RHD Chargers

[Russ_T]

[Hypothetical] list of things to do:

Remounting of the engine, new mounts.
Relocation of all directly connected ancilleries, exhaust, etc.
Relocation of brake servo/master cylinders/pedal box.
Remounting of gearbox.
Relocation of transmission tunnel and all that's involved (floor pans etc).
Relocation of steering column and revised steering box (and mounts).
Alternative or aftermarket rear axle.
Possible sump clearance to k member issues, revised k member or dry sumping.
Issues with no room for manifold let alone open headers.
Revised interior trim (dash, consoles, seats and mounts, rear view mirror).
Rewiring of relocated electrics (dash etc)
Relocate dipswitch
Reverse windscreen wiper sweep and relocate.
Possible mental problems during and afterwards

Firstly

Chargers are the sex...

I've lusted after one for many years now, and I'm finally in the position where I can think about importing one in the next year (I'm in England). I'd really like a '68 because of the front grill, a '69 because the the rear lights and a '66/'67 for the clocks. So any of the 68/69 bodys would suffice I guess? I notice that the Auzzies seem pretty good at the RHD conversion, and I've looked through various photos.

Anyway...

Does anyone know anything about the conversion please? I have searched the net to no avail.

I think a dash from a different Dodge available in RHD can be used, does anyone know please and how similar are they? If not I will have to spend the next ten years trying to make one

Does anyone have any photos of the engine bay post conversion?

Does anyone know of any Aussie (or even South African) Charger forums please?


Anyway beautiful cars, thanks

Russ

[limey]

Hey Russ..welcome to the site!
I too am in England and drive a '68 Charger most days now..
Can I just ask a question?
Why do you want to have it converted to RHD? It really isn't s big deal driving a LHD car in the UK, you just have to be a bit more careful, thats all. But to be honest, if you are driving an 18ft 2 ton 40 year old musclecar with all the handling of a boat on ice on our UK roads, then careful  is the way to go..
Any questions about Charger ownership in the UK, please feel free to ask. I bought my second one 2 weeks ago, and the whole purchase thing is fresh in my mind..
Take it easy...
Nick (Limey)

[Russ_T]

Wahey!

Nice one, I hang around at a classic car restorers (mainly into '20s Chevys and old Fords etc) and so got a bit of an American bug from them. They shipped in a couple more cars recently so I'll probably get them to organise it, but how much do you think it'll cost (ball park, all inclusive) to get one over here? And do you get stitched up by import duty?

Are spares available at all here? I see there is a bit on ebay, and I presume someone in this country caters for US car parts (just general service items). I have a bit of a fear that with our weather shipping in wings and stuff could get pricey lol. Are there many water traps on the chargers?

I want to go RHD for over taking, and more importantly to stop me getting in the wrong side of the car all the time I can do the work myself so it's not (hopefully) going to be a huge expense. I have driven LHD, no problem, appreciate that on the Somerset roads I won't be racing anyway, but I only really fancy a RHD one. I'm after a pickup as well (get rid of my car) but all the best ones are LHD again.

Where in the country are you? I'm in Somerset, never seen a charger in real life Just lots of times in books/mags/films lol. I was the guy wishing on the Charger in Bullit and hoping McQueen crashed lol. I should attend more American shows but so busy restoring my 240z.

Whats the chances of getting something 'interesting' vin plate wise (like an RT or something), or do you double the money for that?

What in UKP do you think it'll realistically be to get a rough but structurally sound car here and on my drive? I know containers are only about £500 (or they were for the Chevys at the body shop) but I have NO idea how much a Charger will be. Working at the bodyshop I can do all the tidying easily, and I don't mind fitting a new engine, so it's just structure and something thats not going to crab up the road I'm after.

Anyway really pleased that I'm not alone, thanks mate, do you have any pics of your car(s)?

Cheers

[Russ_T]

Newcastle! *cue crap geordie stereotypical jokes*, long way up from me.

Are there any other limeys on this forum?

My Z gallery in case you are interested, want to sell this one, buy a black one, then get a black charger (*yawn I know*), new black motorbike, garage sorted

http://www.zclub.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1

[limey]

Pics of mine: click here..
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,13303.0.html


Now then... I have looked into importing a charger, but you get stung big time with taxes. You get the same car levy of 10% value taxation as you would importing a brand new pickup.

