S2A bit and pieces.

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Originally Posted by B.S.F.

To use a S1 axle casing on a S2a LWB would require to move the spring pads towards the outside of the axle casing. Is there any evidence of that? On a S2 LWB the springs are fitted on outriggers ,on a S1 LWB they are fitted directly to the chassis rails.
.W.

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No, my diff housing hasn't been modified. I've measured the track width and that confirmed it to be a S2 housing. Your half-shaft measurement confirms that I've got the right axle, so this evening I just got off my rear and pulled the diff center.

I honestly thought that the long axle was properly engaging (though it was ~3 years ago that I last tried), but it wasn't. If I try to plug it into either side of the center it just tightly binds in the inner bearing race before the splines even start to mesh. My short shaft slots into either side fine though.

You cant really tell from the photo, but the splines of the long shaft aren't as well defined as those of the short shaft (the "groves" are wider in the middle) and the long axle diameter measured half way down the splines exceeds the inside diameter of the inner bearing race.

I think this axle must have been pulled from a differential that was either given a good flogging or was just well used.

I guess the dodgy brothers fix would be to just file down it 'till it fits, but I don't think I'll do that. :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...016/03/270.jpg

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Originally Posted by S3ute

Hello from Brisbane.

If you are seeking the original Lucas sidelights, indicators and tail lights rather than modern copies they are scarce but not impossible to track down.

There are a few places in the UK and Ireland that source parts for the classic English motorcycles (BSA, Triumph, Norton) and various models of the older sports cars (e.g. MG, Triumph etc) - including the NOS lenses but also the bodies. The lamps used on some Land Rovers were common across a lot of bikes and cars - for example, the Norton Commando 750 had the same Lucas indicator lenses as a Series 3.

I recently purchased a complete set of lights and lenses for my Series 3. Admittedly, it took some searching on the web and perseverance but between three different suppliers I eventually put together a complete set of 8 lights. Prices were fairly reasonable especially for 30-40 year NOS with the "Lucas" wording on them. Quality copies are also available without the "Lucas" bit that are closer in quality to the originals than some of the cheapos on eBay.

Cheers

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I won't have a chance to start making the new wiring looms for at least another two or three months, so when I have the spare time I might just hunt around. I'm not fussed about originality. The lights don't have to be NOS, just of adequate quality, though I am a bit fussy regards to period correctness. Those sealed LED lights suggested by debruiser look quite flash, but I reckon a bit out of place on the old girl. It has to be old fashioned light bulbs, I reckon.

A couple of comments.

Half axles are pretty readily available, and not expensive, although the quality of some are not that flash. (If it was mine I'd just dig out another axle from one of my "rolling spares".)

Worth noting that either bulb type headlamps or sealed beams were alternatives for all 2a, and a variety of tail lights and side lights were fitted, although certainly not any LED ones.

John

I have a pair of new genuine land rover rear axles long and short, suit s2a lwb and prob swb. Pm me if ur interested.

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

Why don't you pop around to your local motor trimmer, you might just find that he knows how to do the job and can get similar materials for lots less than importing . Unbeknown to many is that not everything needs to come from the land of the pomm

Well, I've got the headlamps sorted. My vehicle had (I bet still the original factory-fitted) Lucas seal beams, though unfortunately the vacuum seals didn't hold up throughout their maybe decades of dormancy - most likely leaked around the glass seals to the wire leads feeding the filaments. The filaments were all fine but when I tested them out the lights internally filled with white smoke. After several minutes of illumination the smoking stopped (I guess all of the intruding oxygen burnt up) and the filaments survived, but the internal smoke rendered the inside of the glass lens' snow-white. Since that isn't a very good look I binned them, even so I bet they still would have given years of service.

The style of radiator grille panel fitted to my S2A and the headlamp fitting-assemblies seems to be reasonably rare; at lest as far as I can gather from browsing on-line images of Land-Rovers and from what I've found (or rather not found) in wrecking yards. My original chrome surrounds were in pretty poor shape, but I had them re-done (A-class metal finishers, Lonsdale, SA) and was surprised at how good they turned out.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...016/03/235.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...016/03/236.jpg

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Originally Posted by harry

Why don't you pop around to your local motor trimmer, you might just find that he knows how to do the job and can get similar materials for lots less than importing . Unbeknown to many is that not everything needs to come from the land of the pomm

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Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, but the metal springs of my original seat cushions are completely stuffed and rusted out. They couldn't really be re-foamed and upholstered.
I would guess that trying to find decent original spring bases for all three cushions wouldn't be easy, so I'd probably have to source some suitable/equivalent springs and make my own base boards.
Though pricey the consensus seems to be that the aftermarket re-makes are good quality. I am of course assuming that these new "deluxe" seats have support springs in the base cushions are not just foam-stuffed??? I certainly wouldn't consider buying them it they don't.

The spring supported cushions were a rarity in the series. I think only some very early 2-2as had them. Most of the aftermarket, if not all, are the foam type. As are all modern seating of 1 sort or another.
Cheers Scott

Just out of curiosity, can my S2A be identified as an early one by the style of radiator grille/support panel?

No. This style was used up to about 1969, which hardly qualifies as early. In any case, as with most parts, they are easy to swap between vehicles, so are useless for certain identification. The only certain method of dating is the chassis number stamped on the chassis.

The pictures, as far as I can see, are consistent with its being around the suggested date of 1968. Talking of the pictures, it seems to have a Stromberg carburettor, not one that I would favour.

John