LHD conversion?, is it possible? Options

[top_projects05]

i know i know... i'm sure you guys know what i'm thinking of trying to do already but i'm new at this and just thought i'd ask. just trying to learn more about celicas that's all.

i'm sure converting a RHD to a LHD is possible, it's just i wonder if its hard to do or if it'll cost a bunch of green paper that non of us really has to spend! is it? anyone knows how the steering works and anything about this subject? thanks.

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[red_94gts]

im guessing it would cost the same to convert a LHD to RHD and be the same amount of work. of course it would be cheaper if you had a donor car though

[SinisterWhisper]

umm what would the point be? unless your moving to somehwere like japan or england your just increasing your chances of getting killed in certain types of collisions?

[946thGenGT]

i know i know... i'm sure you guys know what i'm thinking of trying to do already but i'm new at this and just thought i'd ask.  just trying to learn more about celicas that's all.

  i'm sure converting a RHD to a LHD is possible, it's just i wonder if its hard to do or if it'll cost a bunch of green paper that non of us really has to spend!  is it?  anyone knows how the steering works and anything about this subject?  thanks.

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The topic has come up before and I'm sure the majority of people will give you the same response...

With enough money anything is possible.

I think in past discussions it was determined that being RHD isn't what makes the car illegal, it has to do with the lack of crash data/safety stuff/etc... However I think I remember something about a place in the states that has all of the safety data for a GT4. I could be wrong but maybe someone else remembers more about it.

[turboinduction]

oh its pretty simple actually

you just move the dash, then the steering box, reposition the column, move and drill for the clutch plate along with accelerator and brake pedals, redo all the wiring, get a donor car for all the cosmetics, somehow figure out the japanese airbag system so its USDM standard, get new seats, and dont forgot about the throttle and brake cables. Oh the shifter assembly too because of the slight driver tilt. OH ... and the list keeps growing

I'm not jumping at you as it may seem, but this has come up so many times. Please use search in the future.

Answer time - No its not illegal to have a RHD car. Many mailman cars are RHD and so are Skylines. Is it smart.... no. Why. You'd have to teach yourself how to drive all over again. Its it worth it... no. You'd spend more money then the car is worth. Am i done - yes.

-Ti

This post has been edited by turboinduction: Jan 27, 2005 - 5:28 PM

[4wheelWOnder]

dont know why you would want to do it, but it really isnt worth, the time and money.....and if your trying to import it, dont worry, japanese laws and eurpean laws allow you to have a lhd vehicle..............if thats the case though, i would look up the exact laws on that.........but if you do go ahead with it, good luck

[Kwanza26]

oh its pretty simple actually

you just move the dash, then the steering box, reposition the column, move and drill for the clutch plate along with accelerator and brake pedals, redo all the wiring, get a donor car for all the cosmetics, somehow figure out the japanese airbag system so its USDM standard, get new seats, and dont forgot about the throttle and brake cables. Oh the shifter assembly too because of the slight driver tilt. OH ... and the list keeps growing

I'm not jumping at you as it may seem, but this has come up so many times.  Please use search in the future.

Answer time - No its not illegal to have a LHD car.  Many mailman cars are LHD and so are Skylines.  Is it smart.... no.  Why.  You'd have to teach yourself how to drive all over again.  Its it worth it...  no.  You'd spend more money then the car is worth.  Am i done - yes.

-Ti
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You mean RHD right? ;]

I also don't see it as too difficult, aside from finding parts. Also note, you will have to get a steering rack also... and parts of the suspension if they're different.

[Chrobis]

I'm with most everyone else....

why?

[popstar]

Yeah WHY !!

Kwanza26... is right about shocks and stuff, all my celica's have had handed shocks with RHD, which on inspection where rated differently, i've not had to change them on 6gen yet, so i could be wrong....

2 turboinduction.... why would he need to change the seats ??? i don't understand that at all <:/

This post has been edited by popstar: Jan 27, 2005 - 1:36 AM

[Chrobis]

if you have ever driven your 6th gen, then sat on the passenger side you would know why... maybe its not neccisary, but I know I couldnt drive right in my passenger seat.