On top of this you pay 17.5% VAT on the full price of the car on the dock. So you take the price of your car, add $800 to$1000 for shipping to the nearest US port. A collection charge of $500 by the US agent. Shipping and insurance about $1500 dollars All of these costs are included when HM customs and excise calculate the Car Levy and VAT. On top of this you have £250 dock receiving cost. Then you will have to pay for the car to go through its SVA homologation work, so that it conforms with all the rules regarding direction indicators etc and other modifications - about £300, then you have to pay for it to be registered...which I think is about £100. Basically, take the cost of your car and add a good 35-40% of its value. And don't forget the transport and shipping cost will still be as high, even if you import a clunker which needs a lot of work.
Thats why I have bought both mine from someone who has paid to import the car - whenthe taxes were easier! Most of the guys on this site are quite surprised by the prices we have to pay for Chargers over here, because even the values are skyrocketing, it is obviously a lot easier to buy a nice car in the states, but the import costs are a lot.

Spares...from my experience ther is no problem with service items, and engine rebuild components, but Body panels, trim, interior, model specific parts will all have to be shipped from the US. There are a very few bits on UK ebay... Oh and more good news, we have to pay import tax on the parts as well as the high shipping costs. Example...if you buy new rear quarters..they are about 54" long and made of steel, they have to be carried by air so they cost a fortune. When they land, you pay tax on the lot...shipping included. If you get a car to restore, you will almost certainly have to replace the rear quarter skins by the way...

Water traps...yep, like most older cars....the weather seals leak or are missing, water gets into the trunk and sits there and rots the trunk floor and rear frame rails out. It finds a level in the passenger compartment floor and rots that out. It gets under the rear window and rots the rear deck and the sail panels (the flying buttress bits).

I think the RHD conversion is optimistic. I think there was a promo RHD car made....but I could be wrong. Chargers weren't exported to the UK or Australia, so there were never any original parts. The Australians had their own "Valiant Charger" which was a chrysler, with Chrysler running gear etc, but it isn't a Charger as we know it...Also, getting hold of replacement LHD dashes and Dash pads/components is a difficult and expensive business, so if you want to get one to chop up, you better be very sure about it..

As for money...I saw a rough one go on ebay with a 318 engine for about £8500 recently. At the other end of the scale I saw an RT, numbers matching go for £46000. A non original 440 engine car are fetching about £15-18k. There is one on Ebay at the moment that I very nearly bought in a private sale. It is starting at £10000, but I know the guy needs to get £12k for it. I tlooks pretty honest and solid, need some work, but definitely drivable. Here is the link.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4640304861&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
As far as working out the import cost you will have to look at various examples in the states and add on the 35% then convert to sterling.

And yes there are a few other "limeys" on here. Many of them with more experience of importing than me.

Sorry if some of this seems negative...but typically, when it comes to having your a$$ taxed off by the government...things end up negative.
Good luck, and find out as much as you can..here is a brilliant place to start, but also check out the MMA (Mopar Muscle Association) UK.
Cheers,
Nick (Limey)

[Russ_T]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your help, your car looks very nice as well

I think I'll just smuggle one in instead then! That's what we usually do *cough*, you can fit a lot in a container. Nah I'm not sure how they get around it, I think they usually write the value down as about $1000... Also I'm pretty sure that vehicles that are pre '94 don't need an SVA test? Something like that.

Anyway I'll start reading some more. I presume all these http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,8469.0.html are the Chryslers you mention, and therefor very different? On the surface the look the same to me, maybe I should just go for one of those? Anyway I'll read up on them as well.

Thanks again

Russ

[limey]

I presume all these http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,8469.0.html are the Chryslers you mention, and therefor very different? On the surface the look the same to me, maybe I should just go for one of those? Anyway I'll read up on them as well.

Well, Russ that's a new one on me! I didn't think there were any export RHD models made of the 2nd Generation Charger, but there's definitely one in these pics.

As for how easy they are to convert......getting hold of the dash is going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack....although you could always fabricate a custom dash if you were that bothered....but really driving on the left is no sweat....with those huge Sail panels in  your rear quarter vision you are going to have to look over your shoulder when overtaking anyway.

As far as the SVA. In some ways, I think you are right. obviously a new car needs substantial mods to get its SVA license over here, but you still need quite a bit done to your classic Mopar for it to be road legal. There are no indicators on the tail panel for a start., and also you need a fog light.etc. There are many ways to do this, but ideally you are looking for the least invasive way..

Cheers Russ - see ya
Limey

[AWSOM50]

I'm in England and have a 68.  I bought it as an MMA club sale.  You should join up if you haven't already.

