ST205 RHD TO LHD, Conversion Options

[hmong337]

This guy in Netherlands converted his ST205 to LHD. On Netherlands celica forum there is a build thread but most
pictures are gone since thread is older.. see his profile for a few pics.. btw hasn't been active since 02/2008

http://www.6gc.net/members/bacertune

Best way to complete is by having a complete parts car.. can use a st202 for 95% of parts

all st205's can be converted ..easier to do in Europe since have access to some LHD parts.

**** ME! That's soooooo much work to convert! You'd think that Toyota would've made all the chassis'/frames/bodies the same for ease of manufacturing. I guess not.

Damn this really sucks. I'm in Canada and we can get JDM GT4's for fairly cheap (like the OP). I really was thinking just like the OP. Getting a junk Celica for converting a GT4. I HATE RHD! It's not the RHD so much, it's the RHD in a LHD country that I hate. Just too dangerous. You can't see ****. Man, this ruins my aspirations of wanting to get a GT4 and junk Celica for LHD conversion. Just too bad.

[Ruroniarc]

Well, you can always do everything backwards. Take the GT Celica, and use the GT4 as the donor car. Then transfer the engine and AWD tranny to the GT. You will be left with the regular suspension off at GT, and no the super strut, but what the hell, that's not so bad.

That's what I wanna do.

[playr158]

bacertune's RHD to LHD conversion pics are located here: Project Celica GT4 ST205 WRC.

the hardest part is sourcing a LHD st205 steering rack

as an alternative, a regular GT / ST rack can be used, but that also means using the whole front suspension for a GT / ST

if I was to do this in the US, that's a sacrify I can live with.

I'm actually going to try to mix my steering racks.....ST205 RHD rack with LHD ST202/AT200 tie rods and ends to fit the McPherson front suspension.


Also to Ruroniarc...you can't simply take the motor + AWD trans and drop it into the GT as the GT has no rear end for AWD. However you could take the motor and mix it with the GT trans (if MT) and drop that in but then you're stuck with FWD.


(3sgte + AWD trans + McPherson front and SS rear is what i'm hoping to setup )

[Ruroniarc]

Well, correct. I failed to mention the AWD setup for the rear too. You can pull that stuff off of the donor GT4. You would probably have to change out the rear plate under the car too or whatever it's called.

[playr158]

Rear floor pan. you can swap them out from the GT4 (seen it done before)
or you can cut out the rear tire well from the factory USDM

[KAOS]

Didn't somebody just take the firewall from a 204 and put it into the 205 chassis with all the steering stuff to convert to LHD?

IIRC somebody on this forum did that... I think...

[playr158]

^Doggy converted from RHD to LHD.
see post #2

[MR2fanatic]

Are there any other links from people that have done this swap? In the USA specifically? I'd like to ask a few questions of someone who has first hand experience.

This post has been edited by MR2fanatic: Feb 3, 2011 - 11:27 PM

[Smaay]

please keep these threads in english. its rude not to....


keep the build going, id like to see the finished product

[Culpable04]

(3sgte + AWD trans + McPherson front and SS rear is what i'm hoping to setup )

There is no such thing, ST205s use Mcpherson rear suspension, it is just different from ST202s as the bolt holes are spaced differently, but it's Mcpherson, not SS on the rear

[delusionz]

is that true about the steering rack being different? isnt there something u can just flip around or use a mix of parts?

does this mean malpaso didn't keep superstrut?


man... losing superstrut isnt a big problem, though it does help reduce understeer, but just dont use GT struts on a GT4, you would need to get ST202/ST204 front coilovers and ST205 rear coilovers.

[hmong337]

Reviving this idea...

So, the flood of cheap st205 GT4's are here in Canada. Plus, you can find a decent LHD 6gc car for pretty cheap.

If doing the conversion, would everything from the st205 bolt directly to the North American LHD 6gc? I guess what I'm trying to say is if doing the swap, I would essentially use the RHD imported st205 as the donar car. Then, put all those parts onto the clean LHD North American car.

Will everything plug and play?

I'd much rather use the LHD car as the base car for the conversion since the VIN is easier to work with and it will be A LOT easier to insure.

So... RHD ST205 to be completely ripped apart to be used as the donar. Will everything plug and play into the North American 6gc?


THANKS!

[trdproven]

everything that is flipped between a LHD and RHD needs to be reversed. Firewall, wiring needs to go the other way, and rack and corresponding suspension (depends how you want to do it), MAYBE some hardlines even your dash, A/C, a lot of parts and everything inside that needs to be flipped. look at what you have and look at a LHD and see what needs to be reversed. Its a lot of work really.

I'd rather use a LHD too and then convert to a 3sgte. Going the other way around is tedious. its doable but its going to be based on your knowledge or someone else, money, labor, parts.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 22, 2012 - 12:26 AM

[hmong337]

I wouldn't be touching the interior, no? I would want to keep everything LHD and just swap over the powertrain and drivetrain from the RHD GT4 donar. Importantly, does the regular North American spec LHD 6gc have provisions for the rear subframe of the GT4 to fit? How about clearance for the drive shaft?

I guess my previous post was a bit confusing. I want it to be LHD (using the North American car) but bolting all the ST205 goodies to it (awd, 3sgte, etc...)

Not so much a RHD to LHD conversion. But more like using a base North American LHD car, then bolting all the ST205 goodies to it. Will this work? Mainly concerned about the rear subframe though... possibly suspension mounting points.

[a_maniago]

Sorry to bump this topic, but I didn't want to start another one.

