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Lets say i want to convert an RHD(right hand drive) car into an LHD(left hand drive). Which parts should i concentrate on for example to be:

1-relocated?
2-replaced?
3-modified?

all i know that i have to buy a new dashboard with center console, new pedals , new interior door panels for the elcerical control for the driver side, new steering clomun. What else? [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]


accurate info will be appreciate it,
Kamal [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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you will need

replace:
dash board
steering column
steering rack and tie rods
all under dash parts like heater core and AC evaporator
shift linkage if it's a manual

relocate:
brake power booster
throttle cable
pedals
clutch master cylinder
brake master cylinder
brake lines

and i know theres more i just can't think right now
it's really not worth it since you can drive a right hand drive car in the us

 
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Isn't this why the Skyline and/or Evo's weren't brought over to the US along with the crash safety standards and emissions issues?

 
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dont convert, its a waste of money. if you really must have this done to your car, sell it and import one. IMO shifting with the left hand is annoying. if youve ever been driving a right hand drive car...well its a hassle (i go to ireland every year almost...where automatics barely exist). the shifting pattern is no different. 1st and 2nd gears are still located to the far left, which translates to being the farthest away gears on a right hand drive car. shifting with the left hand sucks also...since im right handed.

im sure shifting with my left hand wouldnt be a problem if i just kept my hand on the shifter all the time, but i dont drive like that. yes i do practice the 10 and 2 hand positions on the steering wheel, i only take my right hand off the wheel for a moment to shift, and since im right handed, its more precise than if i was to do that with my left hand...less chance of missing a gear with right hand shifting.

 
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the Evo is comin soon tho

 
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Emission standards is what usually kills good cars being imported.. that and the cat pee that CARB makes us use for gas. Here (Australia) 98 octane is premium, and 93 is regular, most places in the states top out at 91 if even that. In Oklahoma (where I am from) 89 is the max at many stations. This is why the new Integra Type-R engine will never work as well in the states, that engine was built to run on 95 octane and above. Same with the Lancer Evolution and Revolution (turbocharged coupe Lancer) engines. The EVO that is being exported to the states will be a very simplified version of the one available here in AU, due to the emission and gas standards in the US. The same thing happened with the Subaru WRX, our version of the WRX has 55hp more, and the WRX STi is even better than that, and that model will probably never be exported to the US.

And as for converting from RHD to LHD... it's more trouble than you might think. Many times, due to constraints in the engine bay, the engine will have to be relocated due to the moved location of the steering gears, the exhaust may have to be moved to the other side depending on the car, etc. It's a very painful process. I have known people that have moved to Australia from the states and brought cars with them (Vipers, classic Mustangs, etc) and either have to put an ugly sticker on it saying "Caution, left hand drive" and pay large taxes, or spend gross amounts of money converting. It's really not worth it.

 
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Well guys I didnt buy the car yet, but i am thinking of paying a Garage in Japan a deposit to book a new/used Type R and they are going to ship the JDM DC5R when I am ready to pay the money in advance. I am not ready to pay until I know if it is crazy or not? , which I am sure it is. I only wanted feedback from you guys and see what are your ideas.

01civ01: thanks for the info, but why do I have to replace the shift linkage of the manual (the car is 6MT). I dont get your point here. All i know the positioning of the gears are still gonna stay the same if I go LHD.


