LHD to RHD?

[BMW RACER]

I think I already know the answer.

 

But has anyone ever changed a LHD 7 over to RHD?

[TexasDreamer]

My came RHD and I think it's a great feature. Adds to the uniqueness of the car. Shows off it's British nature. A positive topic of conversation when people stop me to chat, which they frequently do. Never had a problem driving it, perhaps because it is so narrow. 

[Canadian 7]

Thinking of getting the Black and gold JPS 7 that’s on BAT? 

[locost7018]

My Locost is an import from the motherland and is RHD. I love it. Very unique. About the only thing bad is it is difficult to pass on a two lane road and no passenger. You can't see around the car you are passing without getting the entire car in the passing lane. Russ

[BMW RACER]

Maybe I should have been more clear. 

 

Has anyone ever modified a 7 that is Left Hand Drive to make it Right Hand Drive?

 

I'm thinking of moving back to the UK and I love my current Caterham which is LHD

[Croc]

 

The only Caterham I know cannot convert is the 620R - it has to be RHD as the steering column interferes with the supercharger in LHD Format.

 

So it should be possible.   I don't know anyone who has done it but thinking through the list of jobs:

 

• Does the chassis have the welded in steering column mounts on the right hand side?
• Are there any chassis diagonals that are on a LHD car that are not on the RHD or are mirror reversed?  No idea.  
• Will probably need a new lower steering column - not sure if you can retain the upper and just swap over?
• May have to move battery and few other things.  
• New dash needed
• Gauges should be ok just swapped over
• May need to redo headlights for UK side of the road.  They seem big on that.
• Registration process (SVA) might get fiddly on lenses for indicators, stopping, fog, etc.
• Wipers are from a mini - even if it was an LHD mini they are cheap and easy to change to RHD mini. 

Seems a manageable list except for the first 2 points.

 

[Rosteri]

Hi, I have just completed a RHD to LHD swap and as there is very little information to be found, I thought I'd share my findings and a few pictures.

 

Chassis: Imperial S3

 

• The steering column lower and upper are usable on both sides
• The steering rack pinion can be rotated, but it needs machining a hole to the blanking plate. Remove C-lock ring, drill a small hole to the center of the blanking plate, use a punch to push the pinion out, take blanking plate out and machine larger hole to match steering rack connection and assemble -> done.
• I didn't have mounts for steering on both sides, so I had to do some welding. 
  • I cut the lower dash tube with the steering column symmetrically and flipped it over. The angles match.
  • I cut of the pedal box as close as possible to the footwell
  • The footwell on the driver and passenger side was of different shape. I used cardboard templates to replicate the original driver side, removed the original passenger side completely and built a new one out of scratch (1.5 mm 6061T6).
  • Reshaped and fitted the pedal box and welded it in place
• Cut off the lower mount for the steering rack (just outside scuttle) and welded it to other side
• Made a half moon cutout into the rectangular chassis tube to clear the steering rack

 

Whether the steering column clears the engine components (exhaust, drysump, alternator...) or not is fairly hard to predict, but it can be checked with a string before starting. I had only a chassis to start with and could design everything around the new steering column location. 

 

So it is perfectly feasible to switch sides, but it will require serious fabrication and welding skills. I hope this helps someone in the future!

 

 

Edited September 9, 2021 by Rosteri

[Rosteri]

 

Edited September 9, 2021 by Rosteri

[Croc]

What a great first post!  Welcome to USA7s!  

 

On the chassis tube where you had to half moon a segment to create clearance, is this occurring because the chassis tube on the other side is a different shape/location/position?  They look similar in the photos but only one side needed a segment removed for clearance?

 

 

[Rosteri]

On 9/10/2021 at 7:56 AM, Croc said:

What a great first post!  Welcome to USA7s!  

 

On the chassis tube where you had to half moon a segment to create clearance, is this occurring because the chassis tube on the other side is a different shape/location/position?  They look similar in the photos but only one side needed a segment removed for clearance?

 

 

 

The tubes are similar on both sides, I left the original half moon cutout in place - after all who knows, perhaps someone wants the car in RHD format in another 54 years from now... 

[Croc]

That explains it - original tube had a half moon as well.  Thank you.