Maybe I missed it. Window tint on the windshield is illegal below the ASI line. Switching/altering VIN plates is illegal, and even if you do, it won't match what's stamped on the firewall. How do you intend to LEGALLY deal with the VIN number that doesn't conform to U.S. Standards?

 

Its a combination of both actually, the emissions are not to DOT and EPA standards, actually, they lack the complexity that US systems have.

Second, the car, even tho is the same model as the US car, it still considered to "have not met US safety Standards" and would have to be crashed tested to ensure that it meets DOT standards, which basicly means youd import two cars, both at your expense, one for testing and one for yourself after the testing. OR if the car has a US counterpart, you can appeal the DOT and EPA with letters through a lawyer stating that the cars do infact meet US standards, but both ways cost a lot of money, and would take a minimum of a year to put through the DOT and EPA, hence the reason its rare to see JDM cars in the country that are "legal"

If you cut the firewall below the VIN tag in the engine bay, its still got the US VIN, and the dash VIN you can swap for the USDM tag. Technically, the VIN doesnt display the side of the car that the drivers side is, and as long as the VIN's match the actual car, everything should be straight.

 

DOT has nothing to do with EPA standards.
Incorrect. Both cars will be crash tested, because there is more than one test necessary for NHTSA standards. Note that there's no guarantee your model will pass, just because you're footing the bill for testing...
Highly unlikely that will have the slightest effect with any of the federal agencies (especially NHTSA), because then they'd be on the hook for any liabilities resulting from the fact that crash testing was never conducted.
Not sure about people actually "putting down your car", but we get just as tired of people spreading misinformation about very important legal aspects regarding bringing a RHD car into the U.S. If you want to go through the trouble of hacking on a front clip just to have a RHD car, do what ya gotta do. But as far as the "hating" that accompanies threads like this, well, this is a public forum after all...

 

Agreed! RHD are $8000. LHD goes for $20,000 - $25,000. Depedns on the condtion. RHD are a poor mans RX7

 

This is a point made in another similar thread. Most responsible buyers do carfax checks and go over a car with a magnifying glass to make sure it hasn't been seriously mauled over the years. Yet someone purposely cobbles two cars together just to have the steering wheel on the opposite side. And a year or two later, when they get tired of it, they think it's actually worth something? Not IMHO.

 

if you can get ur hands on a LHD FD keep it dont cut it up

if u want a RHD just get a RHD they arnt THAT hard to find!
i dont know if you have ever driven a right hand drive car... they are kinda dumb, u gota stay off the high way(passing is a joke) and good luck with left hand turns

 

+11111

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

For those of you that actually help.... Thanks. For the others that have nothing to do but hate on this idea. Get outa here!!! My body shop has been running for over thirty years. My body men have more years experience then half of you guys are alive. This project is no sweat. I 'Hack' cars every day to save them from getting junked. I wouldn't be suprised if one of you guys drive one of them and its still a clean title. If some of you have not bothered to read I have done this swap to my s14. The only info I lack are the interior parts. My s14 interior is only different on the dash and the door controls, the rx7 interior is designated for the side of the car its on (center console). Also, In no way does this "hack" screw up my cars. I bet when I'm finished..half of you doush bags will be howling about how sick it is.(**** I'll even tell you it's JDM and you'll more then likely try and buy it)...so don't talk ****. I do not want to import a car. I was trying to do this with a r34 and It was just a headache that got me into debt with no car to show for it. My lawyer loved the idea thoughh ($$$$). One more thing. My means to get the car on the street will be on the gray side, but along these lines is how all those JDM RHD rx7 are imported so don't lecture me about whats legal and not legal. Lastly, that last comment on switching lanes...How do you switch lanes to the right on the expressway? By looking with mirrors right so what the hell is your point. Now if your passing someone by going onto oncoming traffic then that makes you an idiot. As for left hand turns I find it better because I can see the traffic behind the car that blocks me from seeing the oncoming traffic. Most LHD cars get that view blocked most of the time by the car making the same turn on the other side. For those of you willing to help. The rx7 I will be buying will have had a clean carfax report prior to the accident. Lucky for me theirs many of you idiots that have NICE MAGNIFYING GLASS INSPECTED RX7's that cant drive for **** and crash. Thats where I come in and buy your once beautifull and perfect crashed rx7. NOW, Let me know what I can do to make this work. The cut I was looking at doing was similar to the cut that the front clips comes with. Meaning the dash and the whole front end will be intact. My connection will be through the windshield column and the floor. The floor cut will be parallel to the dash right over where the shifter is located.

