[Terry]

Hi, another question, a bit more involved though... I'm using a pair of MQ axles and steering as part of a 4wd conversion on my 1955 Chevy pickup, when converting the Patrol rhd steering set-up to lhd it looks like only the pitman arm and drag link(?) aren't directly reversable... Does anyone have any experience on this...? Thanks

 

[seehuusen]

I have no direct experience, but you should be able to get the LHD steering box from Europe with ease, I'm fairly certain that they used the same setup even on the Spanish 260 Patrols (which were made into the 90s)

Cheers

 

[David_S]

Most of the steering is handed and not transferable - this includes steering box, pitman arm, tie rod ends, and drag link. Relay rod is same, not sure about relay lever.

RHD power steering box looks as if it will fit on LH chassis rail but on inside rather than outside. Pitman arm would need to be turned on spline and/or relay rod shortened.

Easiest solution is probably to go straight to a hi-steer link. You can use either LH or RH PS box and Pitman as you can fabricate the new drag link to the length you require. The RHD tie rod will fit OK as there is no drag link attached so it can fit either way. No relay lever assembly either. I am presently in the process of doing a hi-steer conversion for mine (LHD) so have been looking at the interchangeability of LHD and RHD steering components.

David

 

[neRok]

you can flip the tie-rod around 180 no problems. one of the tie-rod ends has the hole for the drag link to connect to, i think the MQ connects from the front, but now the taper will be around the other way. not really a problem, if your putting new steering box in locate it to suit.

are you using the MQ steering box? fyi- a steering box from a RHD car bolts to the inside of the RH chassis rail.
and i dont think the pitman arms would be different for LHD/RHD, they are straight.

 

[Jelmer160]

Our LHD pitman arms are not straight. They are curved quite a bit. But I'm sure you can use a RHD one.

 

[David_S]

you can flip the tie-rod around 180 no problems. one of the tie-rod ends has the hole for the drag link to connect to, i think the MQ connects from the front, but now the taper will be around the other way. not really a problem, if your putting new steering box in locate it to suit.

Not if you are using the Nissan relay arm system - the drag link will not fit. However, if you are using a drag link direct from the Pitman arm to the tie rod then yes it does not matter which side the taper is on. However I suspect this system would lead to severe bump steer which is why I am going hi-steer.

are you using the MQ steering box? fyi- a steering box from a RHD car bolts to the inside of the RH chassis rail.
and i dont think the pitman arms would be different for LHD/RHD, they are straight.

Nerok, I don't know which model you are referring to but I have both LHD and RHD MQ power steering boxes and pitman arms sitting in my garage at the moment. As Jelmer states the pitman arms are not straight but curved both horizontally and vertically. LHD and RHD are the same but handed. I have never seen a straight arm on an MQ. Similarly both LHD and RHD power steering boxes are the same but handed though this is not clear from the RHD parts book. Both boxes mount on the outside of the respective chassis rail. If I mounted the RHD one on the inside of the RH rail I would have to mount the steering wheel over the front bumper which would be interesting!

With my hi-steer mod I intend using the RHD box mounted on the inside of the LH chassis rail. The flexible coupling will be in approx the same position as the RH box but the pitman arm wil be displaced inwards which should simply mean a shorter tube for the hi-steer arm.

David

 

[neRok]

just checked, box is on outside of rail on RHD as you mentioned, my bad
:withstup:

but my pitman is definitely straight. if you look at it from the top, straight. from the side it is shaped like a Z, so it could be swapped L or R. this is manual steer, didnt know or think that power steer would be different shape.

edit:
gone done some looking on the nissan4u site, got 2 pictures.
http://nissan4u.com/parts/patrol_r/...er_and_steering_transfer_gear/illustration_2/
http://nissan4u.com/parts/patrol_r/...er_and_steering_transfer_gear/illustration_4/
the second is listed as an option, dont know why. the second differs from the first as it doesnt have the damper. both pitman look straight, but my pitmans look the second pic. what do yours look like. photos!?!

 

[Jelmer160]

 

[David_S]

You learn something every day.

Here is the RHD power steering arm. The LHD is the same but handed. The vertical drop appears to be designed to ensure the relay rod is in line with the centre of the steering box spline which makes sense but why it needed to be curved horizontally escapes me. Why not just rotate it on the spline?

Jelmer - do you specialise in rusty trolls?

David

 

[Jelmer160]

@David: Welcome to the salty winters in Holland!!

 

[OldBlindDog]

Jealose about you guys on the other side. Here in Russia and Europe climate is so wet that our cars fall into pile of rust too fast...

Two weeks ago I finished my Y260 body - it just broke into two parts and doors are jammed. Half of it just rust.
Now looking for new body from Europe...

 

[seehuusen]

I'm glad to be in Australia rather than Scandinavia, not only do the cars rust fast, they even spread salt on the roads during winter!!!

The only way I knew how to combat it back then was spraying old engine oil EVERYWHERE once a year, but still not much luck...

 

[Jelmer160]

Not all country's use salt! All the southern country's have alot rust free cars.

 

[OldBlindDog]

...that's why I hope get one from Spain.

 

[Terry]

Hi, many thanks for all your response, i'm new to the forum world and most overwhelmed with the help and knowledge you guys offer... Can anyone put me on to a source for lhd based stuff in Europe, am in UK... Thanks again

 

[mad-marc]

Hi, many thanks for all your response, i'm new to the forum world and most overwhelmed with the help and knowledge you guys offer... Can anyone put me on to a source for lhd based stuff in Europe, am in UK... Thanks again

you could try this link:

4x4 Parts for all Nissan Models - Euro4x4parts.com

 

[Terry]

Thanks for the link Marc, have been in contact with the guys at euro4x4, most helpful indeed but i'm also looking for some kind of breakers yard in mainland europe that's likely to have old lhd patrols, do you know of any such places? kind regards Terry

 

[seehuusen]

Terry, you'd be your own best source of information. You'd have to look into which countries actually has RHD, which is you guys and Ireland?!? possibly some island, is it Teneriffe?? From memory that's it?! (I'm now assuming that you're in the UK, and need RHD not LHD?)

SO... Not much point in looking at places like Germany, France etc...

To be honest mate, you're probably going to find that you need to look into shipping stuff from NZ or Oz

 

[seehuusen]

Japan is still a pretty good source of brand new parts for our old cars as well, but I don't know of a dealer as such

 

[mad-marc]

very few old trols end up on the breakers yard.
Most end up in africa.
And the ones that don't end as mud toys.
But maybe Jelmer knows of a few places.