RHD to LHD conversion?

[polowonder]

Hello, I am new to this forum, and I live in Belgium. I am looking for an S2 Esprit, and am most likely to find one in England. I suppose they all will be RHD, so I would like to change that to LHD. Anyone done this before? I also would need to change the speedometer and the headlights. Is there a kit available with all necessary parts? If so, where can I get information about that?

[maigret]

You could probably get the parts you need from a breaker in the USA.
Or even get a complete car from there, as the difference in shipping is probably less than the conversion cost. It cost me 600GBP to ship a car in 1992 from London to Dunedin New Zealand, which is about as far as you can ship a car without starting to bring it back again.

[cnh1990]

I suppose it can be done if you are very good. In later cars a mounting tab must be welded on for the steering rack. A lot of work, much easier to ship one in.
Calvin

[rob.e]

cnh1990 said: I suppose it can be done if you are very good. In later cars a mounting tab must be welded on for the steering rack. A lot of work, much easier to ship one in.
Calvin

Will there also be problems with the handbrake being on the wrong side? I suppose a cooperative passenger would be a benefit...

[lotusguy]

rob.e said:

cnh1990 said: I suppose it can be done if you are very good. In later cars a mounting tab must be welded on for the steering rack. A lot of work, much easier to ship one in.
Calvin

Will there also be problems with the handbrake being on the wrong side? I suppose a cooperative passenger would be a benefit...

Or very, very long arms... Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE

[polowonder]

Thank you very much for the answers. I found a nice S3 in England. I plan to leave it RHD, untill I can find a donor car. The problem of the handbrake is also known to me. Since it will be impossible to grow long enough arms, I'll have to move that too, won't I?

[kylie]

It does seem a shame to cut up the interior of a good car, anyway everyone to their own I guess. Best of luck.

[britten_mark]

I have heard of really good cars being practically detroyed in conversions such as this. The costs are also usually out of proportion by the time they are finished.
Surely it would be far easier to locate a European item (may have a better chassis and metalwork if from southern countries), or just live with it. The British S2s I looked at in the recent past have also been pretty ropey, so don't assume that by coming to the "homeland" they are any better appreciated!

>> Edited by britten_mark on Sunday 8th June 10:37

[polowonder]

kylie said: It does seem a shame to cut up the interior of a good car, anyway everyone to their own I guess. Best of luck.

Meanwhile, I've given the matter some thought, and have decided to leave the car as it is. Since it will not be an everyday commuter, but mostly a weekend (and why not 'some long and sunny evening') car, the driving position won't matter that much.
The driving position doesn't matter much to me, since I was a driving instructor for several years, and thus used to shift gears with my left hand.
Thank you anyway guys (and dolls?) for your help.