Thread: S2a / Defender Hybrid advice..

Wow. Sounds like neat project.

I'm not an engineer but i've built and modified a few cars that required engineering reports. I think you might hit a snag with the SIIa bodywork on a 'TD5' chassis because my understanding is that the chassis is what the compliance plate is referenced to, so things like headlight position will have to comply with the ADR's for the date the chassis was built.

Anyway, for the good oil, have a look at the NSW RTA website. There are listings of Engineering signatories and somewhere in there are PDF's of all ADR's and modification standards so you can see what you want to do and then see if they'll let you. Also don't be tempted to do one thing, have it signed off by and engineer and then change it to what you want. A copy of the report is kept with the RTA and must be produced on demand by Police or RTA inspector...despite the prospect of having a prang and the insurance company getting their nose in it.

It's a great project but have a chat to an engineer before you get really serious and develop a rapport so he/she is involved all the way through and there's no nasty surprises at the end. Have fun!

As said contact the RTA or your relevant state body & an engineer that has done this type of thing before, preferably one who has dealt with LR's.
Look at the compliance plate of the same spec TD5 and check the ADR's that it needs to comply to.

There will be heaps

The wipers will need to be min 2 speed (like Def) and other thinks like TD5 or DEF doors with anti burst door locks, if it was abs, you will have to mount all that crap as well. Heaps of little things.

Big project - but good luck.
Just make sure you know what is involved before your start.
It will/may be easier just to source Def body panels and go from there.

Cheers Dave.

hmmm.. I can't find anything much useful on the RTA site.. but I've contacted them with my intentions.

No ABS so I don't have to worry about that. I was going to try and fit County doors (wind down windows.. but don't have the protruding locks)..

2 speed wipers are covered..

of course it would make a lot more sense to put defender panels on it.. its just a shame that the 2 door hardtop 110s are so damn hard to find. :-( (and AFAIK never came with a td5)

I guess if I kept the defender bulkhead that would cut out a lot of fussing around..

Use a series the 2a tub, roof and windscreen, then defender front half.
They can all be made to fit.

The Def firewall would be very handy and make life lots easier.

Dave.

Originally Posted by DaveS3

The Def firewall would be very handy and make life lots easier.

Dave.

yep - I think this is what I'll end up doing. It makes a huge amount of sense. I'd prefer to keep the series font (if possible) just because I like the look of it over a Defender.

Originally Posted by flagg

This is my first major modification project so I've been relying on the kind advice of others.. Basically I have a 110 Td5 Defender (complete minus the body) which I'm going to put a S2a body on. The defender chassis is being sold to me as a complete unregistered vehicle (not a stat-write off)...

... Thanks guys

Flagg

Check out the DOTARS site http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/safet...tin/index.aspx this has lots of usefull links that specify the requirements that State registration bodies enforce by regulation.

I think under the ADR's for the chassis you are going to have to use the Suffix G/Series 3 mudguards with the headlights in the guards instead of the cross eyed earlier series 2 and 2a style that have headlights which are too far from the body edge. In my opinion the suffix G 2a's were the best looking of the series landies,

If looking for suffix G wire grills, Brian Danielson at land Vehicle Spares Silverdale has a number of NOS ones.

The series 3 windscreens had issues with the bottom hinge post breaking off so if going with a series screen go with the late 2a windscreen and weld the brackets onto the side of the firewall.

You will find that the rear body supports will match the 2a tub but the front brackets are missing. You could salvage these from a 2a chassis or make new ones. The front brackets from the current tub will have to be removed.

Have you thought about a bit of a hybrid rear body. Use the 3 door RHS of the body and the LHS of a 5 door. That way you will have easy access to the front of the rear. If you want to use under seat fuel tanks, think about moving the rear LHS door about 6" back to accomodate the fuel filler and will still leave the angle of the door in front of the rear wheel arch. It would be a bit like the classic Rangies and Disco rear side doors.

Addit: Just thinking about your radiator, You were talking about the radiator support/grill panel being reduced in thickness for the 186 engine rather than it being moved 4" forward werent you? Ideally you would mount the original TD5 radiator where is was and fit the body to it. It may require the bonnet catch being dispenced with and then using the 2 hooks as used on the military or Series 1 models.

Regards
Diana

P.S. Is this a Defender chassis which recently rolled after a long central Australian trip?

One point that should be mentioned is that although the chassis dimensions are the same, the axles are not in the same position - as well as the wheelbase being an inch longer, both axles on the 110 are further back. Although this will probably be covered by the wheel arch extensions you will need to fit for the longer axles, presumably standard Defender ones, you should make sure this does not cause problems. Perhaps you could consider using the Defender front mudguards - this would remove problems fitting the wheel arch extensions for example.

Note that antiburst door locks were an optional fitting for Series 3 (standard in Australia in late production) and are a bolt on replacement for the earlier Series door locks.

Diana - I suspect the Series 2/2a windscreen hinges may not pass muster as a pedestrian hazard - that is why the change to the hinges with Series 3. Also, talking of windscreens, expect problems with approval to change to a two piece windscreen, as I suspect the minimum wiped area may not be able to be met without overlapping arcs, which can't be done with the middle rib, or, for that matter, the lower height of the Series windscreen.

Sounds like an interesting project, but it is likely to run into a lot of problems with engineering approval - you will need to be very determined, and do the necessary research to make sure what you want is going to get approved before you start, and be prepared to modify your ideas as necessary.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

... Although this will probably be covered by the wheel arch extensions you will need to fit for the longer axles, presumably standard Defender ones, you should make sure this does not cause problems. Perhaps you could consider using the Defender front mudguards - this would remove problems fitting the wheel arch extensions for example. ...

Flagg mentioned that he was buying the defender chassis as an "unregistered vehicle", which I would assume contains all the drivetrain and axle assemblies.

If he can't get the firewall, he should probably try to get the steering column, brake and clutch pedal boxes. That way the mechanicals required for the compliance of the chassis running gear will be maintained.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

... Diana - I suspect the Series 2/2a windscreen hinges may not pass muster as a pedestrian hazard - that is why the change to the hinges with Series 3. Also, talking of windscreens, expect problems with approval to change to a two piece windscreen, as I suspect the minimum wiped area may not be able to be met without overlapping arcs, which can't be done with the middle rib, or, for that matter, the lower height of the Series windscreen.

Am not sure that the windscreen change was a result of the ADR's in that it was a Worldwide change. Although you could be right about the 2a screen and may find that hybridising the S3 screen to a Defender firewall would be easier.

Regarding the wiped area, Bob Shannon's S2a Ford V8 Hybrid, has removed the centre pillar from the 2a screen and has a single laminated glass with 3 RHS blades spaced across the screen. A bit like the ACCO trucks.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

... Sounds like an interesting project, but it is likely to run into a lot of problems with engineering approval - ...
... John

Will have to get onto bob, he has some paperwork from the RTA which clearly tabulates the engineering approvals required.

What I noticed last time I reviewed it was that the chassis/running gear had to meet the ADR's applicable to the original date of the chassis running gear and the body had to meet the ADR's of the the body. Although there were some exceptions to the rules.
These RTA publications and site may be of assistance: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati.../vsi/vsi06.pdf
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati.../vsi/vsi07.pdf
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...i/vsi_dl1.html

C Ya
Diana