Lefty Righty

Great forum. I have been floating for a while in the background reading everyones issues (learning too), but yesterday someone asked me a good question and I believe only this forum can answer it. Have a gander.

I am currently rebuilding a 67 Sprite from the ground up. A friend of mine was recently looking at the stripped out tub and asked if the transmision tunnel and angle are opposite for a right-handed car. Is the Sprite tunnel angle always to the left? We all know that the Sprite/MG tub is designed to install the steering on either side, but the transmission seems out of place for a right side driver. What's up with that?

thanks
Fred

They are the same for left or right hand drive. I think the part of the tunnel that is over the gearbox might be assymetric to give space for the clutch slave cylinder, which will always be on the right.

John,
So a UK version of the car would have the standard transmission shift pattern but from the right side. That's interesting. Is this a standard with other cars that have similar left/right configurations?
Thanks,
Fred

Fred, nothing changes exept the drivers position. And of course the pedals, but they are oriented the same regardless of the drivers side. Clutch, brake, accelerator.
It's been like that on all the right hand drive cars I've ever driven. You just have to get used to shifting with your left hand.
Jeff

Yep....what Jeff said.

Also, on Sprites they've pushed the trans back much further than was originally intended for that design (Morris Minor) and the trans is not symetrical. There is a big bump on the right side of the trans for the starter (on later cars like my 1500 car, the starter is on the left, but they kept basically the same tunnel design anyway)

You may notice that some Brit cars are a bit more roomy on the right side than the left side (I think MGAs are like this). That's because the right side is the "proper" side for the driver, so the designers biased the design for extra space on that side even for left-hand drive cars.

Well I guess if I ever get the chance to drive a true UK version I won't say no, but I'll certainly make sure there's lots of open space around. Thanks for the history on that one. It's certainly a topic for conversation. Hope to have some pics for you guys soon of my rebuilt tub. The "welder" has it right now.