? Converting a series from right hand to left drive

[JBinAlabama]

Hey guys,

I have my series totally disassembled now and it's left handed.
I have seen a lot of right hand drives for sale........is it hard to convert one?
It looks like most have all the bulkhead holes in place for either.
So is the biggest problem the steering block on the chassis?

[navydevildoc]

It's fairly easy to switch... the steering box being the hardest part. This is assuming you have the stock 2.25 engine in it.

As far as I know, all Series trucks have holes on both sides.

[JBinAlabama]

Thanks Doc,
I'm out of town (FSU football game tonight) and my chassis is still at the galvanizer so I can't see right now and am curious. The is a RHD truck for sale today I'm interested in:)

[navydevildoc]

Well, if you already have the steering box out you have done the hard part. Usually it's a swear word inducing event.

[JBinAlabama]

Yep, and a damn big hammer:)

[JSBriggs]

Its a bit of work. The frames are handed. You would need to relocate the steering relay and battery support on the frame, get a LHD steering box, and LHD steering arms on the knuckles. On a S3, you need new dash pieces as well.

-Jeff

[slorocco]

I'm not sure about moving the battery, I've got a LHD and RHD with the battery in the same place on both. You will have to find the arms right steering arms. You might get away with just finding the left side and leaving the right side as is. It would just have an extra hole in it.

Ser IIa and earlier are going to be much easier than a Ser III.

[Antichrist]

Your title says Right to Left, but your message says it's LHD. Which is it?
Or are you actually looking to buy a RHD also?
I can't think of any reason to convert a LHD to RHD in the US.

[o2batsea]

Install a P38 PS box and forget about the steering relay. You can use a defender steering column. Make a huge improvement.

[JSBriggs]

I'm not sure about moving the battery, I've got a LHD and RHD with the battery in the same place on both. You will have to find the arms right steering arms. You might get away with just finding the left side and leaving the right side as is. It would just have an extra hole in it.

Ser IIa and earlier are going to be much easier than a Ser III.

Isnt the battery support on a RHD a bit different (but same location) to clear the intermediate linkage rod? It has been a while since Ive seen one, but I thought it was different. I could be mistaken, just going on memory.



Install a P38 PS box and forget about the steering relay. You can use a defender steering column. Make a huge improvement.

Bill, have you seen a write up or know anyone who has converted a 2.25 to power steering? Ive been thinking on converting my dads S3, but am wondering how much power is robbed, how nice of a conversion it is. FWIW Id be using a Scout2 box.

-Jeff

[JBinAlabama]

Oops. I currently have a left hand drive.
But I'm looking at a right hand drive and would like to convert it to left hand.
Do you have a link to the p38 conversion?

[Antichrist]

There's video on youtube of the scout PS conversion.
As long as you have the huge Series steering wheel I've rarely really wished for power steering in a Series. Not often enough to really even contemplate converting it.

As for the conversion, as others have said it's not a huge deal.
Some chassis have a hole for both RHD and LHD relays so that would make it even easier.
Don't forget the parking brake parts if you don't want to have to reach across the tunnel.
Here's the IIa parts book. You can see what parts are different and which are the same.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34174887/Land-Rover-Series-II-IIA-2-2A-Parts-Cat

[o2batsea]

Bill, have you seen a write up or know anyone who has converted a 2.25 to power steering? Ive been thinking on converting my dads S3, but am wondering how much power is robbed, how nice of a conversion it is. FWIW Id be using a Scout2 box.

-Jeff
TeriAnn has a pretty good guide on her pages. However, those all have some honking big plate welded to the frame. I think that's overkill. A backing plate on the opposite side of the frame where the bolts go thru has proven to be plenty of reinforcement. You need to rework the Scout pitman arm, as it is too long and needs a Rover taper in the end for the TRE.
Hanging the PSP on the engine is all on you cuz I already had the mounts on the V8. I think it has been covered in the TAW web pages noted above. I have a Jag version of the Lucas dynamo which has a PSP on the end of it. An oddball thing but an elegant solution to the power steering that nobody has ever documented. It's yours for shipping if I can find it.
When I do the power steering on the 109 project it will be a RRC box connected to the 20 Tdi PSP via braided Aeroquip or Russell hose and fittings.

[slorocco]

Isnt the battery support on a RHD a bit different (but same location) to clear the intermediate linkage rod? It has been a while since Ive seen one, but I thought it was different. I could be mistaken, just going on memory.

-Jeff


Hmmm, that could be the case, I'll have to take a closer look now that you mention it.

[1962siia88]

I recently did the p38 power steering conversion on my series truck. I'm not done with the rest of my project so I haven't had a chance to use it, but I did weld on 1/2" plate to the side of my frame and some gussets at the top where the box and plate for the upper mounting holes sits above the frame. The scout box may be different than the p38, but the p38 mounting holes are far enough apart top to bottom that bolting thru the chassis isn't an option. There are pics buried somewhere in my build thread.


Hey Jeff I believe Tony on the mendo list has the p38 conversion on his 88" with a stock motor. Medhi has it on his series 1 with the 6cyl. rover engine and it doesn't seem to lack any power. He used a zf pump from a disco.

Here are some pics to show why you need the plate with the p38 box.

Daniel