MikeCapon
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 11:43 AM |
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LHD Locost?
Has anyone done this? What particular problems am I likely to find?
Also, and most important will a LHD pas SVA?
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nib1980
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 11:51 AM |
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Yep, it's been done, some builders on here are from europe, so will be able to advise.
biggest issue is getting steering coloum past the Exhaust, (depending on the engine)
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MikeCapon
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 12:12 PM |
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Thanks nib, I want to use a bike motor (1000 GSXR). I guess that makes things more difficult?
As I said though the BIG question is of SVA.
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Howlor
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 12:28 PM |
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I am sure that a BEC would be easier as more room. With regards to SVA it has certainly been done as I am sure that MNR did one for the guy on here
from Portugal.
I think though there was a recent post were they are cracking down on this. I will take a look to see if I can find it.
Steve
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Howlor
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 12:33 PM |
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Yup here it is.
Linky
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Mal
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 12:36 PM |
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LHD
I think that Rally Design sell LHD Escort steering racks.
If you use a Zetec engine, the Westfield exhaust manifold is shaped to allow a steering tube to pass underneath it.
If you use a Ford Sigma SE engine the exhaust is on the right hand side.
Mal
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multanen
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 12:38 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Howlor
I am sure that a BEC would be easier as more room. With regards to SVA it has certainly been done as I am sure that MNR did one for the guy on here
from Portugal.
Steve
Here in Finland cars are usually LHD, but BEC race Locosts are RHD...
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paulf
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 12:59 PM |
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The engine usually is on the left side with a bike engine to allow the prop to line up as it is offset from the engine centre line so may be akward
with a bike engine.A car engine is not a problem if the correct one is selected.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by multanen
quote:
Originally posted by Howlor
I am sure that a BEC would be easier as more room. With regards to SVA it has certainly been done as I am sure that MNR did one for the guy on here
from Portugal.
Steve
Here in Finland cars are usually LHD, but BEC race Locosts are RHD...
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MikeCapon
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 01:06 PM |
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Thank you all for that useful info. I guess that the technical detail (colmn routing etc) will be sortable.
The SVA side of things seems to be a bit more complex, with all the different scenarios. My idea is the following (please note that for the moment
this is hypothetical, handcuffs irritate my wrists).
1 I am a Brit living in France.
2 The french are fine with drink-driving, peeing in the street and home built airplanes but they will not register one-off cars.
3 I still have an address in the UK
4 I build my car, take it to UK, SVA, register and insure it and then use it over here on the UK plates.
If this is do-able my only question is: Will tha SVA accept a LHD? If not I'll have to swap it over!
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Howlor
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 01:07 PM |
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JoaoCaldeira is the guy on here with the R1 engined MNR. I am sure he will be able to give you some info and pics to show how it all fits.
Steve
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Howlor
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 01:09 PM |
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I am sure you could swap it over if you found that you couldn't SVA a LHD car now.
Lots of cars in the past have had RHD conversion kits such as the Integrale so you would just need to inform DVLA of the change after SVA.
Steve
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Howlor
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 01:12 PM |
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Where abouts in France are you as I often drive the route from Geneva to Lyon. I spend a bit of time in St Georges De Reneins.
Steve
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Mave
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 01:15 PM |
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Lots of LH cars have gone through SVA (including mine). No problem at all.
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MikeCapon
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 01:15 PM |
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Hello Steve, I'm in the Rhone valley about halfway between Lyon and Geneva. Village called Lhuis (01680) Call by for a cup of genuine Yorkshire
tea if you're passing!
Thanks Mave, That's the news I was hoping to hear. If anyone else can see any problem with my master plan please shout!
[Edited on 24/1/08 by MikeCapon]
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RazMan
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 01:39 PM |
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It seems to be a growing trend for European cars to come to the UK for SVA, as we are one of the very few countries who allow such vehicles on the
road - Spain, France and Holland won't even think about it and I fear that we will eventually go the same way 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 06:29 PM |
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During my SVA just before Christmas, Byron told me that in 2008 the rules would be changing and that instead of it being a UK SVA it would be
European. At that stage, nobody at his level knew whether the rules would be more or less stringent or indeed what if any chages would be made. He
said that our standards are among the highest in the World.
I asked him if it meant that it would soon be possible to SVA a car in Europe but he did not know the answer.
Watch this space?
John
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robertwa
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 07:20 PM |
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Quite a few LHD BEC locosts over this side of the pond:
LocostUSA
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McLannahan
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| posted on 24/1/08 at 08:46 PM |
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Mike - Will you be able to indefinitely drive a foreign car in France? Would it not need to go through a CT within four years? I don't know this
- just wondered? Once it's SVA/MOT period has expired what's the state of play then?
My mother took her old Carlton (great car) to France but left it insured as a UK car. I'm sure this wasn't legit though as she was
resident in France and not UK!
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MikeCapon
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| posted on 25/1/08 at 07:53 AM |
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Errrr... Good question. There does not seem to be a fixed answer to this one. Some people have said it's a maximum of 6 months, some 1 year. My
point is that no-one actually knows when the car crosses the channel. Providing the car comes back to UK once a year for an MOT then I see no reason
why this could not carry on indefinately. In the event of a pull then the car has only just arrived in France. No way to prove otherwise.
If you do get stopped then you forget how to parler francais. This has happened to me before - Stopped, no licence or log book with me (obligatory in
France) and I almost completely forgot how to speak french. The two policemen then had a discussion in front of me along the lines of "What are
we going to do with this a***hole? I can't be bothered - too much paperwork" They then sent me on my way, no ticket, no nothing. The
hardest thing is avoiding smiling, giggling etc whilst listening to them.
If the worst happens, ie an accident, then providing the UK paperwork is in order and the insurance is valid then this should be no different to a
Brit tourist abroad who's had a bump. Anyone know different?
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lococost
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| posted on 25/1/08 at 12:06 PM |
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hey Mike, putting in a GSXR1000 isn't a problem in LHD. I'm building one atm. The standard sierra steering columb fits fine.
For pics and info look at my blog. (the www button)
[Edited on 25/1/08 by lococost]
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