give me a hand

[kwilkman]

Have been trying to find a S1/2/3 and seems that the best selection is in the UK. Now, does anyone have a good idea on the costs/difficulty/needed parts when changing the steering from RHD to LHD? Does not look too complicated, but anyway... Thanks already beforehand.

[pies]

Im guessing a LHD steering rack is going to be very difficult to source

[HarryW]

They did make left hand drive V8S's so there are some cars out there for the buying. therefore there must be part numbers for the left drive bits as well.

Edited to add the Dutch branch of the TVR Car Club seems to be one of the most proactive european arms, might be worth contacting them for any info, perhaps

Edited by HarryW on Sunday 9th July 21:51

[kwilkman]

Thanks for the comments. Just thought that as TVR used to use Ford parts, maybe the steering rack is also some common thing. Not too many S series available in Holland either... What about the dashboard?

[pies]

The rack was made by TVR and unavailabe new

[Roy C]

kwilkman said:

Just thought that as TVR used to use Ford parts, maybe the steering rack is also some common thing.

It is a Chevette steering rack with modified internals. Unobtainable as the company that created them went bust.

[Le TVR]

I did talk to an engineer here about a LHD conversion and he estimated nearly 30% the value of the car and this was in 1992! To be fair he was a little bit Mr ISO9000.....

Just adapt your driving, its not so difficult.

[jagman2]

I was told yesterday that a sierra lhd steering rack fits perfectly. I talked to a guy, Andre van Londen, who converted his S years back. (very knowledgeable fellow..owned griff's, v8s etc ) He gave me a few useful tips on conversion too.
I somewhat gave up before, but after yesterday I decided to go ahead and make a lefthooker from my RHD S1.5
I mailed the guy today asking what type of sierra steering rack will fit.
When I recieved reply I will post it here.

Assesment so far:
-cutting out mirrored shapes from dash and exchange them left-right was succesfully done as explained by andre. The dash will have to be recovered obviously
-radiator lower hose seems to interfer....but it doesn't!
-handbrakelever needs severe cutting and welding to covert (according to me)
-a bracket near the pedals needs to be replaced, I believe the bracket holding steering collumn (Replace with new lhd one?...I'll be welding my own in Stainless S :-)

My questions
-Fusebox en ecu...i hope changing sides is possible whithout to much trouble.
-Accelleratorcable...don't think it will have to be replaced.
-Trunk release cable...i hope changing sides is possible whithout to much trouble.
-WINDSHIELDWIPERMOUNTINGS this IS a problem. They are placed off centre..mirroring these is impossible whithout major remodeling.

I'll try get the answers...

Cheers

Olav Bergman with his still RHD 89 S1.5
The Netherlands

[kwilkman]

jagman2 said:

I was told yesterday that a sierra lhd steering rack fits perfectly. I talked to a guy, Andre van Londen, who converted his S years back. (very knowledgeable fellow..owned griff's, v8s etc ) He gave me a few useful tips on conversion too.
I somewhat gave up before, but after yesterday I decided to go ahead and make a lefthooker from my RHD S1.5
I mailed the guy today asking what type of sierra steering rack will fit.
When I recieved reply I will post it here.

Assesment so far:
-cutting out mirrored shapes from dash and exchange them left-right was succesfully done as explained by andre. The dash will have to be recovered obviously
-radiator lower hose seems to interfer....but it doesn't!
-handbrakelever needs severe cutting and welding to covert (according to me)
-a bracket near the pedals needs to be replaced, I believe the bracket holding steering collumn (Replace with new lhd one?...I'll be welding my own in Stainless S :-)

My questions
-Fusebox en ecu...i hope changing sides is possible whithout to much trouble.
-Accelleratorcable...don't think it will have to be replaced.
-Trunk release cable...i hope changing sides is possible whithout to much trouble.
-WINDSHIELDWIPERMOUNTINGS this IS a problem. They are placed off centre..mirroring these is impossible whithout major remodeling.

I'll try get the answers...

Cheers

Olav Bergman with his still RHD 89 S1.5
The Netherlands

Thanks for the hints. Have been studying this myself also and believe that it should not be too difficult taking that you´ll skip making new holes to the dashboard and buy a new one. The handbrake looks to be on the right hand side in all models LHD and RHD same as the trunk opener. This is true also for the windscreen wipers.

Also saw one which had beed converted - actually in the Netherlands. I´ll pass you over the address if you need, so drop me a line on the email.

Am still interested to have some more hints for this kind of a job - you never know, when you feel like another TVR Anyway, bought mine as genuine LHD.

[james280779]

would it not just be easier to write to your government and get them to change laws and make every one to drive on the correct side of the road- the left lol