 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Steering swap, RHD to LHD |
 
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5765   
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Evening all, been a while. Good to be back.
Quick question. I’m thinking of doing an engine and gearbox swap at some point (M57 transplant) and I was wondering if that would be a good, and (relatively speaking) cost effective time to swap my steering from RHD to LHD? I’m likely never coming back to the UK, the DCPU is certainly a keeper, and in mechanical terms, the engine and a lot of running gear will have been stripped out. For those that do t know, it’s a 2011 2.4, so has the new dash. But sourcing parts aside, I’m thinking this would be a good time to do it, and a fairly straightforward process. Any thoughts?  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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17th May 2023 5:21pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1727 
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All things are possible and that would be relatively easy - good luck registering it and insuring it unless you're a motor trader / garage on the side!
Keith |
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17th May 2023 5:47pm |
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| trevorg Member Since: 28 May 2022 Location: Aisne Posts: 42 
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The drivers footwell is around 10cms narrower on a lhd than on a rhd which makes it a bit more awkward getting your foot on the go faster pedal, other than that it makes sense making the change for ease of driving on the correct side of the road here in France.
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17th May 2023 7:59pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4388 
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You can understand why converting to an auto box might be a good idea in a LHD Defender. At the very least it would free up some space for a big footed bloke
Will at LR Workshop did a great video on what needs changing https://youtu.be/V7z1r6JDa8s There is more than you think... |
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17th May 2023 8:05pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1727
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So nobody would notice a BMW M57 6 cylinder engine and box? Especially a gendarme in an asthmatic Dacia who couldn't keep up on a mountain pass.....
A guy in the next village has a very tidy 205 diesel van, recently put the seats, alloys and bumpers off a GTI on it - CT refused to test it, everything else was standard. Every seriously modified vehicle I've come across here in France has been owned by a 'specialist' garage, and insured under some blanket policy that covers prototypes. HTH Keith |
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17th May 2023 8:10pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4388
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There is also this thread as well https://www.defender2.net/forum/post831062.html
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17th May 2023 8:11pm |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5765
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Thanks all. Good to hear it did make sense.
With regard to French bureaucracy, it is a bit of a minefield, I’d agree. Car is already fully registered here in France. With regard to making changes/modifications, I’ve spoken at length to out local Indie (absolute Def nut, owns 30, does over landing, trails etc), and he’s got a 3l DCPU. In essence, it’s very difficult to change things on a French car if it’s a. Not needed or b. Doesn’t make any noticeable improvement to the vehicle from a safety perspective or c. Makes a dramatic difference to the stock version of the vehicle whether yours or other versions of your model. But most people think you can’t change ANYTHING as we can in the UK, so simply don’t bother. And then of course there’s the paperwork and ‘fonctionnaires’ (French civil servant) who make life a complete chore and puts people off. But with regard to the job I mentioned, I’d start backwards and use the RHD to LHD swap as the ‘safety’ reason for the change. With regard to the auto box, I’ve got a slightly chronic back/hamstring/hip problem. It’s actually caused more by problems from military days, muscle tears etc, but physio has said that my driving position and vehicle type will in no way be allowing me to get on top of resolving it from chronic to occasional problem. And this is down to clutching and rotational twisting in my lumbar region. With this in mind I’d get a Dr and Physio letter (Drs in France happily dish out letters for any complaint or ailment) and claim that the need for the auto box is for medical reasons. No idea if they’ll buy it. As for the engine swap, apparently (according to the LR Indie guy) you CAN engine swap in France as long as you don’t change fuel types. So I’d never be able to pop in a V8, but the M/N57 is entirely viable. Further, I’d argue with the authorities that it is more efficient and cost effective to use the auto with the M/N57, from a LHD Beemer, than adding a completely separate auto (for example Ashcroft) and adding it to a RHD 2.4. with all associated RHD ancils. BS I know, but heh, I work in sales and have to think of all the angles. But in general, Def guy thinks it is possible, and that while the Homologation Dept might huff, puff and shrug initially, that they’d likely allow it. Further, the car will not be dramatically different from other stock defenders over the years, as others have come with auto boxes, come in KHD variants and have obviously had a huge variety of engine types/capacities over the years. What I’m clearly not doing is adapting it like the Kahn 6-wheeler, nor am i asking for a shed or sofa to be made road legal. A long term plan, but all in all good to know that the RHD to LHD swap, at the time I do an engine transplant, would be a good time. The whole job could dramatically change usage over here. Monsieur Le Grenadier I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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18th May 2023 8:51am |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1965
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Or just buy a LHD and save yourself a load of hassle?!
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18th May 2023 9:04am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5765
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True.
Reality is though, that I’d probably want to do a swap whatever, so the LHD bit is a little bit extra, not the main event. With the price point of Defs in France, the fact that mine is registered here, the stuff I’ve added to it (which often isn’t recouped, such as Recaros etc), and the fact that 110DCPUs are really rare here, it’s actually probably less hassle and cost swapping the engine/box and making it LHD, than returning it to the UK, re registering it, selling it, sourcing a new LHD vehicle and then doing the auto/N57 swap anyway. Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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18th May 2023 9:49am |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1965
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Wowser, that's hard to get your head around. I saw this earlier and thought of you.....a 2008 110 CSW with only 4k miles on due to living out in the Alps and simply being used to drive from home to resort a few times each winter. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334850132411?ha...R_6K8t6FYg
Bit pricey for me but looks well cared for. |
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18th May 2023 10:10am |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4388
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And that is a RHD as well
 Not the most expensive I have seen. There is a Twisted 110 on eBay for 115k |
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18th May 2023 11:08am |
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| Linds Hanson Member Since: 16 Jan 2021 Location: Cornwall Posts: 433
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Good luck finding any LHD bits are American friends are buying everything up!
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18th May 2023 3:04pm |
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| Linds Hanson Member Since: 16 Jan 2021 Location: Cornwall Posts: 433
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Good luck finding any LHD bits are American friends are buying everything up!
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18th May 2023 3:05pm |
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