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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Left hand to right hand conversion

I live in the UK and recently purchased an import from USA -- a Left Hand Drive TD in need of full restoration.
I am considering converting this car to right hand drive as I hope to be able to use it in the UK for perhaps ten years before I have to sell it on.
Would such a conversion have an impact on its value ? I was thinking that the close proximity to other European counties may mean that there is a premium for LHD!
Any opinions or direct experience would be welcome.
Mel Pascoe

It's an interesting question Mel. I considered the same issue myself but went for the LHD to RHD conversion, if only for the convenience of driving RHD here. As part of a body off restoration its not so difficult, the most tricky part being changing the pedal box. I left the LHD pedal box, etc, in place, and kept the parts, just in case somebody wanted to change it back.
Dave
Dave Hill

Steering rack, pedal box and dashboard are the biggies. Of these, the pedal box is the biggest job IMHO.
David.
D. Sander

Mel - My guess it will be easy to find the rack there in the UK, here in the states now, that would be near impossible I would think. I made that conversion on one of my TD's 30+ years ago and had a hard time finding the rack. Mine finally came from the UK, Jerry from Abingdon picked one up for me on a trip there. There was a fellow here in the states that did at one time make the RHD pedal box. If you are interested drop me a note at classic_tseries at yahoo dot com and I will look up his name for you. As far as value of a RHD TD here in the sates goes, that would add a premium to any car and I understand that is the case with cars being sent back to the UK as well. FOG
FOG Frank

Anglo Parts lists the RHD rack, though you'd have to check to see if they really offer it.

Judging from auction results, RHD cars seem to command a premium in the UK over LHD drive cars just about anywhere else. If you do the conversion you'll get the most for it there. The Japanese were paying big money for RHD cars back when their economy was booming, but that was a long time ago.
David Littlefield

They are obtainable over here, as are the pedal boxes and everything else.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Mel I did exactly the same as Dave some 15 years ago I used a rack off a y but had to extend it by 2 1/4 inches but are now available new fro mg spares Heathrow. I left the original pedal box in place and made a clutch operating shaft long enough to extend from both sides of the bell housing. the dash is easy, just turn original over and use as a template.
Full l/h to r/h kits are available from what used to be NTG motor services, now known as MG bits 4 U they also sell new steering racks for the TD and TF.
I live in Lincoln, not too far from you If I can help let me know. Adrian.
Thomas WELLS

Many thanks to everybody for their advice and help with this issue
I have made the decision to convert to RHD and also follow what has been done before by retaining the pedal box and keep the LHD components to stay with this car.

Mel.
Mel Pascoe

Mel. For the pedal box, try Sportscarmetalworks. I think they make them for everyone else. The new RHD rack can be obtained from various sources like MGServices Heathrow and other suppliers, sometimes inexpensively off ebay. Similarly for the pedals (though it took me longer to find those). I recommend that you modify the pedal shaft (for details see the archive) to improve the lubrication.
D
Dave Hill

Hello Mel,
I may have a RHD steeringrack lying among my spare parts.
Have to look,
Contact me on erikvanhardeveldatonline.nl
(@ for at)

Erik
Erik van Hardeveld

Mel
I live in Norfolk, and we have a group of pre 1960 MG owners meting on 16th March for a technical meet.
Contact me if you are interested in joining us.
Mike Lees
TD29330 07974421827
M Lees

Does the type plate say XLNA (likely if it came from the US) ? With a RHD conversion you would then make an obvious deviation from its original state.
Rgds Mike
Mike Fritsch

You quite correct Mike, but the originality of this car is already compromised as it came with no engine/gearbox.
I have an earlier TD XPAG unit for the car now. Also if in the future anybody wished to convert it back to LHD it is not so difficult. All LHD parts will remain to pass on with the car one day.

Originality is a very difficult topic as I assume we all now have to source new parts to keep these on the road.

Mel.
Mel Pascoe

The one part that you don't want to forget (I did!) is the clutch fulcrum pin on the sump side. If there isn't one there on the RHS, or it has been sawn off as mine had, it means that you have to drop the sump to fit one.
Dave H
Dave Hill

The one part that you don't want to forget (I did!) is the clutch fulcrum pin on the sump side. If there isn't one there of the RHS, or it has been sawn off as mine had, it means that you have to drop the sump to fit one.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Working on the pedal box, whether simply changing the master cylinder or converting the drivers' side is a nightmare. I am surprised no one has designed an alternative arrangement or perhaps someone has?

Jan T
J Targosz

The usual solution appears to be to cut away most of the box!
Dave H
Dave Hill

In this case I am fortunate in having a gearbox with RHS clutch actuation mechanism fitted.
Mel Pascoe

Hi Dave,
Why oh why did MG fit the pedal shaft through the chassis? I managed to remove mine whilst the chassis was bare by juggling it, side on, under my pedestal drill and drilling the b-----d out. How someone can remove a seized one with the body on the car I just don't know. The shaft only needs to be supported for about 1/2" at each side and simple clamps would suffice. I assume RHD and LHD chassis had the hole for the shaft in both legs. With a drivers' side change over it would be an easy job to ream rust out of the unused hole and simply cut the now redundant shaft off and leave the hole plugged.

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Its a good question! There is only a hole / tube on the supplied pedal box side. When I fitted the pedal box on the RHS I had to mark up and drill the hole in the right place, then weld in the tube. I did it, by inserting a well fitting metal rod through the tube on the LHS and using that to mark the correct position on the RHS. It worked out OK.
Dave H
Dave Hill

When fitting the new pedal box, make sure the cutaway against the chassis has clearance for the fuel pipe and speedo drive nut. Even on the original RHD the clearance is minimal, on some new cables I have had to relieve one side of the nut to let it go through.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee raybar2(at) tiscalidotcodotuk

This thread was discussed between 05/03/2016 and 09/03/2016

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.