As some of you know I am restoring a 98 ITR shell. Well I recently have come across a good deal for a RHD front clip.

Initially I thought why not pick it up since the shell is pretty much torn down and still hasn't been painted. But lately I have been second guessing myself. Everytime I think about this I jump to a different conclusion.

The main disadvantages I see is that of any safety issues; if there are any. Obviously I understand it may be unsafe if it was a hack job, but I will make sure it gets installed as properly as possible. Also, the car will be on the streets occassionally, like weekends. Therefore, I can see a problem occuring when trying to make a left turn when there is a car on the opposing side trying to make a left turn as well.

I also want to take the car to a couple of HPDE's a year, do you think there will be any problems with passing a tech inspection with a RHD conversion?


I do understand that some of you will be against this idea of converting a USDM R to a RHD R but please don't go overboard with the flamming. Those that are able to help discuss any possible safety issues I appreciate it and thanks in advance.

Ali

 

I couldn't see the left turns in a RHD car next to somebody as being any different from a right turn in a LHD car. IDK my .02

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by attentionwhore &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I couldn't see the left turns in a RHD car next to somebody as being any different from a right turn in a LHD car. IDK my .02</TD></TR></TABLE>

agreed

 

The biggest concern I would think, and I know it's been brought up before, would be the strength to the firewall after it's been cut to accommodate RHD.

 

i could be COMPLETELY WRONG, but i've heard if you do the conversion the right way, the welds on the firewall can be better than stock.

i'm drunk though, and i might be pulling that out of my ***, but i'm not sure. i think i've heard that somewhere.

 

Wai's Spoon R is RHD, and he drives it in Honda Challenge...

Then again, that car started life as RHD, I think. How do you plan on going about the conversion? Chop the current shell and weld on the RHD clip? Or cut the current shell as needed to fit the RHD innards?

I see flaws with each, though a top-notch shop could do it safely.

That said, IMO, it's a waste of time and money for even an occasionally street-driven car. There's nothing but novelty to a RHD car in the US. If this were my project, I'd spend my time and money on restoring the USDM '98 as originally equipped.

 

[/QUOTE]<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by attentionwhore &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I couldn't see the left turns in a RHD car next to somebody as being any different from a right turn in a LHD car. IDK my .02</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't mean next to but across from. See pic below



Ali

 

having done it. i've seen nothing that would make me feel unsafe. I've been daily driving my car for almost 3 years after the RHD conversion, no problems.

i say go for it. have fun with your car. its safe. and on the passing tech issue. ask them about cars previously wrecked or vintage cars who have had to replace their firewalls and ask how its any different. You should be fine. I have never had any problems with 40+ times at tech (drag though)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LunchboxZT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The biggest concern I would think, and I know it's been brought up before, would be the strength to the firewall after it's been cut to accommodate RHD.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bald &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i could be COMPLETELY WRONG, but i've heard if you do the conversion the right way, the welds on the firewall can be better than stock.

i'm drunk though, and i might be pulling that out of my ***, but i'm not sure. i think i've heard that somewhere.</TD></TR></TABLE>

When i was searching before, I have come across people agreeing with both of you.

Ali

 

Haha, pretty drawing! I see what you mean...

If I were you, buy the JDM front clip, and take everything from it but the RHD swap - just get a dashboard and stuff from somewhere else.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Splat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wai's Spoon R is RHD, and he drives it in Honda Challenge...

Then again, that car started life as RHD, I think. How do you plan on going about the conversion? Chop the current shell and weld on the RHD clip? Or cut the current shell as needed to fit the RHD innards?

I see flaws with each, though a top-notch shop could do it safely.

That said, IMO, it's a waste of time and money for even an occasionally street-driven car. There's nothing but novelty to a RHD car in the US. If this were my project, I'd spend my time and money on restoring the USDM '98 as originally equipped.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If I were to do the conversion then i would probably go with drilling out the old spot welds on the firewall and removing it and welding and seam sealing the new firewall in.

Wai's car did come to mind but his was RHD from the get-go.

Thanks for all the comments guys

Ali

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RPRacing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">having done it. i've seen nothing that would make me feel unsafe. I've been daily driving my car for almost 3 years after the RHD conversion, no problems.

i say go for it. have fun with your car. its safe. and on the passing tech issue. ask them about cars previously wrecked or vintage cars who have had to replace their firewalls and ask how its any different. You should be fine. I have never had any problems with 40+ times at tech (drag though)</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your R was one of the reasone why I think I might, because you do visit the track quite a bit even though its not a road coarse

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LunchboxZT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Haha, pretty drawing! I see what you mean...

If I were you, buy the JDM front clip, and take everything from it but the RHD swap - just get a dashboard and stuff from somewhere else.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The only thing im basically getting with the clip is the RHD components thats why its pretty cheap for me. Someone already took the motor, and a buddy's brother is taking the front end. Basically im stuck with the firewall with whatever's still attached, dash, subframe, a few misc things.

Ali

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PrinceAli132 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[/QUOTE]

I don't mean next to but across from. See pic below



Ali</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think it would be that much worse than LHD in this case, especially when the other car is an SUV.

But RHD sounds like a pain in the ***. Funny story: one of my friends is from the UK, but started driving over here. The first time he tried to drive back in England, he'd hit the clutch and roll down the window every time he tried to change gears.

 

toss that idea out the window, keep it the way it is. If you plan on tracking it, keep in mind safety and regs.
Just sounds like you want an bucket full of problems.

 

I just don't see the point of doing this. Do you need to rebuild the firewall anyways? Your 98 shell isn't wrecked, is it? You're going to sink a lot of time, money and energy into this simply for looks. Unless you have a top notch welder (person, not the machine). I'd think you'll run into serious structural issues.

Why not just buy a REAL JDM ITR? There's a few around for sale.

&lt;--kept flaming to a minimum.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GarageKing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">toss that idea out the window, keep it the way it is. If you plan on tracking it, keep in mind safety and regs.
Just sounds like you want an bucket full of problems.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Keep her LHD, spend the money else where, would be cool as hell, but from my experiences from it **** dont break till u start ***king wit it.....deactivated flaming for this post

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GarageKing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just sounds like you want an bucket full of problems.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Definetly not trying to create more problems. Came across a decent deal and was considering it, and it sounded a lot better at first.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Doespike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you need to rebuild the firewall anyways? Your 98 shell isn't wrecked, is it? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Shell is in pretty much good condition as far as the exterior goes. Only some rust on the drivers side floor pan and a few dents on the passanger side quarter panel.



Thanks everyone

Ali

 

Thanks to all who kept the flamming to a minimmum. I am not going to lie and say that appearance/looks had no role in my consideration, because it did. I figured it would be pretty nice and a bit more unique to help set me apart but I am not willing to risk my life or others. And I dont want to take the chance of building this R and not being able to track it.

And it does make more sense to not mess with anything since its not damaged yet.

Ali

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PrinceAli132 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

If I were to do the conversion then i would probably go with drilling out the old spot welds on the firewall and removing it and welding and seam sealing the new firewall in. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I feel that that is the safest way to do it because honda's original firewall is put in that way, and if you put spot weld more than honda originally did, then it would actually be more rigid than OEM.

 

Personally i think the question should be more alongs the lines of do I prefer shifting with my left hand or right hand.

Personally id take a left hand drive car over right hand drive anyday.

Thats the one thing i miss about living in N.A.