Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
that looks like a very good example.
Why go through the hassle of converting to RHD!?
Why go through the hassle of converting to RHD!?
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- Thread starter WazzaJB
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WazzaJB
Club Member
I'll be honest I want to be able to confidently use it a couple of times a week and I don't think I'd be comfortable doing so LHD as too much room for error when overtaking etc.
I've invested that much time and research into the parts and how-to that it's something I really want to get stuck into and complete. It will be a huge achievement for me personally and as I've said I'll be much more comfortable using the car
@Jay. I fully intend on documenting it as best I can, I've read so many different things from loads of different sources that it will be good to get it in one place. Steering racks seem to be the tricky one with no definitive solution (lots of different methods used though and I'm sure most worked out okay other than some bump-steer...).
@chrisvega thanks man, will drop you a message about collection tomorrow.
WazzaJB
Club Member
Thanks for the heads up, taken note!
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
its a lot of effort when you could just hang back a couple of extra meters when overtaking?
WazzaJB
Club Member
Yeah I appreciate there's probably a lot of pros and cons but it's something I'm going to see through, call it personal preference. I'm sure everyone will have their own opinion of whether to do it or not.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
johnymd
Club Member
The steering rack is the simplest part of the conversion. Unbolt the LHD rack and bolt in the RHD rack....job done. What could be simpler? Doing a FULL RHD conversion is very time consuming and you will need lots of parts. Just converting the car so that the controls are on the other side is a whole different matter and pretty straight forward. I am happy to use a LHD column, heater box, wipers, door cards, ect, as I'm not trying to pass the car off as an original RHD car. The parts you really need are: baulkhead plate, rack, pedal box, and dash. The rest you can improvise on.
WazzaJB
Club Member
Yeah the problem is sourcing a RHD rack haha, by complexity I meant the array of Subaru/BMW/Miata options people have tried. Sorry for not being clear there.
I'm just going to be doing a controls conversion right now 100%. I have a RHD steering column and heater box fortunately. Duncan at Z Farm reckons they can flip the wiper linkage and just get a panel beater to change the scuttle panel - not an immediate problem though as you say.
Whilst I've got my heart set on the RHD conversion I'm trying to keep an open mind as to how far/where I take the car. Plenty of time to make decisions and at the moment I'm super happy with it.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
Sounds like you've got it sorted. Do your research before taking your car anywhere, lots of options now days.
WazzaJB
Club Member
Funny that you say that because the most difficult thing seems to be finding people who I can trust to do anything on a 40 year old car. I can weld, but I'd much rather someone more experienced did the welding. Lots of friends are eager to say "I know a great welder" etc but then I look at their work and wouldn't let them come near it, people are really quick to recommend a friend with no real idea of the quality of their work. I might just be super pedantic...
I don't plan on taking the car to anyone for anything other than welding & paint, I want to do as much of it as I can myself because I know I will take my time and do the research.
I run a breakers so after my bro pulls the engine out of the next few cars I might end up just cutting and flipping the bulk head on everything for practice and end up doing it myself
WazzaJB
Club Member
After working on the lights this weekend it's been taken away for its MOT today.
I opened the door to this guy with a massive grin followed by "I can't believe you've got one of these, when I heard Datsun I really hoped it would be this".
Think he enjoyed flooring it down the road too...
Seemed happy with it to say the least and pretty confident it will pass - starting the V55/5 now!
I opened the door to this guy with a massive grin followed by "I can't believe you've got one of these, when I heard Datsun I really hoped it would be this".
Think he enjoyed flooring it down the road too...
Seemed happy with it to say the least and pretty confident it will pass - starting the V55/5 now!
uk66fastback
Club Member
Congrats on the purchase, not been following this thread but glad you got yourself sorted with what looks like a lovely car ...
However, WHY make it RHD? have you driven a LHD car as a daily - I won't be the first on here to have done so - it really is a doddle. I had a big Dodge truck I drove every day for about 6-7 years. LHD. Problem? Never. My old fastback was of course LHD - problem? Never.
Some old knackered thing I was rebuilding from scratch I WOULD make RHD if I wanted to - a Z etc but I certainly wouldn't do a US car - Mustang etc and I CERTAINLY would not do this beautful old thing you've bought. Original as sin, factory paint, cared for all its life and you want to rip the inards out and make it RHD!?
Your car of course but that is a shame!
However, WHY make it RHD? have you driven a LHD car as a daily - I won't be the first on here to have done so - it really is a doddle. I had a big Dodge truck I drove every day for about 6-7 years. LHD. Problem? Never. My old fastback was of course LHD - problem? Never.
Some old knackered thing I was rebuilding from scratch I WOULD make RHD if I wanted to - a Z etc but I certainly wouldn't do a US car - Mustang etc and I CERTAINLY would not do this beautful old thing you've bought. Original as sin, factory paint, cared for all its life and you want to rip the inards out and make it RHD!?
Your car of course but that is a shame!
WazzaJB
Club Member
I'm always going to divide opinion on it but this ultimately comes down to personal choice. I'm driving it LHD until winter so who knows what will happen.
