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RHD Conversion

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John Moore

John Moore

Luke Skywalker
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Now that I have the correct RHD steering rack, other than a dash, does anyone know what other bits are needed to convert a bugeye to RHD?

If anyone has a RHD or uncut fiberglass dash, let me know.

-John
 
Do you have all the correct pedal assemblies and linkages? Are the steering box, idler arms, etc. different? Brake lines, master cylinders and all of that too.... I have never done this but those things came to mind....
 
I would think the brake and clutch would be the same, I would have to look at the accelerator pedal and how that works. The hydraulic plumbing would definitely be different.
 
Wiring harness ... maybe?
 
I would think I could use the same harness, but the wires in the back wouldn't have to stretch so far across the back of the dash.

But yeah, lots of little things you don't think about!
 
Cowl mounted switches?
 
John Moore said:
tony barnhill said:
Cowl mounted switches?
Click to expand...

I guess you would just move the existing ones left to right.
Click to expand...
Tried that on my MGB conversion - didn't work well...also, on the MGB the accelerator pedal is different....& you need to look at the thru firewall fittings.
 
As far as I know, the steering rack is the only piece you need (well, along with the dash). The pedals are the same, and the wiring harness can be looped back a bit to work with the RHD dash. A Bugeye has no switches on the cowl, they're all on the dash. It's a simple car.

You'll need to run new brake and clutch lines from the MC (just those 2 pipes). I just did a quick search through the archives, and all the threads I found just mentioned those changes.

I've got a RHD rack as well, though I'm not doing the conversion at this point. Down the road, who knows.
 
Thanks Drew.

I tried a search too using "RHD" but didn't come up with anything.
 
John, a search for right hand drive and my username (drooartz) comes up with quite a few threads (go back a year or two). I was a bit obsessed...
grin.gif
 
drooartz has it about nailed John.
Wiring harness just lays over. Gotta have the RHD steering rack. The pedal box and pedals and master cylinders just move over to the other side - make up new brake/clutch lines. You will have to use a side-entry distributor cap due to the steering column's new location - it's possible you can get by with the top entry cap but it's tight. You will have to fab up a simulacrum of the entry plate where the steering column goes thru the firewall. New throttle cable and choke cable and arrangements.
That's all I can think of. Could be some more oddball bits, nothing big though. This is what is on my Midget. I don't think there are any differences between the bugeye and Midget for this swap. The guy that did the swap made up a RHD dash. Wasn't that difficult unless you want it to look "factory".
 
One other important detail, be sure to move the steering rack shim to the right side to set up the correct angle for the steering column.

Glen
 
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