Change hand drive
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon, Portugal
Change hand drive
Hello everyone.
I'm studying the possibility of buying a DC5R and convert it
to left hand drive. Here in my country we drive on the left side,
so for me it's a must.
Already talked to honda, and i'm waiting for a reply.I know it's a lot of money
but i can afford, also studying the possibility of doing it outside honda in a
performance shop or something, maybe could save some money.
Well i was thinking in use the rsx type s parts to do it, but was wondering
if the EP3 mechanical parts would do. Does anyone knows something?
Here we only have EP3's, so it doesn't be difficult to get the parts.
If this would work, i only have to ship the rsx interiors.
I'm from Portugal and i would buy the car in UK, i'm not interested in ship
a rsx type s, because i prefer the DC5R.
Someone who knows something, that could help?
I'm studying the possibility of buying a DC5R and convert it
to left hand drive. Here in my country we drive on the left side,
so for me it's a must.
Already talked to honda, and i'm waiting for a reply.I know it's a lot of money
but i can afford, also studying the possibility of doing it outside honda in a
performance shop or something, maybe could save some money.
Well i was thinking in use the rsx type s parts to do it, but was wondering
if the EP3 mechanical parts would do. Does anyone knows something?
Here we only have EP3's, so it doesn't be difficult to get the parts.
If this would work, i only have to ship the rsx interiors.
I'm from Portugal and i would buy the car in UK, i'm not interested in ship
a rsx type s, because i prefer the DC5R.
Someone who knows something, that could help?
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 705
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR, USA
Re: Change hand drive (SkankyEJ7)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkankyEJ7 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is it Illegal to have Right hand driven car in your country?</TD></TR></TABLE>
yea this is the question.. because man, if I could have a rhd dc5r I would live in it.
yea this is the question.. because man, if I could have a rhd dc5r I would live in it.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon, Portugal
Tks for the feedback guys but i don't want a rhd car. It's not practical and it's gonna be almost daily driver.I live in the city so it's complicated. It's not illegal thought but i prefer lhd.
Found out that EP3 parts won't fit so, looks like i'll have to find a usdm front clip and change firewalls. I'm not cutting my car in half...
Anyone who have done it, that could give some feedback?
Found out that EP3 parts won't fit so, looks like i'll have to find a usdm front clip and change firewalls. I'm not cutting my car in half...
Anyone who have done it, that could give some feedback?
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
From: The Grand Canyon State, USA
Re: (blueshark123)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blueshark123 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wait so you drive on the Left but need a LHD car? That makes no sense..</TD></TR></TABLE>
I've seen it in the Virgin Islands
OP if you really drive on the left, it'll actually be easier to drive it you keep it RHD
I've seen it in the Virgin Islands
OP if you really drive on the left, it'll actually be easier to drive it you keep it RHD
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Sorry for the long post, but this is my input on this:
If I were you, I'd find out about shops that specialize in RHD to LHD conversions. I live in the Dominican Republic and we do have about 3 or 4 shops that live off this type of job alone, like literally speaking, this is their business.
The reason for this is because several years ago, a lot of importers started bringing more JDM than USDM cars, mainly buying from auctions and other mechanisms. People started noticing how these cars coming from Japan were being sold at better prices and most, if not all of them, were in very good conditions so they were selling pretty good (I'm talking about your regular daily drivers, Civics, Corollas, etc.). Since RHD is Illegal here (they give you up to three months to do the conversion once the car is out of the port and on the streets under a citizen's regular use), these shops started to grow and to specialize on this (several years ago).
I guess interior wise, it depends on each car on whether if you need 100% all of the accessories on the Dashboard or just the main piece, because you could swap a lot of the stuff, like the cluster, etc. Mechanically speaking, you'll need the steering rack for sure.
On the issue about "having to cut the car in half", I'm not sure what you mean there, what I've seen they do, is they have to seal the existing hole in the right of the firewall, and they have to open a new one on the left side. This might be some sort of controversial to some, but since this is already pretty common here, it's not a big deal for me, if and only if, I know the shop who's doing the work, and if I've seen other work by them. If welding is done properly, there's nothing to be worried about there, other than the sentimentalism about having to alter the chassis of a very rare and very loved car like Type R's.
I'm also buying a JDM car, but a DC2-R instead. Owning a DC2-R will be surreal for me, it'll truly be an honor, but in my case, I HAVE to do the conversion. In your case, at least it's not Illegal in your country, so you kind of have the choice to adapt to driving in RHD.
People that want to look or be "JDM" have done it the other way and did LHD to RHD, so the way I see it, I'll be doing this not to look or be something, but because it's the only way I can be a Type R owner and having to modify the firewall (not "cutting the car in half"), will not stop me.
