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MG MGA - LHD to RHD Pitfall advice?

Am just about to have a USA LHD 1500 delivered. Am a real clutz, mechanically, know enough to get into trouble but am a dab hand at ALL the other bits, body, welding, trim, upholstery making, dent and spray etc.

Am curious to find out from others what should one be mindful of to get it (a) Finished and ( b) registered in NSW Australia?

I have located and taken delivery of a RHD steering rack as well as RHD dash- just awaiting the car and clearing out the shed (the 1996 Royal Enfield HAD to go as well as the 5 metre Thames wherry!)

Am also looking at installing a 5 speed UK gearbox. Is there anything else one should also put on the list apart from the sills etc( also being shipped)

I want to eventually register and use the car as more than a weekender, what mods should be made re the use of unleaded fuel etc

How hard is it to move the pedals over etc
There is not much on this specific subject on mgaguru- obviuosly not an issue in the states.

advice gratefully recived
pictured is the basket case awaiting shipment
Mark Thompson






M THOMPSON

Looking at what I had to buy during my conversion you will need a RHD clutch pedal (Moss AHH5841), accelerator pedal (AHH5300) and an accelerator mounting bracket (AHH5302).

The Moss catalogue identifies LHD and RHD variations throughout the car. Worth a browse.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Mark,

Looks like you have a nice little project there - it should keep you out of trouble for a few years!

I cant help you on the Oz regulations but the LHD to RHD conversion is a doddle. You will need to find a set of LHD pedals (you could reshape the LHD brake and clutch at a push) but the pedal box just swaps over. As does the steering column. All the captive nuts are in place for a simple swap!

Other things to check for are the chassis floor rails, chassis rails behind the sill section and battery boxes - all of which are notorious for tin worm.

Chris.
Chris Bond

As well as the items mentioned, RHD steering rack, pedals and dashboard, there are various cables, tacho cable, speedo cable, choke cable, starter cable etc....
If you do not have a factory Service Parts List you should download it from Barney's website.
It does not take long to fihd all the parts that differ on LHD and RHD cars.
The image attached shows how they appear in the quantity column.

http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/books/spl_1500.htm


Mick


M F Anderson

Mark,

I am in progress on the conversion too (see image). I'm getting ready to install the dash with a new wiring harness, so I'll experience those pitfalls shortly.

The mechanics were very straightforward; it took me awhile to get the angles for the steering just right. Be careful with that to ensure smooth steering; i.e., there is no binding. There was a lot of trial and error leaving everything semi-tight and steering through the range until all was good. Feel free to contact me if you run into something....Dennis
P.S. My recent progress has slowed due to cold weather and constant snow shoveling.


Dennis Suski

I suspect that I am one of the few that has done this conversion in both directions on the same car (LHD-RHD and back again).

Not really sure to what extent you are going to restore the car, or even what is already present, but here are my tips:

As far as the mechanicals are concerned, you have the RHD rack. There are differences in the brake and clutch pedal angles, but my suggestion is just to heat the ones you have and bend them to the angle / spacing you need. The gas pedal assembly is completely different and you will need to get hold of the RHD one. Dash is obvious.

Pretty much everything else can be reused in both applications if moving from RHD to LHD, even though different part numbers are listed. The clutch copper hydraulic pipe and the brake pipe from the MC to the 4-Way union will also need replacing with shorter versions. In the case of converting from LHD to RHD the tacho and speedo cables may be on the short side if you have LHD items.

The same wiring harness can be used in both applications.

If you have a wiper bottle, you may need to get a longer piece of clear hose to allow you to re-site the bottle on the other side of the car.

When you have everything apart, I'd also suggest renewing the various steering seals (bellows and TRE covers) as well as the pedal seal and blanking rubber. If you have the opportunity, clean out the trunnioins of old grease, and service the whole thing and install new seals and seal supports.
dominic clancy

Thanks
have sent the printer into overload and reading as fast as the pages spurt forth from the printer-
Thanks Mick

BTW, are there any pitfalls or "extras" that need to be looked at prior to Aus rego inspection etc.
And some yaers ago I had to have an old Landcruiser's head converted for gas AND unleaded- is that still the case with the MG head - valves and seats etc? ( not running on gas,though)

And am also looking at fitting a UK converted 5 speed box from Highgear - has anyone in Oz imported one recently?
M THOMPSON

Mark,

All new cars have to conform to the many Australian Design Rules (ADR's). However, your car at over 30 years old is exempt from the rules.
There are many MGA 1500 cars registered in NSW, even with their peculiar turning light system.
Where you may find a problem is the fact that it is converted from LHD. The RTA may require an engineer's certificate, known as a "blue slip". This certifies that the conversion was done properly, no cutting and welding steering racks, bending pedals etc....
A contentious issue is the windscreen, normally all windscreens must be laminated glass not hardened glass. A blue slip engineer will advise you if there will be a problem. If you do need to fit a new windscreen do not buy one of those reproduction items that are too thin. Your current windscreen may be OK.
Are you a member of the MG Car Club of Sydney? A member, John Lindsay, has a company involved in blue slips.
I would run the head as it is on local fuel (not the ethanol version). This valve and valve seat erosion seems a bit of an urban myth. Nobody is reporting problems. Just keep a check on your engine compression and watch for changes in the valve clearances.

