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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: 71TA]
#1306633
09/19/12 01:17 PM
09/19/12 01:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
62maxwgn
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Blair County,PA
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Quote:
Gasket customer was looking for RHD E body gaskets. My wife was dealing with him. Think she said he said it was an Australian car.
What gaskets would be right RHD specific ?? 
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: 62maxwgn]
#1306635
09/19/12 04:48 PM
09/19/12 04:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Quote:
Quote:
Gasket customer was looking for RHD E body gaskets. My wife was dealing with him. Think she said he said it was an Australian car.
What gaskets would be right RHD specific ??
The Australian cars had thier own heater boxes and what not...I have a couple out in the back I could dig out if you were curious, were different ones though depending on the model of car.
Jim...I've never heard of one, maybe someone else has ? 
They never got RHD E bodies in Australia though.
As I mentioned, I would guess it's just a converted car. The mirror conversions done can be pretty good. (They have gotten much better than they used to be.)
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306637
09/19/12 06:19 PM
09/19/12 06:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Gasket customer was looking for RHD E body gaskets. My wife was dealing with him. Think she said he said it was an Australian car.
What gaskets would be right RHD specific ??
The Australian cars had thier own heater boxes and what not...I have a couple out in the back I could dig out if you were curious, were different ones though depending on the model of car.
Jim...I've never heard of one, maybe someone else has ?
They never got RHD E bodies in Australia though.
As I mentioned, I would guess it's just a converted car. The mirror conversions done can be pretty good. (They have gotten much better than they used to be.)
There was a magazine article sometime back that detailed some of the converted RHD E bodies done "down under", Black and white article, IIRC it was in Popular Hotrodding (PHR) back in the early 80's, the shop owner also had a 73/4 Charger RHD with a Daytona wing grafted on,...regarding the article, it focused on how the cars (E body) were converted, pretty informitive article, lots of pics, the guy have custom molds for making a RHD dash and floor console, the article also covered the steering/brake and pedal swap.....I might still have the pages saved in my files, I'll post if I do
Mike
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: moparmike1]
#1306645
09/19/12 08:02 PM
09/19/12 08:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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The way they used to do it.. (A friend of mine has the very first 1968 Charger ever sent to Oz actually, and was the first converted one..) was to just chop up the original dash and just chop and glue, bondo, etc until the got the look they liked, then skin the original chopped up one in vinyl to get the grain in the fiberglass mold. Then just flop them out of the mold, clean them up, and paint.  I've seen it done in person numerous times on Chevy trucks as we did hundreds of RHD conversions on them. The modern way, yet higher price of course is the way the new Camaro we did was done. The original dash is scanned by computer, flipped, then a 3d model is carved out of like styrafoam and the fiberglass mold is done from there. I know a guy who does full volume conversions on new Ford trucks and he ended up going all out and having an OE style plastic dash made in RHD for them which is about the ultimate way to go.. All the steel plates under the dash and for firewall are of course cut out and welded in place.
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306646
09/19/12 08:11 PM
09/19/12 08:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Oh, and as for steering....alot of them used to get Falcon steering boxes (especially for power steering cars) That is what the RHD converted Daytona onebad has, has in it. Now a days alot of guys too just convert to rack and pinion at the same time as well. FWIW, here is the engine bay showing the brakes moved over on a Satellite convertible a buddy owns..this car went to Oz in the early 80's from memory and was converted back then.  And while I have the pics handy..  here was a truck I had over here for a while. '72 Chevy C10 step side...we had shipped it to Oz, got converted, sold, taken back in trade, and we shipped it back here for the heck of it. 
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306647
09/19/12 08:19 PM
09/19/12 08:19 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,839
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Can...
moparmike1
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Quote:
The way they used to do it.. (A friend of mine has the very first 1968 Charger ever sent to Oz actually, and was the first converted one..) was to just chop up the original dash and just chop and glue, bondo, etc until the got the look they liked, then skin the original chopped up one in vinyl to get the grain in the fiberglass mold.
Then just flop them out of the mold, clean them up, and paint.
I've seen it done in person numerous times on Chevy trucks as we did hundreds of RHD conversions on them.
The modern way, yet higher price of course is the way the new Camaro we did was done. The original dash is scanned by computer, flipped, then a 3d model is carved out of like styrafoam and the fiberglass mold is done from there.
I know a guy who does full volume conversions on new Ford trucks and he ended up going all out and having an OE style plastic dash made in RHD for them which is about the ultimate way to go..
All the steel plates under the dash and for firewall are of course cut out and welded in place.
Thanks for explaining!
So, Ford doesn't sell new F150s in Australia? I always thought Ford was dominant there.
Mike.
