Thread: Series 2 Questions!

1) The chassis is essentially interchangeable with Series 3 - BUT - The legal identification of the vehicle is the chassis, so if you fit a Series 3 chassis, the vehicle is now a Series 3, and will have to comply with ADRs for the date of manufacture of the Series 3. Unless it is a very early Series 3, this means a lot of changes, including the padded dash, flush hinges, lights in mudguards etc. Series 3 109 chassis have the main longitudinal members made from two pressed bits welded together with a seam in the middle of the top and bottom, where the Series 1/2/2a have them made from four flat sheets welded at the four corners. New Series 2a chassis are available ex UK but won't be cheap. Also available are various repair bits for the existing chassis and most can be repaired unless completely terminal by a good welder. But this will also be expensive unless you do it yourself.

Note that there are different chassis for the four and six cylinder engines - with the six, the gearbox is further back.

2) No, not really. You can fit the Series 2 dash to the Series 3 bulkhead, but it would not be easy, involving a lot of welding with thin sheet metal. The windscreen hinges are more difficult, probably possible for a really expert welder with an unlimited budget though. Most of the bits that rust however, coould be cut out of a donor Series 3 bulkhead and fitted to a 2a one more easily, I would think. Again, new ones are available (I think), but expensive, as are repair sections, and many are repairable. Again, different between the four and the six. Second hand ones occasionally come up, and a "wanted" in this forum may work.

3) This was made before VINs. The identification is the chassis number. This is on the instruction plate for the transfer case levers on the firewall in front of the gearlever. But the legal identification is this number on the chassis. If Australian manufactured, it is on the outside vertical bit of the LH rear back spring hanger, just above the shackle plate. If UK manufactured it is on the outside of the RH chassis rail near the front. If manufactured elsewhere, could be anywhere! Your inspection authority will want to see this number, on the chassis. There will possibly be some way round this if no number can be found, but don't bet on it.

Hope this helps

I had the exact same situation with my 109 and as I was reading I thought this is a question John would be sick of answering as I also had the same ones. Perhaps your response John should be a sticky lol.

I did some looking around for replacement bulkhead bits but what my main problem was the rust along the top that sits against the windscreen frame. All parts available through UK but freight is usually the $$ issue.

All the best with it.