Thread: Series 2a restoration

I managed to get quite a lot pf work done on Wilf over the weekend. Replaced the clutch slave cylinder and the clutch and gears are working fine. Even managed to take him for a short drive with a seat tied to the chassis! Went through the transmission and all gears and all worked fine. Even the brakes kind of worked with a LOT of pumping. That will be the last drive for a long time.



I got all the dash panels out and got all the electrics that were inside the cabin through to the engine bay - I am dreading when it comes to getting all those wires reconnected.

I flushed the radiator and engine and then removed the front panel and radiator. I found the panel was rusted through - looks like a difficult repair.



I also noticed a lot of silicon around the section where the head hose goes into the engine. Looks like someone has tried to stop a leak.

The "rusted through" looks like the headlight bowl, not the front panel - separate part. I'm not sure you can get them new, but should be plenty of good s/h ones about.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The "rusted through" looks like the headlight bowl, not the front panel - separate part. I'm not sure you can get them new, but should be plenty of good s/h ones about.

John

X2. Just to let you know that headlight bowls are the same as almost all pommy cars of the era including the wiring colour codes being the same as land rover. I got two really good ones of an Austin 1800 some time ago as mine were stuffed at the headlight adjusters. Just a note, the new ones are plastic. Hope this helps.

Cheers Rod

Many thanks Rod and John. I did not look too carefully when I took the front panel off - I will add this to the list of things I need to finish the project - the list is not too long at this point but getting longer



Starting to look very bare without all the body.

Next job is to remove the bulkhead. Off to the Simpson Desert for three weeks next weekend - so this might have to wait for a while!

I drove up to Mackay last night to pick up some spares I needed for Wilf. Got a good deal on some back seats, windscreen, doors etc etc. also picked up an oil tank. The guy I brought from thought it was for use with the pto - I will post some people pictures

While I was there I noticed he had an Austin Champ for sale. Not sure why but I brought it. Needs a lot of work but will have to wait 2-3 years until the Landy is done

Another Jeep inspired vehicle? Ugly as sin but then again, it IS an Austin. Hope he gets that restored and keeps it in the community, I can't imagine it's overly common.

Originally Posted by crackers

Another Jeep inspired vehicle? Ugly as sin but then again, it IS an Austin. Hope he gets that restored and keeps it in the community, I can't imagine it's overly common.

Jeep inspired, perhaps, but compared to the Landrover it is very distant from the Jeep. designed by a committee (Fighting Vehicles Research Establkishment), and this shows in the design. Austin was merely the contractor who built them, with almost no design input. Engine is a RollsRoyce B40.

Those in Australia are probably the remnants of the 800 that the AMF bought, although a few may be private imports. Austin built about 400 somewhat simplified civilian versions, with an Austin engine (ex-A70 and a few other models), but I don't know if any of these found their way to Australia. As a civilian vehicle they were a flop, mainly due to complexity and high maintenance requirements (an owner once told me his had over 100 grease nipples - he may have been exaggerating, but not by much).

John

Quite a long time since my last post. Lots on at work and a Simpson Desert trip since my last post. I have made some progress. All electrics now removed from Wilf. I hav got the steering box and column out. The bulk head is just about ready to come out. Now thoughts turning to getting the engine out. Also starting to think about what treatment to give the chassis me how I am going to get him painted.

I was also sutured by this series 1 that I brought. Engine runs. Plan to do a running restoration on it. Needs brakes, water pump, fuel pump and one new spring to get her drivable. Then plan to so full restoration when the 2a is finished. I will start another thread I. The s1 forum.

Strange how addictive these land rovers are!