Personally I would think a RHD would take away some of the coolness of having an american musclecar.  Keep it LHD.

There is a SWEET 440 R/T general lee on ebay at the moment that will probably go for about 17k.

In england you see the occassional charger at car shows, and a lot at Mopar shows.  Actually I saw one being towed around slough the other day.

[limey]

I'm in England and have a 68.  I bought it as an MMA club sale.  You should join up if you haven't already.

Personally I would think a RHD would take away some of the coolness of having an american musclecar.  Keep it LHD.

There is a SWEET 440 R/T general lee on ebay at the moment that will probably go for about 17k.

Awesom50 - you are right on all those points, IMO...
That General is nice, needs a little work on the interior and it is actually a 70 with modified front end and tail light panel...if that sort of thing  bothers you...seems quite an honest car though....
Its rare to have two chargers on Ebay at once...
L

[Jon Smith]

loads of chargers over here if you know where to look maybe its the events i go to but its a long time since i've been to a car show and not seen one

i agree with awsom50 joining the mma would be a good start

http://www.mopartalk.co.uk/mopartalk/


i'd keep it LHD but if you're determined i've seen pics of some aussie conversions that looked factory so the parts might be availiable there
I think a lot of the aussies keep them LHD these days as they're old enough not to need converting now

[limey]

Jon, did the Aussie laws require the conversion?
Also do you know if the 2nd gens were imported there and converted piecemeal as they were/are here or did Chrysler actually export them as a RHD model from Hamtramck?

Just want to clear it up in my head, having given Russ duff information...
Cheers,
Limey

[Jon Smith]

aussie laws require a conversion up to a certain age, chargers are old enough now to not need it but any that were imported there years ago will be converted, it was done over there, there are no factory RHD chargers(at least i think thats how it is someone will no doubt chip in and correct me now )

[limey]

That's what i thought too...Bearing in mind the difficulties getting hold of a good replacement LHD dash, do you think there is much chance of Russ getting a decent RHD one....?
L

[Jon Smith]

 
would probably need deep pockets

[Russ_T]

I think I'm going to be saving a while longer anyway, and I'm actively looking for a better paid job now

Not into General Lees, never watched DOH before for a start

Definately going for a RHD, a LHD doesn't really appeal to me. No one needs to tell me there is nothing wrong with a LHD car, I know, I've driven them, but you STILL can't see past a line of traffic if you're sat on the wrong side, and how the hell do you order a McDonalds drive through? The actual work of fog lights, indicators, and I imagine the conversion shouldn't be any bother, the car restorers I hang out hand beat panels and all sorts, they have the skills even if I don't.

AFAIK there was never a RHD Charger from the factory, I *think* that maybe what we have here are LHD chargers with Valian dashes?? I know nothing though so that might not even make sense

I'll join up to the MMA today.

Thanks for your help

[limey]

I'll join up to the MMA today.

Best thing you can do...it means you can actually physically meet guy (and girls) near you and see and get a feel of a Charger in the flesh. Its a shock when you see now big it is for the first time.
L

[Russ_T]

Yes I imagine they are mahoosive We have loads of 'tanks' at the bodyshop though, big straight 8 engines, lovely Don't fit too well in carparks or on the back roads but at least it's more interesting than a Mondeo or similar.

I *would* join the MMA but there is no way to do it from the website, the paypal page (http://www.mopartalk.co.uk/connected/index.php?page=4) doesn't have any paypal links on it for a start.

Nevermind, I have e-mailed the site admin.

Thanks

[Jon Smith]

I knew i'd seen some somewhere

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,8469.0.html

[limey]

Yes I imagine they are mahoosive We have loads of 'tanks' at the bodyshop though, big straight 8 engines, lovely Don't fit too well in carparks or on the back roads but at least it's more interesting than a Mondeo or similar.

I *would* join the MMA but there is no way to do it from the website, the paypal page (http://www.mopartalk.co.uk/connected/index.php?page=4) doesn't have any paypal links on it for a start.

Nevermind, I have e-mailed the site admin.

Thanks

Hey Russ..I've just taken a look at the site. If you send a paypal payment of £23 (£22 membership plus £1 Paypal fee) to:
mma@moparuk.com

And include the following info (from the membership form) except for the vehicle info...in the NOTES section of the Paypal payment form, it should work.

Name: 
Address:
Post Code:
Telephone:
Email:
Do you own a vehicle at present?

