15 replies to this topic

[cagy]

How easy is it to convert from RHD to LHD is it just a case of getting a new rack and moving everything over???




Craig

[roofman]

Never done it but I think also you need a LHD pedal box, and the master cylinder needs to be relocated.

[jayare]

It depends a lot on the age of the car - if it's pre-89 (no direct acting servo) and with a central speedo it's quite straight-forward - you need a different throttle pedal but as far as I know the pedal box is the same. You'll need the correct steering rack and some longer pipes for the brakes and clutch. If it's a later car with a servo you'll need the pedal-box and transfer bar and brackets for the brakes as well. If it has instruments in front of the driver you'll need the LHD brackets. Very late models with wooden dashboards will also need a new dash, which gets expensive if you want to fit a genuine Rover one!

JR.

[benb12]

Keith Calver covers this in this issue of Mini Magazine.

[cagy]

Thanks for the info if anyone has anything to ask i'd much appreciate it.


Craig

[Dan]

Although the pedal box is the same on LHD and RHD cars, the clutch pedal is different. It's not much but it makes a big difference, believe me. Our Mini was originally a LHD car that had been poorly converted to RHD by a previous owner and the pedal left as the LHD version. It meant your clutch foot was pretty much under the heater. In a LDH car with a RHD pedal box the steering column would be very close to your clutch foot indeed.

[cagy]

Could you not just move the box over and change the pedals??? Will the pipes for both clutch and brake have to be longer for a lhd???


Craig

[Dan]

Yes of course, that's what I meant. You can swap the box over to the left and just change the clutch pedal. Unless you are building it with a direct servo the brake master to bulkhead lines will need to be longer. The clutch line will need to be longer anyway. You will also need to fit a replacement for the original master cylinder baseplate, the current RHD blanking plate on the left can't be swapped over to the right because you need a blank plate that will hold the engine steady bar bolt. You will need a LHD master cylinder baseplate too.

[cagy]

The Pedal box bit i understood!! lol!!!


Could you re explain the brake cylinder business supposing that the car doesn't have a servo. Is it just replacing the RHD baseplate with a LHD??



Craig

[Dan]

Yes, you need LHD baseplates for both sides of the car. Both sides are different from RHD even if they are just providing a blanking plate.

[cagy]

Sounds simple enough!! lol!!! As per usual it won't be.

Accelerator cable will need changing as well will it not??

anything i need to know to make it easier??

Edited by cagy, 06 September 2008 - 02:45 PM.

[Dan]

I believe the cables are the same length in both layouts, you can just swap it over from one side to the other. There is something about the accelerator pedal bracket but I can't remember what it is. I think it's that the RHD is held on by studs and nuts while the LHD is held with screws. Actually the pedals may be different too. to be honest you will need a parts catalogue to check exactly what is different. Somerford's catalogue seems to be the best at the moment and is on-line.

[cagy]

Dan,


Your right, rhd is nutted on lhd is screwed.

I'm a bit confused with the steering rack components should the nuts grommets etc.. just change over??

I think i've got all i need.

Steering rack
throttle pedal (and screws and washers)
accelerator cable bracket (nuts washers and screws)
clutch pedal
clutch pipe
brake cylinder plates

Should be it tell me if i'm missing anything.

Would the engine need to be out to get at rack or cud it be done in??

Craig

Edited by cagy, 06 September 2008 - 04:16 PM.

[jayare]

The rack can be changed with the engine in but you need to drop the subframe down a couple of inches to give the clearance needed to remove the U-bolts and slide the rack in.

JR.

[cagy]

Thanks thats what mr haynes said might be a pain but it'll be done!!

Thanks A lot

Craig