ausmini
https://ausmini.com/forums/

How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH drive?
https://ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=95094		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  deluxe67 [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:53 pm ]
Post subject:  How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH drive?
Obviously a new steering rack and relocating pedals etc but what would the major dramas be? Would it be a relatively straightforward exercise or a major PITA?
Appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

Michael
Author:  Goldbrocade_62 [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
850s where designed to be but they changed the bodies slightly later and and would need some mods i think
Author:  1071 S [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
Making up new pipes to meet the relocated master cyls would probably be the tricky bit .. but not a real hassle. The holes in the shell are there for the cylinders but maybe you'll need new holes to accomodate the pedal box ..and maybe a new bracket for the accelerator.

Early cars had symmetric wiper holes and the UK added extra holes when they changed to right biased wipers for the home market. I think BMC Oz actually made a new panel to accomodate to revised wiper geometry.

But even though WA is a whole continent away they still drive on the same side as us.. :)

Cheers, Ian
Author:  whoopspiggy [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
I had a Canadian Mini that had been converted & registered in Australia - I bought it that way but there was no obvious dramas involved - it did still have a hole in the carpet in the LF footwell where the steering column used to be


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Author:  DavidE [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
deluxe67 wrote:
Obviously a new steering rack and relocating pedals etc but what would the major dramas be? Would it be a relatively straightforward exercise or a major PITA?
Appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

Michael


But why?
Author:  deluxe67 [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
Why? If I had the inclination/ desire to take my car to a country that drives on the wrong side of the road..
Author:  greyghost [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
the obvious one almost every one misses is that you'll need new head lights, so they "dip" to the correct side
Author:  peterb [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
Why would you convert it, there's plenty left hand drive cars here in Australia that people are happy to leave that way. Just leave it right hand.
Author:  winabbey [ Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
BMC Australia engineered the Cooper S to be LHD. I'm not aware that any were ever built that way, so maybe the costings were done for the sales department based on prospective sales.
Author:  peterb [ Sat Mar 25, 2017 5:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
The differences between lhd and rhd arent much in an early model when it comes to parts, rack, brake/clutch plumbing and a bit of wiring. Probably two days work for someone with the right gear. Nothing compared to converting a more conventional car.
Author:  DavidE [ Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
deluxe67 wrote:
Why? If I had the inclination/ desire to take my car to a country that drives on the wrong side of the road..


So it's really a theoretical question more than anything else?
Author:  deluxe67 [ Sat Mar 25, 2017 11:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
PeterB,

It would be going to a country that doesn't allow RHD cars on the road at all..

DavidE,

It's just a seed of an idea at the moment. Nothing may come of it,but then again the "Bali road trip" started off the same way....

It's a 1967 Oz DeLuxe, it does have the cutouts for the master cylinders to be mounted on the the LHS bulkhead so I guess they did design some LHD features into the car. I'll pull up the carpet and have a good look at the LHS floor/ footwell and see what I find..
Author:  Skell1275 [ Sat Mar 25, 2017 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
My shell is also a 67 deluxe and is stripped and on a rotisserie at the moment so it's easy to see, looking at it the pedal box just needs the hole that it shares with the steering column bracket drilling, however looks like it is positioned too far towards the centre of the car leaving the pedals greatly offset to the seat, also there is no mounts for the accelerator pedal or cable to come through or hole for the steering column.
Author:  Skell1275 [ Sat Mar 25, 2017 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
I'm guessing the lhd cars have a different pedal assembly with bent arms to bring them more in line with the seat
Author:  drmini in aust [ Sat Mar 25, 2017 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How difficult is it to convert a RH drive Mini to LH dri
Main pedal difference is the throttle pedal is shorter and different shaped.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC + 10 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/