Thread: Are County or Defender doors a match?

Originally Posted by seriesLR

This has most likely been covered serveral times but........

Do County or Defender front doors fit the S3? I'm after a bolt on fit.
I would rather keep the 2 peice original doors but I need the illusion of security and the OEM no lock doors don't cut it.

I know I can buy a lock set for these doors but I'd like to keep it a one or 2 key set up.

Alternatively I was considering a central locking kit. Can these be used on S3 door locks?


Ash.

G'day Ash,

If you took the locks to a locksmith sometimes they can adjust the pins so that the locks suit the key. It might cut down on the need for having more keys than you really want

Kind Regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

G'day Ash,

If you took the locks to a locksmith sometimes they can adjust the pins so that the locks suit the key. It might cut down on the need for having more keys than you really want

Kind Regards
Lionel

Thanks Lionel, I did consider having the locks re-keyed. It's an option.

Hi Ash,

You can definitely but lock sets that are already keyed all the same from LR Series. I needed a new drivers side latch and purchased one from them as well as a set of same keyed barrels. I was able to then install the new latch and change the passenger door barrel over to the same as the drivers door. I have a Truck Cab so I didn't have to consider a rear door but I do have a spare same keyed barrel for a rear door if I ever end up getting a hard top with rear door.

Hope that makes sense mate. I have to highly recommend LR Series though as the parts are good quality and no problems with delivery etc. Link below to keyed barrels sets.

Regards Warrick.

MTC6506 BARREL LOCK & KEY SET (5) | Land Rover Series 1948-1984: Body/Fittings: Handles/Locks | shop | www.lrseries.com | L. R. Series

I thought the military put SIII doors onto their 110's, so based on that I can only assume (assumptions are the mother of all stuff up's!) that the reverse would also work.

All Series 2/2a/3/90/110/Defender doors are interchangeable, with a few potential issues.

1. Door check arrangements vary, so you may have to improvise something - e.g. Series 3 has the sliding mechanism in the door, 2/2a and 90/110/Defender have them (different) on the firewall.

2. Door thickness after 87 is quite a bit greater, and required the fitting of a smaller steering wheel and moving the seats inboard about an inch.

3. The windup window doors are a lot heavier than the sliding window doors.

4. Locks and striker plates will have to be changed - and the position of the locks changed at some stage, can't remember when, but this may mean redrilling the doorpost for the striker plate.

I fitted a central locking actuator to the rear door lock on my 110, which is very similar to the S3 locks, so it can be done - but it took a bit of ingenuity.

Most perenties (excepting senior commander) have a 2 piece doors and as John says the door check mechanism is different.

The aperture for the doors are the same as are the positions for the hinges and lock mechanism. You must however keep the correct striker for the correct lock mechanism.

The early 110 had similar external door handles to the SIII so you can keep the "look".

It would be difficult to fit central locking to to SIII locks because there is no button to connect the actuator to, you would have to go to 110 or Defender for compatibility.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

....
It would be difficult to fit central locking to to SIII locks because there is no button to connect the actuator to, you would have to go to 110 or Defender for compatibility.

With my rear door on the 110, I added a small lever, pivoted on a special screw tapped into the body of the lock. It has a slot for the locking lever, and cranks round to the side of the lock, where it has a hole for the actuator rod.

It has worked well for almost twenty years, although currently the lock mechanism seems to be excessively stiff (dust?) so you need to check it locked by the position of the lever.

John

Thats exactly the type of feed back I'm after.

Thanks to everyone for your input, I'm still undesided ATM and will post more when I know for sure.

Ash.