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306649
09/19/12 08:30 PM
09/19/12 08:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Here is a VJ Valiant dash by the way I've got laying around.. I've seen these modified and used in some US as well for guys who didn't want to spend the money on a proper "conversion" dash. (The VH dashes were nicer I think, not the large cluster sort of look like these..)   And for the curious...he is a factory VJ (and VH/VK are similar) firewall from a car I had parted out years ago.. 
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306650
09/19/12 10:27 PM
09/19/12 10:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,839
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Can...
moparmike1
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Quote:
No, there are no full size trucks sold there... Ford and GM have the ute though, which is extremely popular.
People wanting US Ford or Chevy (and Dodge) trucks have to buy from a place that converts them.
Same as back with the B and E bodies (or US A bodies) if you wanted one...you had an importer bring one over and it was converted to RHD.
(Now a days you don't have to convert the older cars, but people still do in some cases)
Do you know why full size trucks aren't sold there?
Mike.
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: moparmike1]
#1306651
09/19/12 10:34 PM
09/19/12 10:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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GM and Ford have both tried it at various times, but just never went over well enough and enough sales to keep at it I think. They have just been a country of utes I think and that is what people are used too...aside from people who want a larger truck that is. And in the cities (where most people are) parking in a large truck can be hard at times. Sorry for the highjack Jim...but figure the best bet would be to have the guy take pictures of what ever the car has in it that he is chasing so you can see if it's a modified original US piece or an adapted Australian piece even..
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: 71TA]
#1306653
09/20/12 12:04 AM
09/20/12 12:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,431
Warren, MI
71TA
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Warren, MI
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Found this online in a forumregarding the Ranger. They won't sell it here so they don't canibalize there F150 sales. I cant understand why USA is the only country in the world that won't get the diesel ranger Here's a conversion for you (out here you gotta be bilingual when it comes to measurements) 147 kw = 197hp 470nm = 346ft/lb Here is a dealer rrp for the outgoing model - i would imagine the pricing wouldn't be too far away from this for the 2012 models 2WD XLT Double Cab WellsideRRP From $48,034Nzd = about 36k in US $$ 3.0L turbo diesel engine 5 speed manual – Heavy duty or 5 speed automatic ( RRP From $50,079) Shown with optional running boards and alloy sports bar And here is a bloke who seems to be particulary upset that he won't be able to get his mitts on a diesel ranger anytime soon. http://featured.matternetwork.com/20...bal-diesel.cfm Ford has already built the savior of the small truck market though, and it’s the new global Ford Ranger. This diesel pickup being marketed and sold in all the Blue Oval’s other markets (188 other countries in total) except America. Ford claims it is because the new Ranger is only 10 percent smaller than the F-150, and it doesn’t sell the F-150 anywhere else in the world. So what? This new Ranger has two diesel engine options; a 2.2 liter four-cylinder with 276 ft-lbs of torque, and a 3.2 five-cylinder with 346 ft-lbs of torque. For those keeping score at home, the bigger diesel engine is nearly as powerful as Ford’s much-touted EcoBoost V6, but with one less cylinder and, in all likelihood, much better gas mileage. That’s enough torque to tow a train. Why can’t we have that?
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: 71TA]
#1306654
09/20/12 12:19 AM
09/20/12 12:19 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Quote:
No problem on the hijack. Great info.
2 things;
- looks like a mirror imaged A body heater box there in your Australian A body dash photo
- and I read a while back Ford made a 4 door diesel Ranger for the Australian market that looked a great idea for OUR market. I always wondered why they didn't bring it to the US. Has again 4 door, a decent towing capacity AND got like 30 or 35mpg!
PS On the RHD drive conversions, do they RE-offset the motors to the left? Cause the us cars are offset to the right. If not it would be VERY tight on the RH side. By the way why do we offset to the right. To allow room for the brake booster and steering box or to compensate for the added weight of the booster and steering box or both?
I can take some pictures of the heater box for you tomorrow...I have a couple of them actually. (They are in my back little shed and it's pitch black out there now and the spiders might get me.  )
Yep, they did have some of the mid sized trucks, lots of toyota's and nissan's, but the Ford too...not sure if it was the same sort of Ranger as our's or not off hand...never really saw a ton of them there from memory.
Loads of diesel Landcruisers and Patrols all over the place though too.
As for moving the engine over..my buddy with the 440 powered Satellite I showed above (with the dual quad on it) has the engine in the original position..it is tight around the steering box but it's in there. He is the same guy with the '68 Charger R/T. It's a original 440 car, but in the early 70's had a Hemi in it for a while...not sure if they move the engine around a little or not for exhaust room.
He is putting a Hemi into it again (or it might go in the Satellite for a while..) but he'll use a rack and pinion so no big deal for steering at least.
The V8 Aussie Valiants (small blocks only they used) had an offset brake booster that moved it aside to give some extra room.
