Paul:
Converting to a steel dashboard, just as converting from RHD to LHD is not a
typical home mechanic project. I doubt if there is any way of putting together
a conversion package which would be economically feasible.
Small order fabrication jobs are extremely expensive, so unless you can combine
the low margin speciality parts with mass produced items to spread the costs
there isn't a way to make the kit price attractive.
Fr instance, we can afford to make low margin on chrome bumper conversion kit
bits if we sell them as a package with bumpers, turn indicators etc.
A dashboard conversion kit would not have the same demand and the majority of
the conversion parts would have to be sourced used and then restored.
Tooling for a stamped metal dash would probably be over $20,000. That is a lot
of money to invest in a controversial project that can be duplicated by
sourcing used components and some fabrication.
Nice thought, but given a parts car and some welding skills, a conversion is
practical as I hope to demonstrate with my MGC GT.
Interesting point BTW. My LHD 1969 MGC appears to have all the body stampings
and firewall mounting points to install a RHD early non-collapsable steering
column assembly. I'm interested to see what the sheetmetal and reinforcements
look like behind the dash. Obviously it has the recessed later pillow dash
cowl, but the other supports may be an amalgam of UK and US spec.
Kelvin.
> And Kevin, with all the constant resurfacing relating
> to this string, have you guys ever thought of having a
> metal dash conversion kit made? Something that would
> either allow the early metal dash to be bolted on to a
> later car, or perhaps a complete new "late" metal
> dash? I can't imagine it would be THAT expensive to
> have them made. And if a complete metal dash
> conversion could be had for under $1000 or so, I'd
> think you'd get a decent amount of takers.
|