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Rhd To Lhd Conversion?


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#1 limey237

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 06:03 AM

Hi there

I'm in North America with an English RHD VX220.  Considering embarking on a project to convert it to RHD.

Apologies if the question has been asked already (searched but couldn't find anything) - wondering if anyone has any advice on the conversion?

Specifically what would help:

 

List of parts needed

Process - ideally a blog or video where someone has been thru the process and explained it, lessons learned, etc..

 

Also - any suggestions for best place in UK to order the needed conversation parts?

 

Thanks! 



#2 DJ_SL

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 07:02 AM

Just curious, why did you buy a RHD rather than a LHD?

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#3 smiley

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 07:14 AM

Welcome,

 

As importing the vx220 into europe was popular for a time, quite some ended up there.

The conversions to LHD were limited, due to costs and avaialbility of parts, making the adventure close to the pricing of the LHD Opel Speedster.

 

That also resulted in no detailed conversion decriptions afaik.

 



#4 Arno

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 08:31 AM

The basic process is not much different from RHD -> LHD Elise conversions and there should be various websites on the net documenting those. Conversions on Toyota based Elises should be the closest match as esp. the later ones share bits like ABS system, similar pedal box, etc.

 

A lot of it is in the 'lots of work' category but not difficult once you strip the car down to mostly the bare front end of the chassis and empty out the passenger compartiment of all parts and then start swapping bits over from one side to the other like the pedal box, wiring loom routing, etc.

 

Some of it is not 'side specific, other bits are..

 

It also depends on how clean/neat you want to do the conversion. You can choose to leave the ABS modulator and electronics on the 'other side' of the car. This will mean getting the battery in and out will become virtually impossible though unless you go to a race battery. Moving it over to the 'correct' side will make it more 'original' looking, but will mean buying the (identical) LHD upper suspension mounts from an LHD Toyota Elise and re-making a bunch of brake-lines. (good idea anyway as linkely some of the original steel ones will be corroding)

 

The issue you will be mainly running into is obtaining the parts that are specific to LHD vs. RHD as pretty much all VX/Speedster specific OEM parts from GM that are not shared with the Elise are no longer available new. They sold off all their parts supply a few years ago so you'll have to rely on Ebay and the like or (some) reproduction parts.

 

You will also need to (re)fabricate parts or modify them to suit. Eg. the passenger compartiment is not specifically LHD or RHD in itself, BUT the components are not mounted symmetrically (drivers seat is fitted more to the center) and this means that for instance the plastic gear lever cover IS somewhat a-symmetric and won't fit right when swapped to LHD unless you modify it.

 

Big stuff like the dash top (also no longer available) are fairly obvious parts needing modifications.

 

As a lot of parts are shared with the Elise, it's a good idea to get the Elise service manual and examine the VX/Speedster specific info on here: https://www.speedste.../epc/index.html https://www.speedste.../tis/index.html

 

Take your time and slowly work through it. On the 'other side of the pond' you'll be hampered even more by lack of parts availability (apart from the engine), so I'd expect it to take quite a while.

 

Bye, Arno.



#5 aquilaproejct

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 12:09 PM

How did you end up with a rhd in I presume the US?

#6 limey237

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 03:28 PM

Thanks for the responses so far - very helpful  To clarify I meant to say the car is a UK spec car, already here in NA, and it's RHD.  I want to convert to LHD.

In particular thanks Arno for your comments!



#7 smiley

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 03:28 PM

I was also not expecting any import before 2026, when the 25 year rule is met.

 



#8 limey237

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Posted 12 August 2020 - 09:45 PM

I’m in Canada. Rule is 15 years here.

#9 2-20

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 09:08 AM

Do you read French ??
I ask this because I could link you to some posts on the french speaking forum where conversion were more common.
(As in others continental European countries due to the price difference being beneficial in this direction)

#10 Arno

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 09:54 AM

Do you read French ??
I ask this because I could link you to some posts on the french speaking forum where conversion were more common.
(As in others continental European countries due to the price difference being beneficial in this direction)

 

In that case Google-translate is your friend :happy:

 

It's crap for writing stuff most of the time, but works OK'ish to read pages in languages you're not fluent in to at least get a good idea on what it's about.

 

Or are you somehow implying he should be from Québec and not Vancouver?? :D

 

(Also awaiting the first moose jokes from the scandinavians on here :wacko: )

 

Bye, Arno.



#11 alanoo

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 10:38 AM

Just like Arno said, it is basically like a Toyota Elise conversion.

A bit more difficult than a S1 Elise conversion due to ABS.

 

Dash top can be modded quite easily (I have one here that has been modded and works great).

 

The dash bottom alu extrusion is a bit more problematic :)



#12 smiley

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 03:35 PM

Here is a conversion kit.

https://www.ebay-kle...483902-223-9479

 



#13 TFD

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 05:15 PM

Thats German... so the conversion kit probably costs as much as a complete rhd vx220.

Good luck with the conversion.

#14 alanoo

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 05:16 PM

Here is a conversion kit.

https://www.ebay-kle...483902-223-9479

 

 

Actually lacks the profile I was talking about, shame



#15 2-20

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Posted 13 August 2020 - 09:22 PM

A copy of this extrusion can be bought from eltech Italian.... but it's not cheap.

Edited by 2-20, 13 August 2020 - 09:22 PM.


#16 P.A.J.

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 06:38 AM

Thats German... so the conversion kit probably costs as much as a complete rhd vx220.

Good luck with the conversion.

 

......

Setpreis mit Scheinwerfer: 3.800 EUR
Setpreis ohne Scheinwerfer: 2.700 EUR

......
Price with LHD Headlights: 3.800 EUR
Price without LHD Headlights: 2.700 EUR

......



#17 smiley

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 07:29 AM

Headlights can be converted if you are brave.

The missimg extrusion is a bit of a shame, as that is very visible.

 

 



#18 gertje

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Posted 16 August 2020 - 07:55 AM

Nice price for thé set but still need a few more pieces

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#19 TFD

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Posted 17 August 2020 - 06:16 PM


Thats German... so the conversion kit probably costs as much as a complete rhd vx220.

Good luck with the conversion.


......
Setpreis mit Scheinwerfer: 3.800 EUR
Setpreis ohne Scheinwerfer: 2.700 EUR
......
Price with LHD Headlights: 3.800 EUR
Price without LHD Headlights: 2.700 EUR
......

👍




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