Merv Posted 4November, 2019 Report Share Posted 4November, 2019 Does anyone still do these in Australia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidmarks Posted 4November, 2019 Report Share Posted 4November, 2019 12 minutes ago, Merv said: Does anyone still do these in Australia? Yes. You just need to make sure about how they do it, parts used etc. if it’s a 911, try not to lose the body build number. Under the dash pad near the ashtray. My personal view is if it came from the Fatherland as LHD, consider leaving it. World market if you want to sell and also says you’re your own person ... dress left, be proud ... Again, for me - LHD feels right. I understand that it can be a hassle at times but I’d think carefully before brutalizing. I’ve got a 72S that was done left to right. I bought it well because of that. Rohan and the guys at Skunkwerks did a full resto back to the Viper Green and I seriously considered taking back to LHD but impatient as I am I just got them to use the right under bonnet panels (instead of the SC stuff the people that did it originally used - very good job mind you but ...). I’m “doing up” (read bare shell) a 1970 2.2 S that is LHD and seeing things as they should be (remember, they were conceived as LHD) makes sense to me. Each to their own in my book as whatever direction you dress, it’s still a Porker. SC 3.2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted 4November, 2019 Report Share Posted 4November, 2019 Leave it left Troubleshooter and Mike D'Silva 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter M Posted 4November, 2019 Report Share Posted 4November, 2019 5 minutes ago, Skidmarks said: (remember, they were conceived as LHD) Helmuth Bott insisted the car be designed specifically with the steering pinion in the middle of the steering rack so the same rack could be used for both LHD and RHD cars and spent a quarter of a million DM developing it. So RHD was a consideration from the very beginning and definitely not an afterthough. (The improved crash performance of the resulting angled intermediate steering shaft was just a "welcome side benefit" according to Peter Falk.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidmarks Posted 4November, 2019 Report Share Posted 4November, 2019 2 hours ago, Peter M said: Helmuth Bott insisted the car be designed specifically with the steering pinion in the middle of the steering rack so the same rack could be used for both LHD and RHD cars and spent a quarter of a million DM developing it. So RHD was a consideration from the very beginning and definitely not an afterthough. (The improved crash performance of the resulting angled intermediate steering shaft was just a "welcome side benefit" according to Peter Falk.) Absolutely. Its just for me, LHD feels right. (Like what I did there?) Mike D'Silva and Peter M 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 4November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 4November, 2019 This is not for me, but a friend looking for a 356 and he really wants RHD. I have an original Aust-delivered RHD 356 and had an original LHD 911. Both perfect for me. However, the real question is most of the places who 'used' to do conversions on 356s seem to have stopped. I was wondering if any still do them? Nice point Peter, when you look at the steering geometry of the 356. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozvino Posted 4November, 2019 Report Share Posted 4November, 2019 Detlef Specht out in Rowville did quite a few over the years especially in the 80's - he's past that now. He most recently did a 996 4S out of the states (madness I know). Back in the day he even did a 928.....think bomb disposal under enemy gunfire wearing a welding mask..... If you were doing a total strip, paint and rebuild maybe look into it, otherwise agree with Sven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 5November, 2019 Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 I'm sure Mark Pooles team at RSR would do it. It's going to cost a lot of money and seriously devalue the car, my take would be to buy one built RHD in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OBRUT Posted 5November, 2019 Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 356’s are easier to do than 911’s, and it doesn’t seem to be as big a deal to the 356 crowd. That said, I doubt it makes financial sense anymore. Wait for brexit and bring one in from the uk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 5November, 2019 Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 4 hours ago, OBRUT said: Wait for brexit and bring one in from the uk? The way that's going, that will be in 14 years time! I imagine the hardest part with conversions is sourcing a decent front clip without paying a motsa for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 5November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 The number of original RHD cars is low in Australia. For example only 44 BT6 cars were sold here. Further, the prices sought on these are becoming eye opening. UK cars are often afflicted with salt and age related rust. It is a challenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilb Posted 5November, 2019 Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 only downside to doing a 356 is the steering pitman arm. they are very hard to get hold of. i can put you in touch with a guy i know that had some made (reverse engineered) and made by some company who make components for v8 supercars. dash is very easy to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 5November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 Thanks Neil. That is good. I am pretty sure I have a spare RHD pitman arm attached to an OEM ZF steering box I have stashed. Yes Lee the front end would not be a cheap fix, I suspect. My mate here is playing a waiting game and keeping an ear out for any cars coming up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 5November, 2019 Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 @Merv As Chris mentioned, RSR Sportscars have their finger on the pulse with 356's mate. Maybe contact @Cam Arnott to see if he can help you, and maybe Craig at Buik Motorworks. There is also the guys who repaired my car, Edwardstown Body Repairs (SA). They've done loads of conversions and high end restorations and might be able to steer you in the right direction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 5November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 5November, 2019 Thanks Lee. Good advice. I will pass that info on to my friend here. LeeM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crsedge Posted 6November, 2019 Report Share Posted 6November, 2019 Jason Carroll at Chequered Flag Restorations in Bayswater Melbourne has done and continues to do many 356 and 911 conversions- in recent years he is even reconverting factory LHD cars converted to RHD in the earlier years back to LHD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 7November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 7November, 2019 Thanks for that. Will let my friend know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel Posted 7November, 2019 Report Share Posted 7November, 2019 @Merv Speak with Jason Bobruk at Real Steel Group . Located Queanbeyan NSW good bunch of professionals doing some seriously good work Dalai 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 7November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 7November, 2019 Ta Michel will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafikdous Posted 22November, 2019 Report Share Posted 22November, 2019 What year is the car? T5s and earlier are very easy to convert T6s and SC are much more difficult and you will need a RHD fuel tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 23November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 23November, 2019 He is looking at T6's Raffa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafikdous Posted 24November, 2019 Report Share Posted 24November, 2019 Much harder Merv, finding a T6 RHD tank will be difficult I would recommend he goes for T5 or earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 25November, 2019 Author Report Share Posted 25November, 2019 He is ready to have a go at anything that is decent body and mechanically really. There are so few around just now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafikdous Posted 1February, 2021 Report Share Posted 1February, 2021 How did your mate go @Merv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merv Posted 1February, 2021 Author Report Share Posted 1February, 2021 He abandoned his research at the time Raffa. I sold the, still-wrapped in grease paper, ZF steering box after great interest overseas, to a local with a converted 356. There is a LHD 64 SC90 in a shed nearby that I have been looking at for a while. Quick car but needs a repaint and some minor body and interior work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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