Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

An old warrior has been called back to work.

Last year I replaced my daily workhorse, a Ford Ranger 4x4 single cab pick up with a Land Rover Defender 110 TD5 and now there's a grumble in fifth gear.
My friend, Bobby, will see to it but I will have to wait my turn so I've turned to my 1962 Series 2a.


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The truck cab has been removed and a hard top from a Series 3 Land Rover I bought for spares some years ago fitted in it's place.
This one has the rarer upper tailgate (or cat flap) which has it's own handle and lock.

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As you can see, it's been "jemmied" some time over the last 40 years.
It's replacement, an aftermarket item made in heavens knows where is forty pounds! £40 and I refuse to pay that.
By coincidence I have just ordered a new upc garage door but I fitted a new handle and lock to the old one two years ago.

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It cost £8 off Ebay and the
way it works is identical to the one on the 2a.
With a little bit of fettling it will fit, work and lock. The sizes are very similar.

Now! Am I being a tightwad or sensible in refusing to pay an extortionate price for an aftermarket if "original" type item?
My Jaguar Mark 2 needed a new clutch slave cylinder some years ago.
Jaguar price £35.95p + VAT. One for an Austin A60 which is identical was £15.+ VAT.

By the way, out of interest, can anybody think of a similar handle from another classic which would do the same job as the garage "up and over" one?[/img]
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Bitumen Boy]

I would do exactly the same. Not only is the garage door jobby cheaper than the "correct" aftermarket part, it may even be better quality - knowing the quality of aftermarket parts these days it can't be much worse.

A few years ago I relieved a neighbour of a scrap up & over door when he had a roller shutter fitted to his garage. I reluctantly let the main part of it go when I couldn't think of a use for it quickly but held onto the locking handle and hinge mechanism. The handle was eventually used on our (wider) garage door and the hinge mechanisms have proved to be a useful source of steel for knocking up a variety of brackets and suchlike. Must have saved £££'s with stuff like this over the years

[D4B]

Hi Ellis,

I would have done the same if I had thought of it, you're a genius

Here is Woolies offering:

http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/c-67-exterior-handles.aspx

or Paddock Spares:

http://www.paddockspares.com/306461-rear-tailgate-lock-and-handle.html

and this one seems reasonable:

http://www.island-4x4.co.uk/rear-handle-assy-306461-p-15421.html

or

http://www.johnrichardssurplus.co.uk/rear-upper-tailgate-handle-306461.html

http://www.abpartsstore.co.uk/land-rover-series-12-and-3-door-handle306461-p-40.html

https://www.lrdirect.com/306461-Rear-Door-Handle-Truckman-Style-H/

http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/series/series-1/parts/body-and-fittings/306461-rear-handle-lift-up-tailgate.html

http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/494/306461-REAR-UPPER-TAILGATE-HANDLE-ASSY.html

Happy Landying

Steve

[47Jag]

God loves a recycler

Art

[Ellis]

Steve,

Thank you for taking the trouble to compile that list.

Ellis
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Ray White]

Hi Ellis. Hats off to you for saying "thanks but no thanks" to the overpriced parts. I think Land Rover are one of the worst for charging for the name. It's only a handle mechanism for goodness sake so why should it be so expensive? It is not as though you are doing a concours restoration; it is as you say a work horse and always has been.

Good for you. Incidentally, my habit of not throwing anything away has paid off many times over the years. The only problem now is being able to lay my hands on what I want when I want it. I have several sheds full of stuff that "might come in useful one day".

[Dipster]

[Dipster]

[baconsdozen]

I fitted early LWB land rover brake linings to the rear of my P5b last year. Just a wee bit of fettling required and with the saving I bought a few trinkets.
Too many rip off artists in the classic car game.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[roverdriver]

Most of us own cars that were designed to be repaired rather than just have parts replaced. I often fit non-original odds and ends to repair items on my cars. In doing so, I avoid anything that would be blatantly non-original as far as possible. In a case of absolutely having to replace, I first look for NOS parts or good second-hand ones, and if identical parts from another make are available at a better price, then that is what I buy.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.