If yes please fill in your vehicle details for our register:
Make:
Model: 
Engine size: 
Reg No:
Gearbox: Auto/Manual 
Year:
Colour: 
VIN:
Last change of keeper:
No. of previous owners:
Since:
Any other information i.e. special options, colour changes, modifications, notable history, date of import to UK, magazine feature car, etc. ________________________________________________ 
(If you have more than one vehicle please add details on reverse or on another piece of paper)
Important: Individual member & car details are strictly confidential and will definitely not be given to anyone outside of the Mopar Muscle Association UK without further permission.

Permission for telephone number to be passed on to Area Reps & other MMA members YES/NO                   
Members agree to abide by the rules of the Association. Please sign to confirm you have read these rules and agree to abide by them     

Signature________   

Hope this helps, if not if you go onto the members section you can download a hard copy, fill it in and sign it, write the cheque and send it via snail mail.....

Limey

[charger Downunder]

I own a 70 RT SE YO9 EXPORT car. The original owner walked into a chrysler dealership in Mudgee Australia and ordered it new in 1970.Chrysler Australia imported it for him and delivered it to him in right hand drive form. When the cars came to Australia they where all left hand drive and chrysler contracted the job out to convert them to RH drive i have seen others here in Australia whith very simmilar conversions.
http://1970chargerregistry.com/70messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=2536&highlight=

The coversion isnt too hard when you look at it.
Dash just moved across guages arnt reversed
Brakes and steering box still on the original side.
Im lucky my wipers havent been changed to opposit sweep ive seen this done and years latter rust issues.
My rear reversing lights have amber bulbs for blinkers.
Under the dash area i have a cross over conversion where the steering colum comes through on the left side their is a right angle gear box attached to a rod to the right hand side lower steering colum.
For the brakes there is a rod that goes across to the other side
when i take my dash appart to get to my heater core ill get you some pics

Steve

[Russ_T]

Nice looking Charger

When you say dash just moved across, how does that work? I imagine I could find a dash from another RHD car, but I really fancied the 67 clocks so something that used those would be a bonus. Anyway not important.

Nice idea on the reversing lights

Pics would be appreciated, although I don't think I'd want to go that route, but at least I'd get a better idea.

Anyone know if they ever produced a RHD B body of any model?

Thanks again

[JMF]

Yeah i'm in England and I drive 2 LHD Mustangs, LHD is all part of the experience, it's not that big a deal, like Limey said just be careful, it can be tricky if you are overtaking a lorry or whatever on a road

[limey]

To be honest it has only ever been a problem for me once... I was driving my old Charger very shortly after I got it about 6 years ago. I was stuck behind a tractor with tyres the size of a one story building. There was a queue of traffic behind me, waiting to get past on this winding country road. I was stuck for 3 miles. I couldn't see a damn thing....but that has been the only time that driving a left hooker has been anything more than a secondary check over my right shoulder before i overtake.
The problem with changing over, apart from the awkwardness of getting the parts, is the cost. If it costs, say £2000 of parts and shipping, you have to ask yourself if you wouldn't rather get a bigger engine, numbers matching, or just a car that is straighter bodywise....I don't know....if money is not an issue, go for it, but otherwise, there will be trade-offs. Also. Converting your car will hit the value....even though it is more practical etc, most UK Mopar fans would not buy a car that had been converted. So you would have to keep all the original parts and convert it back to realise your investment.
L

[sean68charger]

I live in wales, and have a black 68 R/T  the roads here are very similar to the ones where you live and left hand drive is not a problem, just fit a passenger wing mirror, leave pleanty of room from the car in front as the power will soon make up the difference when overtaking

[Russ_T]

Guys, you can't shake me lol.

Although once I have one I may re-evaluate. The cost should be about £0 as the work I can do myself, apart from (depending on how it all works out) a few donor parts. And yes I'd plan to do it so my 'handiwork' was completely reversible. The beauty part is a v8 is fairly symetrical, and so you 'shouldn't' have issues where changing sides causes the steering to foul the exhaust manifold, it's the same either side (in theory).

What I need to find is if a RHD B-body car was produced, then I guess I can rob parts from that for use? (steering rack etc).

Anyway I need to find the money for one still, probably going to need to spend more than I first thought.

[Jon Smith]

its not the same either side the engine is offset to the right,  you'll have less room
maybe a RHD c body steering box is the same?

