Converting a Left Hand Drive Car to Right Hand Drive

[4129R]

I am about 3/4 way through doing this. I have made several mistakes on the way, but if anyone is interested, I can share my knowledge, gained the hard way.

If anyone in the UK wants this done, I might be persuaded for modest remuneration.

Alex in Norfolk UK.

[buzzer]

 Hi Alex,

I am on a similar..ish route. My car was RH then exported to Denmark and changed to LH and I am now converting it back. So  I think I have an easier task, my main tasks are
Blocking up all the holes in the body on the LH side made for steering column and brakes
New pedal box
New wiring loom, needs new wiring anyhow
New steering rack was needed anyhow
Sort out the dash, needs refurbishing anyhow
Putting handbrake back on the right side
New brake pipes needs new pipes anyhow.

Good luck with it all.

Dave

[4129R]

The windscreen wiper motor has to be on the left side as it gets in the way of the steering column on the right. If yours has 1 wiper, no problem, just take the wiper bit off the cable and mirror image it, but you may need a new hole.

If you have 2 wipers, as I have, I have mirrored both wiper drives, bent the metal wiper arms in a vice, and drilled two new holes in mirror image places by careful measuring.

The LHD handbrake compensator can be used again by cutting half the sleeve spacer and gluing it to the other side so it clears the plenum (?) chamber.

The steering column is easy. Just take the moving rack and ends out of the LHD case, and put it in a Triumph Herald casing (6 cog pinion only will fit).

The rest seems simple, but time consuming.

As you say, there a lot of holes to fill.

Have fun.

Alex. 

[grnicholson]

hello Alex in Norfolk (Virginia or UK?)

I need the reverse (RHD to LHD) and would be happy to pay for your redundant bits and pieces plus info.

Hopefully they are lying around your garage.

Any chance?

Cheers from Richard in sunny Spain.

[4129R]

Norfolk UK, the home of Lotus.

I can swap you like for like the following:-

Steering rack
Reaction lever (the hand brake thingy under the plenum chamber)
Throttle pedal
Brake and clutch pedal
Headlights
Wiper rack and wiper blades
Wooden Dashboard (but only if yours is immaculate, mine is brand new, or I have 3 stuffed ones you can use for a template.

I can't think of anything else at the moment.

I am converting several, so LHD parts are literally lying around my garage.

[grnicholson]

hello Alex

I am in talks with Dave at the moment but if I find myself short of bits and/or info then I will be in touch.  My email is richardelke@terra.com.

You seem to be knee deep in Europas!!

Too hot to continue.............. going for a swim and a beer............

Cheers - Richard

[grnicholson]

Hi Alex

Would you believe that Dave donated me the parts for the steering conversion - what a star!!   Now I need a little bit of your wisdom and I am away!!

As a retired pensioner awaiting my bucket list car I would be most appreciative if you could steer  (!) me away from the obvious pitfalls with a little documentation.  In return I could offer you a set of spare alloys, or steel, wheels, fibreglass bumpers and a few assorted items which should be arriving with the car early next week.

I also need a couple of Europa boot and side badges.  Can we deal with odds and ends?

Thanks
Richard melting in 38 degres C

[4129R]

Have you got a proper LHD steering rack?

Getting the long 7/16th nuts and bolts swapped over is a challenge.

Disconnect battery.

Remove dashboard.

Remove steering column.

Remove hand brake assembly.

Remove wiper motor, rack, and windscreen drives.

Remove pedal box.

Remove throttle pedal.

Remove clutch cable.

Remove throttle cable.

Remove brake master cylinder and reservoirs.

Replace all the above items in mirror image mode.

Turn over wiring loom.

Let me know what problems you have, and I will try to help.

[grnicholson]

Hi Alex

It's far too hot to contemplate even going into the man cave at the moment............. just browsing the web for bits is enough.

I need a Europa boot badge to finish the exterior and I'm working on installing air con to the beast...

2 seats would also be a bonus, can you help me out?  I have an engine, wheels and transaxle going spare.....

Cheers from Richard melting in Spain

[4129R]

When the container arrives, I will let you know if there are any of those spare.

[grnicholson]

Hello

Having got the car home I find that I have an abundance of wheels which are spare.  They all fit a Europa or Lotus Cortina and are fair condition.   You can have them for free - carriage only.  There is a white van man who will deliver to your house for about 60 GBP.  There is also an oil catch tank and another strange blue cylindrical device, new, which I have not identified and two rods with tubes welded at the end - God knows......... plus a cooling fan.

I'm still after a boot badge and interior cooling fan..........

It's a bit cooler today, only 25, nice to work in shorts.............. sat out and had a toastie and a beer.

Cheers

Richard

[BDA]

Just FYI - you might want to put offers and requests for parts in the Classified Forums.

Good luck with your car!

[4129R]

I am just converting #4, 4129R, to RHD, and found that you don't have to open out the wiper drives off the rod drive, you can slide them off the end of the rod drive and just turn them over. I learn something during every strip down and rebuild.

One thing that puzzles me, when I am moving the steering column over, is the is a 1" wide and about 18" long metal strap, which goes from the steering column U clamp, where the column is braced to the bottom of the dashboard.

It attached to the underside of the front plenum chamber with 2 nuts and bolts, and appears to do absolutely FA.

Why would Chunky waste all that extra weight on 2 nuts and bolts and the strap, and the extra cost?

What does it do? Does it brace the bottom of the dashboard to the plenum chamber (too flimsy), or act as an earth strap (no wires connected)?

Any one have any ideas? 

[LotusJoe]

I am just converting #4, 4129R, to RHD, and found that you don't have to open out the wiper drives off the rod drive, you can slide them off the end of the rod drive and just turn them over. I learn something during every strip down and rebuild.

One thing that puzzles me, when I am moving the steering column over, is the is a 1" wide and about 18" long metal strap, which goes from the steering column U clamp, where the column is braced to the bottom of the dashboard.

It attached to the underside of the front plenum chamber with 2 nuts and bolts, and appears to do absolutely FA.

Why would Chunky waste all that extra weight on 2 nuts and bolts and the strap, and the extra cost?

What does it do? Does it brace the bottom of the dashboard to the plenum chamber (too flimsy), or act as an earth strap (no wires connected)?

Any one have any ideas?

I have always wondered about that same strap. I put mine back in upon assembly but have no idea what it does 
I looked it up in the parts book and it is described as an "impact bracket"

 

[4129R]

Thanks for that info.

Impact bracket ! 2 mph or less?

The column is designed to be able to collapse with the sliding joint held with the clamp at the bottom, but the steering wheel cannot go very far as it fouls the dashboard.

As this "impact bracket" connects the bottom of the dashboard (which is quite thick and unflexible) to the plenum chamber, I cannot see much movement taking place in case of a mild impact, and what does structure does it add before the impact?

I also wonder why there are two door switches, down by the dashboard end bracket,  on the drivers side and only one on the passenger side of federal cars.

All this extra weight !