Right Hand Drive Conversion
- Bob Campbell
- Registry Hall of Fame
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- Location: Santa Clarita, CA
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Right Hand Drive Conversion
I have a question! I need to switch a C Cab to Right Hand Drive. I have absolutely NO experience with such a conversion.
Any info, experience, kits available or hints would be welcome.
Thanks in advance,
Bob Campbell
Santa Clarita, CA
661-251-3500
Any info, experience, kits available or hints would be welcome.
Thanks in advance,
Bob Campbell
Santa Clarita, CA
661-251-3500
Bob Campbell
1956 Porsche Special
1962 S-90 Karmann Hardtop Elec. Sunroof
1964 SC Coupe
1965 C Cabriolet
It's either this or a real job.
http://www.356Services.com
1956 Porsche Special
1962 S-90 Karmann Hardtop Elec. Sunroof
1964 SC Coupe
1965 C Cabriolet
It's either this or a real job.
http://www.356Services.com
- John Brooks
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:50 am
- Location: Whidbey Island WA.
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Bob
It's almost a job... Call Tim Herman at Carrera motor sports I think he has done one before. I did see a couple pieces required NOS green metal on line not too long ago.
I think rusty tubs has the pedal area green metal.
John
It's almost a job... Call Tim Herman at Carrera motor sports I think he has done one before. I did see a couple pieces required NOS green metal on line not too long ago.
I think rusty tubs has the pedal area green metal.
John
Last edited by John Brooks on Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
John Brooks
62 Roadster
66 912
84 Cab
getting pushed around in porsches since 1965
62 Roadster
66 912
84 Cab
getting pushed around in porsches since 1965
- steven mclean
- 356 Fan
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- Location: grayland,wa
Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Colin Thorpe rhd pedals,the356.com,New Zealand.
- John Hearn
- 356 Fan
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- Tag: Porsche is a two sylable word!
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Bob
Try PRS in England, they have right hand drive Pitman arms, the most difficult part of the conversion.
KTF
John
Try PRS in England, they have right hand drive Pitman arms, the most difficult part of the conversion.
KTF
John
- Ben Wainscott
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:30 pm
- Location: Southern California
Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Bob,
I believe John Willhoit was doing a conversion on one that I saw during his open house at the last LA Lit show. Believe Andy Elsner fabricated the dash.
Ben
I believe John Willhoit was doing a conversion on one that I saw during his open house at the last LA Lit show. Believe Andy Elsner fabricated the dash.
Ben
Ben Wainscott
65 SC S/R coupe
89 911 Carrera
63 Vespa 150
80 Vespa P200e
65 SC S/R coupe
89 911 Carrera
63 Vespa 150
80 Vespa P200e
-
- 356 Fan
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- Tag: 56 Coupe #56209
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Hello Bob
For starters,
You'll need a RHD Pitman Arm. A bloke in Melbourne had some made recently, not sure if he has any left.
Order a RHD Wiring Harness, so that the wires are long enough.
Longer Speedo Cable comes from a VW Karmann Ghia.
Fuse Box is "inside" under the glove box.
Stoddards have just released RHD floor mats, just for you.
RHD has different Headlight Lens.
RHD Cs had a special fuel tank. Not a "GT" or an "80 Litre", it was special so that the steering column would go underneath. Fuel Fill Flapper was in the guard.
I'm disassembling an original RHD '64 SC at the moment.
Regards
David
For starters,
You'll need a RHD Pitman Arm. A bloke in Melbourne had some made recently, not sure if he has any left.
Order a RHD Wiring Harness, so that the wires are long enough.
Longer Speedo Cable comes from a VW Karmann Ghia.
Fuse Box is "inside" under the glove box.
Stoddards have just released RHD floor mats, just for you.
RHD has different Headlight Lens.
RHD Cs had a special fuel tank. Not a "GT" or an "80 Litre", it was special so that the steering column would go underneath. Fuel Fill Flapper was in the guard.
I'm disassembling an original RHD '64 SC at the moment.
Regards
David
- Charlie White
- 356 Fan
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- Bob Campbell
- Registry Hall of Fame
- Posts: 287
- Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:25 pm
- Location: Santa Clarita, CA
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Thank you all for your input and suggestions regarding this conversion.
After contacting and speaking with the people mentioned here and others, I have come up with my preferred solution: I AM NOT DOING IT!!! This car has fresh paint already on it and I cannot bring myself to take it apart and cut it up.
I am shipping it off to New Zealand in USA configuration and the new owner can then consider his options.
Thanks again guys,
Bob
After contacting and speaking with the people mentioned here and others, I have come up with my preferred solution: I AM NOT DOING IT!!! This car has fresh paint already on it and I cannot bring myself to take it apart and cut it up.
I am shipping it off to New Zealand in USA configuration and the new owner can then consider his options.
Thanks again guys,
Bob
Bob Campbell
1956 Porsche Special
1962 S-90 Karmann Hardtop Elec. Sunroof
1964 SC Coupe
1965 C Cabriolet
It's either this or a real job.
http://www.356Services.com
1956 Porsche Special
1962 S-90 Karmann Hardtop Elec. Sunroof
1964 SC Coupe
1965 C Cabriolet
It's either this or a real job.
http://www.356Services.com
- Vic Skirmants
- Registry Hall of Fame
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Good decision!
