The Rover-Landers of BC

For a while I have wondered what the brackets near the top on the engine side of the bulkhead are for. On both of the 2 Land Rovers which I've had on the road ('74 SIII 88 and '71 SIIA 88) they have been present but not attached to anything.

I did a bunch of searching of images and found almost all pictures of Series engine compartments show them, but not attached to anything. Only a couple of pictures I've seen, show the passenger side (I've seen an example of both left and right hand drive) bracket with what seems to be a rod linking to (possibly) the brace that supports the steering box on the driver's side, but only on the passenger side.

Mostly as a matter of curiosity at this point, anyone out there know definitively what the purposed of these brackets is? I should add that they are mounted at different angles to the bulkhead, so not exactly mirroring each other but pretty close.

They are for aligning the bulkhead/firewall. On one side there should be a long threaded rod that attaches to the frame support (holds your steering on the opposite side).

Not only for alignment but I suspects it helps in the overall front end rigidity. :roll:

Rod not usually installed on the steering wheel side and if fitted with a heater on the passenger side, the heater is in the way so again the rod is removed.

Greg S wrote:Rod not usually installed on the steering wheel side and if fitted with a heater on the passenger side, the heater is in the way so again the rod is removed.

Unless it's a 2 or 2A...then the rod may be there as the heater would be a shin burner and on the inside.

Thanks guys.

I can see the structural stiffening benefits of such a brace, especially if carrying a heavy spare on the hood in rough country.

One reason I wanted to ask (other than the pesky curiosity thing) is that as this LR goes back together, I'm going to be putting in a bigger heater (capacity and physical size) than the one that came out (identical to a SIII), and the bracket may actually be in the way of that - the rod certainly would have been - I will know more when I get to that stage - but good point re. the interference with the heater.