RHD Model A differences

Stick Shift

Stick Shift

Member
I was up at the Roadsters swap in MN last weekend and got talking to a Model A guy. He mentioned changing over a RHD A to LHD. I have only seen a few but never looked them over. I was wondering what the differences are between the two or how much work to convert. Thanks
 
http://www.mafca.com/ref_books.html

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The Right Hand Drive Book the Model "A" Pickup
By Les Pearson. This book describes the differences between the Left Hand Drive Model 'A' Ford (1928 to 1931) and the Right Hand Drive version, showing lots of colored pictures and technical descriptions.
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I converted my A400 from LHD to RHD. It's a huge job to do right. Your better off buying which side you want. The amount of work all depends on what year/body style your doing. For example, a rhd gas tank is sort of hard to find here in the states. I have Les's rhd book. It's great. I have it on cd. Not sure it ever went into actuall print.
 
I have it too.

It's called a "booklet" in the descriptions I saw, as it isn't a large book, but it is very detailed and has lots of pictures. I certainly think anyone with a RHD or canadian car should consider it essential, if you are a "detail" person, like I am!
 
I have a 1930 RHD Fordor.
Some differences I can think of straight away:
Bellhousing
Pedals - round pads and a centre throttle
Brake light switch
Inlet manifold
Petrol/gas tank
Steering box
Gearbox top (handbrake on other side)
Brake cross shafts
Wiring loom

Always interested in redundant RHD parts though!
 
A few more items for Fils list;
starter lever for rear of engine,
steering arms, pitman arm, & drag link
It 's not such a big job if you have all the parts at hand
probably easier to go from right to left hand drive as there are more good LHD parts around

Ps fil we like bluegrass to !!! hope to catch up with you one day

John Cochran
 
I wouldn't bother converting them. I've driven LHD Model A's (and other vintage makes) on our RHD roads in New Zealand and enjoyed driving them You can get well over to (in our case) the left out of the traffic stream. The only issue is passing someone and how often do we do that anyway? Karl
 
I have a RHD chassis that I am converting to LHD. Missing the steering column, exhaust manifold, gas linkages so figured I'm better off.

In addition to the parts listed already I am pretty sure the brake cross shaft and parking brake shafts are different.

Once I get the chassis blown apart this winter I will have some RHD parts avail.
 
The frame on my 28 rpu was drilled for either LHD or RHD. Is this common to the early vehicles? My Vicky is only LHD and from what i remember both my 30 coupe and 30 wagon were only drilled for LHD.
 
Thanks everyone for all the info. The book/booklet looks like something I will be looking for. I have seen more open cars RHD I think than any thing else. I am guessing the phaetons were imported years ago because of the demand for them. I never really took into consideration that there was so many different pieces. Hmmmm I think I will be on the lookout for one now. Or at least parts. lol
 
Part of the demand for the Pheatons was the fact that they were the cheapest body style to produce
. A lot of foreign countries charged a high tax on imported cars and they may well have been the only ones that were afordable.
Another reason would be that some were sent out in knocked down wooden crates for assembly at the destination . You could squeeze a lot more Phaeton bodies in a ships hold than Sedan bodies.
Of course the exception to the rule is the 180 a which wasn't cheap but quite a few were sold in South America maybe they were not selling in the USA so were sent there

If you decide to buy one from South America be aware that many have a nice paint job over very worn out mechanics after many thousand' s of miles of use!!!

I have been told if it will out run a Donkey they will use it!!!!!

John Cochran
PS dont get me wrong I like phaetons allways wanted one myself
 
Stick Shift said:
Thanks everyone for all the info. The book/booklet looks like something I will be looking for. I have seen more open cars RHD I think than any thing else. I am guessing the phaetons were imported years ago because of the demand for them. I never really took into consideration that there was so many different pieces. Hmmmm I think I will be on the lookout for one now. Or at least parts. lol
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In Australia, the phaeton and roadster bodies were local production and the closed bodies were imports.
 
I saw an Australian ad for a phaeton. Something crazy like a "sport phaeton"? I think it was in the restorer. Had a two tone interior and a few other wild things. Are those being restored still down under?
 
Arlen said:
I saw an Australian ad for a phaeton. Something crazy like a "sport phaeton"? I think it was in the restorer. Had a two tone interior and a few other wild things. Are those being restored still down under?
Click to expand...
The sport phaeton had nickled windscreen stauncheons, wind wings, and a wider choice of paint schemes, including coloured mudguards and coloured wheels.
 
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