I think the easiest thing to do would be to buy a RHD car.

 

Oh everything's soooooooooo easy in your little world, isn't it?

 

the best way i could think of would be to contact a ford dealer in a rhd country and order direct from them. shipping will be a pain but thats the only way i would know to source the parts. and just off the top of my head i can come up with, steering rack, steering column, dash and assorted dash mounting brackets(and occasionally some behind the dash metal work), pedal assembly, brake booster, clutch/brake master cylinder(as usually they are different because of where they mount), and alot of very misc. brackets nuts and bolts.

 

just letting u know...its not cheap...and its hard to find people that do GOOD work......

 

I'm sorry, but I just don't see why someone would do this.

 

Peer pressure...

 

lol so true...

 

Your best bet would be to contact a wrecker in the UK, and have a front clip (everything from the a-pillar forward, including dash & firewall) shipped over. It won't be cheap, but you'll get everything you need.

I know that these are often available for hondas, toyotas, and nissans. Don't forget that you're also going to need to redo the windshield wipers (they go in the opposite direction on a rhd car).

 

I think the easiest thing to do would be to buy a RHD car.
Today 07:25 PM

The point is I want to make "my" car a RHD.

the best way i could think of would be to contact a ford dealer in a rhd country and order direct from them. shipping will be a pain but thats the only way i would know to source the parts. and just off the top of my head i can come up with, steering rack, steering column, dash and assorted dash mounting brackets(and occasionally some behind the dash metal work), pedal assembly, brake booster, clutch/brake master cylinder(as usually they are different because of where they mount), and alot of very misc. brackets nuts and bolts.

That's the amount of parts that I was thinking would be necassary. I would think that some of the stock dash mounting hardware could be reversed and used with RHD. I could also fabricate something up. I was more worried with the steering equipment and brake and clutch issues.

just letting u know...its not cheap...and its hard to find people that do GOOD work......

I was planning on doing what I can by myself, with the help of fellow fanatics. I'm sure that there are some people that would be interested in the project and might lend a hand. As for shops, I have some reputable shops around Atlanta that I have in mind...

I'm sorry, but I just don't see why someone would do this.

I think it is unique, haven't seen a U.S. Fofo with it, and it's my car and I like it.

Peer pressure...

Ummm....NO

lol so true...

Your momma! J/K!

Your best bet would be to contact a wrecker in the UK, and have a front clip (everything from the a-pillar forward, including dash & firewall) shipped over. It won't be cheap, but you'll get everything you need.

I know that these are often available for hondas, toyotas, and nissans. Don't forget that you're also going to need to redo the windshield wipers (they go in the opposite direction on a rhd car).

Yeah I was also thinking of a front clip. I know that some JDM shops that ship over front clips also take cars from Europe. I was going to call around tomorrow and see if anybody can get a front clip from a Focus. It's just that Euro Foci came with different motors and tranny's (1.8L, 2.0L, 2.3L, etc...) that I'm wondering if they all have the same or similiar components like the U.S. Foci do.

Thanks for all the replies, I just left to eat and came back and saw 7 replies allready...GO FF! If there is anybody on here from Europe, and lives or works near a Ford dealer, maybe they can lend me a hand.




Emanuel

 

Ludicrous is all that comes to mind. You have been DQ`d and need to turn in your man card.

 

Its going to be expensive but will look cool. You will have to shift all the electronics over and you or who dose it will need to do alot of wiring. You basically have the extend everything except the radio and center console.

You will also need new door panels or mod your current ones so you can move all the window controls over.

I think you wont have it done by nopi for this year.
1. Customs can take awhile - this time of year customs gets really busy
2. Parts might show up hear and their due to customs/who you order them from
3. The amount of work to be done will take probably 2 weeks+ and thats on the fast side.
4. Problems you might run into and having to order last minute parts

I think its a great idea but done plan on having it done quickly.

 

Ludicrous is all that comes to mind. You have been DQ`d and need to turn in your man card.

Haha

Its going to be expensive but will look cool. You will have to shift all the electronics over and you or who dose it will need to do alot of wiring. You basically have the extend everything except the radio and center console.
You will also need new door panels or mod your current ones so you can move all the window controls over.
I think you wont have it done by nopi for this year.
1. Customs can take awhile - this time of year customs gets really busy
2. Parts might show up hear and their due to customs/who you order them from
3. The amount of work to be done will take probably 2 weeks+ and thats on the fast side.
4. Problems you might run into and having to order last minute parts
I think its a great idea but done plan on having it done quickly.

I don't plan on having it done by Nopi this year, but hopefully Nopi08. I figured that i would have to extend some of the wiring of the speedo, headlights, everything on the left to the right side. All the center stuff will be allright. I don't have power windows so I think I'm allright there. I'm hoping to begin this project after completing all of my OCS and MP training, so hopefully I can use that to have some pull with customs, we'll see. I'm prepared to be patient with this project though, as I'll have many other things being done to the car.




Emanuel

 

Haha

I don't plan on having it done by Nopi this year, but hopefully Nopi08. I figured that i would have to extend some of the wiring of the speedo, headlights, everything on the left to the right side. All the center stuff will be allright. I don't have power windows so I think I'm allright there. I'm hoping to begin this project after completing all of my OCS and MP training, so hopefully I can use that to have some pull with customs, we'll see. I'm prepared to be patient with this project though, as I'll have many other things being done to the car.




Emanuel

Yeah I read the part were u said Nopi 2007 in your first post and was like good luck getting it done then.

Also just to mention being trained in OCS and MP really wont get you any pull with customs. Everything that goes threw customs gets treated the same regardless of who its going to or from (unless its goverment to goverment or special things). Yes it might make your item get proceed a bit faster but from what my friend who is customs at the port of Baltimore he said it really wont make and difference because its taking longer the process incoming items.

