Mopar Muscle Association UK

[Hypothetical] List of things to do:

Remounting of the engine, new mounts.
Relocation of all directly connected ancilleries, exhaust, etc.
Relocation of brake servo/master cylinders/pedal box.
Remounting of gearbox.
Relocation of transmission tunnel and all that's involved (floor pans etc).
Relocation of steering column and revised steering box (and mounts).
Alternative or aftermarket rear axle.
Possible sump clearance to k member issues, revised k member or dry sumping.
Issues with no room for manifold let alone open headers.
Revised interior trim (dash, consoles, seats and mounts, rear view mirror).
Rewiring of relocated electrics (dash etc)
Relocate dipswitch
Reverse windscreen wiper sweep and relocate.
Possible mental problems during and afterwards

Hi all,

Firstly a quick hello, I joined the club yesterday. I work the weekends at a classic car restorers, get to do a bit of my own homework and learn some proper restoration. Their main love is classic American cars (think straight 8 Buicks and similar) and they keep saying "GET A PROPER CAR", and so a Charger will hopefully be on the cards one day. I'd really like a '68 but have to see how the money tree grows.

Anyway don't shoot me down in flames, and don't start with "but there is nothing wrong with LHD", firstly I know that, secondly I've driven left hookers, thirdly it simply isn't what I want. Anyway I'd like to either buy a RHD converted car or do it myself (with the help of the bodyshop of course).

I'm just trying to get as much info as I can so I'm more clued up when I do get one. Has anyone done this, or have any engine bay pics please? I know of a car that was converted by creating new linkages to the left hand side, but I don't really want to go this route.

From the little I've read (I have a fair few books in the post) the 68 Charger used a b-body, now for a start, are there any RHD b bodys? I was thinking if so I could hunt down most of the components I need from one of these? For instance

Steering racks, could I use one from a different car? Or is it a case that I can reverse the LHD one i.e. take the output shafts out, and swap them from side to side, and move the mounting point across the car, depending on how symmetrical it is (have to look at one).

Dash boards, making one would be a pain and about a months work alone, and probably never look quite right. Are there any SA/Aussie cars that use the same or very similar dash? If possible I'd like to use pre '68 clocks as they look the sex (heres a 66 from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:66ChargerDash.jpg) so a dash that had the clocks surface mounted would be nice.

I could probably leave the brake servo in place and just move the pedal box/master cylinders across, but that maybe a bit of a bodge.

Well anyway most of what I just wrote would probably make no sense if I had a Charger in front of me to look at, if anyone has any past experience of the conversion, or a right hooker, I'd appreciate anything you've learnt or pics please.

Oh and if it sets anyones minds at rest I would do everything with the view to changing it back in the future, OK a new hole would be in the bulkhead but that can easily be repaired etc. Are MMA members of the purist variety where you get shot down for anything that deviates from stock?

Thanks for your time,

Russ

(Check out my old Z I'm currently doing http://www.zclub.net/gallery/showgaller ... 0&ppuser=1)[/quote]

Hello and welcome to the club.

It is just a waste of time and effort converting to RHD. There is not much benifit. I don't understand why you feel you should do this?

For a start you would have great problems with connecting a steering system. Then you will find you can't get any exhaust system to fit around it.

There were a very few cars sold here as RHD. But not Muscle cars except for some small block Barracudas. No Chargers. You should be able to find one of those Barracudas easy enough. They come up for sale now and again. They are usually cheap too. Because a life lived over here fills them with rust.

Forgot to say. The engines are mounted towrads the RH side of the engine bay. Very VERY little room on that side for steering and no you can't use the stock steering box.

Your best bet is an Australian car. They are all made RHD.

Russ,
welcome to the MMA.
Have to agree with Dave, this will be ALOT of work which will not have a lot of benefit, other than devaluing a car. If you want RHD then an Aussie Charger could be the way to go, its a Mopar and quite affordable as a starter Mopar. I know of one for sale quite soon for under £3,000 with MOT , fresh paint and tax exempt, 318 auto.

If you definitely want a RHD then you could hunt in Australia for a US built car as the Aussies used to have to convert to RHD , and some cars over there will have been done years ago, usually with a chain link conversion.
There was a RHD Dodge Daytona a while back that was out there, and there are some US Chargers and Challengers there too, but the cost to get it here would need to be figured in too.

Russ wrote: If possible I'd like to use pre '68 clocks as they look the sex (heres a 66 from wikipedia so a dash that had the clocks surface mounted would be nice.

LOL, I've never heard my dash called "the sex" before, I'll have to remember that one

Hi, thanks for the welcome

I'll ignore all the "why LHD" stuff as I already mentioned I'm not interested in that debate I'm not adverse to taking something quick and classic around McDonalds (I know, the shame, I like the shakes though) and it would ruin my cool to have to slide across the seat to order!! But seriously, if you spend as much time behind tractors as I do....

I know it'll devalue the car, but driving it does that, and if you were buying a car not to waste it you'd buy a smart car diesel or some crap

Interesting that the v8 is mounted off centre, that will somewhat screw my mirror image plans lol. I'll have to do a new linkage then that runs behind/under the dash, as per some Aussie RHD conversions. I'm very much against chain conversions though, I'm sure some of you have them and they are fine, but no thanks. At least that way from the engine bay you'd never know the difference, it'll just be a case of dicking about with the interior mainly, dependant on how much space there is for all this.

