Left Side Ignition, converting your dash Options

[McMark]

About a year ago I struck a deal with Pete at Restoration Design to start reproducing the 914-6 dash piece. I gave him a discount on a fuel injection system in trade for the die development costs. He finished these up awhile ago, and they're now available on his web site. But it wasn't until now that I had time to install one. It's a pretty easy process that I'll detail here.

Here's the repalcement piece from RD. I intended the design to be cut apart and not installed as one piece. The idea is that you can mark the lock section and cut it out. And then what you're left with is the new piece and a template to mark the location where the new piece goes. The switch 'bump' and the little notch at the bottom of the dash are the alignment markers. It's not idiot proof though, so measure twice and cut once.

Marking where I want the cuts.


Precision cutoff wheel work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)


Template in place to mark dash for cutting.



More precision surgery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)


Replacement piece fits in the hole.


I TIG welded it, but MIG works fine. Go slow, take brakes. Heat is the enemy.

Grind and smooth to a no-filler needed finish.


All in all, it took me almost exactly 2 hours to install the piece. It's lined up perfectly with the other holes and it's ready for install.

I can do these for $200, send your dash to me and I'll convert it. This one isn't spoken for, but I'm saving first right of refusal for Rob (ConeDodger) since last I heard he wanted a left ignition. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[SixerJ]

Mark 1stly apologies for the hijack. I was thinking of pulling the column parts I have been piecing together for my six & photograph them for posterity with all the talk of column conversions and thought it would be better to keep it with other conversion info

Harpo pinged me the other night to post some info, so here goes

These are the bits that if you are going to do a column conversion you need to get together. The parts in the photo would suit all years except the fact that the early cars (-4 and -6) had the smaller mounting plate fitted to the column tube, if you have a later car and converting a 911 tube, as Mark states, you need to use the later mount plate. If you have an early car you need to fabricate the small mounting plate. I will take dims and post in this thread

Missing from the picture is the steering wheel washer, rubber isolation pad (NLA) that goes between column tube and mounting plate and front column tube bearing, apart from those I think it's all there



There are a number of excellent conversion threads on this site about to go about the conversion. The major hurdles to get it to function and 'look right' (until now) were the upper and lower covers, the eyebrow covers that close the gap to the dash frame itself, ignition bezel (still an issue) and of course Mark's & RD's super hard to hand fabricate ignition dimple. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smiley_notworthy.gif)

I started down the 911 column conversion route while I hunted for genuine used and NOS six parts. Info I have found out along the way through reading the threads and background research;

As others have stated the best way to start is with as a complete 911 column and switches & lock etc as possible, this is definitely the least cost route

Column tube itself is exactly the same as a long wheelbase pre impact bumper 911 unit with the exception of the U shape ignition lock thing. The 914-6 tube has the U shape doodahh welded on 180 out to clear a bolt hole in the small plate - no biggie just makes assembly slightly more fiddly I would imagine. For a later car, I would imagine that there is lots of clearance

If using a later lock, again as members have stated you need to trim down the end of the lock to fit the early column tube, again there are posts with the required dims, but I can't find it right now

Tube spline shaft, rear bearings, horn ring, horn contact, misc fixing screws are all 911 parts. PET however does list the 914-6 front bearing and spring that sits against the bearing as distinctly different part numbers to the 911 parts. The spring in the picture (hard to see as it is from above) is actually 911 item & I have looked at both my 911 tube and complete 914-6 tube and I cannot see an obvious difference in the front bearing

Bearings are still available (super expensive so don't bugger yours up), as is the 914-6 spring (I'm going to order one as it is a low cost item) / have a genuine column and front bearing - just in case. If there is a difference I will update once I have it in my hand

I found by chance that the cheese head screws which mount the ignition switch to the lock and column switches to tube are the same as 2" round electrical conduit box cover screws, this probably helps those in Europe save some dimes, but not US members being generally imperial thread in construction- sorry. Correct finish for screws, washers etc is gold passivate

If you have your original -4 wheel you'll need to purchase the horn cancellation ring / remove the -4 rear assembly. The cancel ring, new horn contact pin is available from SMadre and others

I ran out of power in the phone tonight to document, but 914-6 and 911 wiper switches are basically the same (round 6 connector) and when I pinned them out they also seemed to be electrically the same (only 5 pins used out of the 6).

Direction indicator switch is different, but principally it's the loom - flash function? 914-6 has a single rectangular plug, 911 item has the loom split to two plugs. It really only matters if you have a genuine -6 loom. If converting you would just cut and splice

Part number stamping on the arm is different and only matters if you are being anal and have a genuine car

Splined shaft that mounts up to the rear of the column and over to the rack is also different depending on year and model. The good news is that with the majority of cars being post 72 that shaft is the same part number as a -6. If you have an early -4 you need to acquire the later shaft - which lets face it is not going to be hard

Will post more pics of the switches etc & dims of the small plate tomorrow but also try and get a CAD file sorted by my guy at work (maybe the new year now)

I know you will but, if I'm out of line with any details please step in to correct