WTB 1948 Right Hand Drive Dashboard Parts

[Whit Otis, 1188]

OK all you guys down under.  Does anyone have a '48 they are parting out?  Would like to buy the Right Hand Drive section of the dashboard that holds the instrument pod.... might also be interested in the instrument pod as well.
Thanks
Whit Otis

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Whit,

For this part, you will have to convert your own part, as there is no such thing as a factory RHD dash, or any RHD part for any Cadillac after 1942, as Cadillac didn't make export versions in RHD after WW2.

Anything here in Australia for 1948 will be cut and shut, and therefore no two will be exactly the same.

Bruce.

[Whit Otis, 1188]

Shucks.  BTW what is "cut and shut?"
Tks
Whit

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Shucks.  BTW what is "cut and shut?"
Tks
Whit

When doing RHD conversions, and one doesn't have a RHD part to use in place of the LHD part, one has to cut the part, whether it be the firewall, dashboard, or other part, into lots of pieces, and then join it all back together, but on the opposite side, to replicate what it was before.

I have done a few conversions, and in some cases, the sheet metal of the dash has been cut up into up to 20 pieces, re-crafted, and welded back together.

With the dash top, then that requires more "cutting and shutting" to get the required shape.

In the cars with a non-symetrical Dash/gauge panel, the completed article is supposed to look like a reverse of the original, and with Diecast pieces, this is difficult, and is an art in itself.

The picture of the gauge panel of a '69 I did took months to "cut and shut", but ended up nice.   Notice the moving of the Radio, Light Switch, A/C controls and Vent.   A pain to do, but it has to be done.

Then the Wiper Sweep has to be altered to the opposite side, and the list goes on and on.

Not sure how far they go with the '48 cars, but metal is easier to work with than plastic.

The best way to think of the work that goes into the changing is to sit in the passengers' seat, and imagine what is required to get the gauge panel across, plus everything else.

Bruce.