British v Australian (parts)

[Philliphastings]

Hello, jyst wondering if anyone has compared in detail the similarities between the Australian LP carrier steering box, column and spider.

Off the top of my head I think the top cover of the British Unit is fabricated from thinner steel plate, the three mounting flange holes are evenly spaced as opposed to two 'paired' and one odd on the Aussie version, the steering wheel is thinner in cross section than the Australian.

I guess what I'm asking is - can I fit an LP box and column, and if so what mods will I have to (reluctantly) make in order to fit the LP substitute parts into a British Mk1

Any thoughts Lynn and members of the carrier brains trust ?

Any advice appreciated

Cheers

Phill

[Ben]

Hi Phill

The steering wheels are different in style but should fit fine between types. I also think the column should work between types from what i've seen (waiting to be proved wrong). The steering box is a different story...as you say they are similar but not quite the same, none of the parts interchange. I dont know if a complete assembly would fit but i suggest that it might with only perhaps some very minor adjustments needed to where the steering box fits the armour.

I owe you an email.....

All the best

Ben

[Lynn Eades]

If you use your Brit housing, the Aust carrier internals will fit. The aust box has an offset mount hole.

[Philliphastings]

Thanks Lynn and Ben

What I have is a british steering wheel with an LP column and box. Somehow over the years I mistakenly let my incomplete british steering box go so will have to modify what I have.

I was offered a complete British setup but was slow and missed out.

If it turns out the LP box is too high I can machine a spare top cover down in profile.

Cheers

Phill

[Lynn Eades]

The Aust. Box has an integral mount as part of the housing casting. The Brit. box has a separate bolt on mount. The Brit mount has 3 evenly spaced mounting holes, wheres as the Aust box mount has a gusset cast into it, because of which the center hole is offset.. Basically the Aust box could go in the same place with no middle bolt. The problem is that this is a weak area as the boxes tend to work loose at the three bolts anyhow. (the box tends to react to the wheel movement) There is probably some movement in the hull, which doesn't help (the riveted carriers generally have a self aligning bearing)
I'm not sure, but I think the columns areof different height.
The Aust bearing housing takes a metric bearing (6305?) which is easy to get and cheap, the English/ Canadian brg. is imperial, expensive to buy new, and hard to get. I am not sure about the column diameters where they fit into the bearing.
I do have a bellcrank (not flash) put aside for you.

[Philliphastings]

Thanks for the replies guys

Any chance someone can post up a pic or two of the British Pattern box and column (I definately have the correct wheel, and in hi dsightshould have kept the box and column it was removed from years ago and given back to a WA collector who is sadly no longer in the game)

Alternatively, anyone have a spare gutted Brit pattern steering box spare ?

I've cleaned up an primed the back panel and started restoring the instrument panel in the mean time...

Cheers

Phill