Land Rover Series 2A ute

I purchased this Land Rover after a random late night bid on eBay. The car was located in Yetholme (just east of Bathurst) and was picked up in a crazy 3 day trip.

Some info about this vehicle:

  • Late series 2A (with Series 3 like wings, key starter, and warning lights in the speedo)
  • Had an NT sticker on the rear of the tub – just for looks or did it spend time in the NT?
ItemDetails
Make / model (compliance plate)Land Rover 2A
Serial number (on wiper cover)24318555G
Compliance no (on compliance plate)24318555G
Chassis no (left rear frame hanger)24318555G
Compliance year10/70
GVM (on compliance plate)4453 lbs (2020 kg)

Original condition

  • No cab or door tops. Came with a ute cab back (no roof or windows)
  • Damage to front left wing – looks like it hit a tree just right of the right dumb iron.

Current work

I thought I could do the resto on Leanne’s ute in stages. But with a rusty bulkhead and a rear crossmember that looks like Swiss cheese, I decided to go back to basics. I am not being facetious when I say this is the best way to spend my Christmas break! By the way, although I pressure washed it when it arrived, I can’t believe the amount of crud…

Work up to 26 Dec 21

  • Found a better bulkhead just up the road in Churchill. Most of the bits have been stripped off it ready for cleaning and some minor repairs.
  • New stainless exhaust from Paddocks is installed.
  • Fixed the front dumb irons on the chassis. Lots of rust. All cut out an new steel welded in. New front bumper installed. Front half of the chassis cleaned and coated in epoxy enamel.
  • Picked up the diff from Paynesville.
  • Front axle looks like its pushed back about an inch on the right. Needs to come off so I can see if the casing is bent.
  • Decided to remove the old 179 motor and go with a standard LR 2.25l petrol motor. This was painted up and some new gaskets and oil filter installed.

Work up to 10 Sep

  • The ute now runs. Put a battery in it and fixed some of the wiring. Runs well and doesn’t blow smoke. A short straight pipe on the exhaust so its noisy.
  • Drained oil and found only a drip and a little water in the front diff. Pulled the half shafts out and dropped the diff centre and the whole thing is completely dead. The pinion looks like it collapsed and in doing so chipped a few teeth off the crown wheel and then the bits punctured a whole in the bottom of the diff casing. Have found a replacement diff centre from a guy in Paynesville and will pick up next week.
  • Truck cab and 2.25l motor purchased from Outback Mac.
  • Removed front grille and swapped radiator with a spare I had (from the parts lot from Rosedale). The original radiator had a gash in it from the fan when the front end was pushed in. Rusted bottom of grille cut out and replacement tacked in.

Pickup

Was dragged onto our car trailer with the winch. Didn’t start but was assured it did 18 months ago. It was owned by Dave’s neighbour before that. They had hit a tree on a drunken drive in the dark (thus the front right is crushed in). Dave bought it to do up. Health and other projects persuaded him to sell it.

We left home on 8 July 21 with the view of skiing in Jindabyne the next day and picking the car up the day after. As the threat of COVID lockdowns and border closures loomed, we ditched skiing and went straight to pick up the car on 9 Jul. Stayed in Wodonga that night (got in about 0030) and then home that day.

Costs

DateItemFromAmount
28 Jun 21Purchase priceDave in Yetholme1025.00
Better bulkheadChurchill300.00
Diff centrePaynesville150.00
LRS 2.25l motorOutback Mac in Geelong450.00
Front bumper
Engine gasket set
Stainless steel exhaust