[limey]

Sounds to me like the best way to go would be with a crossover shaft as Chrysler Australia seem to have done in the 70's. Jon is right, I had a look under the hood last night (in the rain, as I wal thinking about how possible this would be, and if you were to put your steering in the space on the RH side, the knuckle would foul on the headers, even on stock headers.Esp. if you have a big block car. Also..it sounds like the only positive sighting of RHD chargers was in Oz...so if you are going to get conversion parts, you are looking at importing them from a breakers yard in Oz - best to go down the cross shaft route and keep steering/brakes etc mounted on the LH side...

Of course you could always fabricate new engine mounts and move the lump to the other side....oh and transmission mounts....and er everything else....but then I'm afraid we would have to have you certified..
Limey

[Russ_T]

Jon: Yes so I've just discovered thanks! That kind of screws the mirror image plan, I ought to start paying attention to some Charger engine bays...

Limey: Yes I think you could be right. However I'm very much of the do it once, do it properly school of thought. We fabricate everything at the body shop (currently hand making 20 model Ts, and just finished making a chassis for a Model Y body to take MGB running gear ), so a couple of mounts shouldn't be any bother. Unless they are cast but I doubt that.

Thanks This is getting interesting.

[Russ_T]

Hmmm, don't suppose anyone knows of a pic of the underside of the car, if the engine/gearbox is offset, and then the propshaft, and I presume the diff are offset, is the transmission tunnel the same?

Need to get a car so I can see for myself!

[Jon Smith]

engine mounts would be easy to make, of course you've then got the transmission tunnel to move, and the diff is no longer in line, there really isn't much room to put the engine anywhere other than where its meant to go, at least with a big block
if you really want to put a proper rhd steering column in then i would forget all about making it reversible and buy a project car and gut it and rebuild from the ground up a right hand drive
in my opinion sorting the dash and stuff is the least of your worries

edit: you thought of all that while i was typng

[limey]

OH the fabrication should be no sweat...but if you move the engine a bit to the left, you are gonna move the transmission...then you won't have the clearance so the Gearbox tunnel would need to be modified...oh..and the propshaft will mo longer line up with the diff pinion. So you would need to fabricate a new axle casing and custom drive shafts....It could all be done I guess.. but then the car will be severely modified....weight distribution will be different....handling...etc.
Hmmmmm....

I  wait with bated breath...how long until you will be buying a Charger, Russ?


Limey

[EDIT] Damn...I must be the slower typer or the bigger waffler of you two..I said the same thing last....

[Russ_T]

LOL so I made it in first place, followed by Jon, and Limey, oh dear mate third.



Yeh trim isn't an issue, but it's nice to know that there is a RHD dash out there somewhere that's suitable if just to reduce other worries

I am really against moving transmission tunnels, rear diffs and such aren't an issue as you could use a different (non charger) diff and proshafts, I guess it's u joints so I could even go for cvs or something. No thanks to custom drive shafts, that'll require a house remorgage if you get them made, and cutting and welding them is bad news, you could pin them but still... no thanks.

I had planned to buy a project car anyway, if you've seen my Z that's totally in pieces at the moment for a bare shell blast, acid dip, then galvanising (Jap cars rot). well I don't need it as a daily drive so no rush to complete it.

I don't think the weight distribution is going to be much of an issue with the [apparent] handling characteristics of the Charger. Are you suggesting it's all offset to counteract the weight of the driver for supreme balance?

I see that the engine really won't fit anywhere else other than offset to the rh side, why is that? I presume the inner wings are both the same, whats in the way?

Yes my plans should give you all a laugh, I'm only getting stick over at MMA at the moment But maybe one day you'll be all running to me for a conversion lol (probably not).

How long till I buy a Charger, well Z is to be ready by April so sometime after that, long way off yet hence the research now

Anyway if all this turns out to be is just pie in the sky chat who cares, I find it interesting to solve this little problems anyway Just wish I had something to hand I could measure and get hands on with.

[Jon Smith]

the trans tunnel is in the way, the trans is a pretty tight fit in the tunnel as it is
the K member is different for right hand drive but i dont know how different
geeting  custom axles made up wouldn't be that expensive, any drag race shop would do it, you biggest problem is that the car itself was never designed to be right hand drive

[Russ_T]

When I've enquired about custom driveshafts for my Z (fitting an Impreza LSD in it at the moment) the figures were mega bucks! Interesting.

