Thread: new series 2a owner, after information on which heater.

Well, for a start, it now has exactly the heater that it came with - i.e., no heater. The vast majority of Australian built 2a Landrovers came without a heater, the same as most Australian made passenger cars of the era (although by the time of your car passenger cars were beginning to get them, at least as an option).

While there was a "factory" heater (p/n 348655 or suffix F on 346225) I don't think I have ever seen one. Of those fitted with heaters, most were one of a variety of recirculating heaters, which were a not uncommon aftermarket or dealer fitted accessory on Holdens and Fords in the 1950s and 1960s. All of these were fitted inside the cab, on the firewall.

Series_heater.jpg

This picture shows the earlier six cylinder heater (later one looks similar) and the round four cylinder one, which was used for Series 1 and 2 as well, and is similar to the many types sold for passenger cars. The flat type is preferred for the six due to the less space available, and quite a few Landrovers have been fitted with ones vaguely similar to these but from later passenger cars. Doing this requires handyman skills.

the 6cyl firewall is a PITA for fitting either the round or flat heaters, I have been down that road and gave up. I would install a S3 (or defender) heater if you want a heater that works, not a huge job to cut a couple of holes in the bulkhead to fit it. Another less dramatic option is one of those caravan heaters that runs on a small diesel tank.

Sometimes in the 70s or 80s all new cars were required to have windscreen demisters. From then on most, if not all new cars had heaters.
.W.

Yes, although I think utilities came a few years later. No 2as had heaters as standard (except for fully imported wagons, perhaps) and even early S3 Landrovers they were optional.

But they were optional almost from the start - both my 1955 S1 and 1958 S2 had heaters from new (their first owner was SMHEA!), but my neither 1961 nor my 1970 2as had ever had a heater when I got them - my first long trip in the 1961 one was Simpson Desert to Sydney, driving round the clock with two drivers - in mid winter; and it snowed near Orange. Next day went looking for a heater, and fitted it the following day. The later one I had had about a year before finding a heater and fitting it.

Another option is a period aftermarket heater......if you can find one.
I've had a couple of Land Rovers fitted with Toa Denso heaters, similar to the Smiths round heater.



Colin

My 1971 IIa Ute has the flat one and demisters. Based on everything seemingly being untoyed with apart from a factory "Six" cylinder to 202 conversion, I just assumed it was standard fitment.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Well, for a start, it now has exactly the heater that it came with - i.e., no heater. The vast majority of Australian built 2a Landrovers came without a heater, the same as most Australian made passenger cars of the era (although by the time of your car passenger cars were beginning to get them, at least as an option).

While there was a "factory" heater (p/n 348655 or suffix F on 346225) I don't think I have ever seen one. Of those fitted with heaters, most were one of a variety of recirculating heaters, which were a not uncommon aftermarket or dealer fitted accessory on Holdens and Fords in the 1950s and 1960s. All of these were fitted inside the cab, on the firewall.

Series_heater.jpg

This picture shows the earlier six cylinder heater (later one looks similar) and the round four cylinder one, which was used for Series 1 and 2 as well, and is similar to the many types sold for passenger cars. The flat type is preferred for the six due to the less space available, and quite a few Landrovers have been fitted with ones vaguely similar to these but from later passenger cars. Doing this requires handyman skills.

thanks, this cofirms what I thought. we are in the southern highlands of NSW so it gets pretty cold. cheers

Originally Posted by Slunnie

My 1971 IIa Ute has the flat one and demisters. Based on everything seemingly being untoyed with apart from a factory "Six" cylinder to 202 conversion, I just assumed it was standard fitment.

thanks thats a great help