will try and remember to get one tomorrow.


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
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    JDNSW's Avatar
    JDNSW is offline RoverLord Silver Subscriber
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    Yes. The army did not modify them, they were built like that in the Rover Australia factory in Sydney, probably modifying CKD chassis, at least initially, and possibly building the chassis from scratch later. The army did, however, design the modifications.

    Allegedly, the Australian Army chassis design was adopted by Rover in Solihull as the chassis for the One Ton. (None of these were sold in Australia, and it does not seem that there are any in the country)
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

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    Thanks guys, you have confirmed my suspicions.

    Here's a couple of pics of the outside of each chassis rail, hard to really show the inside as they go right up to the front cross member.

    P1100137.jpgP1100138.jpg

    In the first picture the end of the outer thickening is almost at the right side of the picture.

    Now I just need to figure out the best way to repair it as my right side rail is rusted through on the inside of the original chassis wall where the cross member attaches.

    Cheers,
    John

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    I also looked on remlr, but I couldn't find any documentation covering this mod, has anyone ever come across any documentation on this that they can share please ?

    Thanks
    John

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    I've never seen any documentation of any kind on it - its just the way these came from the factory, and need to be seen as a variant not a modification.
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

  9. #9
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    The specification will be in the original project/contract information from the Army - there would have been a similar project to Project Perentie for these where vehicle requirements would have been specified. As with the Perentie LR would have built the vehicles to these specifications. As indicated, not mods which implies changes after the vehicles were built. Now having said that I am sure the chassis was not designed from scratch by LR but standard chassis were used and then changed (modified) to suit the contract specifications.

    Garry
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    Series 2a 109"GS Suspension mods by military

    John, my SIII FFR doesn't have any of that additional plate stiffening on the chassis. Just the suspension mods. You say you're replacing a rusty cross member. Are you sure that plate is not a previous repair for the same reason?
    Rob
    SIII FFR 2.6; STAGE 1 3.9; RRS 4.4;
    REMLR member 114

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