Could you not just swap the drive shafts left to right?? Depending on the mount (and the way the diff oil will pour out the filler) you could almost just turn the diff upside down. Oh hang on, you'd reverse everywhere then lol. Have to change the gears inside as well maybe. Or is that one of the stupidest things ever typed on a forum?

[Russ_T]

Err it just dawned on me, is the rear of the car a solid axle... doh...

[Jon Smith]

yep its a solid axle, but again thats one of the easier bits, places like hauser racing make custom axles all the time
you obviously need to have a good look at a real charger and weigh the job up
not trying to put you off just pointing out what a spectacularly big job it is
unless you do it how the aussies did with a crossover shaft

[limey]

I don't think the weight distribution is going to be much of an issue with the [apparent] handling characteristics of the Charger. Are you suggesting it's all offset to counteract the weight of the driver for supreme balance?


Yes my plans should give you all a laugh, I'm only getting stick over at MMA at the moment But maybe one day you'll be all running to me for a conversion lol (probably not).

Weight distribution? WHo do you think gave BMW the idea of balancing a car perfectly front to back/left to right? It was Chrysler...man, if you move the washer bottle an inch forward you will cause it to handle like a pig......The rear frame and trunk floor are made of solid lead just to balance the engine...


As for your plans....yes I think you are nuts.....I think you could probably get someone to make you a GRP kit car body in the shape of a Charger and then stick it on top of a Ford Cortina rolling chassis and end up with a right hand drive Charger easier...
...but hey....each to their own
L

[Roppa440]

there is nothing wrong with a LHD car, I know, I've driven them, but you STILL can't see past a line of traffic if you're sat on the wrong side

Can I ask a personal question?

How old are you?

I ask because it doesn't sound as if you can actually drive very well or have any real experiance with driving these cars.

I don't recall ever being in a position where I couldn't see forward for overtaking. My only guess is you are one of these people that drives far too close to the car in front. Either that or you have never actually driven a large muscle car in the UK.

The only time (and I do mean the ONLY time) driving LHD in the UK is a problem is if you have to join certain roundabouts or come down certain slip roads and you cannot see over your right shoulder very well. But even this small problem is OK if you think ahead and position yourself correctly in the road or hang back slightly so you can see out of the side windows.

And why the hell would you want a burger at McDonalds? You addicted to the kids meals or something?

[Jon Smith]

Hi Dave

[Russ_T]

Limey: I might do just that, can I borrow yours to make a mold from please? I could then just rest it over my car. Or maybe just get some vinyl wraps for my car that looks like a charger... There is no harm in discussing any of this, although people seem to get a bit touchy when you suggest doing it. You'd have thought I'd committed one of the cardinal sins in suggesting I'd only want it in RHD

Roppa: I'll agree I have yoof on my side, this gives you too much confidence and not enough wisdom. But what do you do about that? Wait till you get old?

Not getting into this one though, I can drive perfectly fine thank you very much. I ride motorbikes and road positioning is very important if you don't want to get squat, and I've done the police training, that includes not tailgating btw. I'm not the worlds best driver though I guess. Ok on the LH side you can see down the inside of a left hand bend, brilliant, but I'm not a massive fan of overtaking on the outside of corners, unless it's on the bike because it accelerates quick enough. Yes you can sit back and take a run up, but if you're behind a lorry you're gonna be a fair way back, in a RHD you could just edge out to the side of your lane and see past it. What has any of this to do with this thread?

[limey]

Limey: I might do just that, can I borrow yours to make a mold from please? I could then just rest it over my car. Or maybe just get some vinyl wraps for my car that looks like a charger... There is no harm in discussing any of this, although people seem to get a bit touchy when you suggest doing it. You'd have thought I'd committed one of the cardinal sins in suggesting I'd only want it in RHD

We are just having a laugh with you - (hence the smileys )
If people are getting a bit touchy, its because it's really weird to want a Mopar but want to change it so massively for the sake of what is ultimately driving ease. I don't buy the fact that it is dangerous to drive an American car that hasn't been converted. I'm a member of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) and I would like to think that my careful driving will make up for the slight difficulties brought about by driving a left hooker....
You will also find quite a few of the UK Mopar owners love the whole LHD thing and everything that goes with it..so ther is a certain amount of...



Going on...which is why you will be getting stick on the MMA board too....
L

[Roppa440]

Why bring it up? Because one of the main reasons you give for not wanting LHD is overtaking. I overtake plenty. I don't see the problem? If you can't see ahead then chances are it is not a safe place to fly down the wrong side of the road in a 2 ton 6 foot plus wide 20 foot long car.

