Swiss Army Series 2a 109 project

Good Morning Everyone
This is my Swiss army 109 project. So lets start off with the elephant in the room.
Yes, the Swiss army in the 60s-70s did in fact have both 88s and 109s series 2/2a and 3 land Rovers for the Fortress/Bunker troops (109s) and Training exercises (88s).
So my Series 2a is a March 1969 suffix F 109 station wagon, which I intend to drive as a semi daily driver or around 130 miles a week. I'm also a reenactor who funnily enough portrays the Cold war and WW2 swiss army along with my group so it would also be a fine addition along with the 1970s Pinzgauer.
The aim of the project it to essentially Convert a semi modified 109 into a swiss station wagon. Which will involve replacing what's broken, repainting the entire body (it will be completely stripped right down to the chassis). Checking the chassis but will probably replace it as I'm certain there's barely of the original material left with lots of patches. Then adding the relevant swiss modifications and improving the overall usability like: power steering, slick shift, uprated heater matrix, Insulation and sound deadening in a sympathetic manor.
Of course questions, tips and tricks or advice is always appreciated. As although I'm not new to land rovers, I am new to series 2s so it should be a learning experience for me.

Here are some Swiss land rovers for reference

Interesting stuff. Good luck with it. Added to my watch list.

LincolnSteve said:

Interesting stuff. Good luck with it. Added to my watch list.

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Progress will be a bit slow to start with due to a lack if funds, but once my defender sells progress should get started fairly quickly.

Sounds good. Remember that you’re talking to a bloke here who’s been restoring a series 3 for nine years. I know all about snags, hold ups and unforeseen circumstances.

I’d be happy if mine looked like that before you start and I’ve been slogging away on mine while driving it for nine years

While the defender is up for sale, I'm planning to buy a new bulkhead and chassis. So I'm going to buy a Maer S3 chassis which is what they recommended for me, because my series 2a is suffix F. However I'm unsure what bulkhead to purchase, my options are: Pegasus bulkhead(£3k)which is painted or a Shielder galvanised bulkhead (£2.5k). Does anyone have any experience of both at all? If so how much work did it require for fitting? What would be better in the long run?

Links for both: https://www.pegasusbulkheads.com/pr...ead-series-2a-january-1969-to-september-1969/

Bezdonian said:

While the defender is up for sale, I'm planning to buy a new bulkhead and chassis. So I'm going to buy a Maer S3 chassis which is what they recommended for me, because my series 2a is suffix F. However I'm unsure what bulkhead to purchase, my options are: Pegasus bulkhead(£3k)which is painted or a Shielder galvanised bulkhead (£2.5k). Does anyone have any experience of both at all? If so how much work did it require for fitting? What would be better in the long run?

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I'd say for longevity, always go galvanised. You'd probably paint it too, so extra protection again. Richards chassis have teamed up with a small English company called DDS metal, and they now manufacture a variety of bulkheads, I'm sure the series ones are due to be released if not already. They also do away with a lot of the multiple layers of steel and use thicker steel in these sections, so no hidden gremlins down the line.

Gottschalk said:

I'd say for longevity, always go galvanised. You'd probably paint it too, so extra protection again. Richards chassis have teamed up with a small English company called DDS metal, and they now manufacture a variety of bulkheads, I'm sure the series ones are due to be released if not already. They also do away with a lot of the multiple layers of steel and use thicker steel in these sections, so no hidden gremlins down the line.

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Just had a look, they don't do the series 2a ones yet. But will look out for them, I suspect that they will be like shielder's bulkheads which are made using more efficient & improved methods, thicker metals and galvanised.

Hello everyone, been continuing to do research on theses rare vehicles. Turns out they used the 2.6l rover engine with a zenith carb. So I ended up going down the 2.6/3.0l rover engine conversion route. Which I might add is still possible other than the bell housing and gearbox tunnel diaphragm.
So would it be a good idea to swap out the 2.25 diesel for say a 3.0l rover p5 engine? Are there any benefits with torque, mpg, maintenance or is it roughly the same?

So update time. I’ve picked up a rover 6 cylinder IOE engine. Not sure if it’s a 2.6 or 3.0 though or what carb it has. Could anyone identify it for me?

Another update, So my defender has been sold on which means the project is now on. I’ve been collecting parts for the 6 cylinder conversion. The engine as it turns out is a Rover P4 100 2.6l. Which is good for many reasons, as it’s similar to the originals installed at the factory and for reclassifying with the DVLA and insurance meaning it will keep its VHI status.
Only thing I’m looking for new is photographic references on where the oil air filter goes and the tie rod. Of course any engine bay of 2.6l will do nicely and also any interior dash would be nice too.