I'm not fixed in anything I'm doing with it but I do plan on making it my own and at the moment this includes a RHD conversion.
I can try and justify myself but I'm sure there's always a counter point...
- I work in the center of Birmingham and the M6/A38 in and out is absolutely hell, I (maybe wrongfully?) believe I'll feel more confident and aware in a RHD. I do plan on running it as a daily during summer as I only do 3/5k miles a year.
- I've spent 6 months collecting all the parts and given how hard it's been I feel it'd be a shame to not see it through now.
- I can't take it to the pub if its LHD because the other half won't drive it back for me
Like I said, it's not like I'm rushing to do it tomorrow but at the moment my heart's set on it. I've not got much experience driving LHD though so I'm keeping an open mind.
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WazzaJB
Club Member
I bought a Z because I think they're stunning cars and I'm finally in a financial position where if something goes horrendously wrong I have the resources to put it right. I've never thrown money into a car because more often than not you won't see it back, it's different with this in that I've bought something I want to build up, make my own and hopefully hold on to for a really long time. I'm sure some of the decisions I make won't be to everyone's taste but isn't that one of the great things about a car community?
It's a shame I have to sodomise the bulkhead, but in my opinion after weighing it up it's a small price to pay for a lot of comfort.
I'm taking my time, doing things right and leaving no expense spared. I'm really grateful that I have the Z Club to help by sharing their experience too.
It's a shame I have to sodomise the bulkhead, but in my opinion after weighing it up it's a small price to pay for a lot of comfort.
I'm taking my time, doing things right and leaving no expense spared. I'm really grateful that I have the Z Club to help by sharing their experience too.
uk66fastback
Club Member
Well, that's a good and honest reply! I just hate seeing good, original cars cut up for, to me, no reason! or no GOOD reason, in my eyes.
It's your car and you can enjoy it how you want - you'll get lots of good honest advice on this site - not from me I hasten to add, as I am pretty new to them myself and still very much at the bottom end of the learning curve but there are plenty on here who have done various conversions to RHD and know most pitfalls along the way ...
Interested in how you get on between now and when it comes off the road for the winter ... I think when you get used to the car you'll be fine - flog the bits and get some money back and live with the car as LHD - but we'll see. Wishful thinking on my part, most likely.
It's your car and you can enjoy it how you want - you'll get lots of good honest advice on this site - not from me I hasten to add, as I am pretty new to them myself and still very much at the bottom end of the learning curve but there are plenty on here who have done various conversions to RHD and know most pitfalls along the way ...
Interested in how you get on between now and when it comes off the road for the winter ... I think when you get used to the car you'll be fine - flog the bits and get some money back and live with the car as LHD - but we'll see. Wishful thinking on my part, most likely.
WazzaJB
Club Member
I'll keep you posted, who knows!
I need to get a mirror on the right hand side though which already means drilling the door... Z Car Depot seem to have a wide range but struggling to make a decision.
Just my 2p having seen all the comments, definitely drive it as a LHD car and see what you think before doing any serious conversion project.
I've driven mine as LHD for the last two years and am now very much used to the setup, there's the odd occasion that's it's inconvenient and you need to be patient or good at reading the road to take full advantage over taking etc however I think it actually adds to the charm and experience. Also Europe is such a doodle. I thought about a conversion originally but see no point with the associated cost and time now.
Mirror wise good luck, I've been trying to work that one out for the last two years and am no closer to making a decision! I think personally I want to explore custom mounts on the door frames using Raydot mirrors but I'll then need to weld up the drivers door and have it resprayed. It's extremely difficult to find mirrors that look great and work well on these cars...
I've driven mine as LHD for the last two years and am now very much used to the setup, there's the odd occasion that's it's inconvenient and you need to be patient or good at reading the road to take full advantage over taking etc however I think it actually adds to the charm and experience. Also Europe is such a doodle. I thought about a conversion originally but see no point with the associated cost and time now.
Mirror wise good luck, I've been trying to work that one out for the last two years and am no closer to making a decision! I think personally I want to explore custom mounts on the door frames using Raydot mirrors but I'll then need to weld up the drivers door and have it resprayed. It's extremely difficult to find mirrors that look great and work well on these cars...
WazzaJB
Club Member
I can't see it ever crossing the channel sadly, everywhere we go away we tend to take the dogs and they won't fit.
You say it's a doddle in Europe, surely it makes more sense for it to be a doddle where it's driven most?
I'm driving it for a couple of months as is so will keep you posted if I change my mind but at the moment unlikely!
Annoying about the mirrors; there are some on Z depot I like (wide & black) but they're arch mirrors, assuming they wouldn't be suitable for the doors?
I hear you on the Raydots, I suppose it's a case of buying them and figuring out the mounting afterwards.
You say it's a doddle in Europe, surely it makes more sense for it to be a doddle where it's driven most?
I'm driving it for a couple of months as is so will keep you posted if I change my mind but at the moment unlikely!
Annoying about the mirrors; there are some on Z depot I like (wide & black) but they're arch mirrors, assuming they wouldn't be suitable for the doors?
I hear you on the Raydots, I suppose it's a case of buying them and figuring out the mounting afterwards.