TheSamba.com :: View topic - RHD- LHD conversion...Advice needed !!!

Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:28 am

Now heres a topic !!!!

I have the chance to buy a really good ( and fairly cheap !) 1990 pop top syncro weekender...trouble is its RHD !!
Before I jump in with "both feet", i was hoping to get some much needed guidance from the good people on this forum.
Basically whats entailed in making a rhd vanagon into a left hand drive..how easy/difficult is this ??
Also i'm aware that the sliding door is on the "wrong" side !!!...not sure if i can live with that( two small kids )....whats involved in putting another sliding door on that side aswell !!!!
A dual sliding door syncro westy weekender is about my ideal vehicle...but not if its gonna be impossible/expensive to achieve.
And does anyone know of a guy/shop in the Vancouver/PNW area able/willing to do such a thing ???????

THanks

Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:03 am

Well, it would seem you would have a serious project on your hands to convert it, my question is why would you? I could get away with driving it right handed in GA! Of course I drive a Topless, windshieldless, seatbeltless, Bugatti kit car as well! I would leave it RHD, that rocks!

Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:04 am

If you dont buy this please let me know the details. I have always wanted a RHD vanagon. Or even if you do buy it and convert it to LHD, I may be interested in the parts to convert mine to RHD.

I dont think that it would be particularly hard to convert a to LHD, as vanagons seem to be quite modular in their construction. I dont know if there are punch outs in the body where things pass through the body like steering linkage, and cables, or if the mountings for pedals... exist on the opposite side (Left Hand on the RHD vanagon).However I'm certain that it would be easier to just find a LHD van rather than convert a RHD. You are in the land of plenty over there as far as vanagons go.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:33 am

Just look at it in a mirror and you're all set!

Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:15 pm

Sounds completely rediculous to me for the value of that model van. You'd have more time and money into the conversion than it would cost to buy a LHD model. Then you'd be left with a hacked up non-stock frankenmonster that would have (in my opinion) a lower resale value than if you left it alone.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:25 pm

not really that hard to do, but the kitchen will block the extra door.

you just need all the stuff from a wreck, there are a couple on Mitchel Island that I know of, with body parts . . .

or just leave it RHD and move the kitchen to the other side . . . just like all those Delica's bombing around town.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:56 pm

PDXWesty wrote: Sounds completely rediculous to me for the value of that model van. You'd have more time and money into the conversion than it would cost to buy a LHD model. Then you'd be left with a hacked up non-stock frankenmonster that would have (in my opinion) a lower resale value than if you left it alone.

bump that.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:09 pm

Keep it RHD, no sense in swapping stuff around. The only thing you should swap out are the head lights if they haven't been done already. You don't want blind the oncoming traffic with lamps cut to angle up on the left.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:36 pm

Perfect candidate for Mogfest 2010! I call shotgun! (what do you actually call it if it's reversed :? )

Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:41 pm

GWTWTLW wrote: (what do you actually call it if it's reversed :? )

A shame. I hope the OP doesn't F'up a unique gem. :cry:

Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:41 pm

This is just at the "thinking" about it stage...and i tend to agree..its probably more trouble than its worth.
The van is in very good condition tho, is already a weekender, so no fridge sink etc to worry about. And its cheap !!...but i would have to add shipping etc
I'm just trying to think the last time i seen a 90/91 orly blue pop top weekender for sale???...like hen's teeth !

Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:48 pm

A friend of mine converted his Tristar Syncro to LHD . Most of it is nuts and bolts . The steering rack is different. there are no mounts for the steering direction changing box. The power steering lines are different . you have to remove the front inside header ,this is the crash bar that goes from side to side because behind it is a well that has to be installed where the pedals and power booster sit. there is a pressing for the well that has to be cut out and a new one installed. You have to add a tab for the gas pedal.
The shifter has to be changed and the E brake moved over . the wiring is easy as the RHD just uses wire extensions for the dash and the fuse block stays where it is. A couple of things you do not think about is that the door locks are different and the dime light has to be moved . don't forget the obvious like headllights.
The wipers are different but have the uncut blanks in the body which have to be drilled. the RHD uses rubber blocks to fit the body.
It is about a 30 - 4o hour job with a donor.

Good luck.

Stacy

Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:48 pm

Unless there are any laws against driving it as is, I think it would be a blast. It would definitely be a conversation piece.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:17 pm

GWTWTLW wrote: Unless there are any laws against driving it as is, I think it would be a blast. It would definitely be a conversation piece.

There are not. RHD = OK.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:01 am

when you get it, let me know. I want to sit in the left hand seat with a dummy steering wheel and just toss it out the window driving down the road!

Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:37 am

Sir Sam wrote: GWTWTLW wrote: Unless there are any laws against driving it as is, I think it would be a blast. It would definitely be a conversation piece.

There are not. RHD = OK.

the local licensing agency (The Insurance Corporation of BC) where the OP lives is considering banning RHD imports because of a huge influx of JDM performance cars and 4WD vans like Delicas. Mean time before first accidents for these vehicles is much lower than for domestic LHD vehicles.

Please keep in mind that the rules in your jusidiction may vary, and are subject to change.

Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:04 am

Get a part time job as a rural mail carrier. Then you can deduct the van, and they encourage RHD, so if a law passed, you would have an exemption.