S2/S3 door interchange?

[nmauduit]

I've been presented with the following question, for which I should seek opinions from the forum as I've never tried to mix and match different type cars parts, only to restore them for originality.

The context is a type 26 racer severely damaged on a side: the owner considers using an S3 FHC body as a replacement.

What would be the main difficulties in following that plan, e.g. would S2 doors fit on a (chopped or not chopped) S3 body ?

[el-saturn]

MAYBE the door itself (the grp part) is identical: the rest is very different: window, frame, lock; i think even the hinges! sandy (s3)

[nmauduit]

MAYBE the door itself (the grp part) is identical: the rest is very different: window, frame, lock; i think even the hinges! sandy (s3)

I know the doors are not identical, it's obvious from photos of the interior side - but since it is for patching up a race car the question is rather of the kind would it fit (dimension, lock location) ? also would the dash fit ? it would need a later windscreen, but would there be less obvious issues that may add up to a non practical option?

[Mazzini]

Type 26 doors are very different. Not sure if this would be a wise path to go down.

[nmauduit]

Type 26 doors are very different. Not sure if this would be a wise path to go down.

thank you for your opinion, that is what I suspect, but don't have specific argument to advocate against it (my type 26 is stored 50+ miles away from my other project, so can't easily compare - then there might be additionnal problems with the remaining parts to be transfered).

[Mazzini]

I have my S2 and S3 side by side, let me know if you need photos.

[nmauduit]

I have my S2 and S3 side by side, let me know if you need photos.

photos of the door lock area would be great, possibly with a measure of say bottom to striker location, and total door dimension to check actual size (longest length horizontally, height - either door or opening in the body to compare S2/S3)? when you get a chance... thank you !

[Mazzini]

I'll do it tomorrow

[nigelrbfurness]

I've been down this path, many years ago and the answer is no, they will not fit. They are the wrong shape in several key areas. Instead of destroying a pair of type 26 doors, see if you can find some second hand S3/S4 door shells and sell the S1/S2 to finance the deal. You presumably won't need the complex window hardware for a racer as its very heavy!

[Mazzini]

I've taken a few photos and i started to post them, but then I saw Nigel's post and he's absolutely right, they are similar, but there is no way they can be made to fit. If you still want the photos let me have your email address and I'll send them to you.

[nmauduit]

thank you for the infos - this is not for me, I don't even have seen the damaged racer body, but the owner presented this as an option (replacing his bodyshell by a FHC S3 coupe, which doors are totally bare to begin with, some hack would be required to hold them shut and to hold windows: that alone does not sustain the initial description as a "quick fix", and there may be other).

My first impulse would be to fix the damages (though their extent should obviously be assessed first), maybe detailed argumentation will steer towards that route...

[denicholls2]

Would not rebodying a race-eligible early car with a non-race-eligible later one cause consternation in the sanctioning body? Depending on whether the S2 is being passed off as a 26R to that body, I would expect so even though the later car does not offer any obvious advantages. I had thought the S2 parts were still available albeit pricey.

[bigvalvehead]

They will not fit and an S3 bodied race car is worth a lot less than a 26R bodied race car.

No brainer.

Cheers
Dave

[Elan45]

I have both LH and RH rocker panel and floor sections from a Ser 2 damaged in a road fire that are surplus to my needs, since all 3 of my Elans are Ser 3. I also have a section of an S2 body which includes the RH door post over to the center of the car through the heater plenum and back to about mid point of the rocker panel.

Inexpensive. I would love for these to not be in my loft any more, since I don't own a type 26 and probably won't in this lifetime. Three Elans are enough.

Roger

[nmauduit]

I have both LH and RH rocker panel and floor sections from a Ser 2 damaged in a road fire that are surplus to my needs, since all 3 of my Elans are Ser 3. I also have a section of an S2 body which includes the RH door post over to the center of the car through the heater plenum and back to about mid point of the rocker panel.

Inexpensive. I would love for these to not be in my loft any more, since I don't own a type 26 and probably won't in this lifetime. Three Elans are enough.

Roger

thank you for the offer, I'll pass it on though since USPS does not offer overseas surface shipping anymore getting large parts from the US has become prohibitively expensive... my guess is that your spares would better find a good home your side of the pond.