I'm SERIOUSLY thinking about a JDM front end but I'm hearing about cutting and welding amoung other things. Can some of you guys that have done the conversion shed some light on this for me....

Jurassic

 

From what I've seen/read/heard, you're better off having a body shop do it for you instead of doing it yourself. The radiator support needs to be *welded* in. Plus, you're already in the shop for painting, etc.. It will cost you!

 

$1500-$2000 for painting and installation (plus $3-$4k for the parts).

Absolutely crazy modification IMHO considering the amount of goodies you could buy for that amount. (Unless the insurance company is paying.)

Also adds nothing to the value of the car and is not actually legal on US roads (headlights are not DOT approved).

 

i second to that....

 

JDm front can be done by yourself assuming that you have welding experience and some bodywork know how. My whole front end with paint and install costed about 4000. The front with OEM HID headlights was 2600 shipped from hondamotorsonline.com. Then I got it profesionally installed and painted for the rest of the money. Insurance paid for everything because someone spun out and ran into me on the freeway. IMO the USDM front looks like crap compared to the JDM front. I like the Integra the way that it was meant to be from Japan. Don't get me wrong i like the USDM front too, but I'm sure all of you would switch if it was for free.

 

I'd like to get it done to my R. The installation itself could be done at my house but the painting is what is detering me from the operation. Call me paranoid but I couldn't leave my car alone with strangers that might take it out for a little "drive". If someone can tell me how to avoid this, I'd really consider the mod.

 

a self install JDM front end can be done by yourself in your own garage... I had NO Welding experience previous to the install, and I started to do a few practice welds, all I did was rent an ARC welder for 25 bucks a day and bought a blow torch for 20 bucks...

all in all it took me a whole night to install...by myself

there is an easier way of doing it and it'l only requires you to do less than 10 spot welds, and un-do 12 spot welds by drilling.. and a few dremel cutting discs...

look at both USDM rad support and JDM rad support side by side.....you'll laugh to your self to all others who had paid to get it installed....

BTW, mine fits perfectly....with no flaws..

HTH

 

Well you know what I told you. the hardest part is the welding. But as you've seen from the previous post... it's not that hard. Good luck and if you do get it let me know if you need any MORE help.