Left to Right hand drive

[Rich T]

Morning all.

Looking at classic Fords for sale on Ebay and classic car sale sites.

It would seem that getting on for half the cars for sale now are left hand drive.

I have a lefty myself.

Anyone else got one and whats the general opinion on them?

Ive slowly started collecting parts to convert mine to RHD.

I havnt started pulling the dash etc at the moment as it needs to be kept mobile for the time being.

Being pushed across the workshop to the ramp to have work done on the rear arches and tubs of a weekend (taking ages).

It isnt registered yet but have the NOVA cert etc.

Was thinking of converting it before registering it but dont know yet.

I couldnt afford a UK rhd car so had to take the cheaper option and get a (almost) rust free import.

So, whats the opinion of the OSF crowd?

 

Rich

 

P.S Not concerned about any de-valueing of the car as i dont plan on selling it any time soon...

[colr6]

Leftys are getting more and more due to good chance of getting a good shell, think people are converting to RHD to be the norm although you do see a few left as is. Wouldn't say it would bother people to much on a converted car when it comes to retail as it is more chance of being an original car and not a rebuild for people who like some type of originality. Me personally would prefer an original shell than a welded up rust bucket be it left or rhd drive originally.

[mike399]

Once u collect all the parts needed. It's an easy swap. Most difficult is finding good dash.

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[Rich T]

Yeh, the metal dash is/will be a sticking point.

Not sure what to do about that.

I work in a garage as a mechanic but half the workshop is dedicated to time served metal fabricators. So may have to de-spotweld the dash and see if they can work their magic on it.

Theres a freshly dipped MK1 RS2000 shell at a local bodyshop waiting to be restored. Been told im welcome to take measurements for reference from that car if i need to.

I phoned someone who i knew had a RHD dash for sale. And i could hear the laughter in his voice when he sead "£600".

Theyre a real money spinner at the moment.

 

Rich

[colr6]

Think for £600 I can spend a lot of time cutting and stitching it from left to right, the smile would be on the other side of the face then !

[mike399]

£600 just for a dash. Madness. Modify and make ur own

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[khanlad]

Not that I could do it the metal bit of the dash, but would have thought the dash top bit would be more of an issue?  Like you say at least you could fabricate the metal bit?

[Rich T]

I saw a reference on this site to home made hack up jobs when converting to rhd a while ago. I wouldnt want to be tarred with that brush. I couldnt live with hidden horrors.

What would be the issue with the dash top?

Other than finding a decent original RHD one lol

[colr6]

5 minutes ago, Rich T said:

I saw a reference on this site to home made hack up jobs when converting to rhd a while ago. I wouldnt want to be tarred with that brush. I couldnt live with hidden horrors.

What would be the issue with the dash top?

Other than finding a decent original RHD one lol

How can it be a 'hack up job ' these cars are produced in both left and right hand drive. There's nothing hacked up about it. Usually these people branding names like that about have never done the job or don't know what they're on about. Generally it's people who can't complete the job themselves so slate other people's efforts.

[Rich T]

I guess you're right.

Ill carry on collecting parts and hopefully ill get on with it over the winter.

[Danxr2]

I have a converted car I think it's awesome all i did was cut the space out for the clocks and covers it up with a gl trim if you are not far from Birmingham you could come and have a look at mine one day if you want and take some measurements and ideas im not botherd about it beeing converted just enjoy driving it who cares if it's original or not unless you are entering it into a concorse show 

[retro toe]

you can buy panel were 5 clock sit in and you can buy fibre glass dashtop looks original.rest you can probably frabcrate,how many rhd cars been scrapped with dashs loads,got scuttle panel were wipers go on ebay cheap,no ones bidding on it,if you want go that far do wipers.

Edited August 28, 2017 by retro toe
scuttle panel

[retro toe]

here part  am on about,might be selling mint brown dash top but only 2 clock one

[eeb43]

get it registered before you convert it

[Rich T]

8 minutes ago, eeb43 said:

get it registered before you convert it

Why?

Ive started to take it to bits already.

[eeb43]

as and when it gets inspected and the bulkhead has been cut and modified IF they notice you will be refused a reg