Another 240z RHD conversion project

[johnymd]

I couldn't resist another 240z I looked at on Friday. It should be on its way now so will be in the workshop by lunchtime. It's an honest looking straight car that is already UK registered and been in the country for a while. Looks very rust free and comes with a few nice bits. A crack free uk dash is already fitting along with a RHD rack. Comes with all the parts for a RHD conversion so that's the first job on the list. I may leave this one ratty looking as I like the rat silver look. Not sure if I'm keeping the 15" wheels or fitting the brand new Rota's that also came with the car. I'll probably do the usual refurb underneath with BC's and Toyota brakes. Leave everything else as is. Cant wait to get started.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Nice. What width are those Enkei wheels John?

 

[johnymd]

I think they are 15x8’s but I’ll measure them in a few hours when it arrives.

 

[johnymd]

Car arrived and is as good as expected. Wheels like 9". The 225 tyres look stretched. Rear arches, rear lower corners, doglegs, cills, floors, doors, wings , bonnet, tailgate, roof, are all solid with no signs of rust or repair. The front section (rad panel, rails, batt tray, all have areas of surface rust and the battery tray area will need repair. Need to decide whether to do the whole bulkhead or just the peddle box area for the RHD conversion. Probably just the peddle box. All the suspension is in great shape and rust free. Engine has the head removed so not sure of its condition. Car looks pretty complete although stripped.

Looks like another good un.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Yeh I think they will be 9" but if they are 8" I might be interested.

 

[uk66fastback]

Where did you track this one down?

 

[johnymd]

Milton Keynes.

 

[johnymd]

A few more pics before I get stuck in with the RHD conversion.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Looks like it's had a roll-hoop in it and also seatbelt mountings improvised. It's in fantastic condition John.

 

[johnymd]

The previous owner was Cambridge motorsport . The car was built by them to compete in some sort of rallying although I have no evidence of this. Yes, the general condition is great.

 

[johnymd]

Started in earnest today by performing the baulk head RHD conversion. With this out of the way I can start stripping the underseal off the floors to check their condition. Not a job I enjoy buy the 2 post lift does make it a little easier. All the suspension has now been removed from the shell and most of it is with the shot blasters. It is also in very nice condition so should come up well once painted. I'll try and get some pictures when I'm back at the workshop next week.

 

[johnymd]

Car is progressing well. The engine bay and floors are nearly ready for paint. Just need to try and match it up.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

John, did you say a couple of weeks ago that on a RHD conversion the steering column sits lower due to a bulkhead reason? Pics?

 

[johnymd]

Yes, the baulkhead on the passenger side is lower therefore and will sit at an angle down towards the back of the car. That could be why your needs a spacer.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Yes, the baulkhead on the passenger side is lower therefore and will sit at an angle down towards the back of the car. That could be why your needs a spacer.

Sorry John, I still don't understand. I've looked at your picture 3754. I can also see that the shape of the body is different on the driver's side (just below the window area). Is that reverse on a RHD car? So your column bracket that you have welded on needs to be longer to compensate. Are you saying that my bracket will be a RHD bracket welded to a LHD car so I need a spacer to lower it?

 

[johnymd]

Let me try to explain a little better.

The horizontal section of the baulkhead/skuttle on the passenger side is lower than the drivers side by around 20mm. When you weld the plate onto the baulkhead in the correct location and try to bolt the pedal box in you find it will hit on this lowered horizontal section of the skuttle and cause the pedal box to tilt down and the steering column will sit lower when bolted to the pedal box. This may or may not be why your column sits lower.

 

[Albrecht]

Sorry John, I still don't understand. I've looked at your picture 3754. I can also see that the shape of the body is different on the driver's side (just below the window area). Is that reverse on a RHD car? So your column bracket that you have welded on needs to be longer to compensate. Are you saying that my bracket will be a RHD bracket welded to a LHD car so I need a spacer to lower it?

Possibly something being lost in translation here.

There are THREE parts to the 'Cowl' assembly on the S30-series bodyshells. Removing the outer finisher panel reveals the two structural panels underneath. The 'upper' panel carries the double (LHD and RHD configuration) pressings for the wiper pivots, and the 'lower' panel carries the heater duct inlet 'chimney' and all sorts of other stuff. The upper and lower are spotwelded together and whole assembly is spotwelded into the rest of the bodyshell.

The 'lower' cowl panel has a different part number for RHD and LHD configurations. There are actually different part numbers for RHD variants too, but that's beside the point here. The point being that the 'lower' cowl panel is asymmetric, so when you convert an LHD car to RHD (or RHD to LHD...) without swapping the whole 'lower' panel, you will come across some of that asymmetry when you mount the column brackets to it. It's a completely different pressing.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Thanks guys, I'll take a good look at my car now I know what to look for.

 

[johnymd]

Spot on.

 

[Fairlineguy]

I experanced the same problum when I did my left to right conversion.
Had to dress the scuttle panel slightly in order for the pedal box to fit level.
Will be doing the same on the next RHD convesion when I find time to get back to it