Oh, and also keep in mind..the Aussie steering boxes mount to the frame rails, not the K frame and where smaller in size..so had more room as it is.
Oh, and another thing..the V8 cars had to use a remote oil filter from the factory as well, since there was no room for it on the block with where the steering box goes.
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: 71TA]
#1306655
09/20/12 12:24 AM
09/20/12 12:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Quote:
I cant understand why USA is the only country in the world that won't get the diesel ranger
I think it's a shame we don't get quite a few of the vehicles out there.
The Aussie Utes would go over pretty well too I think. The Holdens (I prefer  ) and the Fords have a wide range of utes and the top of the line ones are quite quick as well.
Ford in Australia kept with the inline 6 engine design all along too...the turbo, twin cam ones in the later cars have huge boat loads of torque and pretty quick for what they are as well. (for a Ford  )
The utes are car sized as well, so easy to park and manuver any where. They do tray version as well which are very popular for shop run-around vehicles, etc.
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: 71TA]
#1306656
09/20/12 12:33 AM
09/20/12 12:33 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Oh, and back on the heater box stuff...the earlier Valiants had a different style. The VH/J/K had the blower motor poking through the firewall, the earlier ones had a version with the motor under the dash.
When they came out with the six-pack Aussie VH Chargers, The rear carb would have been too close to the standard VH blower motor, so they made a block off plate for the firewall and used an earlier model heater box.
My old Charger had a factory block off plate on it actually, but I just no heater at all. (I had to make mounts for it, since it normally used the mounting studs from the heater box going through the firewall.)
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306658
09/20/12 06:23 PM
09/20/12 06:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Actually from memory, that is out of the car I parted out above that the firewall picture is of, and I have the dash out of. Plenty of spares even though I don't have the Charger any more (or even had a VJ model for that matter..)
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: 71TA]
#1306660
09/20/12 07:44 PM
09/20/12 07:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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I have another, it's the same though.. (I thought I had an earlier one too..VE model, but nope.  ) What parts look home made to you ? Australia never had the volume of production we had remember, so some stuff might look home made as it is. But what parts stand out to you ?
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306661
09/20/12 09:35 PM
09/20/12 09:35 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,464
Sydney,Australia
tex013
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the biggest issue with selling US cars is the price.when you are paying close to $100'000 for a converted late model truck,$100'000 plus for a GT Mustang and more for the corvette,camaro,challenger. Holden did do C20 chev's as factory RHdrive in the mid late 70's.Mustangs were also done in the 60's and early 2000's,by the factory here,the motor was offset to the left and a Festiva (?) rack used.Price and ultimately lack of interest killed the mustang sales.To many people here are hung up on driveing overpowered taxi's. Tex
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Power by Tex's Automotive
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: tex013]
#1306664
09/20/12 10:24 PM
09/20/12 10:24 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 612
Nampa, ID
None2Slow
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Nampa, ID
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Isn't the ute just like the old ElCaminos and Rancheros? 1 reason they are reluctant to bring these smaller Diesel powered trucks, and for that matter Diesel cars is that they are Diesel. Us ugly americans still have not realized the benefit of diesel fuel. Could you imagine a Prius hybrid with a diesel engine? Or the Volt or any of the small displacement cars. The Geo Metros of the late 80's and 90's would get 40+mpg back then. Now to drop in a 3cyl turbo diesel you should be able to see 60mpg pretty easy. But, we as Americans can't get past the stereotype that they are dirty, smokey slow engines that only belong in Tractor/ trailers. Little do they know. Ohh and last APril I went to Amsterdam with the wife and co-workers. 1 of the guys inquired about the 300C taxi we were in. He started to argue that Chrysler never put a diesel in the 300c and that he must of had it done. I had to remind him that the world does not revolve around the US and that in other parts of the world, where fuel is expensive, diesel is the way to go. ohh well, some people... 
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: BulletBob]
#1306665
09/20/12 10:28 PM
09/20/12 10:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
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Quote:
There's a guy who works in the management team at a Northrop-Gruman shipyard in Mississippi that drives a triple white 67 Barracuda vert to work sometimes he says
His RHD A-body he said was factory & looked it.
He said that he owns a B5 notchback factory built RHD to go with the vert too
I met him at "Cruising the Coast" a few years back
Yes, I have seen pictures of RHD A body Barracudas as well, they went to England from what I remember ?
(They used steering linkage from Australian models..)
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Re: How many RHD Mopars were made?
[Re: OzHemi]
#1306666
09/21/12 12:40 AM
09/21/12 12:40 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,095
Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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Valencia, España
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Did Aussie Chargers get the same consoles ? if not HOW THE HELL DID THEY MAKE THE RHD CONSOLE ?
I guess there are manufacturers or industries who simply makes that kind of stuff, to make them ON THE RIGHT WAY!!!
With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
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