- Ron LaDow
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 8092
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Bob, agreed with Vic.
You would *never* get paid what it costs to do that job right.
You would *never* get paid what it costs to do that job right.
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Sounds like decision is made which I think is sensible - You can register/use a car of this age LHD in NZ. The Aussies are a bit more in tune with this as I believe their LHD rules are far stricter than NZ.
A few want to convert and we are currently doing a '59 for a customer as part of the restoration - it will be done exactly as per factory inc original dash which are not just a cut and paste - (raised lips around gauges been discussed elsewhere).
As per Davids comments a C is MUCH more of a challenge to convert. The factory retained the "A" tank at least into T6 production - fuel filler is welded up in the fender. (we have a factory RHD in the shop also). By 64 a special tank.
The LHD tank does not have allowance for the steering shaft. Some fixes I've heard of include putting a tube through the tank or just cutting out a section - um lots of stops at the gas station. Just moving the wheel usually entails this sort of bodge, extending existing harness, not using rhd pitman arm - must have very unusual steering/handling as soon as wheel is moved toe will change etc etc.
A "proper" conversion would entail new rhd tank (impossible?), panel under the tank, transferring chassis number to new panel, dash, wiring harness, pitman arm, handbrake transfer, rhd pedal/kit and pitmann arm, fuse box relocation. Not for the faint hearted!
A few want to convert and we are currently doing a '59 for a customer as part of the restoration - it will be done exactly as per factory inc original dash which are not just a cut and paste - (raised lips around gauges been discussed elsewhere).
As per Davids comments a C is MUCH more of a challenge to convert. The factory retained the "A" tank at least into T6 production - fuel filler is welded up in the fender. (we have a factory RHD in the shop also). By 64 a special tank.
The LHD tank does not have allowance for the steering shaft. Some fixes I've heard of include putting a tube through the tank or just cutting out a section - um lots of stops at the gas station. Just moving the wheel usually entails this sort of bodge, extending existing harness, not using rhd pitman arm - must have very unusual steering/handling as soon as wheel is moved toe will change etc etc.
A "proper" conversion would entail new rhd tank (impossible?), panel under the tank, transferring chassis number to new panel, dash, wiring harness, pitman arm, handbrake transfer, rhd pedal/kit and pitmann arm, fuse box relocation. Not for the faint hearted!
'58 Speedster
'65 911
revivem.co.nz
'65 911
revivem.co.nz
- Mike Smith
- 356 Fan
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
A "proper" conversion would entail new rhd tank (impossible?), panel under the tank, transferring chassis number to new panel, dash, wiring harness, pitman arm, handbrake transfer, rhd pedal/kit and pitmann arm, fuse box relocation. Not for the faint hearted!
PRS `CURRENTLY` have
Original RHD Pitman Arms also `Proper` Repro`s
RHD Pedal Assemblies
RHD Handbrake Parts
2 x RHD Tanks
1 x NOS RHD Dash
Mike Smith (Essex - UK)
- Mervyn Hyde
- 356 Fan
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- Location: Sunshine Coast Australia
Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
A majority of RHD 356s in Australia seem to be conversions so someone must be doing it here. Personally (my 356 in an original RHD) I wouldn't bother as it only de-values the car on an international market. 911's here in original RHD are most valuable, followed by LHD and then a distant 3rd are the conversions. They are not well regarded.
Merv
TYP356
1963 356B T6
1968 911 SWB
TYP356
1963 356B T6
1968 911 SWB
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Havent done a 911 conversion but restos of RHD & LHD. There are quite a few unique sheetmetal bits in there that would be a fun to do "properly"
Years ago I imported a 928S4 from Japan to NZ. Had to be converted. I was told it was impossible to do! Well not impossible but a LOT of work! Required donor cars from NZ & UK - Complete wiring harness, Motor out, Complete bulkhead/firewall relacement, dash, air conditioning/ventilation, wiper assembly, steering rack, dashboard, pedals. - much more than a 356
Years ago I imported a 928S4 from Japan to NZ. Had to be converted. I was told it was impossible to do! Well not impossible but a LOT of work! Required donor cars from NZ & UK - Complete wiring harness, Motor out, Complete bulkhead/firewall relacement, dash, air conditioning/ventilation, wiper assembly, steering rack, dashboard, pedals. - much more than a 356
'58 Speedster
'65 911
revivem.co.nz
'65 911
revivem.co.nz
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Right Hand Drive Conversion
Hi gents,
Following on from this I'm currently restoring a basket case '56 T1 356A shell in Melbourne and part of the
restoration is a conversion to RHD, quite a few pics of the build on Instagram -> @the_sinner356
I will most likely source a new RHD hardness from Kroon in the UK, and am assuming
the fuse box and wiring cover will need to be relocated to the left hand
side behind the glovebox?
Below being the standard location for a LHD (not my car):
Following on from this I'm currently restoring a basket case '56 T1 356A shell in Melbourne and part of the
restoration is a conversion to RHD, quite a few pics of the build on Instagram -> @the_sinner356
I will most likely source a new RHD hardness from Kroon in the UK, and am assuming
the fuse box and wiring cover will need to be relocated to the left hand
side behind the glovebox?
Below being the standard location for a LHD (not my car):