right hand drive conversion - Honda Prelude Forum

NothingBUTasian · 10-27-2006, 10:23 PM

I know this will probably be pricey and for some not worth the money, but I was just wondering if anybody has done this and if it is doable. Looking to potentially get a JDM front clip with dash and everything and potentially doing the right hand drive. Again, if anybody knows somebody whose done this and can give me insight on it, please advise. Thanks in advance.

Joshua

98auto · 10-27-2006, 10:34 PM

You will need almost EVERY part from the clip. To name a few: wire harness, dash, pedal assembly, steering rack, steering column, brake lines, clutch lines, A/c fan assembly, heater core, door panels+ the wire harness so that the master controls are on the "passenger" side and not the original drivers side. Its alot of work to make your car harder to drive and unable to go through drive thru's, drive up ATM's, or pay tolls. I lived in Japan for 3 years so Ive driven alot of RHD cars..it works over there, but its a pain in the ass over here

Solid · 10-27-2006, 11:04 PM

Just import a RHD BB6...

I know I am one to talk lol... I made an auto into a 5speed instead of buying a 5spd prelude, but RHD conv. is way to intensive and way too much money

NothingBUTasian · 10-27-2006, 11:23 PM

well I def won't mind the tolls thing and the bank/drive through thing....I think it'd be pretty neat to have.....and I def knew this would be a project. So this is what I"ve been looking at.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=200037039736

now with that....all I would probably need is just the door switches?.....again...does anybody know somebody that has done this?

Joshua

Solid · 10-27-2006, 11:47 PM

^It's cheaper just to buy a damn grey market bb6 lol

Solid · 10-27-2006, 11:48 PM

There are many places that can get you the whole car...

http://www.j-garage.com/

Nola_BB6 · 10-28-2006, 07:49 AM

Your best best would be to call collision center bodyshops or any bodyshop that deals with the frame and see what it would roughly cost. Thats assuming that they'll do it. I've thought about it but I think importing one would be easier.

McLude · 10-28-2006, 10:34 AM

I bought a RHD Converted (Firewall Swapped) Integra here in the States. All type-R'd out, suede recaros, Honda Optional Kit, JDM headlight conversion. I love it. Drive thru's are not that big a deal for me, I can usually lean over far enough to do business. When I go to the bank, I just walk in. Big Deal. Small price to pay for mass groupies in my experience. It's was hard to drive for a while, but within a week I got the hang of it. I personally prefer it, its fun to me. However, i'm not sure that I would have undertaken the conversion myself. The seller said he put a **** ton of labor into it. It was already done and for sale, so I just scooped it up.

alphajesse · 10-28-2006, 11:28 AM

If you want RHD just buy a damn Japanese or UK-market car. It will be cheaper!

NothingBUTasian · 10-28-2006, 06:49 PM

well the thing is, I'm gonna have to do some kind of reconstruction for my car considering it was in a front end collision. The proper way to fix it is to get a front clip. The engine is fine but I will need all front end parts to get my baby up and running again. So I figured that I can just get a JDM front clip for a lil bit more with a much more appealing end result. I don't think the cost will be much more then me getting a regular front clip its def going to be alot more man hours to getting it put together though and I will def be willing to put in those hours. We'll see though....if anybody has any more input on doing the swap it'd be great....thanks!

Joshua

Ludeaholic · 10-28-2006, 06:55 PM

If you can weld you can do it yourself.. Just takes a LONG time to strip everything down and put it back together. There are guides on how to do a converion on HT for other cars, a civic iirc

NothingBUTasian · 10-28-2006, 07:01 PM

My dad welds for a living....

98auto · 10-28-2006, 09:48 PM

wow..is it really worth the ebay price of $5100 plus shipping to drive on the wrong side of the car and attract more attention from cops and thieves?

Prelude1897 · 10-28-2006, 10:42 PM

I'm planning to do the same exact thing some time next year hopefully. I already have access to a rear clip, and I"ve found a company that will sell a front clip for pretty cheap as well. Something like $3500-$3700 for the whole front clip with EVERYTHING. I'm going to get through Auto Body class first before attempting this project and when I do, I'm defenitly taking alot of pics of the whole process and it's probably going to cost me around $5000-$6000 for parts, tools, paint, ect. and alot of my time

So importing one isn't always the cheapest way, plus it takes the fun out of the fact that you did the conversion yourself

NothingBUTasian · 10-28-2006, 10:47 PM

what do you need the rear for?

Prelude1897 · 10-28-2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NothingBUTasian

what do you need the rear for?

Cause I wont need the front. I'm not doing the conversion to my current car, I'm going to have a whole different car. I'm just going to either buy a Prelude wrecked in the front, or just buy the rear clip from my GF's dad since he owns a salvage yard

Solid · 10-28-2006, 11:27 PM

I see it like this:

Sell prelude... $8,000 - $12,000

Import prelude $9,000 - $14,000

Meaning it should cost around $1,000 - $6,000, depending on your prelude's condition and the one being imported.

NothingBUTasian · 10-29-2006, 07:32 PM

your missing the whole point why I'm looking into this solid. My car is totalled right now...it was in a front end collision. So to fix it, I'm gonna get a front clip and swap it. It's not like I'm trying to sell my car, and try to get a new one. That'd be way out of the price range. I'm hoping I can find a front clip for about 3-4 grand and do most of the work myself. And in the mean time try to get as much done to the engine as possible while it's out of the car.

Joshua

McLude · 10-30-2006, 06:53 AM

Dude, if you have the resources, and it's what you really want, fugit, just go for it man. I personally like it, its fun to drive and turns alot of heads. It's not like you're tearing apart your perfectly intact lude to do it, its totalled already so you don't have as much to loose as if your lude was in perfect condition. You just have to find a clip without a motor, or find someone that wants a motor and go in with them on the price of the clip. Swap out the firewall and get started on changing everything over. Good luck bro, I think it will be pimp as hell.

Solid · 10-30-2006, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NothingBUTasian

your missing the whole point why I'm looking into this solid. My car is totalled right now...it was in a front end collision. So to fix it, I'm gonna get a front clip and swap it. It's not like I'm trying to sell my car, and try to get a new one. That'd be way out of the price range. I'm hoping I can find a front clip for about 3-4 grand and do most of the work myself. And in the mean time try to get as much done to the engine as possible while it's out of the car.

Joshua

It was more a response to Brian who said the RHD coversion would be cheaper for most people regardless. If your totalled it could be a better option, but don't you have a salvage title then?