Make a few calls, see if you find good shops that do this and good luck.
If I were you, I'd find out about shops that specialize in RHD to LHD conversions. I live in the Dominican Republic and we do have about 3 or 4 shops that live off this type of job alone, like literally speaking, this is their business.
The reason for this is because several years ago, a lot of importers started bringing more JDM than USDM cars, mainly buying from auctions and other mechanisms. People started noticing how these cars coming from Japan were being sold at better prices and most, if not all of them, were in very good conditions so they were selling pretty good (I'm talking about your regular daily drivers, Civics, Corollas, etc.). Since RHD is Illegal here (they give you up to three months to do the conversion once the car is out of the port and on the streets under a citizen's regular use), these shops started to grow and to specialize on this (several years ago).
I guess interior wise, it depends on each car on whether if you need 100% all of the accessories on the Dashboard or just the main piece, because you could swap a lot of the stuff, like the cluster, etc. Mechanically speaking, you'll need the steering rack for sure.
On the issue about "having to cut the car in half", I'm not sure what you mean there, what I've seen they do, is they have to seal the existing hole in the right of the firewall, and they have to open a new one on the left side. This might be some sort of controversial to some, but since this is already pretty common here, it's not a big deal for me, if and only if, I know the shop who's doing the work, and if I've seen other work by them. If welding is done properly, there's nothing to be worried about there, other than the sentimentalism about having to alter the chassis of a very rare and very loved car like Type R's.
I'm also buying a JDM car, but a DC2-R instead. Owning a DC2-R will be surreal for me, it'll truly be an honor, but in my case, I HAVE to do the conversion. In your case, at least it's not Illegal in your country, so you kind of have the choice to adapt to driving in RHD.
People that want to look or be "JDM" have done it the other way and did LHD to RHD, so the way I see it, I'll be doing this not to look or be something, but because it's the only way I can be a Type R owner and having to modify the firewall (not "cutting the car in half"), will not stop me.
Make a few calls, see if you find good shops that do this and good luck.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 0
From: Sucka Free to the Une //, Bay Area
Re: (LFV)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LFV »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tks for the feedback guys but i don't want a rhd car. It's not practical and it's gonna be almost daily driver.I live in the city so it's complicated. It's not illegal thought but i prefer lhd.
Found out that EP3 parts won't fit so, looks like i'll have to find a usdm front clip and change firewalls. I'm not cutting my car in half...
Anyone who have done it, that could give some feedback?</TD></TR></TABLE>
ill trade u my LHD for your RHD
not the whole car just to convert
Found out that EP3 parts won't fit so, looks like i'll have to find a usdm front clip and change firewalls. I'm not cutting my car in half...
Anyone who have done it, that could give some feedback?</TD></TR></TABLE>
ill trade u my LHD for your RHD
not the whole car just to convert
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon, Portugal
Thanks for your input jimmy.
I'm actually a DC2R owner
Well i've seen a couple of conversions in the web, and they switch firewalls. My first idea was what you said, about rework the firewall.
If it's just sealing a hole and opening another, the chassis will be untouched right?
Don't know about shop's of that kind here, but i'm gonna search.
Tks
I'm actually a DC2R owner
Well i've seen a couple of conversions in the web, and they switch firewalls. My first idea was what you said, about rework the firewall.
If it's just sealing a hole and opening another, the chassis will be untouched right?
Don't know about shop's of that kind here, but i'm gonna search.
Tks
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Lisbon, Portugal
I said we drive on the left, but it is on the left of the car lol in the road is on the right.
I don't want to drive a RHD, some people say that the conversion is unreliable because the frame must be cut, which affect's the chassis strenght. But if i'll just rework the firewall shouldn't be a problem right?
If it isn't reliable i'll just stick with the DC2...
I don't want to drive a RHD, some people say that the conversion is unreliable because the frame must be cut, which affect's the chassis strenght. But if i'll just rework the firewall shouldn't be a problem right?
If it isn't reliable i'll just stick with the DC2...
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: USA
Re: (LFV)
Buy a USDM Type-S (left hand drive) and buy all the ITR junk for it and throw it on. Much easier then converting an ITR to left hand drive, then again it might cost the same in the end but at least everything fits perfect and you don't have to worry about some shop hacking up the car.
Or you could just get used to driving a right hand drive car, I've driven a few right hand drive cars and it's not as bad as people make it out to be, give it a try, you might just say screw it and drive it as is.
Or you could just get used to driving a right hand drive car, I've driven a few right hand drive cars and it's not as bad as people make it out to be, give it a try, you might just say screw it and drive it as is.
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