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MG MGB Technical - Left hand to right hand drive

Has anybody converted a left hand drive america import to right hand drive? if so how difficult is it an what works and what doesn't
Thanks
C Dowsett

Here,convert right hand drive to left hand drive is enough easy, the difficult is to find the dashboard. This convert in England should be very, very easy, the only little difficult is to reconnect the wiring loom.
Regards
mw michel

There are those in the USA, including myself, who would gladly trade a RHD dash for a LHD dash. The RHD dash is difficult to find here.
Steve Simmons

your left hand dash is worth about £200so dont just damage or dump it
the loom is the same for all countries it just loops back to rhd
new rack needed
new speedo cable and maybe new speedo mph
headlights
if its early car with two steering rack holes your ok to just change it over
accelerator cable
alter brake and clutch lines
make sure the indicator side light colours are correct
orange and clear
might need to change column switches
ste
Ste Brown

Further info. The steering rack mounts on the crossmember will need to be modified. Simplest method is to get a RHD crossmember. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

200 GBP for a LHD dash? I'll sell as many as you like at half that amount!
Steve Simmons

steve
look on ebay
years ago when all your cars come over here everyone throw the dashs and now europe want them all converting back again so its big money
people are offering a rhd new painted free postage and some money for yours
ste
Ste Brown

"Further info. The steering rack mounts on the crossmember will need to be modified. Simplest method is to get a RHD crossmember. Barrie E"

Don't think so. When I converted my '66 I just bolted up the RHD rack. The last time I checked the only crossmember differences there ever were were when the tie down, tow ring was deleted and the changeover to RB ride height.
David

Ste, point me to one of those auctions and I'm in! Can't seem to find anything like that.
Steve Simmons

The mounting brackets on the crossmember are not symetrical. On a RHD car, they are offset very slightly to the left side of the car. I imagine the converse would apply to a LHD car. A left to right hand conversion in Sydney has to be inspected & certified if approved, by a registered engineer. As second hand parts are not so common in Ausralia, most people modified the mounts. Another way was to chop the mounts off, bolt them to the rack,set up the steering alignment & weld the mounts back on in the new position.A straight bolt on swap, which might appear OK,would not get passed the inspection.Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Are the cross members different between LHD and RHD for all years,or just certain years?
Steve Simmons

steve
try this one
140139851016 on ebay
not many around if there were prices would be cheaper
ste
Ste Brown

Only the rubber bumper crossmembers are handed, chrome bumper crossmembers are common LHD and RHD.
Geoff King

Unfortunately that's for a LHD dash and steering rack. If you find someone who wants to trade a RHD dash plus cash and free shipping, let me know! :)
Steve Simmons

The V8 and Rubber bumper crosmembers are handed My
Factory V8 had a rusted out one and I had to swap the rack mounts on the LHD one to make it RHD I believe the chrome bumper ones are all the same.

Bob
Bob Fisher

C Dowsett, are you sure you want to convert your car to RHD?

I have a RHD BGT in Italy and use it rather regularly, and having the wheel on the "other" side is a definite turn on...

Also, it's a big grin on your face when you leave the car in a garage, you KNOW nobody will joyride that car!

Last, depending on the year of manufacture... the R/B Bs were actually engineered for LHD...
example: where is the bonnet release pull? On the left side... you can't open it in a RHD car, you have to get out, walk around and open the pther door... unless you have ape arms that is !!!
8^)
Maurizio Pescatori

steve
you can get rhd dashs for £20 or less over here if thats what you want
maurizio
all bonnet releases were on the left from 62 onwards
all the looms were made for lhd then turned back on them selfs for rhd
ste
Ste Brown

Thanks Ste. Shipping is the unfortunate part. It would cost far more than the dash itself! Next person to take a trip across the pond should bring a box of ten dash panels each way. :)
Steve Simmons

Try this. Itsems to be what you want as far as the method of conversion.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MGB-Left-RHD-Steel-Dash-Conversion-instructions_W0QQitemZ140147332859QQihZ004QQcategoryZ27380QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Tony
Tony Oliver

To answer the question properly we need to know what year the car is. I assume it is a roadster.

The earlier the car is the better. In the late 60s, I think it was 67 but I would need to look it up to be sure, a new dash and steering column was introduced to the north american cars to meet local regulations. Up to this point the conversion is easy. New rack, new dash, and a few bits of plumbing for the brakes and clutch. You may get away with the same speedo cable or you may not. After this point you get changes to the scuttle top, so your RHD dash will not bolt straight on; changes to the steering column and where it mounts to the bulkhead, as a result the revised panels stopped having the RHD mounting points ready to use; with extra switches and equipment the loom starts to become very different as well. Even the demist vent slots are a different length.

For the last 18 months I have been converting my Feb 74 US spec B to RHD and it has been a much longer job than expected. This partly due to the "while I am at it" factor.
David Witham

Hello
I should like to get a Morris MInor conreted from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. Do you know who can do it in Enbglend. I'll be in Cambridge from Sept. 1st. to Sept. 20th.
Thanks and regards
Eduardo

Hello
I should like to get a Morris MInor converted from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. Do you know who can do it in the UK. I'll be in Cambridge from Sept. 1st. to Sept. 20th.
Thanks and regards
Eduardo
Eduardo

This thread was discussed between 11/08/2007 and 19/08/2007

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