So I've been toying around with the idea of having a RHD conversion done on my car when I swap to an h22. I can't do the conversion myself since I have no tools or skills, let alone do the motor swap. I posted on a local forum asking for someone that could help me out. A guy that worked for a local performance shop for 11 years doing fabricating PM'd me. He says he has his own shop at his house, all the tools we'd need at the shop, and a list of references. His hourly rate is usually $35/hour. He said during the firewall swap, he'd lower his rate to $20/hour, but would charge a regular rate during the swap. He's going to work up some time frames and ballpark figures on the cost. From posts I've seen on other forums, the firewall swap can be finished in a couple of days. I've seen motor swaps completed in a single day, but I'd say two days just to be safe. Do you all think his rates are reasonable for the work being performed? I'm still deciding on what I'm going to do, and won't be actually doing anything until this summer.
Also: any other input on the project? I know some think the RHD conversion is useless, but it's something I've wanted before I even bought my Prelude.
^there are some good threads on here about opinions...
i toyed with the idea for about 2 minutes when i was looking at a whole front clip.
1. cost: can you really afford it? realize a good front clip is about 3300 bux. but that should include the engine so i don't know why you would need an "engine swap", this also vastly depreciates the value of the car (unless of course you plan to keep it forever or you find that 1% that is willing to pay for it already done)
2. logistics: this guy might be good, but what of the slight chance he isn't? one thing welding wrong/measured wrong will affect overall drivability. it might pull to one side, etc. also many ppl have driven RHD cars here in american and some have been quoted as saying its more dangerous. you can't go thru drive thrus easily, tollways, etc. merging with traffic is harder. you have more blindspots.
3. do you have a spare car just in case something is broken/missing? this could take a theorhetical few days to weeks.....
4. talk to quevon (sp) he's done it and had to register and do all this stuff to his RHD prelude. his works fine and could be an example for yours
i don't want to discourage you but i've seen this question posed many times (mostly on HT) and the end result is usually the same. they start amassing parts and then realize the project is either to big or not worth it to them.
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1. Nadauto is where I'll be purchasing my front clip from. That's where my brother got his and he had good dealings with them. I say swap, because I'll be going from my h23 to the h22, but also be doing the TB, clutch, etc, etc while we're at it. I have very little skill when working with motors, so that's why that's in there. Their clips cost $2400, plus the cost of shipping. Let's say $3000 total just to get a ballpark going. Parts needed for the motor, I've added up to be around $1000, so $4000 so far. His ballparking for the firewall, motor, and paint is $1000. My vehicle is nearly paid off and I've got a line of credit with my bank that can cover the project ballparks, and then some if needed.
I keep going back and forth on whether I want to keep the car, sell the car, or get a project on the side. Something that crossed my mind right as I was typing this sentence is to get an EF Civic Hatch shell on the cheap and convert that as a test of his skills. EF's run what, $1000 on the moderate-high side, $1200ish for an EF front clip...hmm...this is actually sounding like a better plan. Anyways, on the Prelude: I figure I already have more money into it than I'll be able to get out. If I end up swapping firewall, motor, or both, I will most definately be keeping it for a loooong time, if not forever.
2. I have thrown into consideration that he could completely destroy my vehicle. Odd enough, I'm willing to take the risk. I've driven a couple RHD Coopers in America (not Preludes, but still RHD) and I was quite comfortable driving them. Drive thrus, parking garages, tollways, etc, are almost never part of my routine, so I'm not terribly worried about that. If it does come down to it, though, it's not the end of the world...I can easily unbuckle and lean over if need be.
3. I've still got my 2005 Civic collecting dust in the garage and my parents have a spare 2001 Accord, so I have transportation covered. He estimates a week to complete the project, two and a half if something comes up. It'll be done in the summer, so if it drags on even longer than that, it won't be a huge deal.
4. I've tried contacting him in the past, and he never responds to my PMs or emails. I was under the impression that his was imported? At least, that's the way his posts tend to lead me. I had considered importing a RHD Prelude, but the hassle and cost seems far greater than just converting. As far as I know, RHD cars are completely legal. I've been doing research on federal laws and laws in Kentucky, and I can find nothing on owning a RHD car. I'll be using the same VIN, so as far as my DMV is concerned, it's still LHD. If I get pulled over and questioned about it, I'll have documentation on the firewall swap.
Trolling threads on HT is actually what got me going on the Prelude/JDM craze again. I haven't been excited with my Prelude the past few months...it's like a girlfriend that I'm getting sick of. I have good days and bad days with it. I can think of a few other cars I'd probably rather have....but it's only a matter of time for before RHD starts running through my head again. I've just got a JDM RHD fetish, I guess.