I'm thinking about doing this too with a (JP) GT-Four ST205 and a (US) GT ST204

looking at prices, buying the ST205 from japan runs about 3-5 grand and buying the ST204 isn't too hard.
both cars i'm looking at are 1994. Is anyone here from southern california?

I was debating on doing this conversion or buying an old mk3 supra and do a 1JZ swap, but I figured a celica would be less of a headache.

[Smaay]

Sorry to bump this topic, but I didn't want to start another one.

I'm thinking about doing this too with a (JP) GT-Four ST205 and a (US) GT ST204

looking at prices, buying the ST205 from japan runs about 3-5 grand and buying the ST204 isn't too hard.
both cars i'm looking at are 1994. Is anyone here from southern california?

I was debating on doing this conversion or buying an old mk3 supra and do a 1JZ swap, but I figured a celica would be less of a headache.

im in So Cal, so what are you trying to accomplish? a LHD AWD Celica or a RHD GT4? I have a fab shop that can do the swap for you but be prepared to spend $$$ one way or another its going to be expensive. I think the cheaper route is to buy one of those ST205 clips that comes with the rear end and convert a USDM to AWD

[a_maniago]

im in So Cal, so what are you trying to accomplish? a LHD AWD Celica or a RHD GT4? I have a fab shop that can do the swap for you but be prepared to spend $$$ one way or another its going to be expensive. I think the cheaper route is to buy one of those ST205 clips that comes with the rear end and convert a USDM to AWD

LHD AWD Celica by tearing down the ST205 and putting everything into the ST204 effectively keeping the VIN# etc for easier registration, etc

After doing a lot of research after my last post (and not sleeping last night), I've concluded that this is a semi-impossible dream in the US, especially California.

So first I looked up importation laws. Since the ST205 specifically was not released in the US in any way, shape, or form I don't think it will be approved.
To keep explanations short and concise, as quoted from AllTrac.net by gt4st205

"One way is VERY expensive, very long, and i wouldn't recomment it. What you'd have to do is provide 4 ST205's to the us government to crash test, they don't have to be running, but the engine blocks and seats(with seat belts) need to be in place. this is not the smartest route because you need to pay for shipment of all the cars, as well as the price for crashing the cars.

"If you have a relative or trusted friend in Canada you can ship it to them, have them register it. It would get a canadian VIN, which then could be transfered to the states.

"The easiest way (and cheapest) is to ship it to the states as a "track car". to do this you need to fit it to certain retrictions that are required with a US registered style of racing, such as roll bar, racing seats, fire surpression, and harnesses. the one downfall to this is that you'd need to wait untill the car is 22 yrs old to be able to drive it on the road."

Another method he didn't mention is transfer the parts I would want for conversion, namely, the engine, tranny, etc. (separately unfortunately, which will be costly)

I could go through Canada since my cousin lives in BC, Canada.

Maybe I'll do this with the All Trac 1992 Celica instead, since it was available in the US market.


But hey if I ever change my mind whats the name of your shop?

[DST94]

Sorry to bump this topic, but I didn't want to start another one.

I'm thinking about doing this too with a (JP) GT-Four ST205 and a (US) GT ST204

looking at prices, buying the ST205 from japan runs about 3-5 grand and buying the ST204 isn't too hard.
both cars i'm looking at are 1994. Is anyone here from southern california?

I was debating on doing this conversion or buying an old mk3 supra and do a 1JZ swap, but I figured a celica would be less of a headache.

im in So Cal, so what are you trying to accomplish? a LHD AWD Celica or a RHD GT4? I have a fab shop that can do the swap for you but be prepared to spend $$$ one way or another its going to be expensive. I think the cheaper route is to buy one of those ST205 clips that comes with the rear end and convert a USDM to AWD

im in So Cal, so what are you trying to accomplish? a LHD AWD Celica or a RHD GT4? I have a fab shop that can do the swap for you but be prepared to spend $$$ one way or another its going to be expensive. I think the cheaper route is to buy one of those ST205 clips that comes with the rear end and convert a USDM to AWD

LHD AWD Celica by tearing down the ST205 and putting everything into the ST204 effectively keeping the VIN# etc for easier registration, etc

After doing a lot of research after my last post (and not sleeping last night), I've concluded that this is a semi-impossible dream in the US, especially California.

So first I looked up importation laws. Since the ST205 specifically was not released in the US in any way, shape, or form I don't think it will be approved.
To keep explanations short and concise, as quoted from AllTrac.net by gt4st205

"One way is VERY expensive, very long, and i wouldn't recomment it. What you'd have to do is provide 4 ST205's to the us government to crash test, they don't have to be running, but the engine blocks and seats(with seat belts) need to be in place. this is not the smartest route because you need to pay for shipment of all the cars, as well as the price for crashing the cars.

"If you have a relative or trusted friend in Canada you can ship it to them, have them register it. It would get a canadian VIN, which then could be transfered to the states.

"The easiest way (and cheapest) is to ship it to the states as a "track car". to do this you need to fit it to certain retrictions that are required with a US registered style of racing, such as roll bar, racing seats, fire surpression, and harnesses. the one downfall to this is that you'd need to wait untill the car is 22 yrs old to be able to drive it on the road."

Another method he didn't mention is transfer the parts I would want for conversion, namely, the engine, tranny, etc. (separately unfortunately, which will be costly)

I could go through Canada since my cousin lives in BC, Canada.

Maybe I'll do this with the All Trac 1992 Celica instead, since it was available in the US market.


But hey if I ever change my mind whats the name of your shop?

Im doing this whole thing right now. PM me if you guys want to come see all the issues and how Im overcoming them.