IuSEDtOrIDEtHEmTAb4mY2K1: in my country we don't have crash tests. the Gov here will enter any imported car as long it has a dealer here and must have:
1-LHD steering (still in process)
2-shouldn't have a noisy exhaust. the Gov here concentrate on noise pollution allot (checked the car will stay OEM and it is not loud)
3-if it is imported and not available at the dealer it mustn't have a turbo or a performance exhaust or even a CAI...only dealers are allowed here to get turbo-ed cars, but private orders are not (passed, it has an air filter box- OEM, no turbo, exhaust has Low sound output)
4-Must have knock sensors to work with our fuel (believe it or not it has that baby on it, checked from a Jap friend in Japan [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] go get one guys the car ECU will work on any unleaded fuel, but remember there will be some power loss in HP) I don't care as long I have a Type R. In Japan 96RON is the lowest recommend unleaded fuel to achieve 220ps @ 8000 rpm, but anything less will result HP power loss.
5-The car shouldn't be close to the ground. Vehicle height shouldn't exceed 5 or 6 inches to the ground (checked the car is lower than US and OZDM RSX/Integra and it is still a little high according to my calculations)
6-A/C is a must cause it is hot here (today was 113 degrees F) and the car should have a radiator with out a heater. Some countries like Europe have cars that have fuel heaters and radiator heater to prevent engine from freezing. (checked the JDM car doesn't have either of them).
all I need is more info on LHD kit, well I am thinking of using the RSX-S LHD kit, cause the RSX is the only LHD Integra in market until now!


LikeWEEEEEEEEEE: the car i am aiming to buy doesnt come as LHD yet and even if it did i wont be able to get it ,cause it will be named after Acura (we are only allowed to order cars that have dealers here, well Acura is only for North America, so i should forget about getting about a RSX-R), so do you still think that this is a waste of time?. Well I can give you an example.....if you know the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser that has a V6 4500cc engine, well in Japan that 4WD car has two choices of engines (standard V6 and an optional V8). never heard of a V8 for that model any where in the world. The V8 engine was for the Japanese market only, but the car with the optional V8 engine was ordered privately from garages in Japan and converted to LHD using the V6 LHD kit in UAE (country close to mine), which only costed 1320 USD only, so if I spend less than this amount on my car is it still pricey? in UAE they are into buying JDM cars allot and I do mean allot. They can convert RHD Supra, GTR, Evo, WRX, celica GT-S, land cruiser and many more to LHD in garages. Since it is done allot there so that's the reason why it is cheap over there and thats where i am doing the conversion of the car. UAE started doing these conversion since 1993 and till now no one had a problem with their quality work (so i am sure they are good at doing it). Even if it was expensive, I think it is worth it, cause I will be the 1st to get it in my country. There is garage here close by me (not sure if they are professionals) and they quoted this work for less than 2600 USD (wont exceed that price and they are sure it will be less) So what's the problem with that?


FroggerDude: I heard the Evo 7 will come out to the US and Australia as a 2003 model. I am surprised to hear that, but we have the Evo 7 here already. I couldn't believe it. we never get cars that early than the US or Australia, but the salesman in the Mitsubishi here told me that the Gulf demand of the Evo was really high, so Mitsubishi Japan gave it to us early (if you don't believe I will get a photo of it in the showroom from my friends digicam as soon as possible)


RiceBurnrEX: we don't have emission tests or crash tests here. I guess, because we are living in the 3rd world. and the JDM type R will loose 3-6hp max using our fuel, but that's ok. its not that much and it will still work without knocking (that's the important thing).


BTW guys my jap friend translated this info from his JDM DC5R manual from Japanese to English, it says: "you need unleaded (lead-free)premium gasoline, if you don't have it you can use regular one. you cannot use leaded gasoline." <------ didnt mention any numbers, so as long the fuel is unleaded then it will run with out knocking!
and
my Australian friend who has the OZDM DC5R manual says: "95RON fuel is recommend, IF 95RON is unavailable in your district, you can substitute 95RON premium for a lower grade petrol. The engine management will adjust itself to the lower grade petrol. However, you may experience a loss in power performance ".

*Note: RON-5points= Octane Rating


it took me months to get this info for you guys!


Kamal [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

 
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01civ01 do you have any idea how the bulkhead of the car is going to be when doing the steering conversion? Does it need replacing (which i think is impossible) or i can do some sort of welding or filling?

what do you think?

Kamal

 
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Why? Just drive with the steering wheel on the wrong side. I've seen Bently's and Rolls Royce drivers do it.

 
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i wish i can do that, but RHD is not allowed here where i live. So doing a conversion is a must.

any answer to my question on the bulkhead?


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My mother always say "nothing is impossible unless you try hard enough" [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]