LHD TO RHD conversion

[sdewbury1]

Is there a definitive guide/technical publication available for lhd to rhd conversion of Series 1 car ?
Looks to be relatively straightforward but would appreciate heads up on parts needed and likely problems.

Sean Dewbury

[MarkE]

I?ve never seen a definitive guide. I approached it by looking at and photographing RHD cars of the same year (and month if possible) of manufacture as mine. It is a very straightforward job on the S1. From memory, these are the bits you?ll need:

Steering rack
Left and right hand dashboards
Switch strip under centre dash
Accelerator pedal
Blanking plates for RHD
Brake / Clutch reservoir holders
Wiper Motor
Wiper arms
Carb linkage (to accelerator pedal)
Brake / clutch pipes
Servo pipe

About the only thing you?ll need that you won?t be able to get is the brake pedal. You have to remove the LHD one from the housing, and bend it the other way, under heat.

You may also find that some of the dash wiring needs to be extended. If it?s the original wiring, it?s probably a good opportunity to put in a new dash loom?the old insulation can get brittle and break down if bent back 180 degrees from where it?s sat for the last 40 years.

Re-setting the wiper arms to park on the correct side is a bit of a pig to do normally, but with most of the dash out, it's pretty straightforward.

That?s about it

[Heuer]

As I pointed out in the other post M&C Wilkinson and Hutson's sell kits or individual parts. Hutsons list is as follows:

Brake pedal spring
Bulkhead blanking plate
Bulkhead servo pipe
Clutch pedal spring
Dashboard LH & RH
Glovebox assembly
Speedo cable
Steering column housing
Steering Column housing gaiter
Steering rack mounting
Steering rack (exchange)
Throttle linkage kit
Throttle pedal assembly
Track rod end outer

Adds up to about ?660 plus VAT for the basics. As Mark says there are potential problems with extending the wiring loom plus additional costs if you want a true RHD spec - reservoir bottle position, brackets/pipes, switch strip, indicator switch moved to other side of steering column and the wiper position which needs a replacement RHD drive motor (say ?200, wiper arms are the same).

[sdewbury1]

Thanks chaps, planning to get on with the conversion asap. Mark, I see you're not too far away..I'm in Lechlade Glos, wouldn't mind the chance to photo your car as mine is Dec'65 S1 if you're amenable.
Sean Dewbury

[Heuer]

Don't forget to go through the Jaguar Parts manual as there is a list of RHD/LHD components. Another good source is the SC Parts catalogue which has 175 pages of detailed diagrams (not the ones from Jaguar) and lists nearly every part even including the correct size of bolts. As they supply both the UK and Europe they keep a large stock of both sets of parts and can probably advise accordingly. They usually sell their catalogue on eBay for about ?10 nut if you ring them you should be able to get it free. Excellent reference book. There is also a conversion WiKi (based on our collective thoughts in Jag-Lovers) here: http://www.e-type-lovers.com/mediawiki/ ... onversions:

Also don't forget you will need to change the headlights and, if the car came from the US, the front and rear white indicators for amber.

[MarkE]

The only problem, Sean, is that my car is at CMC being finally fettled and re-trimmed and is likely to be there for another few weeks. But when it returns, you?re most welcome to come and examine. I?ll put a few pictures up later.

Don?t be in too much of a hurry to buy a kit of parts to convert. I found most of the parts I needed as new-old-stock, or good original second-hand RHD parts. They fit properly and are absolutely correct, which can?t be said for many of the reproduction parts available. I wasted a lot of time and quite a few ??? with these repro horrors initially, and when I checked them out against the original bits, they were happily consigned to the bin. In particular, I?m referring to the dash sides, the under-dash illumination strip and the blanking plates

There is a parts fair coming up at Stoneleigh?have a wander around and chat to some of the stallholders there. RM & J Smith and Wilkinson in particular often have some really good original parts.