[turboinduction]

Yeah WHY !!

  Kwanza26... is right about shocks and stuff, all my celica's have had handed shocks with RHD, which on inspection where rated differently, i've not had to change them on 6gen yet, so i could be wrong....

2 turboinduction.... why would he need to change the seats ??? i don't understand that at all <:/
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lol, the driver seat can do more power seat-wise. At least I think. I haven't driven the Celica in a while. My max is a 6-way driver and a 4-way passenger. Its just a creature comfort.

And Kwanza - yes RHD, i'm a silly loser. I'll change it.

-Ti

[top_projects05]

sorry guys. i'm not thinking about switching a u.s. celica to drive like a jdm celica. i was thinking the other way around.... which ever that is RHD or LHD. just want to be on the safe side!

but about the comment 946thGenGT made about some place that has the test records and all that other stuff for a gt4.... who knows about that? is it even true cuz if so then i would have thought a bunch of people would have gt4's already. i also wonder why not much people plan or save money to get a gt4. is it really that hard to get one?! but yeah, thanks for the info people. like you guys say, "With enough money anything is possible." but i'll do a search. thanks again.

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[turboinduction]

sorry guys.  i'm not thinking about switching a u.s. celica to drive like a jdm celica.  i was thinking the other way around....  which ever that is RHD or LHD.  just want to be on the safe side! 

but about the comment 946thGenGT made about some place that has the test records and all that other stuff for a gt4.... who knows about that?  is it even true cuz if so then i would have thought a bunch of people would have gt4's already.  i also wonder why not much people plan or save money to get a gt4.  is it really that hard to get one?!  but yeah, thanks for the info people.  like you guys say, "With enough money anything is possible."  but i'll do a search.  thanks again.

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Sorry to say, even with enough money the GT4 isn't a USA option. Sounds sad I know, buts it a hopeless wish. US DOT and Customs will not allow a GT4 to be imported. In fact the only JDM-spec car to be imported is the GTR32-34 from Motorex in Cali. This company actually went through the whole testing and crashing phase and has provided the government with data. Then when the Skylines come in, they must to converted and modified to USA spec. This justifies the price. So ... it IS that hard to get a GT4 over and your best bet is just posters on the wall. If you do a search, it should come up ten-fold. This has been talked about alot and I'm sure the search will have plenty of info to go through. Back to topic.... if you somehow did import one over... I'd just leave it RHD. Again, RHD isn't illegal. I thought you were going the other way around LHD-RHD, now thats just silly

-Ti

[4wheelWOnder]

after looking into this a while back myself, you probably could import it, esp. since the 6th gen was imported to the u.s......but you woluld have to call toyota for a letter of compliance, saying that it is safe to drive on us roads..............and to add to that, you would need to find an auctioning based company, that sells jdm vehicles, (and imports them), .............down side to that is that its expensive, the good thing is with the letter of compliance, theres no testing involved, but its more or less, does toyota have one............if not, then you could either make the neccesary conversions yourself, or pay to get it done, (which includes crash test), so you would another 3 gt-4's, to do that, so all in all, it might or might not be worth it............total cost with the letter..

4000 for car
3000 to ship
1000 for conversion

about a 3 month waiting poeriod.............dont know how much it is without the letter ,but it is expensive

[top_projects05]

yeah... i guess but all this is for going legal, right?! is there not a way or ways of going illegally? i mean i've heard of shipping it to mexico to avoid u.s. customs then changing vins or what ever to get it into the u.s. i know this is illegal and all but i'm willing to risk naming a gt4 as a regular gt for insurance coverage. sorry i'm going over the same subjects over and over again but i'll look at the old topics too. thanks guys.

