MX5 chassis build for left side driver

[rafi]

Hi,
Pretty new to the forum, and picked up the books to start a Miata MX5 based build here in the states. I was planning on using Gibbs plans with amendments from Saturn Sports Cars for fitting the Miata components.
My question is this: If my steering wheel is going on the left side of the car, do I just assume that I should build a mirror image of whats it in the book? ie. will I run into issues of fitting the transmission if the U6 and U7 chassis members are switched?
Thanks,
-Raphael

[voucht]

Hi Rafi,

Welcome on the forum.

I built a LHD chassis too, as I live in Sweden. And yes, at least for the "book" chassis (Ford Sierra based), I just built a "mirror" image of it. I don't know why with the MX-5 amendments is would be any different., so I think this is the way to do it.

There are "official" book amendment instructions for LHD on the "book amendments and extra guides" section of this forum. Check the other ones too, they are quite useful.

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=2430

IIRC, the only things to swap are the steering wheel support, U7 and U8 (otherwise you won't have a lot of room for your feet and a pedal box), and the front part of the transmission tunnel which matches with U7 and U8 position.

We are a few guys building a LHD, check the location of the members, anyone who is not in the UK or in Australia drives on the "right" side of the road. There are a couple of guys building the Roadster in the US too you might get in touch with. One of them is StruveD, and he is doing a very fine build in my opinion. You are not really neighbours though, it is a big country

Do not hesitate to ask questions on the forum, it is full of very nice, competent (not talking about me!) and helpful people who will be happy to help. I wouldn't have done half of what I did on the car without the help of the forum members. And please, post pictures as soon as you've started!

Good luck

[PorkChop]

The front part of the chassis and suspension pickups are the same regardless of if it's Sierra or SSC MX-5.

StruveD used a modified LHD Miata rack, in the UK you would used a Ford Escort mark 2 rack.

[alga]

voucht and I can confirm that mirroring works for a Sierra chasiss. The asymmetry of the chassis is localised to the footwells and front of the transmission tunnel anyway. And LHD Sierras have the clutch fork and starter motor positions mirrored compared to RHD Sierras. This does not necessarily appy to MX-5's though. My advice to you is to build the chassis and leave the gearbox part of the tranny tunnel until you can mock it up with the gearbox in place.