RHD conversion steering box question
 

I am working on doing a RHD swap on my 72 super and have found a source in Austrailia for the parts and was wondering if a 73 steering box will fit my 72? i know 73 was a change over year in which the later cars had the 2 bolt struts but i have also read that the rack and pinion came out in 73 and that all the steering boxes are the same from 71-73.5 untill the r+p replaced the boxes.

if your going to the hassle of swapping over to right hand drive why not get a rack and pinion? only need to weld in some captive nuts in the chassis rails and a few clearance mods.but as your going lhd to rhd your gonna have to mod the bulkhead anyways

what frame head mods are you eferring to? according to the haynes restoration manual the only mods needed are a hole for the pedal assembly and the rod for the master cylinder. The steering boxes and idler arm are direct bolt ons from side to side according to the manual.

surely you must have to cut a hole for the steering coloum? and mounts for it? oh hang on, its a 1302 so different bulkhead to what i'm thinking of:o .

LOL yeah i forgot about the column holes to but thats probally the easy part

Rhd
 

I have a 66 RHD in Thailand that I am using for a GL Speedster donor with tube frame and rack and pinion A-arm front suspension.
As such I do not need any of the Beetle bits including steering and dash

You are welcome to them for a round of amber liquid if ever in Chiangmai, but shipping will be the expense.

Robert

if the steering box is twice the price of the standard one you have the right one, mainly because it was only a 2 year item on only the 1302 they are bloody expensive

Hi

The same steering box was used on RHD supers from 71 - 74.

Steve

hoghead, thanks for the offer but a 66 standard would be the wrong parts for my car.

SteveC, that is the answer i was looking for since i did not know the exact year that the boxes were interchangable. I assume in 75 is when the r&p came out and a steering box was no longer used?

And would you know if the pitman arm attached to the steering box is RHD/LHD specific as i will be needing one for a RHD if they are RHD specific. I know the idler is RHD and i have that on the way.

If you're not in a really big hurry I am planning on removing the whole front suspension off of my 73 RHD 1303.
I will be using it as a body donor for my 75 and plan on keeping the R&P from the 75 and putting on the 73 body so I have no need for the 73 bits and pieces they can be yours if you pay for the shipping (I only have access to US Postal).
Problem is I won't be able to get to it till sometime in July

I sent you a PM

This conversion is covered in lindsay porters book ,A guide to purchase and diy restoration published by Haynes.You have to cut a hole for the master cylinder/Cut hole for pedal assembly/add mounting plate for pedals/swap steering column support ,you can de spot weld the old one .Install the dash support/Drill holes for column.

I have that book and it has been very helpfull with the swap and the gathering of the parts