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[FORGMANN]

ok ..

first off toyota will never i repeat NEVER give you letter of compliance .. I don't care iif name is bill gates still will not get one ..

mexico importing is a joke .. to cross any border canada or mexico car will have to be towed acrossed .. a lot less hassle ..

i brought my GT4 across canada / montana border in sept .. towed without issue and took only 10min ..and most of that was paperwork .which i had cleared before i even got to border .. crossing is more about money /paperwork then car ..

i thought about converting to LHD but my car is in such mint cond it would be shame to convert .. plus you lose climate control as it is made for RHD only .. i know some of the best body guys in the midwest and all know toyotas well and swapping firewall iis just to much stress to put on car .. i would not drive a car with swapped firewall no matter who did it ..

my GT4 is more of a play car anyway as i have my v6 mr2 daily driver so RHD is not a issue besides it has not been an issue for me when i drive it .. if you are a inexperienced driver then yes it will be a issue ..

now i am still working on my car and have not titled yet but i know vin swap is last option .. vin swapping is done a lot on hot rods and has been for decades but i would feel better not doing that at least not until all other avenues are used ..

i see a lot of people on here talking about stuff they have no idea about and customs has been made out to be some sort of super force you will never beat .. that is just not true just need to know how to work them and the system .

i am one of old guys on this board and i really have a GT4 so i speak from experience..

here is what it looks like on other side

This post has been edited by FORGMANN: Jan 28, 2005 - 9:49 AM

[turboinduction]

ok ..

first off toyota will never i repeat NEVER give you letter of compliance .. I don't care iif name is bill gates  still will not get one ..

mexico importing is a joke .. to cross any border canada or mexico car will have to be towed acrossed  .. a lot less hassle ..

i brought my GT4 across canada / montana border in sept .. towed without issue  and  took only 10min ..and most of that was paperwork .which i had cleared before i even got to border .. crossing is more about money /paperwork then car ..

  i thought about converting to LHD  but my car is in such mint cond it would be shame to convert .. plus you lose climate control as it is made for RHD only .. i  know some of the best body guys in the midwest and all know toyotas  well and swapping firewall iis just to much stress to put on car .. i would not drive a car with swapped firewall no matter who did it ..

my GT4 is more of a play car anyway as i have my v6 mr2 daily driver so RHD is not a issue besides it has not been an issue for me when i drive it .. if you are a  inexperienced driver then yes it will be a issue ..

now i am still working  on my car and have not titled yet but i know vin swap is last option .. vin swapping is done a lot on hot rods and has been for decades but i would feel better not doing that  at least not until all other avenues are used ..

i see a lot of people on here talking about stuff they have no idea about and customs has been made out to be some sort of  super  force you will never beat .. that is just not true just need to know how to work them and the system .

i am one of old guys on this board and i really have a GT4 so i speak from experience..

here is  what it looks like  on other side
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I agree with everything except the "unstopable customs." They are unstopable. There is no way you will EVER legalize that GT4. What you have is illegal. If you were pulled over, the car would be taken and you'd go to jail. VIN swapping is illegal too. So, yes... there are many ways 'around the system' but not legally. AGAIN the only car to be LEGALLY imported is the Nissan Skyline GTR32-34 from Motorex. Nothing else. Customs even states so in their log. Now, back to your car. Would I do it ... no. I have no balls. But do I commend you.. yes. Its badass and keep it as long as possible.

-Ti

[4wheelWOnder]

sorry about the wrong info...........i got it from 2 different resistered importers in the states..............kinda doubted toyota would give out one of those anyways........

[FORGMANN]

hey,
i never bought car with intention of going to BMV and saying hey," i have a jdm car i need to title " .. guy with red gt4 in NH has swapped vins on his car and even passed inspection but i still am looking at other ways first ...

here is how i crossed and me and customs guy BS for a bit while he was looking over for drugs .. never once even mentioned RHD ..

i spent 6 hours at crossing in middle of nowhere w/ paperwork issues for a legal US del sol and 10 mintues going otherway with RHD car with nothing but bill of sale and rest of customs paperwork ..

BTW rear drive shaft was unhooked but i regret not renting full trailer ..

ALSO WILL HAVE 16" 3 SPOKE WHEELS FOR SALE SOON ..



This post has been edited by FORGMANN: Jan 30, 2005 - 3:10 PM

[top_projects05]

alright thanks guys. i'm just trying to get as much info as i could about getting my hands on a gt4. if you guys have anymore ideas, suggestions or thoughts, please do pm me or email me. it'll help alot. hope to have one soon in my driveway. again, thank you!

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