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MG MGB Technical - RHD-LHD

Hi
Apart from the steering rack what other parts are needed to do a conversion from right to lefthand drive. Is the wiring loom etc different?
Thanks
Tim
Tim

Only one problem, find a LHD dashboard, it is not easy,just the brake line and clutch is different, all the remaining is the same.
A good french site, www2.mgcontact.eu
Regards
michel

WHAT YEAR MGB IS THE DASH BOARD FOR?
Sandy Sanders

Tim, there are some minor differences in the loom, mostly under the dash as all the instruments and wiring for the steering column and switch gear is now on the opposite side of the car. Under the bonnet it's the brake switch wiring that's different at least. I'm not sure of any other changes other than these.
Bill Young

As Sandy says "what year?". Early years had a single main harness behind the dash and in the engine compartment, and these will be very different from RHD to LHD. At some point separate dash harnesses were used - possibly 73/74 for North America and 77 for UK, which would mean the main harness is the same and only the simpler and cheaper dash harness would be different. The LHD harnesses also differed for various markets.

Plus Bill's brake switch wiring, of course, if it has one.

But if you are in France, can you change the car and still get it registered locally? I thought France insisted in crash-testing every departure from the manufacturers original spec? A friend was unable to register his V8 conversion in France for that reason.
Paul Hunt 2

"I thought France insisted in crash-testing every departure from the manufacturers original spec?"

Kind of eliminates the one off models, doesn't it?
David DuBois

paul
all early cars up to early 70s had a left hand loom in and it was doubled back on its self for right hand drive
as the column switches have there own loom it makes no diff as its just conected under the dash
the looms still come out of the same side of the car and the brake light switch is still in the same place so i cant see that been a problem as well
have a look under your dash and you will see what i mean
as the cars always started out as lhd for the us market they just turned the loom for our cars
ste
Ste Brown

If it's a RB car, swapping the steering over is a lot more involved than on a CB car. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Ste

The brake light switch is an issue if it has dual-circuit brakes, as the switch is mounted on the pedal box IIRC.

Tim, I have an early LHD metal dashboard available, if you're interested?

dave(at)o138(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks to all,
My B is a 1970 one piece loom but a previous owner got excited with angle grinder needs to be replaced. It has single ccircuit brakes. As for crash testing in France I have not herd of but have a CT (MOT) for my road car on Monday so will ask them.
Tim
Tim

Single-circuit braking systems on some eras of MGB also have the brake light switch mounted on the pedal box. Because the main harness enters on the right side of the cabin it would make sense for it to be able to reach to the left and so be doubled-back for RHD. I don't remember it on my 73, but then it was 17 years ago, although I can't see it doing that in the rebuild pictures. It became somewhat irrelevant anyway after 67 when the most if not all LHD cars had a significantly different wiring harness to RHD.
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 04/01/2008 and 05/01/2008

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