Canadian Series IIa rebuild.

Canadian Black Dog · Jun 8, 2023

This will really be a winter project but gathering parts and info right now. She is positive earth, will also new a new wiring harness. Should I stay with positive earth or take this opportunity to convert to negative earth? Maybe also convert to an alternator?

kermit_rr · Jun 8, 2023

Mine will stay positive earth because it's very original and I'd like it to stay that way.
An alternator will give higher output than the dynamo but the biggest drain is the headlights so not really an issue

kermit_rr · Jun 8, 2023

You can now get an alternator that looks like the old dynamo, at a cost

Shippers · Jun 9, 2023

It's not that expensive from carbuildersolutions got one on the way here...

Shippers · Jun 9, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Mine will stay positive earth because it's very original and I'd like it to stay that way.
An alternator will give higher output than the dynamo but the biggest drain is the headlights so not really an issue

Headlights and wipers on at the same time??...not a prob here as it doesnt rain much and we dont need to drive in the dark...but the rebuild for client I'm fitting one but rewiring the voltage regulator to look original also fitting an uprated small starter...

kermit_rr · Jun 9, 2023

Shippers said:
Headlights and wipers on at the same time??...not a prob here as it doesnt rain much and we dont need to drive in the dark...but the rebuild for client I'm fitting one but rewiring the voltage regulator to look original also fitting an uprated small starter...

I've never had an issue driving my 2a in the dark while it's been raining.. in fact never had a battery problem. To date.

Canadian Black Dog · Jun 9, 2023

Thanks for the input, I must say that when I used a Series II and a, Series IIa in the Uk I never had any problems with charging but that was 50 years ago and my memory is not what it was. My last Land Rover was a Series III Carawagon that I fitted a Rover 3500S V8 in, I can't remember if she had an alternator or not.

Question: what are the pros and cons of staying with Positive earth? This is on an old Series IIa that I plan on restoring. She will need a new wiring harness so if I change now would be the time to do so.

kermit_rr · Jun 9, 2023

pro. it stays original
pro. with positive earth, the chassis is the sacrificial anode. its easier to paint/maintain the chassis than the loom
pro. positive earth is better for plugs and points
con. can't use alternator, dynamo doesn't charge at idle
con. turn all the bulbs round or you'll get black light instead of regular light

Canadian Black Dog · Jun 9, 2023

But wouldn't "black light" be better in our long Canadian winters?

kermit_rr · Jun 9, 2023

Canadian Black Dog said:
But wouldn't "black light" be better in our long Canadian winters?

Better in the nightclub

mystery · Jun 12, 2023

if you go down the non rivet counting path

Canadian Series IIa rebuild.

Canadian Black Dog

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