Making a defender look like a series ??

Before anyone shoots me down and tells me to buy a series please bare with me and don't be to critical
I basically own a old batterd j reg 200tdi 90 that I work around our farm. My dilemma is I'd much prefer and dream of owning a series 2 early 2a as I love the classic look with headlights in the centre etc. I've enquired about cost of a 200tdi (note Tdi as id want to keep turbo) conversion into a series 2. The costs are high and ive been warned about the gearbox strain, that and factoring in the initial high price of a series 2 has put me off. I also do a lot of towing 4/5 ton quiet often so in all honesty I think I'm better off with a more modern running gear in a way.
I wonder if anyone has ever tried to make there defender look old like a series, i like the pastel colours and galv capping type thing. I kinda like the new limited edition heritage that landrover have launched. I'm thinking of removing my arches painting in a series landrover blue with galv capping. Has anyone seen this? Am I going to ruin a defender? Comments and suggestions needed
P.s my ideal world I'd have a series 2 with disc brakes all round and a 200tdi under the bonnet in reality it going to cost to much 😔

Yes you can make it LOOK a bit like a Series (someone on here did it) but it will still be a bendyfender underneath.. not sure it will scratch your itch tbh..

Why not just keep it as a defender but add some classic hints like galv'd bits, 2 piece doors etc etc. The standard black vinyl seats etc. Lot easier and will keep it saleable in future.

I suppose that's what I'm considering doing. Remove sills and arches, swap capping for galv and paint in a old fashioned colour. All these things are easily put back on or painted to put back to a stamdard defender look. My current paint has to go as the lacquer is peeling terribly. I know this won't get me the series 2 headlights but I think I'm going to have to compromise. I was hoping for some pics of other people's projects but I can't seem to find any on Google.

Stage 1 V8 series 3 is a good look and keeps the front close to original

I'm really not a fan of the series 3 let alone a petrol engine even if it is a v8 lol

DEFENDER 2 PIECE CONVERSION KIT 1
Lazer Lamps - Grille Kit - Land Rover Defender MY07 - Fully Integrated Road Legal Auxiliary Driving Lights

Just some ideas (I want the doors, but I'm skint!).
Or you could make up a wire mesh grille and mount spots nearer the centre?

I quite fancy the idea now!

I think it would either look very good or terrible it's going to be a close call

this is a stage 1 Land Rover V8 Stage 1 Station Wagon gallery: photo #06

I agree I have a series 2a and love the look but she's hard work to drive day in day out, coils are lovely however I agree the lights in the grill look is great...you may have 'construction and use issues' with moving the lights inboard on a later vehicle and similarly if you remove the wing 'eyebrows' you'll fall foul if the tread sticks out from under the wings. My very early 2a wheels with 6.50 xcl's on look as though they have the appropriate offset to avoid this problem.

Closest you could get with the front IMHO is to push the front panel back and double up on the lights as per the one in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral (wire up the grill ones as spots) or go for the very late 2a look with a Maltese cross as the grill

Roof is doable as is the windscreen, the French guy has just done his on a thread here.

I think it's a really great idea....I've seen one local to me and it's hard to tell it's not a 2a

For me with a very early 90 I already have the galv. body cappings so I'm half way there....I'm going for the Stage 1 look and will eventually cheat with the roof and windscreen by having a tilt

Two friends of mine have done the opposite. They fitted defender running gear to Series IIIs. One of them went the whole hog... coil springs, defender axles, 200tdi / lt77 / LT230. Another one complicated matters a little bit more because he didn't want coild springs so he fitted a stage one front axle to get CV joints instead of universal joints. The recessed grille leads to a tight fit in the front end but they managed and I think their landies look awesome.

Ive got a stage 1 front on mine. A few other series bits as well , I want to put a series 2 dash in in one day.

Nobber, that looks great. The grill is a much better look for the 90/defender. I like the military bumper too

Why not buy a cheap series regardless of age but then put the early series 2 grill panel and wings on. I own both a series and defender and am in the process of putting a 200tdi in my 109. It is possible to put the 5 speed lt77 gearbox in a series. Although that requires chopping and welding of gearbox mounts and engine mounts, plus different custom propshafts. Or have best of both worlds and have one of each. But the classic Land Rover look with they wheel arch extension plastic things ruin the series look and the defender had wider track axles.