S3 Power Steering Rack Conversion LHD to RHD - which bits?

[Bob.]

I was very kindly pointed in the direction of this ad on ebay for a set of parts to convert a S3 LHD power steering rack to RHD.

Can those who know, tell me if all the right parts seem to be present or if there is a hidden catch to doing the job or missing parts (other than the donor rack).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/jaguar-e-type ... Sw7hRWOQ1y

The seller says he is selling on behalf of his Dad who has his own slightly different ad here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/jaguar-e-type ... SwT5tWHBFo

[abowie]

I was not aware that this was possible, so if it is it'll be a great boon to those trying to convert S3 cars.

[mgcjag]

Hi Bob...quick google search S3 lhd rhd conversion found this http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/jaguar- ... ring-rack/

[Bob.]

Thanks Steve, yes I had seen that ad. I rang the phone number the ebay seller gives last night and left a message to call back but nothing so far.

[jivili]

Bob

I have visited the guy in question and if my memory is correct the conversion uses the tower from a later jaguar rack that ensures that the pipe holes are in the right place
I had unfortunately already got rid of my original lhd rack but the guy seemed to know what he was doing and had been restoring e types for a long time.
He had @ 100 of the steering rack outer tubes and loads of e type bits and pieces.
I presume Kiley Clinton have already purchased some of these from him so that they can offer this service now....they didn't offer it 6 months ago when I was after one
The choice is yours ultimately but I spent an hour chatting with the guy and he seemed to know what he was talking about and not the sort of person to try and con someone.
He showed me photos of cars that he had restored and they were spot on and one of these was for a friend who lived in the Caribbean. This is probably where he is now as he told me he was going to get his son to list them whilst he was away
If I had a lhd rack to convert I would buy one of these kits
I hope this helps

[Bob.]

Many thanks for that - it's very encouraging. I managed to get hold of the son tonight and apparently his father is away for another 4 weeks in Barbados working on an E type, so that stacks up with what you say. The son doesn't seem to know any details about the hardware but as I also want a rack shaft, which he thinks his father might have, he was happy to reserve a kit for now.

[jivili]

Bob
I am 99% sure that he has the shafts as well
I think that the towers are from the later XJ rack and I remember him telling me that he was surprised that people where unaware that this mod was possible
It would be useful to all members if you can update us and let us know how you get on with the conversion as I am guessing that there are quite a number of people who want to achieve the same.

[johnj]

Hi all the guy who is selling the conversion is an honest relaibe guy, i have bough 2 conversion from him and put him onto a friend over in Sydney who bought another and has had a mecanic swap it over and works fantastic .
i can personally recomend Derek the seller who I have personally visited on my holliday to the Uk last september were he showed me exactly what to do step by step, so to all get them while you can I will be ordering more as soon as he is back from his holls :D cheers John

[angelw]

On a S3 E Type the Pinion Tower mounts perpendicular to the Rack Shaft, and as the Rack has straight cut teeth, the pinion gear is a straight spur gear.

On later cars such as an XJS and others, you may note that the Pinion Tower mounts at an angle to the Rack Shaft. The Rack in these PAS units has the same straight cut teeth and therefore, the pinion gear is a helical gear to accommodate the angle at which the Pinion Tower is attached to the body of the PAS unit. There are advantages in using a Helical Gear and therefore, the Pinion Tower is mounted at and angle to allow the use of the helical gear, rather than the a helical gear being used so that the Tower can be mounted at an angle.

If a Pinion Tower from a later model car is to be used, it therefore needs to either use a spur gear pinion that will assemble with the S3 E Type Rack, or the innards of the existing S3 E Type Pinion Tower must be able to assemble into the Tower from the later car.

The existing LHD drive Pinion Tower can be used when converting to RHD, but a custom set of tubing is required (you have to look hard to see the difference). When converting from either Left to Right, or Right to Left a new set of opposite hand tubing will be required, so having to have a custom set made is no big deal.

If you want everything to be stock standard, the Pinion Tower from LHD S1 XJ6 can be used. That's right, from a LHD XJ6 to convert a LHD S3 E Type to RHD. The rack for a S3 E Type mounts in front of the Steering Pivot, therefore, a LHD XJ6 unit is used because it mounts behind the Steering Pivot Point. Accordingly, a LHD XJ6 Pinion Tower, is exactly the same as a RHD S3 E Type Pinion Tower.

Apart from the Pinion Tower, the only component of the S3 E Type PAS unit that is not ambidextrous, is the aluminum housing that the Pinion Tower attaches to. I manufacture these housing and do full conversions of Left to Right, or Right to Left. The only difference between the original part and one we manufacture is ours is a better quality. The outward appearance is exactly the same (cast aluminum alloy), the machining is better and we hold closer tolerances (all CNC machined).

Regards,

Bill