RHD Conversion and Repaint?

[thedugmaster]

Hi,

I'm toying with the idea of importing a rust free EB from somewhere hot and dry to have as my daily when I retire, and was wondering what the going rate might be to have one converted to RHD and then prepped and painted inside and out.

Has anyone had something similar done recently, or are there any specialists that people recommend I speak to.

You'll have to forgive my 'noobness', it's been more than 15 years since I had anything air-cooled so I'm totally out of touch with everything these days!

 

[sparkywig]

Good luck with finding any "rust free" buses in the US that are less than £8k now. Hot and dry means not as much rust but everything else has rotted.
To convert a lhd to rhd means having most of a rhd donor bus for parts, and the sliding door will still be on the (wrong) road side.
It will be less hassle and work out cheaper to buy either a restored bus or just get used to driving a left hooker.

 

[thedugmaster]

My last Bay was an Italian flower seller's van that had been converted to RHD (complete with offside slider) so I'm cool with that.

I know it won't be cheap to find and import a decent unmolested example of what I want as I have quite a specific requirement, i.e. pre 72 walkthrough 7 seater deluxe with factory sunroof.

As I say, it'll be our main transport once I retire so will need to be converted to RHD, refreshed steering, brakes and suspension, painted and undersealed throughout, retrimmed and then (ideally) converted to Tesla power.

 

[Clem]

Find a good South African or Australian bus that’s RHD.
A dealer in Devon had a few for sale including a known very nice RHD SA westy. £30k ish , which is easily about what you’d spend repainting and converting a decent US bus.

 

[RichardAlexander]

I drive a left hooker no real problems it’s not like I’m overtaking any one

 

[NigelDenham]

South African or Aussie surely has to be the way to go? RHD already. Convert from LHD and you’ll still have the slider on the wrong side. My friend has the straightest, most original splitty I’ve seen, German built South African.
In the latest series of vintage voltage they put a 300hp Tesla in a splitscreen camper. Clever job, but he budgeted 30k for the conversion, and that wasn’t doing any body or paint (owner wanted the patina)

 

[thedugmaster]

South African or Aussie surely has to be the way to go? RHD already. Convert from LHD and you’ll still have the slider on the wrong side. My friend has the straightest, most original splitty I’ve seen, German built South African.
In the latest series of vintage voltage they put a 300hp Tesla in a splitscreen camper. Clever job, but he budgeted 30k for the conversion, and that wasn’t doing any body or paint (owner wanted the patina)

Where should I be looking to pick something from SA or AU up as the samba site seems primarily to be US or Brazilian buses?

 

[Clem]

Where should I be looking to pick something from SA or AU up as the samba site seems primarily to be US or Brazilian buses?

Resto Haus in Barnstable are advertising a couple of RHD early bays.
I know the green SA westy. It’s very good.

 

[paul_q]

I've just put my 68 RHD conversion up for sale, if you want to convert one get something after mid 69 as the chassis has the pressings for lhd and rhd. Anything earlier needs alot of extra fabrication. Message me if you need any advice.

 

[NigelDenham]

Where should I be looking to pick something from SA or AU up as the samba site seems primarily to be US or Brazilian buses?

Where should I be looking to pick something from SA or AU up as the samba site seems primarily to be US or Brazilian buses?

you‘re going to just have to keep your eyes open, especially if you have set your heart on a deluxe with sunroof, etc. the more particular you are the tougher it may be. I know Bullibarn in Essex has had a few Aussie buses, but I’d ring round as many dealers as possible and ask them to look out for one. You’d get an idea of how likely it is you will get exactly what you want, too. Good luck

 

[neilswheels]

Ive got a rhd pedal cluster if you need one. I was going to do mine, but lhd is actually pretty easy to get used to, so didnt bother.

 

[dubdubz]

the answer to almost all of this is what is your budget...

I would certainly recommend getting a predone bus as someone who has missed out on 5 years of bus driving because its my project to do and I have not had time...although I cant afford £25K+ for a finished thing :-(