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Converting left hand FC to right hand

Old 11-19-03, 03:51 PM
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Converting left hand FC to right hand

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has converted a left hand drive to a right hand dirve FC, an if you have any information it will be gretly aprecciated. Im going to covert a GXL to JDM right hand Turbo. Any help would be great thanks.
Old 11-19-03, 05:37 PM
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You'd be best to buy a non-trashed front clip, and either tear apart EVERYTHING, and transfer over the entire engine bay internals, and possibly the firewall, or you could just have a whole front clip welded on to your rear half, either way is going to be massive amounts of trouble just to sit on the wrong side (for us anyway).

Just import a JSpec if you want it that bad...
Old 11-19-03, 05:49 PM
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Ya well i am getting a mint condition FC3s front clip , I should of imported a running FC but thats madd amounts of dollars in customs and stuff i did the checking and its aorund 10g's jsut to get it to canada or the states and be able to get it home then all the problems of acutally finding one in japan and then to drive it.

Plus the conversion is for fun, I know i wll have to transplant everything but just wondering if anyone has done it before.

Oh and welding woulndt really work , cause if you bring the car to the track it could acutally spit apart ( alot of welding would be need and that tooo much weight bu tamybe im wrong) .

Thanks alot for the input anyone else
Old 11-19-03, 07:04 PM
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if you dont weld it how else you gonna attach it?? duct tape?

the best way to convert to RHD is getting the front clip and welding it to your car. i've seen it done a few times before where the clip was welded between the A-pillar, and other one they welded it between the front seat, both turned out really clean could never tell it was converted. But this something that you should let a reputable body shop do, unless you're a certified welder and have the machines to align the frame to spec. If done correctly it will not fall apart.
Old 11-19-03, 10:22 PM
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thanks ok , i guess welding is possible,
Old 11-19-03, 10:48 PM
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get lots of pics and document cause i want to do the same in the summer

please that would be awsome
Old 11-19-03, 10:48 PM
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getting an fc here is like 4Gs
your idea will be double that.
Old 11-19-03, 11:20 PM
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Stupid idea. Requires lots of time, money, experience, knowledge and patience; and has absolutely no benefits.
Old 11-19-03, 11:32 PM
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Originally posted by NZConvertible
Stupid idea. Requires lots of time, money, experience, knowledge and patience; and has absolutely no benefits.
oh come on, you make the turbo really hard to get to

Last edited by j9fd3s; 11-19-03 at 11:35 PM.
Old 11-19-03, 11:40 PM
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Tell me about it...
Old 11-19-03, 11:47 PM
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You'd have to cut off the firewall and weld in a firewall from a JSpec FC. How is welding an "option"? It's the only way its gonna get done!!.
Old 11-20-03, 12:09 PM
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What exactly is the point of this conversion? I never have understood the desire to sit on the wrong side of the car. You can't pass another car safely, you can't make left hand turns safely, you basically can't drive safely.

Ride around w/ a mailman for awhile and get it out of your system.

Then spend the time and money you would have spent on that RHD conversion on other stuff. You'll be MUCH happier, have a better looking car, have a faster car, etc. etc. etc.
Old 11-20-03, 01:55 PM
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1 have one reason for a RHD car.
BG5 subaru legacy wagon. sold in the US as a mail man RHD vehicle.
BG5 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon 280hp. 3100lbs Sold in Japan.
Old 11-20-03, 02:16 PM
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Why do you want to do this?It's just a waste of money you should of bought a J-Spec from the beginining.
Old 11-20-03, 02:19 PM
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www.fc3s.org is in the process of doing one on their fc.
Old 11-20-03, 04:00 PM
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How much do you think having it welded would cost? My friend has a 240sx with front frame damage, if welding doesnt cost more than $2k I might buy a clip from japan and have the same thing done.

Last edited by TooMuch4You; 11-20-03 at 04:12 PM.
Old 11-20-03, 04:11 PM
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As I am in the U.K. if I can help you out with any parts let me know PM me.
Old 11-20-03, 11:46 PM
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I know that making the car a rhd is going to be a pain but i want something unique i know having a nice FC is already quite unique but if i can go the extra step why not right ???

But ill wait till the clip gets here next monday and check it out.

Thanks
Old 11-20-03, 11:48 PM
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By the way anybody want Mint condition blue rear seats, there perfect no burns or anything ill be putting them on ebay .
Old 11-21-03, 12:37 PM
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If you want unique, put a different motor in it or body kit it or something. Crap, you're going to spend a whole lot of time, money, blood, sweat, & tears putting together something that will be no faster or better looking (imo) in the end. You'll just be sitting on the other side of the car. And it won't be as much fun to drive (imo) because you have to be extra special careful on the street because you have such limited visibility.

as I said before, ride around w/ your mailman for a couple days and get it out of your system.

if you do it and follow through to it's finish -- kudos to you for taking on a project and finishing it unlike a lot of folks. But if it were me, I'd be spending those resources on something that will make me faster, better handling, and better looking in the end.
Old 11-21-03, 01:05 PM
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Driving on the right side would mean holding the wheel mostly with your right hand and learning to shift with your left...that would be a pain in the ***, and anytime you drive a LHD car you'll be all discombobulated. No offence, but doing this conversion just to be unique, is a really stupid idea. There are reasons why the japan cars are RHD and our cars are LHD. As Trav said I would also spend my money on mods and parts. Why does everyone have to feel like their car is unique? I assure you that my FC is one of a kind. Mostly cuz of where the paint is faded and the location of the rust spots and scratches etc.
Old 11-22-03, 02:33 PM
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Hey FC3S.USD... It's Ross... I met you in the Princess Auto parking lot ... I have the black 89 TII ...

I'm glad you have your project underway... if you need a hand give me a shout...

-Ross
Old 11-22-03, 05:49 PM
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Personally i wouldn't spend the time on it but if you get it done i guess it would be pretty sick. Alot of people think it's cool and alot of them think its dumb so if you got the money then go for it just make sure you got the engine to back it up. Unique- YES Expensive YES good luck.
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