With a decent engine the car will accelerate rather like your bike. Not quite as well of course (although mine and a few others would give you a good run for your money) but pretty damn fast for a car. Quick enough for "safe" overtaking.

I could tell you were young. Your "Yoof" is showing.

Well we were all young once and all had big ambitions. Mine was to fit a 6/71 blown 440 into my RHD Chrysler Charger 770. I had all the plans and costs worked out. I thought.

Come back down to earth. If you start this you will be married and have kids well before you finish it. And do you think your young wife will let you keep it??

Why do you think this hobby is full of older (and usually divorced) men?  I have been working/spending on my Challenger for 17 years now and it is still not finished to my satisfaction.

Buy a good one if you can. Just drive it and make it as nice as you can. Don't spend more money on it than it is worth. It costs thousands and thousands to do one of these cars up. It is not a good idea to make it worth less.

But if after driving it for a few months you still feel like converting it then people like me and the rest of us in the club will give you all the help we can and you can show us we were wrong to try and talk you out of it.

Good luck with finding the right car.

[Russ_T]

Tis ok, I don't mind getting stick, the amount of abuse I get at the body shop (for being the only one under forty) is quite high, infact they've never used my real name. All in good fun, but sometimes it's not very helpful

It's not just driving ease though, it's what you want. Some people pay loads of money for flip paints or to paint their car pink. What's the point? It's what they want.

I think that's where I've lost you a bit Roppa, I'm trying to justify why I want one and clutching at straws a bit. I should have just told you to go away and a RHD is what I want because

I think a decent engined Charger would eventually reign me in, I've geared my bike down and now at about 110 I run out of gears/rpm

If I start it now (well next year) I'm more likely to finish it before I'm married with kids and a mortgage, otherwise I'll never do it. Also I think a Charger is the least of my concerns, motorbikes are more anti wife, and she can F.O. if she thinks I'm getting rid of them. Anyway it's not like I'm weilding a gas axe about to do it, the thread is supposed to be about how to do it, not my personal life and circumstance!

I appreciate how much this costs, my friend just blew £5k on Chrome work for his Chrysler Whole car was only £3k and thats in the country with a ticket.

Now if I promise to drive it and give it a month or so grace period before I cut it about can we move on now? If it makes anyone feel better than I'm not completely anti LHD we can say my bike is LHD. So hypothetically speaking, if some idiot were to do this (what a fool eh ), ignoring chain conversions, linkages, and other "shortcuts" (haha) we are currently looking at


Remounting of the engine, new mounts.
Relocation of all directly connected ancilleries, exhaust, etc.
Relocation of brake servo/master cylinders/pedal box.
Remounting of gearbox.
Relocation of transmission tunnel and all that's involved (floor pans etc).
Relocation of steering column and revised steering box.
Alternative or aftermarket rear axle.
Revised interior trim.


Should be able to do that on a lunch break?

And the only reason I can currently find for the original engine offset is that it allowed the steering to squeeze down the side? Anyone know any better?

Thanks all.

[Jon Smith]

you'd need to have a look at how the sump fits between the k member as well, i cant remember off the top of my head but i dont think theres loads of room, also the steerin box is mounted to the k member so you'd have to mod that, maybe one of the aftermarket front suspension setups might be easier to mod
the exhaust manifolds will probably be a headache, i think you can forget about headers
seat mounts might have to move with the trans tunnel and the back seat might need modifying
you'd probably be into a rewire as well, at least the dash harness
dipswitch would need moving
and you'd need a new rear view mirror

might be easier to move to a country that drives on the right

[Russ_T]

Ok so if the sump has clearance issues it could be dry sumped.

So headers are going to be a problem, why?? Not having a Charger to hand I don't see why moving the engine across is going to affect the clearance, unless one of the inner wings protudes more than another? Probably something obvious that'll make me feel embarassed From the way you guys explain it it seems that both headers/manifolds have equal clearance, despite the engine being offset.

Seats and stuff, not really any bother, then come under interior woes...

Imagine how hard it'd be explaining my conversion if I did move to a LHD country though, and then I'd only have to convert my Z to LHD...

