converting SIII form rhd to LHD?

[david despain]

i know the trucks are all basically the same and everything should just basically "flip" over in a mirror like fashion, but.... how hard is it and what parts need to be replaced w/ lhd stuff? is it much easier to do in a SIIa? thanks for your patience w/ a series noob.

 

[stevenmd]

The guys to talk to are Timm Cooper and Mark Pilkington. They live in the Placerville, CA area. They hang out a lot on lrrforums.com. Mark goes by "landiman". Both are great guys and will talk your ear off.:jump:

 

[James86004]

Here is a partial list of what you need to change:

Steering box
One of the steering swivels
Throttle hardware
Clutch and Brake hard lines
Handbrake hardware (unless you don't mind brushing against you passenger's leg when you set it)
Heater slide control panel.

It would probably be easier to install a new steering relay than try to get the old one out to move over.

I think everything else just moves over - instrument panel, pedal box, steering column. I know the ignition key and turn indicator switch is on the same side of the column whether it is left or right hand drive.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Battery mount?

 

[KingSlug]

Unless you are lucky...

Unless you are lucky you will need a forward cross member. A few rovers had two holes for the steering relay, I think mostly MOD 109 and Stage 1s. Whats wrong with a RHD, except when you are turning left?

Jared

 

[revor]

Unless you are lucky you will need a forward cross member. A few rovers had two holes for the steering relay, I think mostly MOD 109 and Stage 1s. Whats wrong with a RHD, except when you are turning left?

Jared

Turning left isn't a problem isn't a problem unless something is in the way..

X2 on the steering relay and front crossmember, you could do a scout 2 steering box and get power steering at the same time!

 

[James86004]

I should add that when I first got my Dormobile, I investigated switching it from RHD to LHD. But after driving it around a bit, I decided it was not worth the effort. It is only an issue occasionally with a left turn in busy traffic, but if I have a passenger, it is no problem. Ditto for the drive-through window at a bank or restaurant.

The first time I had a problem was the day I bought it, when I drove over the Golden Gate Bridge. I had to unbuckle my seatbelt and slide over in order to pay the toll. Since there are no toll booths in Arizona, this is again a non-issue.

RHD has some benefits. When two vehicles are trying to pass each other on a narrow road, I can easily get real close to edge. In a Series Land Rover, since the engine and transmission are offset to the left, the right hand footwell has more room. My old LHD SIII had a cramped footwell, and the pedals were offset to the left a little too much.

Perhaps the best benefit is the looks you get. One day, while waiting at a red light in the left turn lane, a kid in a hot-rodded Honda Civic pulled up to the right of me. He looked up at me, and his eyes popped wide open. "Dude! Is that steering wheel on the wrong side? Is that legal?" I said "Absolutely." "Man, that is TIGHT!" He grinned and drove off. I think he is going to look at converting his Civic to RHD.

 

[Blair G]

I concur with what James said. Converting is more of a pain then it is worth. The only time it is really an issue is merging into traffic if you have van sides and passing vehicles. If you own a Series vehicle the passing thing is really not an issue. Om the positive side you can get your mail from the drivers seat.

Blair

 

[overlander]

This subject has been talked to death on D-90.com. recommend searching through the threads over there and all will be reveiled