You can buy an ex-JDM rig from Subic Bay Philippines already [rather crappilly] converted to LHD before being shipped to you.
Then you can just 'polish' it up.
Then you can just 'polish' it up.
converting japanese rhd to lhd before you import (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter semlin
- Start date
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Labor costs in Japan is just as bad as in North America. Yes, if the work can be done in a third country like the Phillipines, I can see LHD conversion making sense. Otep, do they use a LHD steering box for the conversions or do they just mount the steering box on the opposite side?
One more problem with driving a RHD in a LHD country is on certain right hand turns where the intersection is at less than 90 degrees, the B pillar blocks view of the oncoming traffic from the left.
And toll roads are a pain without a passenger or power windows...
Dave
One more problem with driving a RHD in a LHD country is on certain right hand turns where the intersection is at less than 90 degrees, the B pillar blocks view of the oncoming traffic from the left.
And toll roads are a pain without a passenger or power windows...
Dave
beanz2,
That would depend on who is doing the conversion and how much your budget is.
Typical shoddy conversion just remounts RHD gearbox [usually mounted INBOARD of right frame rail] onto OUTBOARD side of left frame rail.
On some conversions (e.g. Pajeros), they use a gearbox from a different vehicle (usually Isuzus or whatever they have plenty of).
That would depend on who is doing the conversion and how much your budget is.
Typical shoddy conversion just remounts RHD gearbox [usually mounted INBOARD of right frame rail] onto OUTBOARD side of left frame rail.
On some conversions (e.g. Pajeros), they use a gearbox from a different vehicle (usually Isuzus or whatever they have plenty of).
Otep,
I'd love to see pictures of the area under the dash for these LHD conversions especially for a 70/73/75 series vehicle. Do you see them often? The reason I ask is because I can't imagine reversing all the AC and heater duct work without using factory parts. I have seen the pictures either Drexx's or the ones you posted so I believe you it has been done, I'm curious as to their conversion technique.
Dave
I'd love to see pictures of the area under the dash for these LHD conversions especially for a 70/73/75 series vehicle. Do you see them often? The reason I ask is because I can't imagine reversing all the AC and heater duct work without using factory parts. I have seen the pictures either Drexx's or the ones you posted so I believe you it has been done, I'm curious as to their conversion technique.
Dave
beanz2 said:
I doubt you could benefit much if at all from sending cars to the Philippines from Japan just for conversion and re-export. Shipping and handling would probably eat up whatever benefits you hoped to derive unless it was in large volumes.
Steering box for my converted 80 is the same box, just bolted to the inside of the frame rather than the outside.
Kalawang
beanz2 said:
The dash on my 80 is new and original for LHD. There is just no way to adapt the RHD dash because of the shape. Wires are simply cut and carried over and spliced to the new location of the buttons. I removed my dash and soldered all the splices to make certain I maintained continuity.
Air con ducts are returned only for the front of the car. Heater and rear ducts were just discarded. We don't have much use for a heater here. My LC, however was an exception as it was assembled as a showpeice of what the cars could be. Most are sold with the air con disassembled and left for you to reinstall the parts. Some air con shops have become known for their expertise in re-installing and converting the Japanese aircons.
Kalawang
semlin
curmudgeon
- Thread starter
- #68
does a dead three year old thread about a service really constitute a fuss?
the RHD is fine if you are the only one driving it and if you are comfortable with the visibility/safety issues. however, some of us need vehicles that can be driven by others.
also, outside of the 25 year blanket exemption, the US treats RHD vehicles built after a certain date differently from otherwise identical LHD vehicles for importation purposes so, even if a LHD model is approved for importation in the US, the RHD equivalent must requalify. Technically that could mean you have to crash test one or more of them at an approved facility.
crushers
post ho
wow!! now that is info i never knew!
that sucks semlin.
where did you come across this info, i need to do an add to favorites...
that sucks semlin.
where did you come across this info, i need to do an add to favorites...
I wouldnt let anyone else drive my 74 anyways, that is why the wife has a NEON period!
crushers
post ho
ummm, i lets LOTS of people drive my RHD vehicals...
no biggie as long as you walk them through the idiocyncrasies (sp?) first
<i really have no choice>
no biggie as long as you walk them through the idiocyncrasies (sp?) first
<i really have no choice>
semlin
curmudgeon
- Thread starter
- #72
Vehicle Importation Regulations
from the NHTSA website. go to the list of nonconfirming vehicles and note the comments about RHD. somewhere on that site there is a more detailed discussion where they make a comment about offset head on crash test results being potentially different.
Heehee I have a great RHD story from just this morning in fact. My girlfriend was in the passenger seat fiddling with the GPS in her lap and talking on the phone when we passed a cop. (CA has a no cell phones law)
He ended up pulling me over and walking up to her window while she was still fiddling and asks her "Are you trying to read a map while driving?"... she says "I'm not driving" and the cop visibly jumped as he checked the car and I waved from the right hand side.
Turns out he was going to give her a seat belt ticket anyway but he gave that up too when he saw her out of state license. Guy was nice, but he seemed a little upset that a juicy ticket slipped away from him.
Heee!
He ended up pulling me over and walking up to her window while she was still fiddling and asks her "Are you trying to read a map while driving?"... she says "I'm not driving" and the cop visibly jumped as he checked the car and I waved from the right hand side.
Turns out he was going to give her a seat belt ticket anyway but he gave that up too when he saw her out of state license. Guy was nice, but he seemed a little upset that a juicy ticket slipped away from him.
Heee!
crushers
post ho
LOL!!
i got one similar.
here in Ontario we have a government agency called "Ontario finance", they are the ones that check for dyed fuel, they sneak around the flea markets looking to catch those that admit they don't pay taxes etc. hey, it's a job.
so we come up to a check stop when diesel was $1.45 L... he doesn't wave us in so i keep driving slowly up to the stop sign. at the last minute we dicide to turn right and check the Mininite furnature place. i pull in and suddenly there is a horn, lights, siren right behind me...WTF!!
the cop comes to the wife's side of the vehicle and tells her to go back and get her fuel tested...and not nicely either. she says she can't. indignant the cops asks why and she says "i'm not driving" to lighten the mood.
no grin, the cop just walks away. (no wonder he has that job, no one else would hire him with that attitude)
of course we checked out clean.
i got one similar.
here in Ontario we have a government agency called "Ontario finance", they are the ones that check for dyed fuel, they sneak around the flea markets looking to catch those that admit they don't pay taxes etc. hey, it's a job.
so we come up to a check stop when diesel was $1.45 L... he doesn't wave us in so i keep driving slowly up to the stop sign. at the last minute we dicide to turn right and check the Mininite furnature place. i pull in and suddenly there is a horn, lights, siren right behind me...WTF!!
the cop comes to the wife's side of the vehicle and tells her to go back and get her fuel tested...and not nicely either. she says she can't. indignant the cops asks why and she says "i'm not driving" to lighten the mood.
no grin, the cop just walks away. (no wonder he has that job, no one else would hire him with that attitude)
of course we checked out clean.