I'd cruise around in it as a left hooker for a while until the rest of the car was sorted, then I expect we'll strip it and ground up resto anyway. You never know, I may even really like it and not bother. I plan to get one from the states myself (so *hopefully* the metal will be reasonable), I'm really just trying to figure out a bit of a plan. You can get cars from the states relatively cheaply (last two we brought in worked out £1000 all in each!) but Aus, well that usually works out more.

bbb: I think the term is pretty much bang on though, shame you don't get clocks like that any more.

Thanks everyone, I'm off to research engine bay pics. Check this out

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index ... 469.0.html

Russ wrote:I'm very much against chain conversions though, I'm sure some of you have them and they are fine, but no thanks.

No mate. Non of us have those. You are on your own with this one. And for good reason.

could probably leave the brake servo in place and just move the pedal box/master cylinders across

You can't do that either.

This is starting to sound like that joke "What do you call a man that will not take his doctors advice..."

I tell you what though. If you find a old rusty Aussie Charger or Barracuda so you can use the parts you might have a fighting chance. They use a chassis mounted steering box. You will probably have to settle for a small block engine in your Charger for the room.

Still a pointless excersise IMO. All of those cars you see with RHD conversions were done because the owners HAD to by law. A lot of them are getting converted back.

Love the RHD center consols in those photos.

Dave: If all you want to say is "Don't do it, don't do it!" then maybe this isn't the thread for you

Is your pic York Raceway? Do you take it to the strip much? How many people actually compete their cars I wonder? Only ever seem to see Mustangs at the pod, although admittedly I'm only there about ten times a year.

Anyway I'm currently looking for underbody pics of chargers so I can get an idea of the offset, does anyone have any?

Cheers

I've just repiled to you on dodge charger.com, the space in the trans tunnel is very tight on a 727, theres no way you're moving the engine and box across without cutting out the floorpan
if you're determined you're going to have to gut the car and rebuild it
k member will probably be all wrong as well, and you'll need a custom axle making up
and then there the remote mirror thingy in the door

Russ wrote:I'd cruise around in it as a left hooker for a while until the rest of the car was sorted, then I expect we'll strip it and ground up resto anyway. You never know, I may even really like it and not bother

think you've hit the nail on the head there mate, LHD is all part of the 'experience' in my opinion

Simon: Well I've not felt anything special by being in a LHD car so far, most of the cars at the bodyshop are left hookers and I don't see the facination I could be converted though, never say never.

You guys are a bunch of wimps, have you seen what they do on Overhaulin in the space of an hour! J/k! The transmission tunnel is the biggest spanner in the works, what I need to do is find a car where the floor is rotted out so I'm not doing any harm as such. Bit of a shame to chop the bulkhead about though.

Anyway back to reality, why is the engine offset?? I can't imagine it's for improved weight distribution?

I daren't come to an MMA meet now incase I get lynched

Russ wrote:Dave: If all you want to say is "Don't do it, don't do it!" then maybe this isn't the thread for you

You asked for advice. You got it. From someone who has 25 years experiance driving both LHD yanks and RHD Aussie cars.

I though my suggestion of using a small block Aussie Chrysler as a base for parts was helpful?

I could write a long list of reasons why I don't think it is worth the hassle and expense. But I will not. because you obviously feel it is worth all the hassle and expense. Even though you have no idea what will be involved.

Myself I find LHD has its advantages. Like being able to chat to other drivers on the inside lane. Or girls on the pavement.
It makes parallel parking a lot easier too!

But good luck with it anyway. Let me know when you have finished it.

I'll not hold my breath though eh?

Russ wrote:You guys are a bunch of wimps,

I used to have this saying that I used to use in certain circumstances.

"There is a difference between ambition and capability."

You really really need to come to one of our big meetings. Like the EuroNats at the end of July. Then you can see a few Aussie cars and compare them with the Yank versions.

What you want to do is very possible. We all agree on that.

Firstly Dave I need to apologise,

I wrote what I did but in my head I typed something that meant "Hey if all you're going to do is tell me everything I don't want to hear then go away", and meant it tongue in cheek. However clearly that was lost in my sentence and I didn't use enough smilies. I bloody hate forums for that! Too easy to lose the meaning behind things.

I do very much appreciate what you have to say, even if it isn't what I want to hear If I knew everything or had a clue I wouldn't be here asking numpty questions. Anything you have to add (apart from "But why RHD") I would appreciate.

All I want to do is keep this thread on what would have to be done or how could it be done, and not deviate from that.

Anyway being LHD is all very well when you want to crawl along the curb talking to women, but firstly that kind of activity is actually illegal and anyway to pull it off you really need hydraulics so you can tilt your car to them and hang out the window properly.

Anyway it suddenly dawned on me that the rear axle is going to be a solid job, and not anything trick like I imagined in my head. Is the axle casing one piece with the diff in the middle? Amazon still haven't despatched my books, I really ought to just wait and find out the answers for myself.

All this comes down to time, money and skill, I have plenty of the first, some of the second, a little of the third personally but plenty at my disposal. It's all about how bad you want it. I think to warrant a full on rhd conversion you'd have to make it worthwhile, i.e. tubbed rear, lowered, big wheels etc, so you'd have to had changed the transmission tunnel anyway. And then you'd only want to do that to something on it's last legs.

Anyway it's nice to problem solve, even if it is only hypothetical