Ford Escort MK1 Project. LHD to RHD conversion, steering column.

[@article21gdpr]

just want to say thanks bindged watched helping me through sickness leave thank you so much your a genuine guy and so humble

[@DavesGarageuk]

Ah thank you, hope you get we'll soon

[@georgeclements2742]

Just one for the algorithm. Regards.

[@DavesGarageuk]

Fab 👍

[@sandocheese45]

Great work Dave 👏

[@CarlosMendez-hs8yi]

Great video Dave nice to see your work

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks 😊

[@Bigtbuilder]

Your welding has improved since using the gas free wire. I Remember being told as a lad “a grinder and paint make you the welder you ain’t”.

[@DavesGarageuk]

So true 🤣

[@benjohnson7170]

Coming along swimmingly....

[@_Brad_D]

Top work Dave - well done

[@davesadler7103]

On thicker steel I find it best to score along the bend lines with a thin disc,do the bends then weld along the lines

[@TheDaf95xf]

Good evening the gas man working in his man cave lol 😆 You looked very smart in the intro Dave 😀 You wouldn’t believe how much was handed until you did this video 👏🏻

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks 😊😊

[@jamesentwistle8258]

Nice save with the first bracket Dave clever sod

[@robert1016]

Brilliant, love my mk1 escorts, this is going to be a cracker, it will be worth it at the end.

[@philtucker1224]

Mk1 s are the best looking in my opinion 👍

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks Robert 👍

[@robinstewart4729]

great work dave

[@davidgreen7841]

Brilliant bit of fab work there Dave. Its coming on nicely

[@bigsquatchsasfoot1964]

You’d never think things would be so different especially on an Old Ford ! but you learn something everyday I guess . Nice job mate you’d never know you’d converted it now looks factory or close enough 👍

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks 😊😊

[@ModernClassics81]

Nice job on the conversation Dave.👍

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks pal

[@antmk2dreaming614]

i always thought it was just a case of swopping all the brackets and steering over , did not realise everything was handed. good job .

[@grahamlamb3192]

👍 Excellent

[@jimmoore8943]

Lovely job dave

[@hohocc1349]

Plenty of opportunities for a messy bodge there Dave but you've missed them all and accidentally done a really nice job as we've all come to expect! Well done and thanks for the video.

[@DavesGarageuk]

🤣🤣

[@neiljarvis8911]

That was brilliant, I bet that's never been done on video before..... really enjoyed that!

[@russelblackwell6041]

Good on you mate having a real crack I love people who get in and have a go. The lower dash frame is weak where you mount the steering column mounts up, can you brace it up stronger Nice project enjoy your videos stay safe thanks for sharing Dave

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks Russel 😊 it braces back to the bulkhead

[@RobertMorton-bg8cl]

First time commenting Dave. Just wanted to say how much your channel has helped me. I made an impulse buy hoping to relive my youth let many others. A mk1 shell and running gear. After getting it the garage and having a good look at it I could have cried. But after finding your channel I’ve adopted your approach and attitude to working on the project. I’ve made a good start and loving every minute of it.

[@DavesGarageuk]

Hi Robert, thank you fir you kind comment, really am humbled that my bodging about helps others with there projects. 😀

[@bobfrankish8883]

Great job again mate. Well done!

[@Jim_M_75]

Nice job Dave, you made easy work out of that 1.5mm plate bracket.

[@stevemcilroy9518]

Dave, you need one of those laser lines to find centre"s and lines easier. Maybe someone could sponsor one for you for a quick mention. Do Halfords do one?

[@DavesGarageuk]

I completely agree 😊😊

[@cesarairamgonzalezmartin364]

Good job Dave's garage.....if you thinking use a big wheels, I recommend install a electric power steering from opel Corsa B..nicely.. Great job.

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks for the tip!

[@micktuck5377]

Nailed the 1st part off rhd Dave excellent job. Interested to see the scuttle panel chopped

[@patchp009]

Awesome job Dave.

[@stevehalverson4315]

Looking better and better fella, only ever changed a Land Rover rack from left to right and back then it was 7 bolts and a blanking plate moved over to were the column was 😂 good job Dave (still prefer the escort to the manta) pray 🙏🏻 may the rain keep you inside 😂 😂

[@stevehalverson4315]

Ps mind them reach mole grips they can take chunks out ya skull !!!!!

[@DavesGarageuk]

Ha ha, it has started raining today too

[@DavesGarageuk]

Sounds like you've had experience?

[@stevehalverson4315]

@@DavesGarageuk many years ago mate, I wish I had the time and space you have it would all start again 😂 nice one fella

[@stevehalverson4315]

@@DavesGarageuk honestly mate I don’t know wether to laugh or cry 🤷‍♂️

[@philtucker1224]

Excellent work Dave, fascinating watching it come over to RHD, (“the proper side” 😁)

[@DjCeeJayOffical]

Hi Dave, Great work as always, but i think i may have spotted an issue, now if your gonna keep the ignition barrel on the left hand side , then ignore this msg...If your planning on using a Right Hand ignition barrel , then you should of rotated the column its self 180% also, so the steering lock hole is on the RH side....Hope this makes sense...

