Need some series help!

salve7

Adventurer
I just got a 1967 Series 2a 109 with the diesel 4 speed and am super excited about it. However I don't know too much about the older rovers. The frame is in great shape as is the bulkhead (some patches here and there on both) however I am confused as to where the headlights originally go. Right now they are in the wings but the grill has the holes as well so I am wondering which is the original. The PO made his own grill to cover the holes which I am going to remove as soon as I figure out the best options. Does anyone have any reccomendations as far a resources go (forums, websites, books)? Is there a Rave CD or do I get a haynes or both? I will also be tackling the brakes (the front right catches a bit) and def repainting. I would like some pics of an original so if anyone has any please share! Other than that, I just thought I would share a couple pics and see what others have to say.
 

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James86004

Expedition Leader
Congrats on your acquisition. For the 67, the headlights go in the grille. The style of lights in the wings you have are late Series IIA & III (1970 on, I think). You could use 4 headlights like Mercedes Rover does (check out his build link that is stickied at the top of this section of the forum).

You need to obtain the factory workshop manual. I don't know if printed copies are available any more, but the CD with the shop manual, parts catalog, owners manuals, etc is here:

http://www.britishpacific.com/BPSite/seriesLandRover/SeriesLandRover.html#cd
 

salve7

Adventurer
Thanks for the reply. I saw what Mercedes Rover did and I was thinking that I would try that at some point since it already has the grill. Thanks for the tip about the manual, I haven't actually brought it home yet so I'm not sure what has been changed on it and like I said I thought I would have some more time to learn these things before I was actually able to own one. Luckily I will get to learn as I go!
 

Alaska Mike

ExPo Moderator/Eye Candy
I was actually considering to swapping to that style grill on my Series III so I could mount some round off-road lights there- a protected, "stealth" mount.

If you decide to mount any lights in there, I would run a completely different light harness so that you are sure the wiring can handle the amperage and that you're making the most of your available lighting. It would also give you the option of running a second sitch so that you can turn off the light sets independently.
 

Wander

Expedition Leader
I'll post a picture of the front of mine when I get on my other computer. I've heard getting solid front wings is tough and expensive so you might not have a lot of choices. The original style grill is available if you do decide to put lights back in the middle. It what you have works, I'd worry about mechanical issues before you get into lighting. Check out my other thread (So it begins) and Alaska Mike's build thread (series III from hell) as well as Mercedes Rover's build thread as there is some great info.

Interesting Rover, was it military or just painted to look that way?
 

salve7

Adventurer
Thanks for the advice! I will check out some of the suggestions and start the process of figuring this thing out. The PO didn't have much info on it other than having MOT papers from overseas but I doubt it was military in this condition unless they brush pain on the camo covering all the steel and emblems! I will have all of the paperwork in a couple of weeks when I go pick it up so maybe I will find out more then. Again, thanks and keep the suggestions comin!
 

greenmeanie

Adventurer
I doubt it was military in this condition unless they brush pain on the camo covering all the steel and emblems!

You have never heard of the British army mantra:
If it doesn't move paint it.
If the squaddies look bored have them paint it.
If you have just come back from exercise have them paint it. It easier to do that than wash the thing.

Military trucks are more interested in not being seen than professing to the world who made the thing.

That, however, is not an MOD paint job. An ex MOD truck should have a minimum 14 layers of brushed on paint and mud.
 

crusader

Adventurer
Presuming that you are in the U.S., I'd address the sides of the hardtop before I did anything about reconfiguring the headlamps.

Right-hand drive 109's (or even 88s) have lousy visibility with those van-type (no window) hardtop sides. Of course, I'm looking at this from the perspective of having to merge onto a busy highway twice a day in an underpowered RHD 109 station wagon (with windows). I couldn't imagine trying to drive around in my RHD 109 if it had solid roof sides.
 
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TeriAnn

Explorer
After a glance at the pictures it appears to be an interesting bitsa truck (I often think of the bitsa trucks as being more interesting than a stock truck).

The truck has a civilian frame and seeing screws for mounting the lights it has civilian turn signals, tail & parking lights. And I don't think I've noticed amy military trucks with the deluxe bonnet. So my guess is a civilian truck made up to appear military, supporting newer front wings, Defender front doors with roll up windows, Defender door hinges & side mirrors. And of course a Defender style grille.

I agree, the first thing you are likely to want to do is add side windows to the hard top. The truck is slower than modern traffic and you need to be able to see what is zipping past you.

Manuals: Get the owners manual. It not only tells you what all the levers do but it provides the factory maintenance schedule and walks you stop by step through them, which includes all the tune up stuff.

Next you are going to want the factory workshop manuals. They will step you though the stuff not covered in the owners manual. The Hayes manual leaves a lot out and comparatively sucks.

The CD that British Heritage came out with a few years ago has everything you could need. But the copy protection makes it very restrictive. It will not work on a Mac nor will it work properly on newer Windows operating system. Personally I would rather have a paper manual out under the truck with me as it is more forgiving of grease, dirt and falling than a portable computer.

You can convert back to the original 2 headlight configuration but the earlier style front wing panels have been out of production for a long time and you would need to source an old original. It would be easier to source a newer style radiator bulkhead.

You do not want to use four headlights unless you install relays in both the high and low beam circuits or ran a separate set of wires for the second pair of headlamps. You would overpower the existing wiring.

An interesting truck and likely one with additional Defender parts as well. With a little luck maybe a previous owner put a Salisbury under the rear. It could easily be a nice fun to own truck but you need to go shopping for aftermarket add on wide windows quickly. Try your local RV accessories store or maybe look for camper shells being scrapped.
 

Antichrist

Expedition Leader
Before you start cutting those side panels, let's talk. I have an interest in them.
I responded more to your post about it on Land Rover Enthusiast Forum.
 
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greenmeanie

Adventurer
After a glance at the pictures it appears to be an interesting bitsa truck (I often think of the bitsa trucks as being more interesting than a stock truck).

And I don't think I've noticed amy military trucks with the deluxe bonnet. So my guess is a civilian truck made up to appear military, supporting newer front wings, Defender front doors with roll up windows, Defender door hinges & side mirrors. And of course a Defender style grille.

All military SIIA & SIII 109s had the deluxe bonnet. I'd want to see the interior shots for the dash etc to determine if it really is a SIIA or actually a SIII.

There is a very outside chance that it could be a CL but my bet is TAW is right in prdicting a civvy bitsa.

THe VIN would be the most useful thing to have of course.
 

Wander

Expedition Leader
You probably already know this but if not add door tops to your list. The ones in the pic appear to be made of plexi and do not appear to have any sort of sliding section to open at least half.
 

Antichrist

Expedition Leader
You might find this useful:
http://www.bearmach.com/partscatalogues/series_fastparts_A4_lo.pdf
It's exploded view of SII/IIa parts. It's more useful than some others as it gives the Rover part number and not vendor part numbers.
If you need it in the short term I have the SIII factory manaul in PDF format. For the majority of the mechanicals the operations are the same as late SIIa. The most notable difference would be main gearbox rebuilding. But who knows, with the other modfications to yours, the PO may have installed a SIII gearbox.
 

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