plans for something a little different...

[V]

ok... i have my flame suit on already...

I like all my cars to be different from the norm, I like them to stand out and be easily recognized. Ever since i started driving over 10 years ago, and had my first car, everyone knew me by what i drove and they still do. So that kinda sums up why i have had this one idea in mind so long.

As a few people on the site know, i own an 85 iroc that needs major work(chassis is rotting away as we speak). So when i get some time once im back home, i'm gonna try to work on it. However, i dont want an average IrocZ. and not spending crazy money on drivetrain swaps. Somethign ive talked to very few people about is my plans/idea/consideration for a RHD conversion. yes, right hand drive. I actually planned it all out a few years ago, i spoke with shops in Austrailia and all about how they do the conversions. Every thing id need to swap can be done by custom fabrication or buying parts to work it out. I have part numbers for pieces that i would need. I worked out all aspects of the true mirror conversion and it is entirely possible, for me to do, myself in my own garage. The only reason i havent begun it yet, is because i dont know if i should. Even the legal issues have been addressed. Hardest part would be sectioning the dash shell and rebuilding it. I am currently in contact trying to find a used Austrailian shell from a past conversion.

I think it would def be an eye catcher on the street and at shows. The car is a 5spd and would remain so. I have driven rhd cars before in the US and even manual trans ones so that doesnt bother me. IMO that car would definately be cool just because it would be different.. imagine pulling up at a light next to an IrocZ with export taillights and the ttops off, and the driver is in the passenger seat...

let me hear your thoughts, and yes... im ready for the criticism... lol

[NastyEllEssWon]

its not just dash and seats you have to worry about. you have to redo the whole front suspension and have a lot of custom pieces made. not only that but your might need a new steering column and all types of crap.

[V]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

its not just dash and seats you have to worry about. you have to redo the whole front suspension and have a lot of custom pieces made. not only that but your might need a new steering column and all types of crap.

actually, the front suspension is fine, steering column fits where the a/c evaporator was, i got the p/n for the steering box, just gotta weld up a plate to mount it on the pass frame rail, idler arm switches to opposite side. cat convertor hump gets flattened( like Aussie regulation/requirements) a/c box is cut and remade and partly plastic welded to a mirror shape. brake lines extended, clutch line extended(swapped to a longer braided line to prevent hose expansion over the longer length)...etc

like i already said, i have talked in length to conversions companies in Australia that do this for a living.

seats and console remain unchanged, also exactly like in Australia.

even the sweep of the wipers get changed to meet all safety needs.

[NastyEllEssWon]

well seems like you got it all planned out. happy building

[sweetbmxrider]

that would be really cool. i was just in ireland last week and it looks funny seeing a single person in a car on the right side best of luck with this!

[CHRIS67]

I dunno. It seems like a ton a work with little return. It still has the same performance if it were left handed vs. right so I'd rather spend my moneys on something else, but that is just me.

[69BirdX]

Originally Posted by CHRIS67

I dunno. It seems like a ton a work with little return. It still has the same performance if it were left handed vs. right so I'd rather spend my moneys on something else, but that is just me.

I agree but it def would be diffrent and pretty neat to see.

[Whiplash Performance]

That will definitely turn heads. I saw a import RHD on the street before and i looked over as I was passing him and I was like whattt?

[V]

as for the work involved... the 85 chassis is so bad that im swapping everything to a bare 89 chassis i have, basically doing a ground up rebuild anyway, to go rhd then isnt that bad.


Here is a 1990 eclipse we started doing a convertible conversion on, was gonna get a miata top frame. project was ended because i realized it was still an import. lol, i had 800 into the entire project, made my money back plus some selling parts off it. the lower tape line on the windsheild was gonna be final roof height.



and heres an old pic of my SS next to an 86 iroc i had, with the 3rd gen export taillights on it. Thats when i started considering this idea.

[LTb1ow]

I think it would def satisfy your goal of being different.

Sounds like a good project if you have the time/budget for it.
Good luck

[ar0ck]

I say, save the money.

[NastyEllEssWon]

that dsm looks like butt!

[maroman88]

lol uve talked about this forever... just do ittttttttttt

[Teds89IROC]

I say do it, it would be a real eye catcher and definitely something unique, especially around here. You can always easily drop in a new engine/trans whenever to make it faster...that's no big deal at all

[Tru2Chevy]

I'm all for it Paul....it would definitely provide you with lots of WTF looks

- Justin