Hard Top Side Panels

[landyman]

G'day all,

I've had a browse around this and many other sites, but can't seem to find anything related to my latest task.

I've recently sourced a hard top and side panels with fixed windows for the S2A SWB, not in the best cond. but straight at least.
My plan is to remove the windows and convert it back to a solid side panel.
As I'd rather not take the rivet gun to it, I was hoping to fill the holes by using an aluminium inner sheet fixed to the existing side panel and a filler sheet, for the window cut-out and glue the lot together using Sikaflex 252.

Has anyone tried this with success, are there any implications I should be aware of.

Thanks
Nige

[JDNSW]

Never heard of this being done. Mostly you read of people going the other way - fitting windows to solid side panels.

Even more to the point - you don't give your location, so I assume you are in Australia, and to the best of my knowledge, no Landrovers have ever been sold in Australia with blank side panels in a hardtop, and I am a bit at a loss to know why you would want blank side panels. Also could possibly require engineering approval, although since the S2a was mostly sold prior to ADRs, it is a bit difficult to see it being a problem, except perhaps following an accident where poor visibility back and to the side could have been a factor.

But getting back to the original question - as far as I can see, it would work, but would be difficult to get a neat job of the join between the filler sheet and the side. it would be possible to fill the join, but seeing it is a completely flat panel, I doubt it is possible to make it completely invisible. The "proper" way to do it would be to replace the entire panel - it only has simple bends, so it should not be that hard. What I would do, if I had to, would be to simply replace the glass with an aluminium panel cut to size and held with the same rubber. You see this with factory (or at least dealer) van conversions of some Jap station wagons.

John

[landyman]

so I assume you are in Australia

Sorry, Adelaide (user CP updated, thanks for reminding me)

and I am a bit at a loss to know why you would want blank side panels.

Personally, I think the fixed windows look tacky and I prefer the van look, plus my dogs are less likely to lick the sides without glass.

The "proper" way to do it would be to replace the entire panel - it only has simple bends, so it should not be that hard.

I was reluctant to take the chisel/rivet gun route, I had thought of this, but the glued panel option seemed too straight forward, flushing the outer skin would be no problem as I've got all the metal finish tools.

What I would do, if I had to, would be to simply replace the glass with an aluminium panel cut to size and held with the same rubber. You see this with factory (or at least dealer) van conversions of some Jap station wagons

yes and it looks ****house.

Thanks for your reply tho

[Blknight.aus]

I might be in a position to help out here...

kermit had a perfectly straight roof on him and I only need it for a hack trailer conversion im working on...

If your up to flat packing yours and getting it up this way I'll see about doing the same to kermits roof and youve got a good setup....

as I understand it kermits new owner doesnt want the roof as hes planning on rag topping it.

[landyman]

kermit had a perfectly straight roof on him and I only need it for a hack trailer conversion im working on...

If your up to flat packing yours and getting it up this way I'll see about doing the same to kermits roof and youve got a good setup....

how very kind of you sir, but I'm going to give the gluing option a try, just wanted to know if anyone had done it that's all.
However if my attempt is unsuccessful, I may seek you out at a later date, the landy is undergoing a total ground up resto atm and as I'm on a 20/10 roster, it may take a while.
Once again tho, thank you for your offer.

[landyman]

and to the best of my knowledge, no Landrovers have ever been sold in Australia with blank side panels in a hardtop

yes they were, but the model was dropped in late 1996 according to this
4WD: Land Rover: Defender 110 1996

[JDNSW]

yes they were, but the model was dropped in late 1996 according to this
4WD: Land Rover: Defender 110 1996

Sorry, but the one referred to there had fixed side windows.

To the best of my knowledge the only Landrover hardtops without side windows have been produced for the home market, to meet requirements for commercial vehicle tax benefits.

John

[landyman]

Notes: Also available as cab-chassis; hard-top (panel van) was dropped late 1996 (Aus)

[Aaron IIA]

As far as I remember, the rare SDS military variant had no rear glass at all.

Aaron.

[JDNSW]

Notes: Also available as cab-chassis; hard-top (panel van) was dropped late 1996 (Aus)

I believe the term panel van is used to describe the version with side windows (like I think Incisor has, for example). If anyone has seen one without side windows in this country posting a photo would be worthwhile. Certainly, if they actually exist they must be very rare - even the ones with the side windows are not exactly common.

I have been aware of, and taking note of Landrovers for fifty years, and while I certainly don't pretend to have seen every Landrover type sold here, I would be very surprised to learn there was a solid sided hard top sold in the nineties or any other time. When I started looking at UK Landrover magazines perhaps in the 1980s, one of the things that I first noticed was the prevalence of blank sided hardtops, which caught my attention because I had never seen one.

I actually own a Series 2 lwb with home made windows added to the sides of the hardtop - but I know it is a home market model that came here as a private import.

John