[Jon Smith]

Probably something obvious that'll make me feel embarassed

lol!, if you had a charger it would be obvious, i barely have room to get the plug wires in, never mind a steering column

my engine bay(back when it was clean )


what might work is some cast manifolds from a right hand drive car such as a RHD barracuda or valiant charger, but then again they might not

[Russ_T]

I'm still lost though I appreciate there is no clearance, but why is there no clearance on either side, despite the engine being offset?? It may be obvious, but you'd have thought that if the engine was offset there'd be more room on one side than the other? In which case if you reverse the offset the extra clearance moves sides?

Clean looking engine bay I presume your steering column is hidden by the engine in the pic? Or do you have some string tied to the front wheels like a soap box?

[Jon Smith]

headers aren't the same shape on other side
you could always make some i suppose, you seem pretty ambitious

[Russ_T]

So you're saying it's the headers at fault then, in which case make some, that's easy (well, do-able at least). Really though it's easier to get someone to make them for you as they'll put better bends in. You could also just rip off the dimensions of an existing (and performing) header to save you messing about trying to calculate anything. So long as there is room that it comes off initially at 90deg from the head it should be feasible?

I think I'll just fit a straight 6 and save the bother 

[Russ_T]

I know it's a Mustang, but this guy did something similar (without the offset issues that doubles the headache of course) http://www.justmustangs.com.au/html/LHD-mustang-conversion.html and it looks pretty tidy.

Added wiper sweep modification to list.

[charger Downunder]

Russ t If you looked under the hood of my 70 charger you wouldnt even know its right hand drive nothing is changed under the hood forget moving engines gearboxes and diffs.It realy is so simple in a couple of months ill be taking the dash out and ill post some pics on the cross over shaft and how it was done plus the brake setup its realy simple once you have seen how its done and the good thing is all the steering geometry is as per factory as nothing is changed my booster and steering box is still on the left side.
dont reverse sweep the wipers iv seen so many cars with bad rust problems and shiity work,if you have to just extend the right hand wiper blade so it over sweeps in other words it will sweep obove the roof when fully up.
Yes you will have to relocte dipswitch,brake pedal,gas pedal  and parkbrake plus change the park brake cable to the other side on the diff for it too reach.
Front and rear amber lenses easy to do.
My dash wiring harness had to be extended to reach to the righthand side
My car has power windos so the swithes had to be changed around
Ac heater unit has been changed slightly no air vent on right hand side its been taken off and the round hole in the cowl panel is sealed up.
Front headlights need to be aimed towards the other side you will probly have to buy a new set of lights for this purpose
The good thing about b bodys is you dont have to change the dash pad just either side of the radio.
The hardest part is the dash change over look at my one the guages are all in the original order but the fascia plate has been modified slightly as where it meets the edge towards the door the fascia plate narrows as it is wider in the centre of the car where the radio is plus the glove box will need some work to change around. my conversion was done in 1970 now their is better products and techmology out their im sure you could get a better job done today when mine comes out i will be repainting the plasic dash pieces and redoing the woodgrain.
You will also have to add another door miiror on the right side if you dont have one
If you are going to convert your car to rh drive stay with the original dash setup
It looks really bad in Australia over here when you look inside an American dodge and see the local Austalian dash
I hope this info helps Steve

[limey]

Listen to the Man, Russty! 

Out of all the speculation and advice...this is the one guy who has the job done...the cross shaft is the way to go.....Doing it the way you are thinking, and you are going to need help and advice from"Rod and Kustom.com" not dodgecharger.com.......as it will be a butcher job..
Just my  ..but what do I know?
L

[451-74Charger]

Im a limey, but live in the US now...
My Charger i had 20 years ago was RHD, orange, and apparently was a car used to promote the GOH

[Brock Samson]

 What's a "Lorry"?.. 

[Russ_T]

Thank you for taking the time to write that Charger Downunder... much appreciated.

I'm not going to rule out any options, I just want to find whats involved and weigh everything up

The actual job of transmission tunnel move and that isn't as bad as it sounds, and nothing we haven't done before (or rather similar), but it might be more work than we need to do for a tidy solution. No point creating work for myself (or rather for the old boys). Also the linkage option means less of the car is altered and so it'd be easier to return to LHD in the future, that's the most appealing part to me. Although I have drifted down the route of "oh yeh I could drop it and put big drag tyres on it", in which case I can either have it ride around like it's on stilts or raise the axle up into the body, which would mean new transmission tunnel etc anyway. Only thing is the angle on the propshaft might not be too favourable.

I'd greatly appreciate any pics you have nearer the time I presume that all of this is neatly hidden behind the dash?

And a lorry is a truck to you I guess..?

Thank you.