[@DavesGarageuk]

Well spotted! I did notice this, but then proceeded to forget all about it 🤣🤣🤣, I'm not overly bothered whether the steering lock will work or not tbh, when I come to using the car in about a 1000 years, I'll probably have a wheel clamp to deter the less than human types

[@nealthomas5943]

Nice job Dave I’ve converted my mk2 from lhd to rhd and used the same dash I copied a guy on KZbin usher engineering his daughter works with him I shut the existing hole by welding a plate over it and cut the hole out the other side also moved the heater hole over it’s turned out great 👍👍

[@DavesGarageuk]

I'm thinking ill use the bit I cut out on the right to fill the hole on the left. What can possibly go wrong 🤔

[@nealthomas5943]

I think what I did Dave cut the hole slightly smaller so I could put a return on it, I saw a tip I cut an old Allan key about a couple of inch long and cut a slot into it about halfway through a few mm up on one side you can then put the slot down onto the edge of the hole and slowly bend it over you may already know this I thought it worked great top tip 👍👍

[@michaelthornton5007]

Great informative video Dave, got the same job to do myself so you've saved me some working out. I really appreciate the way you record your thinking process and you don't edit out your process and direction changes as we all do it but some youtuber's are too vein to show it.

[@DavesGarageuk]

Thanks Michael, I appreciate that 😊😊. One thing I've missed is after the bracket is cut off, the column needs to be rotated 180 degrees so the steering lock cutout will be on the right also, if changing the plastic shroud etc. So much involved 😀

[@michaelthornton5007]

Cheers for the extra info 👍🏼 there’s no such thing as a simple job lol

[@stephenarthy6593]

Dave I have been watching your videos for a long time, and you are very talented man keep them coming.

[@DavesGarageuk]

I appreciate that!

[@stephencollins967]

Hi Dave another great video I’m actually learning from watching your videos as I’m currently restoring a mk4 escort Xr3i my self. Do you think you’ll ever revert back too gas welding or do you much prefer gasless?

[@DavesGarageuk]

Hi Steve, thank you 😊, the only thing I don't like about the gasless is the sooty white stuff that's burns off from the flux I guess, but it seems the weld really nicely. I'll go back to co2 of course just to see the difference.

[@ndcm00]

fantastic work as always Dave .....Just wondering if the steering column could have been flipped over if you're going to fit steering lock and barrel. ?? years ago I just found RHD one but given they are in short supply and expensive I like your idea of converting!!!

[@DavesGarageuk]

Yes, I noticed this too late. I think I could have rotated the column by 180 degrees, I'll see how the shroud gubbins fit and revisit that

[@knobon]

Is there a reason why you didn't replace the actual dashboard with one for a right-hand drive car,?

[@philtucker1224]

He said his going to buy a fibreglass version (as there aren’t any spare originals available I believe?)

[@DavesGarageuk]

I'm going to leave the clocks on the left so the passenger has something to do 🤣🤣

[@knobon]

@@DavesGarageuk That would be very funny 🤣🤣, to think we used to buy and scrap these cars back in the day for £30 !

[@GILESMARK1]

Why is there no sound on the last two videos?

[@philtucker1224]

@@GILESMARK1 you’re on mute! 🤣😂

[@themechanic.]

Good vid, and you're making good progress. I have a very similar project on a Mk1 aswell, so it's interesting following your progress. BTW, where's the shroud for your mig torch?

[@neiljarvis8911]

He's removed it because he's using gasless (fluxcored) wire iirc because it gave less distortion and better penetration, while welding the works arches into the front wings but as a benefit, he can weld outside on breezy days on the Manta B project, but I also think he likes it and is getting ready for 2030 ZERO CARBON (NO MAYBE NOT THE LAST BIT!).

[@DavesGarageuk]

Took it off, trying out gasless wire at the moment, works surprisingly well

[@willallen7757]

Did the Escort come from France?

[@DavesGarageuk]

Don't know the origins, I bought it already UK registered, but wherever it came from must be damp as it was ruuusty!

[@TheCitroenman1]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@nealthomas5943]

I’d send some pics but you can’t do that on here doh

[@DavesGarageuk]

Hi Neal, you can send me pics on my Instagram account @daves_garage_youtube

[@billywhizz98]

Great video and masking tape tip I never thought of using before we live and learn I don’t know if you have seen M2 Mitch’s video of converting his mk2 LHD wiper linkage to RHD hers his video of it it’s about 10 minutes into it hope it’s of some help to you kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3WYlpyQosiloZI

[@DavesGarageuk]

Brilliant thank you 😊

[@billywhizz98]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWTMY5SlfZyfY6M More tips