 

I think having a RHD North American car is a great idea.

I do think getting a front clip would be the best Idea.

Good luck in your conversion and PLEASE post pics of your progress.

 

now if you can get an st front clip then your really on the ball!!!
i say go for it and then try to go through a drive thru lol (you'll find out what i mean. i used to have a mail jeep and yes rhd is cool

 

I'll def. start posting pics and progress when the parts start coming in. Hopefully Customs won't be too anal. About the drive thru...my fiance pointed that out a couple days ago, but it's really no big deal as she is with me most of the time, and if I'm alone I won't mind actually walking into the restaurant.




Emanuel

 

Here's a quick question...does the JDM Ford Focus (Japenese Market) have RHD? I only ask because I found a shop near my parents house in GA that specialize in JDM motors, swap, parts, FRONT CLIPS!! I gave them a call, and they said that they would contact their suppliers in Japan to have a look around for some rare Focus front clips. But if the JDM Focus isn't RHD than I can tell them to not bother with it. I also called BAT and they couldn't help me, they were kinda rude too, like I was bothering them with a phone call or something...

The search continues...




Emanuel

 

good luck it would be something that no one else in america has good luck.

 

there's no such thing as a JDM focus. they're only european based, and i dont i ever have seen a rdh focus anywhere! not even through the internet.

 

i dont i ever have seen a rdh focus anywhere! not even through the internet.

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131419
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131114

just 2 that i remember from the past few days

 

I get the concept and it would be cool but I am thinking just get a euro and have a full euro look, but I also disagree on the practicality of it. The streering system is on the side for a reason, try pulling out from behind a trailer, your blind of the oncoming lane.

 

in terms of making yours RHD, i've seen it done on a BMW, it took a hell of a lot of work to accomplish, but if you are up for it, go for it. i think the best bet is to get the front clip...i'd say from britain, shipping is much cheaper than if you found one in japan.....(from what i recall of japans shipping)

 

I have made a few RHD honda and Acuras, ITS NOT AN EASY TASK! It can be done but if you havnt done it prior DO NOT DO THIS FROM YOUR HOME! it will take you about a year and a half even more if you never done major work like this. It now takes me and a team of 3, for us to convert a car with a front clip (the best way) about a month to do. and thats a lot of work. Its going to be harder to do it to a ford than a honda. Sorry but honda doesnt have thier heads up there ( ! ) when it comes to makeing cars darn near interchangable. ford is darn near a one off comp. they make every thing once and scrap the idea and start a new for the next gen. not a good move for people like us.

You can do it to the focus, I have seen Gen1's running around in So Cali with RHD. I have no idea who did it for them but your best bet......

Buy a clip, and find the best clip you can, motor and tranny. because if you are looking just to make your car stear from the right hand side. might as well toss in the better UK motor. Find a import shop that does them. there are a few and they will tell you what it will take and how much. if they dont flat out tell you no. yep suck for replacment parts but come on.. who wouldnt want a RS motor???? any how good luck and save a grip load of cash. this will be your most expensive mod yet.

I would love to see some RHD Gen2 focus running around. but no way am I doing this to my daily driver. im going to stick to the easy stuff, build a second motor with a turbo on the bottle and toss it in. TADA. happy.

 

there's no such thing as a JDM focus. they're only european based, and i dont i ever have seen a rdh focus anywhere! not even through the internet.

Ummm...there are Foci running around in Japan, I know this for a fact. I just don't know if they are RHD. And RHD Foci do exist in the UK, I just don't know where else?!?

rebelyouth and miniboon--thanks for the input, I know it will be a long road ahead, but the uniqeness (if that's a word) of this project will pay out in the end. I'm not sure about the shipping cost of clips from UK, but since so many are being imported from Japan and other asian countries I'm sorta leaning towards them for the price.

Nfocus --I'm not looking for an ST front clip or any other high performance Foci clips as I am planning on running the Powerworks intercooled with complete tranny work in my car. I simply want the uniqness of right hand drive on my car. To my knowledge I haven't seen RHD U.S. spec Foci running around the U.S. You said you knew a couple of "Gen1" Focus running around Cali. If you knew who they were that would be a great help to know where they got their parts from... I know it will be a long road to getting all these parts in, but I plan on using the whole year to do it.

This is why I love FF!! A lot of great input from different people in an effort to steer me in the right direction. Rock on!!! [headbang]




Emanuel

 

You can go through drive-thru's in reverse like my friend used to do when his driver's side window motor shat itself.

 

My friend converted his civic to RHD but it needs to get certified and checked by your local DMV. It barley passed and he installed it meticulously, so if you do it, be care full not to half ass any part and good luck with the conversion.

 

yep, the DMV can be stupid some times. AZ requires a level 3 inspection. Nothing much, just take your car down on your appt. date and time and they make sure all the VIN's match up and thats about it. Give them 50-100$ dont remember what the cost is and your on your way.

DO NOT SHORT YOUR SELF ON THE AIRBAG and other safty devices. make sure you do it right. remember it doesnt stop at the dash. You might want to look for the right seats also.

 

I'll go by the local DMV and see what some of their rules are. Hopefully they won't try to screw me over. As for the airbags, I'll probably keep the passenger side bag, but a Sparco steering wheel will be in place soon, so it's a no go on a bag. But I'll be safe because I plan on getting a custom harness bar put in the car and attach some 4 point harnesses for the driver's seat.




Emanuel

 

my only concern that came up is the huge hole for the steering column and the way the unibody molds under the dash...