Calling all Seven owners.......
Discussion
Quick question -
Do you think it would be possible to change your (insert name here) seven from right hand drive to left hand drive?
I am looking to buy a second hand Seven as a fun second car for my house in Italy.
It would need to be second hand because the hassle to register a new built car would make it impossible (just buying a preowned car is a pain enough).
Looking at the layout under the bonnet in a Ford powered one it seems you would just need a new rack, shift pedals over, bit of wiring and some light fabrication.
I would love a BEC but technically they look to be a different matter - the engine is just too far back to move the pedal box over.
I am very much looking at the mid section of the market and newish. MK, Tiger, Westfield etc.
I am sure some of you would say, "Why can't you just get used to a RHD car in a LHD country"..... fair point but it does make overtaking a pain and is much easier for my friends out here to drive.
I have seen some of the main player sell ready-made LHD cars, but these are beyond my budget and would still need to be registered in the UK first.
All advice very welcome.
First one with a working solution wins a bottle of local vino.
Olly
Do you think it would be possible to change your (insert name here) seven from right hand drive to left hand drive?
I am looking to buy a second hand Seven as a fun second car for my house in Italy.
It would need to be second hand because the hassle to register a new built car would make it impossible (just buying a preowned car is a pain enough).
Looking at the layout under the bonnet in a Ford powered one it seems you would just need a new rack, shift pedals over, bit of wiring and some light fabrication.
I would love a BEC but technically they look to be a different matter - the engine is just too far back to move the pedal box over.
I am very much looking at the mid section of the market and newish. MK, Tiger, Westfield etc.
I am sure some of you would say, "Why can't you just get used to a RHD car in a LHD country"..... fair point but it does make overtaking a pain and is much easier for my friends out here to drive.
I have seen some of the main player sell ready-made LHD cars, but these are beyond my budget and would still need to be registered in the UK first.
All advice very welcome.
First one with a working solution wins a bottle of local vino.
Olly
Just leave it RHD? the car is small enough with plenty of vision to not need to go through the hassle of changing your driving position.
Also a lot of BEC's have the engine canted over to the LH side of the engine bay making it difficult to get the steering column down to the rack as most of the engine and exhaust system would be in the way. Fine on a car engine though.
Also a lot of BEC's have the engine canted over to the LH side of the engine bay making it difficult to get the steering column down to the rack as most of the engine and exhaust system would be in the way. Fine on a car engine though.
gobber man said:
Jon Ison said:
Ive seen plenty of LHD MK Indys around, loads in Holland, both car and bike engined derivatives.
I am guessing that they have been built from a LHD chasis from scratch rather than converted.
You would be guessing wrong, just the pedal box and steering column mounts change side, yup I guess a LHD chassis then, whats your budget ?
Hi,
I have build a LHD Westfield a few years ago. It should not be too hard to change a Westfield from RHD to LHD. You will need a few parts: steering rack, dashboard, etc. A current model westfield requires you to swap the pedal box over (bit of work, nothing too hard, can be done without welding as long as you don't have floor mounted pedals. The steering rack can be changed for a LHD one. The steering colum is the hardest part. Can't see how one would do that without welding two new brackets to the chassis.
For pictures of my LHD car check www.planet.nl/~bertram.bakker
Should give you an idea....
Bye,
Bertram
I have build a LHD Westfield a few years ago. It should not be too hard to change a Westfield from RHD to LHD. You will need a few parts: steering rack, dashboard, etc. A current model westfield requires you to swap the pedal box over (bit of work, nothing too hard, can be done without welding as long as you don't have floor mounted pedals. The steering rack can be changed for a LHD one. The steering colum is the hardest part. Can't see how one would do that without welding two new brackets to the chassis.
For pictures of my LHD car check www.planet.nl/~bertram.bakker
Should give you an idea....
Bye,
Bertram
Bertram said:
For pictures of my LHD car check www.planet.nl/~bertram.bakker
Should give you an idea....
Bye,
Bertram
Should give you an idea....
Bye,
Bertram
Thanks Bertram,
Like the car, especially the colour !
Might be on to a winner with a Westie if they can supply LHD bits.
Depending on model, engine and installation it is possible to rebuild a seven to a LHD car.
I am rebuilding a RHD Westfield - no difference in footwells as suggested in the previous reply. Apart from the steering rack and pedal box I had to redirect the exhaust pipes (Zetec engine). It is not an easy job as you have to remove engine, dashboard, redirect or install brake pipes, clutch and throttle cable, weld and drill,..
Nevertheless I would recommend it if you buy a second hand car because you get to know it inside out.
PS if you buy a type 9 gearbox you will also need to change the bellhousing, sorry no experience on BEC's yet
I am rebuilding a RHD Westfield - no difference in footwells as suggested in the previous reply. Apart from the steering rack and pedal box I had to redirect the exhaust pipes (Zetec engine). It is not an easy job as you have to remove engine, dashboard, redirect or install brake pipes, clutch and throttle cable, weld and drill,..
Nevertheless I would recommend it if you buy a second hand car because you get to know it inside out.
PS if you buy a type 9 gearbox you will also need to change the bellhousing, sorry no experience on BEC's yet
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