I payed a deposit to buy a JDM DC5R (2002 Integra Type R) from a Japanese garage. By the way i am from Oman. Oman is South of Iran. We never did get the Type R before and will never will. The demand of the Type R here is very low and i have been waiting for this car for a while to arrive here, then i deceided ti import the car. The car i am getting is RHD(right hand drive) and i need to convert it to LHD(left hand drive). i know in the US poeple drive LHD and can import a RHD car, but here LHDs are only allowed and RHD is not, so doing a conversion is a must. I realised that the RSX-S is the only LHD of the Integra version of the JDM. Does any one here know if this conversion needs to be done know which parts i have to:
1-Modify?
2-relocate?
3-reaplce?

i know there is allot to be done, but allot of poeple here do it, cause we dont get nice cars like in other countries, so we have to do it ourself. I chose the JDM ,cause the it has more features than the OZDM DC5R and even has an affordable price. i know i will need a new:

1-dashaboard
2-interior door panels
3-pedals
4-steering column
5-need a new bulk head and even known as the firewall (is this sold by the US dealer or do i have to look for a wrecked RSX-S in the yard?). This part is the piece of metal that is between the dashboard and the engine, where the steering will go through and other wiring. NOt even sure, cause one garage told me they will modify (so dont know which to do replace? or modify? the bulhead)
6-anything else?


Any accurate info will be appreciated,
Kamal

 

i can't imagine why you would want to convert a JDM car to US left hand drive specs. it will take a lot of work, i considered converting my crx to right hand drive. it is hard to justify the amount of work it will take to do it. stay right hand drive!!

 

youll also need a new streering rack. youd be better off find a wrecked USDM rsx and parting it out...or even finding a front clip and part it out.

 

probably need to buy a front cut USDM RSX

 

...
he said

 

why dont you just find someone here in the us that will trade you for the rhd

 

yeah id think getting a LHD United States one would be easier... get a base model RSX and use the extra cash to import a japanese type R motor, cluster, steering wheel, interior., rims..

there is a rsx with practially type R everything for sale in america by a known engine builder... all you'd need to do is swap the motor

 

I defiantly thought of getting the US RSX, but I found out that the Acura's are only meant to be used for North American use. Here in Oman if you want to import a car you'd have to make sure it has a dealer here. Only OEM cars are allowed here (no modifications are allowed here, even a CAI or a muffler), so to prove my car is OEM I need a dealer here that will sign me authentic certifications that indicates that the dealer manager and two policemen approvment saying "The car is OEM". That's why I am going for the JDM Integra Type R, cause the car is powerful and still OEM, all from the Honda manufacturer and if I fit any aftermarket products on the car, that could be a way of getting my ?ss kicked into jail ( I know this BS for you guys to hear, but what can I do, these are the rules here?).
In general getting an US RSX and fixing it up to become a Type R is more work than the conversion and will cost more than the conversion. To make the US RSX into a Type R I will need a Brembo 4 piston calipers, bigger surface rotors, 17" rims, new tires, lower suspension (checked US RSX and OZDM Integra Type R total suspension height is 1400, while JDM is 1385), HID lights, DVD player, Navigation system, Type R ground effects, Type R wing spoiler, Recaro seats, Type R pistons, Type R piston rings that are sold separately, Type R camshafts, ECU update or maybe a new ECU, new shift linkage if I bought the base RSX, aluminum gear shift, JDM Type R LSD, Variable tail silencer which is only found on the JDM model only. So I guess you guys get my point?

I though about both and figured out just converting the car. I know it is allot of hard work, but it is better than wasting 1000s of dollars on parts that will require modification from the engine to the suspension and calculated that doing the conversion from JDM RHD to LHD is much cheaper than modifying a US RSX to a Type R.
What do you think guys?

Kamal


[Modified by IntegraTypeR, 12:32 AM 7/2/2002]