So I'm thinking about a classic Mini for a fun, economical, toy. It seems most of the ones around are RHD. How hard / expensive is it to switch? I'm thinking some steering linkage parts, pedal assemblies, and a couple other things. Has anyone done this? Is this something any shade-tree mechanic can do, or should I have a shop that works on classic Minis do it?

Thanks.

 

That's going to be INCREDIBLY expensive. You'll need a whole new dashboard...

 

I'm not so sure the dashboard has to be replaced. Remember, I'm talking about the classic mini, not the ones you can buy now (already have one of those!).

Here's a photo of an early Mini dashboard from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:M...erior_1959.jpg

Here's a later one. It looks like the instrument panel and the glove box can be switched: http://www.finecars.cc/typo3temp/GB/aac3ce1975.jpg

I figure since the cars were designed to be marketed in both configurations, the manufacturing processes for a car that was inexpensive when new would have required the smallest possible set of different parts for RHD and LHD.

 

it's about 300 in parts +or- 100

this is an old myth that LH are better or safer......at least that's a I thought. Sounds like you don't have a car yet....all i can say is try it...you'll get used to it in one day. LHD defeats the purpose of the car....unless it's an original LHD. People always have questions at red lights so it's best to be right next to them then, shouting across the car.

 

Why would you want to change to LHD? I have had a RHD for 25 years and no problems. There's only about 18" difference from the middle of the right seat to the middle of the left anyway.

 

I've driven both LHD and RHD cars in both LHD and RHD countries. I know from experience that I prefer to be on the correct side of the road for the country I'm in.

Thanks for all the info.

 

And here I am switching my LHD mini to RHD....

 

If you guys both have classics why not trade bits.

 

That actually seems logical - I bet there are people that will donate their LHD stuff in trade for RHD parts... I have RHD and I prefer it - it's unique and different, and not at all harder to drive than my LHD new MINI...

 

<chuckle> ...and it seems like all of the ones I see are LHD...

I've been told by a couple of Mini owners the swap is pretty easy. The rack is the only major "new" part you'll need. The pedals, column and sundry bits just swap over to the other side. In all of the LHD cars I've looked at, you can see the un-used holes where the RHD fittings would go.

However, this may be dependant on the car you get. An older car with the center gauge package: ..but a newer car with the gauges in a panel behind the wheel may be more difficult. The actual gauge panel appears to interchange with the glove box on those cars, but the wiring will likely need to be extended. Likewise, for the clutch and brakes, you'll need to run a couple of new hydraulic lines.

 

Compared to most cars switching a classic Mini over is easy, especially earlier Minis, all the holes required are there on both sides 1959 to 2000 as a mirror image, the Mk1/2 did not have the extra wiper hole positions on the windscreen scuttle panel, but few people would bother swapping them over anyway as I think they were originally set up for LHD market.
On later Minis (1989 0n) with the cantilever brake servo I think LHD uses a rod linkage to link the brake pedal across to the servo /master cylinder as there is no room to swap them over under the bonnet (unlike the old non-servo tin can type master cylinder).

 

Swapping racks is a good idea. Especially since it seems that we are not that far from each other. Unfortunately, my LHD steering rack has been spoken for.