Mick
M F Anderson

Mick, there are now several of the Hi-Gear boxes on the road in A's here in Oz now. Peter Gamble seems to be doing a roaring trade, and you can get the complete kit landed here, including Aussie "costs" for around $3,300. I have brought in 3 of them, and also have one for an MGB 1800 engine.

As regards registration in Oz, don't know for sure about NSW requirements, but there are no "extra" formalities in QLD, apart from a roadworthy certificate, and proof of ownership. Some say that you need an Engineers Certificate, but this has not been the case where you can proove that seat belts were not a requirement at the time of manufacture. Just a hint, if the car has some sort of old belts, take them off before registration, then put new ones in afterwards...this avoids a hefty engineers fee of around $500 (for basically nothing!) BTW, new belts are available here in Oz, and I think that there has been previous threads on this.
Gary Lock

Mark, my modified MG has a full right hand set of pedals including accelerator and accelerator mounting bracket but no master cylinder box (also clutch is slightly modified and would need to be repaired). Will look around ebay etc and if I can find a 2nd hand set of adaptable wilwood pedals or similar that I can adapt. If successful probably would let you have mine
regards
Mark
Mark Mathiesen

Thanks for all the tips
Is there a better way than faxes for contacting Peter Gamble? We consigned ours to Vinnies when went with broadband etc and the protocol for setting up faxes on yhe mac are labyrynthine.

Mark t
M THOMPSON

Chris Bond. Where in Hereford & Worcs are you?
Nigel Munford

Mark

I suspect from the website and the hand written invoices I have that Peter may not have a computer! He is very much an engineer of the slide rule era and he and his wife who run the business together are senior citizens so may not be up to speed with the latest electronic technology. Lovely couple. Had a chat with them at the recent mg spares day over here. It looks like the telephone.

Like you I am not configured for faxing so I usually use the local stationery shop when I need to send one. Alternatively, I am sure someone will tell us a simple solution for sending and receiving them from a PC.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Has anybody in OZ had any experince with fitting a locally modified NISSAN 5 SPEED gear box?
I hear that a "small " modification is needed to the round cross member and that the drivers side tunnel needs a "tweak"
Is this necessary with the HIGEAR modification?
I only ask this in relation to final engineering approval for registration.
I am supposing that the fewer obvious signs of tampering, the better
any comment/info?

Mark
M THOMPSON

Mark,
You could contact Stuart Ratcliff @ MG Centre of Sydney (Granville). He sells a kit that uses the Datsun / Nissan 5 speed box. It's a quick simple conversion that can easily be converted back to original if required. The only part required off him is an alloy engine backing plate if you want to source your own parts and this makes the conversion a cheap option or he does the complete conversion.There are several different gearbox mounts depending upon the box used One uses the original mounting. The gear stick exits through the original opening. MGA clutch slave cylinder is resleaved to a smaller diameter. 5 bearing 1800 motors require a new spigot bush otherwise original spec. one is used. MGA MK11 or MGB pressure plate is used, clutch plate & thrust bearing can be obtained from REPCO or other spare sparts supplier. You may want to recalibrate the speedo as the M.P.H. becomes K.P.H. A hi torque starter motor (check Vic. MG club for these in for sale section)will negate cutting a hole in the side of the bell housing for the old style starter. Reverse switch is blanked off with a bolt, Obtain the Nissan speedo cable (gearbox end drive is needed) & drive shaft this is shortened, bolts straight in and has the advantage of sealed for life heavy duty universal joints. Stuart is very helpful and will guide you through the conversion. The gear boxes are regularly on ebay or wreckers and came out of mid 80's Bluebird (R.W.D.), 240 & 260Z, 260C, Skyline & Stanza. Also check www.mgcc.com.au go to the Sydney club site, click events calendar (it say's 2009 but goes to 2010) In April there is an MGA members rebuild day that may be of interest. Delow's in Revesby also sell a kit using Nissan or Toyota boxes and usually run ad's in OZ. classic car mags.
I Hazeldine

This thread was discussed between 06/03/2010 and 10/03/2010

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