Hey guys, first time posting and I'm relatively new to Integras so I apologize in advance if this is a series of ridiculous questions:

I've been searching the forums and it seems like a lot of people want to convert their LHD Tegs to RHD (I'm assuming it's because they want the appearance of a legit JDM ITR). I want to do the opposite: RHD to LHD.

I can't seem to find any DIY or other info online so I'm thinking either not many people have done it or it's insanely expensive for parts and labour. I'm guessing another reason that it's not too common on the forums is that all the U.S. ITR owners have LHD North American-spec ITRs, not JDM ones because (from what I've heard anyway) it's pretty tough to import JDM cars to the U.S.

But in Canada it's not too difficult to import JDM cars so I'm assuming there might be more of a demand for RHD to LHD conversions up here?

Can someone point me in the right direction? I have a line on a beautiful '96 Championship White ITR that I could pick up any time from my buddy. It's basically flawless and I'd absolutely love to buy it but it's a genuine, straight from Japan ITR so obviously it's RHD.

I've been told by several people that the main insurance company here in B.C. will pretty much write off any RHD vehicle that's been in an accident, even if the damage is <$1000 so I'm a little worried about buying a RHD vehicle. Also, I talked to several mechanics, car enthusiasts, and insurance guys around town and they almost all advised against buying a RHD vehicle.

So, the ITR my buddy could sell me has to be converted to LHD if I'm going to buy it. If it's under about $2000 in parts and labour (and not too much of a headache) I'd do it in a heartbeat, but I wanted to check with you guys first!

I could strip the car down and prep it for any cutting and welding that would need to be done without too much trouble, I'm confident enough in my mechanical abilities to do that, so I guess my last question is: would a RHD>LHD conversion be the same as a LHD>RHD conversion in terms of parts, except everything opposite? Or is a RHD>LHD conversion more complicated?

Any help is much appreciated, thanks.

 

If you have a legit gorgeous condition '96 ITR I wouldn't be ruining it with that conversion. Given it's the first model production year and I would imagine more rare than later years I wouldn't touch it.

From seeing and helping friends with RHD conversions (not necessarily with ITR's) it's going to be about the same level of work to do a LHD conversion - though most likely much easier to source good condition parts given the larger number of LHD Integras here.

 

I don't know the muffin man, but I like where his head is at. Having stripped cars out and done a ton of work on Integras in general, I have pretty much decided that I never want to get involved in a conversion that extensive.

 

dont do it. original = better

 

why in gods name would you ever want to convert from RHD to LHD???




wtf moment..

 

i wanted to quote him but i already have too much in my sig :[ thats honestly a first for me.

convert a perfect rhd to lhd.

 

would imagine the labor cost is the same as going LHD to RHD but the parts cost would be significantly cheaper since you can get it more locally. Ideal situation would be to bring that car to the US and get yourself a LHD 97 ITR instead, but it sounds like you're getting a good $ hookup from your friend.

 

Why do ppl convert LHD to RHD?? That is a WTF moment

 

ditto.

 

Leave it as is.

 

OP buy the rhd itr from your friend, find someone in the US that has a USDM Lhd Itr to trade with you, people stop cutting up itr's



also OP your insurance is going to write it off like you say because it a grey market vehicle from another country, not because its soley a rhd car, so even if you convert to lhd, thats not going to make it so you get more from the insurance in case of an accident, it will still be a grey market vehicle, that has now had major structural work done to it, so it will probably be worth even less if your insurance company finds out about it

 

looks guys sometime you have to, im in montreal and im looking to import a ctr 97/98. I wont be able to register it untils it's 25 years old. That's the law here rhd have to be 25yo or older to be registered but Lhd are 15 yo. So ill try to get a ctr convert it so i can register it. Car will be for track use only but that way i dont have to get a truck and trailer to bring it to the track. The stupid gouvernement dont look at the car original side lhd/rhd when its imported in canada but only when its inspected to be registered.

 

leave it as is.



but seriously, rhd isn't cool..

 

+1

 

This entire thread is full of fail, except for this:

OP just buy a freaking ITR already in LHD. There is a whole country full of them that you live in.

RHD cars are for hard-parkers and postal workers. Converting RHD to LHD is even sillier, especially since it'll be no better than any 97-01 already available in your country.

 

there is clearly ways around that "25 year old" law. it's the same here but people still have r34 skylines, dc5's etc...if you got enough money you can get around that horse **** law, just don't cut up an itr please. get a usdm itr if you want a lhd itr, same with op.

 

you guys keep saying you want to convert to lhd to be able to register it,,,, being converted to lhd doesn't do anything, it is still a a Japanese market vehicle, it does not have a vin number like north American vehicles,, and you do not have a physical paper title, ,, so you still cant register the vehicle


and it does not yet fall under the 15 or 25 year rule, so it can not be registered with the jdm vin


rhd vehicles aren't illegal because they are rhd they are illegal because they don't pass safety and emission regulations set forth by north American governments



OP save your self alot of hassle just buy a usdm/cdm itr and register it



the ctr guy above, why buy a ctr for a track car, its gonna be more expensive to buy initially,, and you cant register it,,, and insurance does you no good, if you wreck on track, insurance doesn't cover that ,,, just buy a regular usdm/cdm civic hatchback and modify that for track duty

 

^^^ hes correct.

Switching RHD to LHD will do nothing concerning insurance and such. The reason behind this is that it is harder to find new oem parts for most RHD cars so insurance companies find it easier to just write them off. My insurance company wouldn't even give me the option of getting full insurance, only basic