If it comes time to actually start cutting the firewall apart and I for some reason change my mind, I can always just do the motor swap and sell the RHD conversion to someone else.
Edit: I did some searching on PO for RHD conversions and importing...some people have posted some crazy things in the past, lol. I feel pretty confident about the conversion now, although not 100%. It doesn't exactly entail that much work or cost as much as people tend to think it will.
One thing that some threads did bring up is insurance. I'm going to have to check with my agent to see if and how my car would be covered if the conversion were performed.
well.. how I see it is... you're going to go through this process of converting the 4th gen to RHD... just so you can drive RHD.... I don't see any extra joy or even self-satistfaction of driving a car thats RHD compared to LHD...
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well.. how I see it is... you're going to go through this process of converting the 4th gen to RHD... just so you can drive RHD.... I don't see any extra joy or even self-satistfaction of driving a car thats RHD compared to LHD...
I 100% expected a comment like like that from you. YOU don't see any joy, but I do. That's why I'm considering it. It's just a mod. A more intensive mod, but that's all it is. I bet next you're gonna say that swapping to an h22 isn't worth the trouble.
Buying a JDM Prelude would be more expensive. I've seen them from $12k-$16k, depending on the condition.
RHD cars are great for a weekend or 2nd car, but I wouldnt do it on my daily driver...things just arent designed for that here in america....i.e. drive-thrus
however, if you decide to do it, u'd probably also have to swap out the side mirrors, as they will be different as well...not to mention switching the door panel switches....
what happens when your on a 2 lane road and whant to pass how do you see around them?
Easy: don't drive on 2 lane roads. lol. I could easily go about my daily routine without much of a hitch from having converted. Most roads in this town have a median, but if not, they are 2-5 lanes wide, one way.
I don't like drive thru's for food, cash, etc. Something always goes wrong. I just go in. I'm not that lazy, anyways. Except when it comes to homework.
It's my daily driver, but I can easily make it my second or third car. I've got a set of JDM mirrors and could get ahold of some switches somewhat easily.
I have come to somewhat of a conclusion...I'm going to continue to drive as is until it's paid off. At that point I'm probably just gonna sell it and get something that's not FWD. There's a slight chance that I'll just swap to an h22, but probably not.
I guess it might be...it all comes down to whether I need the money when I get a new car or not. If the motor blows before I pay it off (which it may), I'm definately keeping it. There would be no point in selling it after a swap. I might as well give away money while I'm at it.
for me this car isnt going anware i have about 4k into it about another thousand to put on it there is no way i can get my money back so its a keeper for life prity much
i can rebuild my engine my self for cheap when she blows cause i can do the labor and i have a sponsor for machine work so i get it for free, or didrt cheap i pay just the actualy labor he pays his employees which is 15/hr rather than the shop price of 120/hr so i can get all my machine work done for about 2-300 bucks and thats a full port and ploish with a 5 angle valve job
4. I've tried contacting him in the past, and he never responds to my PMs or emails. I was under the impression that his was imported?
Here let me address this. Yes mine is imported. I know nothing about legalizing a LHD to RHD conversion. And here is my criteria to replying to a PM. I dont reply to stuff that has been covered in a large write-up/thread or someone that has done no research. Not to sound unhelpful but:
#1. How do i import and legalise my imported car? Call the DMV, they will point you in the right direction. I dont have time to explain everything, i have my own life. If you get stuck on something, then ask.
#2. Does the JRSC fit? Yes its in my car and at least 2 others. I know there is a huge thread on it on Honda-Tech and im sure there is one here too. Anything can be done with time, ingenuity and money.
Here is an example of a good question to ask me:
"How do i make my throttle body mounted MAP sensor detect boost with JRSC?"
Everything else has been covered in detail and most of the time pictures. All of us that have done great modifcations to our cars have done our time with research. Now its time to do yours.
I'm sorry ahead of time, but you sound like a cocky bastard. I think you're even more of a bastard for just ignoring my PM. If you even take the time to post "just search for it," I would think you could take an extra minute to type out a sentence. You spent the time to make that post...yet provided hardly, if any, helpful information.
Is this Honda-Tech? No. I came to this site to get specific info for the Prelude. I'm not a member of 264million different forums like others. Not to mention that Honda-Tech is a mess of a site.
And where the hell did I even ask about a supercharger? If you wanted to rant about people asking questions, you should've made your own thread.
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