1971 Land Rover Series 2A

1971 Land Rover Series 2A Description

If you are looking for the ultimate wagon for your beach or country home look no further. This 1971 Land Rover Series 2 started out as a working vehicle from a coffee plantation in Costa Rica. It was originally powered by the Land Rover Diesel with the standard Land Rover transmission. At some point it was imported to California. The Land Rover was purchased by a Boulder, Colorado enthusiast who spent several years planning and building this magnificent and extremely capable machine. We believe “Irene” (named after the notorious hurricane) has traveled less than 5000 miles since the build. In this photo, note the custom galvanized front bumper with a WARN 8,000lb winch with a roller fairlead. Rocky Mountain light guards on the wing mounted lights. 5-bar checker plate on the wings, spring loaded hood hold downs. The snorkel has a pre-cleaner (spinner type) head. The build included a Cummins 4bt Diesel out of a late 90’s delivery truck, rebuilt most of it and installed many new parts in order to have a 100% reliable engine. This engine is what you will find in some Dodge Diesel Pick-ups, FedEx and UPS trucks. This is a great addition to the Rover as it provides lots of power and torque at very low RPM’s. It has a Holset rebuilt turbo, rebuilt injector pump and injectors. The water pump, thermostat, starter, alternator, seals, belt tensioner were replaced. (Note: the mileage listed is 5,000 and that is an approximation of the mileage since the build and not thecumulativemileage since 1971. The speedometer and odometer are operative and record miles when driven as they should)

The engine is mated to a standard Ford bell housing with a standard Ford 11” clutch. There is an external hydraulic clutch slave cylinder. The clutch, slave cylinder and throw out bearing are new. it was treated to new polyurethane motor mounts. The transmission is a rebuilt Borg-Warner T-19 fully synchronized 4 speed. It is a close ratio (made for Diesels). These are bullet proof transmissions and are found in Ford and other brand 1-ton pickup trucks and large dump trucks. The transmission fluid is Lucas synthetic. The engine fits very nicely into the room available. There is a 3-core aluminum radiator with a thermostat controlled 3300cfm fan. K & N air filter and a aluminum turbo intercooler. There is an air intake shut down valve (in case of a runaway engine). The engine also has a 110v block heater as well as a 12v intake air grid heater. Dual batteries with Cole Hersee isolator to keep winch battery and starter battery separate. The winch has fuse protection under the driver’s seat. Louvered vents on hood provide extra cooling on hot days. The T-19 transmission rebuild was commissioned through Advance Adaptors and is mated to an Ashcroft UK High Ratio transfer case using Advance Adaptors specified output shaft and adaptors. This combination gives you lower rpm’s at highway speeds and keeps the original low range unchanged. A Rocky Mountain cooling fin transfer case cover was installed. The entire transfer case was rebuilt with Land Rover parts to include seals and shims. A new speedometer gear was installed with a new speedometer cable. The standard transfer case drum brake was removed and an X-brake, UK was installed. Fluid in the transfer case is Lucas synthetic. Dedicated start battery had to be relocated with a Coleman Products battery mount and an Optima Yellow top due to the increased length of the driveline from the Advance Adaptors configuration, as well as the transmission/transfer case mount.

The interior (front) has a custom aluminum dash with Auto Meter gauges. There is a hand throttle and 3-speed heater/defroster as well. The steering wheel is a Grant 16” three spoke wheel with a custom steering column mated to a rebuilt Saginaw Power Steering box.The adjustable custom bucket seats are quickly removable with captive pins for easy access and there is a lockable aluminum cubby box between the seats. Instruments include: LR original speedometer (restored), Tach, Water Temp, Oil Press, Amps, Fuel level (for both tanks), Manual Electronic fan control (you can shut it off for water crossings and leave it on reduced speed for cool downs when engine is off), rear work light switch, off road light switch, turn signals, head lights, horn button, windshield washer button.Land Rover A 40 channel CB radio attaches under the dash and there is a FM / Ipod / SD Card radio player on the overhead. Both original wiper motors have been rebuilt with a new windshield wiper reservoir and pump. Bulkhead vents have new seals with the original Land Rover screens (keeps bugs from flying in when vents are open on the highway). The bulkhead was media blasted and painted with POR-15 before top coating and is 100% rust free. Interior floorboard, foot well and transmission tunnel area has had bed liner material sprayed on for anti-slip properties. The original fold-down LR back seat has been reupholstered. It has three lap seat belts for three passengers and again the floorboard area has had bed liner material applied for anti-slip properties. Original LR grab bar can be seen behind the front bucket seats. Rear cargo area has also had the bed liner material sprayed on and covered with a removal outdoor carpet mat. Shovel and ax mounted against the driver’s side fender. Locking tool storage area has a jack, lug wrench and other tools.

The original LR Series style sliding rear windows have been removed and the newer Defender rear sliding windows installed. Locking aluminum cubby box and a 15 gallon main tank under floor. The rear door has a third (middle of the door) hinge installed and a custom swing away rear tire carrier welded onto the rear bumper. This totally eliminates any door issues from the weight of the tire typically mounted to the door. A full-length roof rack with ladder is mounted to the roof rack and the roof is a Safari style with vents. A Hella rear work light provides rear illumination and a High-Lift jack is mounted onto the roof rack. Irene has original Land Rover mud flaps and there is a Class V pintle tow hitch. Rocky Mountain rear light guards, snorkel, pre-cleaner, roof rack, Hella lights add to its capability in all adverse road and weather conditions. The front axle is an extremely rare LR Salisbury (DANA 60 manufactured under license by LR). All US made DANA 60 parts interchange. This NOS (new old stock) axle was purchased in the US from a dealer who imported it from the Dunsfold Collection, UK. Standard LR swivels balls and seals, with a Bear Mach disc brake kit installed with all new steel and rubber brake lines front and rear. The front end was treated to Rancho steering stabilizer and front shocks and new tie and steering rods, Mile Marker free-wheeling hubs, fresh bearings in wheel hubs and steering knuckles. Axle wading tube was specified. The LR original frame was media blasted, inspected and then modified for the engine swap and also to accept the LR 1-ton spring packs all around. After the modification it was painted with two coats of POR-15 paint. LR drive shaft that was custom re-made by Bud’s Spring Works in Lancaster, PA, when transmission was rebuilt. New custom front drive shaft. It has an axle ratio of 4.70:1, no locker or limited device. Rear axle is also a Salisbury unit from LR. It has new bearings in the wheel hubs and new brake pads in the drums. Differential has new pinion and rear seal. Front and rear spring packs are new LR 1-ton leaf springs, with LR Military Shackles, all new bushings. All four driving tires (and spare) are McCreary Super Lug 9.00 x 16LT bias ply tires. They are load range D. These tires are 36.3” overall diameter. All five tires are mounted are onto the bullet proof LR NATO/Wolf rims. Tires have better than 80% tread left, no cuts. They are balanced.

During the current owner's stewardship, the Rover was treated to a few more refinements including modifying the seats to make access to the spare fuel tank and battery more accessible, a beautiful set of custom front seats and remote battery terminals mounted over the front bumper. The Rover is located in Litchfield County, Connecticut with an asking price of $38,000. You could not build one like this for that kind of money. If you are seriously interested in purchasing a vehicle like this, you undoubtedly have a lot of questions. Feel free to contact the owner, Howard R., directly at 860 868 8087.