I got a 37 chev, and the right hand drive components are gone, O yeah and its originally a right hand drive. I would like to keep it that way, Can anyone tell me the differance on the boxes, has anyone ever updated to a newer P/S right hand drive, or a right hand drive rack. Maybe some of you HAMBers not from the states can shed some light on this. And please Haters dont chime in, I did the HAMB search's and came up with very little info, and the links arent helping either. I even went to the 40 sloper page, and the 37 chev page. Great info but not on the technical. Thanks, fella's any bit of info will be enjoyed..
Is it possible that that the right hand steer car uses the same box? Logic says the action (on a cross steer car)should be the same--the pitman arm waves back and forth in a left to right direction. The mount would be the big question.
Some one nova clipped the frame on the car uuuggghly. So I have nothing to go by. I know the straight axle and independent are the same basic theory like you say. I have a stock 37 frame to put it back on and keep it right hand, even if modified with better steering.
37 pitman arm runs pararell to the frame not cross steer like a ford. i put a must 11 under a rh 39 a few years ago dont know what became of the box but ill ask the owner if he remembers any thing.
Can't talk about a 37, but I did a RHD conversion on my 54. Was a while back, these days you can register a LHD drive car down under so most folks don't bother anymore. Most of my donor parts were from a 52, so I'll throw in some comments on them too, as they may relate to the 37, mebbe not. Key differences (on the 54 anyhoo) were: Steering box: you need a RHD drive unit. If the 37 has a bellcrank like the 54, you'll need one of those too. Steering arms are different as well Gearbox: unless you go floor shift, you need a set of shafts and linkages that mounts under the box to put the selector input shafts on the right hand side of the box. On the 54, the shafts mount to the bottom of the box. On the 52, its underneath, but mounts from the top by a pair of real big saddle clamps that go over the box, so Im guessing the 37 might be the same. The selector shafts that go under the box mount slightly to the rear of the existing gear selectors, so the shafts from the steering column need to be slightly longer. On the 54 they are just longer, on the 52, there is a pair of bellcranks (ugh) half way down the ch***is to allow for the longer reach and different body style. Master cylinder mount: to mount the MC on the right (on the 49-54 anyhow) there is a small triangular shaped mounting plate that needs to be riveted/bolted to the ch***is to allow the M/C to be mounted on the right. Prolly an easy fab Handbrake: your can swap over most of your handbrake stuff, but on the 54, the RHD ebrake is cable from under the dash so you'll need one of them - the arm that mounts under the crossmember is different too. easy fab, or you can go aftermarket ***y Throttle: unless you go cable, the factory RHD throttle linkage goes from under the RHD pedal across to the left till clears the inner fender. Then it goes up to the top of the firewall and across to the left hand side of the engine. Instead of pushing up from the bottom in the LHD units, it pulls up from the top. Prolly a ****ty description, I can send pics if needs be Guages: only h***le I had was the capillary for the the stock temp guage was not long enough to reach the other side of the engine. Had to get an aftermarket unit and swap the guts over. Not a hard job and looks the part. On the 54, the inner fenders are different to allow for the cut out for the steering box. Most guys just take some tin snips to the right side, but it leaves you with a hole on the left.The left side vent tube is different too - dunno why Some Holden parts interchange, you might try http://holdenpaedia.oldholden.com/Main_Page or mebbe the aussie chevy club http://www.chevcarclubvic.org.au/ I didn't need em, but they might help you. I hope this helps. Its been a while, so if I've forgotten anything, blame that snake juice I've been drinkin'
I've got a good steering setup that I probably won't be using incl steering wheel. Weighty item to send OS, but I could be talked out of it.
I've prolly got some o that fiddy 2 stuff hanging around as well.... You'd want to double check before shipping, coz freight's gunna make your eyes water. I recently bought some rough belair caps from everyones favourite auction site. By the time I got em' down under, freight and exchange had tripled the price!
This car is so cool, it deserves to be right hand drive again, Thanks for all the info so far. I am looking into a rack and pinion that will reverse from side to side. And I found out that the 37 has alot of one off stuff being a coach coupe. I did find that the steering parts are 37 to 40 depending on it being a master or standard. What do you guys think it would cost to ship a steering column/box to the US? If any of you australian fella's need a particular car part let me know, I run across alot of cheep stuff. PM me with a wish list.
sign up to........http://www.ozrodders.com/board/index.php stacks of 37 stuff going on. I have a 37 right hook heading to SF soon?......... maybe chuck in the parts you need. pm me. t
Kustchops I would look at an old dj5 US mail jeep as they used a saginaw box with a nice pitman arm and they have a bolt on mounting plate that can be fabricated to fit an early chevy top hat frame. I am using this same setup on my 1935 International woody wagon
I never thought of mail jeeps, I even know where I can look at one. Cut off a 37 column, bush and joint it.. Hmmmm
one thing to consider... when your in a left hand turn lane, and a car giong the opposing direction is also in their left hand turn lane, it is pretty much impossible to see around them to know if you can go or not from the right hand side of the car. just a thought... i suppose you could utilize a p***ing eye mirror on the left side to eliminate that problem.
This is my brother's aussie ( Perth build ) standard '37. Stock RHD mechanically. I'll try to shoot some relevant pics.
Pics would be cool, Its strange that its so hard to find pics or diagrams. I wont have pics of mine till I bring it home is a few weeks. Its a 37 sloper coupe, rare in numbers, like 207 made. Of course low production doesnt always make something worth alot.
My oldman has 35 master sloper, with those ugly knees. We are going to put a Holden LH Torana front end it has a rack and disc brakes, I just have to change the five stud patten to the six stud, this may be hard for you to get this front end. Dad does have alot of information on slopers if you intrested, just PM me.
The sloper's share the front sheetmetal, with a differant hood side, but the cowl and door dont have the 37/38 dogleg in the door. I havent seen what mine is missing, I hope there is a filler panel between the fender and cowl. I dig the hood sides, I posted of pic of a HAMBers 37 ute for comparison. Look at the door to cowl to fender area!!
Like suggested, look at the Mail Jeeps. The box mounts way out front, but is made with a mirror image flange to fit the right side rail. I had one that a friend used to convert a Monte Carlo lowrider to RHD for a customer. Even bolted up to the hole in the center link. It is designed for cross steer.
drove RHD Jeep daily for 14 yrs, good luck. it's not your driving abilities, its the ***holes that tend to stare and crash into you... don't ask how I know.. actually it doesn't take long to learn. one point though when on a 4 lane highway or 2 lane for that matter be extra carful when you go to p*** it can be downright dangerous.
Here's my RHD 37, let me know if you want some close-ups of the steering set-up. I was looking at replacing the steering box, and the Toyota Forerunner is pretty close( don't know what they call them in the states). As for driving an opposite (RHD) car on your roads, you get used to it quick. I've been driving a LHD car on the left side over here for 12 years and never had a problem (it's kinda neat getting out on the sidewalk side too).
I gotta say that aussie slopers are pretty cool. My fave is the 40 Ford, much nicer lines than the US model IMHO. Thanks for not flaming my dumb *** over the column shift stuff Are you going to run a manual? You'll need to think about the clutch if so.
Here is my 37 with no front panels. I'd get you some better pics, but its 300Km from me at the moment.
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