Thread: Series front grill

Landrovers Series 1,2,2a had steel grilles, of several varieties over the years, mostly galvanised, but a few later ones chromed, now usually very rusty. Series 3 introduced a plastic grille which remained on all Series 3 unchanged except for Stage 1 V8 and Isuzu, which used a painted steel mesh grille, different to any others.

Thanks John.
Best look for a 2A grill then, as I liked that look but
My plastic is in in very good condition. Maybe spray it in zinc.

Whitehillbilly

The first thing I did with my plastic grille was ditch it - I've got a late 2a widelight grille as a replacement - looks much better IMO.

Rocky Mountain make an aftermarket metal variant. This one was on my S3 when the PO had it.

link to RM site.

Grille series 3 - Rocky Mountain Spares

5_zps9aa2fc14.jpg

I have since put a standard metal 2A grille on it. I will try and find a pic.

Stage 1 and S3 hardtop.jpg

My Defender standard plastic grill was starting to break up and I was very reluctant to spend money on replacement plastic rubbish. Anyway, while visiting a steel merchant yard for something else, spotted 3 metre X 2.5 metre sheets of weldmesh that is very close to the same as used on standard 1961 S2 I have since acquired. Wire gauge appears the same ie 1/8 inch or approx. 3.15mm. The squares are on 25 mm centres instead of one inch or 25.4mm. My Defender for some time has had grill I made based on this. Painted with Silver gal paint after some little oxy welding jobs including bevelling corners to improve appearance.

When going through process of cutting a piece of mesh to size for a grill when you don't have another one made of same mesh to model it on, probably best to make it a square or two too big in each direction, try for size and trim accordingly. Small angle grinder with thin wheels good for making neat final cuts.

The S2 grill has thicker rod welded around the outside. Incorporating this and other little fancy things requires oxy acetylene or other type of welder capable of doing it If no ready access to this sort of gear, just buy some appropriate panel washers with hole size to suit grill holding screws and outside diameter 25mm or more.

I recall - not having looked at one for a while that the later S2A grills look as if all the mesh rather than just the edge was especially made. Seems to me that few would notice difference between them and older ones probably fabricated from pieces cut out of large mesh sheets.

Probably any steel supplier could obtain the mesh described for anyone who wants to buy full sheets, but most would be reluctant to cut them and sell pieces. Would not surprise me if full sheet cost is similar to a new LR plastic grill though. . Enough to make several wire mesh ones which are much more resistant to damage, could be used as barbeque grill at campsite, and also fine mesh to keep insects out of radiator will sit on it much better than on plastic grills. I have a piece of 6 mesh/inch on mine. Obtained long ago for another purpose from one of very few specialist woven wire mesh manufacturers in Melbourne.

I reckon than probably if someone such as LR aftermarket parts fabricators who make Land Rover accessories and sell them in places including this site produced some wire mesh grills to replace various Land Rover plastic ones, they should sell a few if word gets around.

I have since cut up the large remainder of this mesh sheet into pieces to make sides of stock crate that goes on Defender tray firewood proof. When spare bits of this sort of stuff is lying around, many people sooner or later would find other uses for it.

My Series III shorty came with an earlier metal grille, PO didn't like the plastic one.





Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

My Series III shorty came with an earlier metal grille, PO didn't like the plastic one.





Colin

Yep, that is what I have now. Looks much better (and you could cook snags on it }

Thats the one I need.
Thanks.

Whb