 

So you really think you can sell a car to someone with a japanese VIN that doesn't match anything on the paperwork?

Dave

 

search turbojeff CYM

he replaced an entire LHD front clip the correct way and has tons of pictures (not saying your guys can't handle it...just helpful insights, and a neat project)

it's my understanding the center console is the same on both version...hence way my e-brake is sitting on the passenger side.

yes LHD FD are rare, but RHD FD's are rare in the US. I can dig it...if its done properly.

kinetic_FD3S <-or similar has a converted RHD drive...try to find him he can tell you more about the interior pieces you'll need.

good luck

 

When a car is crashed we'll say in the front. What do you do? You by used parts or a front end (when its totalled in the front) and replace them or cut and weld the new front end on. The title is still under the car that was crashed so you must change some things for indentification reason. Also, most cops will not tear your car apart for vins because they have no idea where they are half the times. They look on the doors, the dash, fenders, hoods, and bumpers, and the trunk lid which may I add can be replaced easily into USDM if its not already on the USDM purchased rx7. Now since the car is already registered and is still clean title. I do not have to take it anywhere for inspection. I just have to do my homework and change some small details. Florida its a wonderful place. No more info this is worth money.

 

Where can I find those picks of turbojeff CYM?

 

I don't know where to start, so I'll just leave it at this:

 

Title says it all... For the rest of you who KNOW about differences between USDM vs JDM share some of your knowledge with me. I'm just trying to get everything together and a somewhat estimate on what I need to get this car started with fiewer surprises. As we all know projects are just full of surprises.

 

http://rides.webshots.com/album/89560034SgoVwL

 

Hardly. Take a look at the majority of responses from U.S. members on this thread...

 

I can apreciate all of the good stuff spoken on these forums, BUT the responses of real people on the streets matter more to me. At least here in Miami most people can or better put DO apreciate these types of projects or cars. Never been to CA, so I can't say I know what you guys think about these RHD conversions. I will say California and the west coast has an advantage to a hell of alot more parts because of your geographical location being closer to japan. I'll do what I like and quite Frankly, I DON'T CARE!!

I'm here to get ideas, I didnt think so many of you would take their time to read the whole forum to write a line of "****." For those of you who actually are helping thanks. For the rest of you......It sounds like you need to go jerk each other off.

 

You claim to want collective knowlege and experience, but anybody that's not in agreement with your idea of "style".....chopping up a car to put the steering wheel on the other side, you call names and insist THEY leave a forum that you've only been on a couple of days.
The fact that you have no problem with skirting the legalities of the whole VIN mess suggests you'd probably don't have a problem of hacking up the job in the interest of speed or cost either. So your claims of doing things right are probably bullshit. And btw cupcake, I worked my way through high school, college and beyond in a family owned collision shop. I have a good idea of what is involved and how to do it right. I also know that with enough time, money and effort it's possible. But unlike Turbojeff's car, I have a vision of unsupported welds looking like bird-****, sheet metal not lining up, huge electrical and suspension issues, more ghetto-rigging and corners cut than Chernobyl and a waste of money to rival the "big dig". Maybe you can install under-body lighting and really get mad JDM points at the Miami NOPI nights.
If a "line of ****" has been written, it's under your screen name. You'll take a $3500 wreck, add a $3000 JDM front clip, commit $5000 in labor, sell off maybe $1500 in parts and the result will still be (assuming it doesn't get seized at some point) a $4000 parts donor car....unless you rape/sell to another Miami adolescent like yourself. I'm well aware of the state of some big city public school systems, but even you should be able to do the math. Free country and all. You want to do it..have fun, just don't expect everyone to share in your vision of glorious JDM RHD goodness.

 

Clearly there is nothing legal about this enterprise. /thread