RHD Conversion
05-24-07, 10:35 AM
#1
RHD Conversion
Ive searched the forums and found basicly nothing about such a wild and complicated modification so, i figured id ask straight out
Has anyone done anything like this before?
So far, ive got an entire front clip from a 1993 JDM RX-7
what i do know about this swap is, everything on the front clip works, and the idea is to swap everything directly over to my USDM FD.
ive got a friend who does autobody whose gonna swap the entire interior for me, and weld in the JDM firewall so i dont have to try to modify the existing firewall in my USDM FD
The only thing im worried about at this point, is the wiring harness and wether or not it can be spliced into the USDM harness for power windows and taillights and windshield wipers and everything.
At the end, i wanna know if anyones done anything like this or more importantly, if they have, what sort of problems did they run into?
Has anyone done anything like this before?
So far, ive got an entire front clip from a 1993 JDM RX-7
what i do know about this swap is, everything on the front clip works, and the idea is to swap everything directly over to my USDM FD.
ive got a friend who does autobody whose gonna swap the entire interior for me, and weld in the JDM firewall so i dont have to try to modify the existing firewall in my USDM FD
The only thing im worried about at this point, is the wiring harness and wether or not it can be spliced into the USDM harness for power windows and taillights and windshield wipers and everything.
At the end, i wanna know if anyones done anything like this or more importantly, if they have, what sort of problems did they run into?
.
05-24-07, 11:10 AM
#3
Not in the US you can't. Some RHD FDs have been imported but they have all posed major importation and registration problems. The ones that were brought in are registered fraudulently.
Why would you want to spend the money making a RHD car? It's a pretty stupid idea even for a ricer.
Dave
Why would you want to spend the money making a RHD car? It's a pretty stupid idea even for a ricer.
Dave
05-24-07, 11:27 AM
#5
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05-24-07, 04:03 PM
#9
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It's a huge pain.
You'll have to take your clip to a body shop and either have two parts of the firewall cut and weld or the whole front clip swapped on.
you'll have to strip all the wiring from your US car, because none of it will work.
hope the harness to the doors didn't get cut or you'll need a new inside firewall harness. Then you'll have to buy the inside body harnesses.
Now you'll have to remove the door panels and swap the wiring across doors.
Then if you want your alarm and door auto locks to work you'll have to get the units from Japan. Then you have to swap the key hole light to the other handle and cut and splice the wires and connector. Swap door cables to other sides door lock and move the handles forward and backward to fit the Japanese door panels you are going to buy.
You have to buy the cables and lever for your trunk latch and gas tank door too.
Now install everything from your front clip, including the wiper motor and linkage.
Now you have your awesome RHD FD that wont pass inspection. Cool thing is you can drop $650 on a Apex PFC and it's plug and play.
Most enthusiasts will loathe your RHD swap due to all the "JDM y0!" douchebags, but it will be all the douches and fine women gawking as you drive down the strip.
You'll have to take your clip to a body shop and either have two parts of the firewall cut and weld or the whole front clip swapped on.
you'll have to strip all the wiring from your US car, because none of it will work.
hope the harness to the doors didn't get cut or you'll need a new inside firewall harness. Then you'll have to buy the inside body harnesses.
Now you'll have to remove the door panels and swap the wiring across doors.
Then if you want your alarm and door auto locks to work you'll have to get the units from Japan. Then you have to swap the key hole light to the other handle and cut and splice the wires and connector. Swap door cables to other sides door lock and move the handles forward and backward to fit the Japanese door panels you are going to buy.
You have to buy the cables and lever for your trunk latch and gas tank door too.
Now install everything from your front clip, including the wiper motor and linkage.
Now you have your awesome RHD FD that wont pass inspection. Cool thing is you can drop $650 on a Apex PFC and it's plug and play.
Most enthusiasts will loathe your RHD swap due to all the "JDM y0!" douchebags, but it will be all the douches and fine women gawking as you drive down the strip.
05-24-07, 04:03 PM
#11
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yeah people have done it. But the only benifit is the fact that you can have your girlfriend handle all drive thru transactions.
But if your considering the swap chances are you have a JDM blow up doll, so just leave it original.
But if your considering the swap chances are you have a JDM blow up doll, so just leave it original.
05-24-07, 05:40 PM
#12
well now that everyones told me im stupid :P
firstly, im an automotive technician and my best friend is an autobody specialist, so all this work is being done properly and right. (firewall is being welded into the USDM body.
second, my USDM FD was totaled in an accident, so this is just something to do since the car is in pieces already.
third, ive been to Japan to pick out the JDM front clip so i know everything is working, and nothing has been cut.
fourth, i also work as an importer for JDM cars to the US, and i know how tough the laws are, especially here, in Connecticut. Technically, they CAN meet US standards as long as your willing to put 15k into the DOT and EPA "corrections" to the frame, body, engine, emmission etc. My friend has a 1995 Nissan Skyline GTS-t Type M II, US legal, registered here in Connecticut.
firstly, im an automotive technician and my best friend is an autobody specialist, so all this work is being done properly and right. (firewall is being welded into the USDM body.
second, my USDM FD was totaled in an accident, so this is just something to do since the car is in pieces already.
third, ive been to Japan to pick out the JDM front clip so i know everything is working, and nothing has been cut.
fourth, i also work as an importer for JDM cars to the US, and i know how tough the laws are, especially here, in Connecticut. Technically, they CAN meet US standards as long as your willing to put 15k into the DOT and EPA "corrections" to the frame, body, engine, emmission etc. My friend has a 1995 Nissan Skyline GTS-t Type M II, US legal, registered here in Connecticut.
05-24-07, 05:48 PM
#13
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Technically they'll be legal if you want to wreck a few of them to get the testing done. It's not about "corrections" to the frame like Skylines, it's about getting them crash tested to make sure they pass the standards in the first place. And what backyardsog said, lol.
Last edited by XxMerlinxX; 05-24-07 at 06:07 PM.
05-24-07, 05:59 PM
#14
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fourth, i also work as an importer for JDM cars to the US, and i know how tough the laws are, especially here, in Connecticut. Technically, they CAN meet US standards as long as your willing to put 15k into the DOT and EPA "corrections" to the frame, body, engine, emmission etc. My friend has a 1995 Nissan Skyline GTS-t Type M II, US legal, registered here in Connecticut.
05-24-07, 08:38 PM
#16
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Funny how everyone is an "importer" nowadays. Also, funny how the Skyline has become the poster child car for everyone trying to seek validation as a "importer".
"Corrections" huh? lol...this topic is getting pretty old...
"Corrections" huh? lol...this topic is getting pretty old...
05-24-07, 08:38 PM
#17
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Not to mention the danger of trying to pass on a 2-lane road.... 
All kinds of "importers". Virtually none that actually provide you with a completely federal and state legal car to drive. You can change "virtually none" to "none at all" if you are talking about 96+ FDs. So please don't go there, it cannot be done.
fourth, i also work as an importer for JDM cars to the US, and i know how tough the laws are, especially here, in Connecticut. Technically, they CAN meet US standards as long as your willing to put 15k into the DOT and EPA "corrections" to the frame, body, engine, emmission etc. My friend has a 1995 Nissan Skyline GTS-t Type M II, US legal, registered here in Connecticut.
05-25-07, 05:46 PM
#18
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i know christian pretty well, not dominic so much, but yea those guys are awesome
05-25-07, 06:53 PM
#20
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Not arguing for anyone, just curious. You can have your RHD registered in Canada, and just drive it in the US, right? I've seen cars w/ Canadian plates driving around here, would it be any different for the FD?
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