Thread: All the gear, but no idea!

Hello to everybody, and what a great site this is!

My "toybox" is full of Morgans, Jaguars, Triumphs and all sorts of other interesting British "stuff"

I am fortunate to have a group of "older" friends and acquaintances who take pity on me, help me with things, talk politics and current affairs and generally share a lifetime of wisdom and wit on Wednesday afternoons

Jeremy, they say, ............"all the gear, no idea" (but supplies the beer)............A pretty fair assessment of the situation in my opinion!!


Anyhow, to the point in question....

One of the toys is a 1967 SWB Series 2a that we have been rebuilding over the past 4 years (yes, that is correct, 4 years... but the joy is the journey not the destination)

It has been taken right down to the chassis which has been blasted and welded. The re-build has been fun (on the whole) and often leads to lively debate.

We are currently stuck on the springs. In my madness, at the start of this project, I sallied forth, bought heaps of bits (remember all the gear and no idea!) including a set of parabolic springs. After a couple of years or so, we got round to fitting these and they seemed completely wrong - The prop shafts did not align, shackles pointed forwards , wheels seemed to be forward placed in the arches etc. etc

In our collective wisdom, we deemed that I had bought the wrong springs, so I again sallied forth and purchased a further complete set of leaf springs for a Series 2a Landrover. When we fitted these, the same problems arose (we could connect the rear prop shaft) but the geometry seems completely "cock-eyed" - spring arc seems to high, shackles point forwards etc. etc.

Now this old dear has been put back together on my two post hoist. Do you think, that if I let her sit on the floor with some weight on the floor plan, the stars would re-align, as well as the the springs adjusting (sagging?") to their default position

Before you ask, I threw the original springs away during a "shed clean up" - D'Oh!!!!....

And yes, if anybody is interested in a virginal complete set of parabolic springs for a Series 2a - I'm your man!

I would welcome any comments, including a general overview of my ineptitude - but please don't be too unkind!!

Cheers and Best wishes

Jeremy

Okay - I have some more thoughts, sorry if it has already been mentioned.

* I believe that there is a difference between a SWB (88”) and a LWB (109”).
* Are you sure that you ordered the correct length?
* Do you have the original springs? I have learnt the hard way - never throw something out until after you are finished.
* Measure the length between spring eye to spring eye - and compare with your original or try and find the correct size on here.
* From memory the original springs are hamded - left and right side. The drivers side is different due to the weight on the drivers side (petrol tank and driver)
* Check the brand of springs. I have bought parts for my ‘60 88” - one brand fitted, one didn’t.
* If you have the original springs-you can compare the new brand with your originals?

I hope that something above helps.

Keep us all informed.

Cheers,
GG