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Convert LHD splitty to RHD?

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Purple Martin Fahrvergnugen

913 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#828207
Is it possible to convert a LHD splitty to RHD, and if so how difficult/expensive would it be?

This is the reason I'm asking:
A nice USA splitty is listed for $26,000 USD: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1035072
A nice splitty here in Australia is listed for $83,000 AUD: http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?Cr=9&R=9898383&keywords=&trecs=69&__sid=12E5DD62FCBE&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&__Qpb=true&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&seot=1&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294962746%204294962407&silo=1011
So obviously I'm weighing up the possibility of importing from USA to here.

PLEASE NOTE:
I don't want this topic to dissolve into a big rant about Poms stealing our kombis, or about prices, or whatever. I've posted my quesion in Tech Talk because I want to know about the technical side of converting LHD to RHD, and that's all. Thanks!
1959 red & white Beetle
1975 Kombi camper

ratty 63 Custom Title Time!

1,083 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#828468
I know that it must be possible as I have seen a couple of ex-LHD splitties in Australia.... one of our club members has recently purchased an ex-LHD '66 Twin-cab that has been converted to RHD.

I have had no experience with the left to right hand drive conversion, but I imagine that it would be a fairly big job as the Dashboard and cab floor would have to be converted to RHD... and neither of them are bolt-out, bolt-back-in parts.

I suppose that the cost would depend on just how close to factory finish you want the job to be when it's finished. It will also depend on how much you can pick up the required RHD parts for... obviously if you had a RHD van to take all the parts from this would make the job a lot easier... but then why would you need to convert a LHD van if you already have a RHD one? 😀

I know that our club members twin-cab was converted in Western Aust somewhere and it is a fantastic piece of work... there must be people around your area that deal in conversions, you would just have to find someone that has some VW experience so that they have a better chance of knowing what is involved in the conversion process.

R 🙂
40hp, 6V and ...er... slowly making improvements 😂

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Founding member of the Gold Coast Dub Club Inc. 🙂

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#828475
I think your biggest problem is what you do about the back/side doors

They will be on the wrong side
It would be too weird and mucked up "for me" to have a RHD front but rear doors opening onto the traffic
OK if you dont park on the street??

If it is a "weekender" I would leave as a
Futue te ipsum!!!

matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#828513
I have a LHD bus, and a RHD bus, and with a 23 window you won't have trouble driving it as is LHD.

Creative Engineering in the UK have just started making a kit to convert the pedals:- http://www.creative-engineering.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=180&Itemid=26

You'll still need a dash, RHD steering box and other bits like heater pipe duct, as well as relocate the clutch and accelerator conduits from the left side to the right (which isn't a trivial matter on a samba with belly pans! etc


That 23 window is in Hawaii, which ironically costs more to ship to Australia than LA, since it needs to be shipped back to LA first! At least this was the case when I was looking at a Hawaii car a few years back:-

Loading oading Country: USA
Loading City: Hawaii Departure Port Los Angeles
Destination Country: Australia
Destination City: Sydney Arrival Port Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane
Shipment Method: RO/RO
Pickup required:
Vehicle Condition: Drives and Stops Safely
Make: Volkswagen Model: Microbus Year: 1966
Quotation
Freight Upto 400cuft/11.33cum US$1650.00
401‐500cuft/11.34‐14.16cum US$1750.00
501‐600cuft/14.17 0 16.99cum US$1900.00
over 600cuft/17cum US$2100.00
Shipping via Shared Container Direct Service (not via Asia)
   US$2100.00
Inland Trucking if required Honolulu to Los Angeles US$1245.00
Included
A$880.00
A$256 90
Clearance at Destination
Port Charges/Cartage to Depot/Unpack
Origin Handling Charges
($990.00 over 500cuft)
Customs/AQIS Fees A$256.90
A$467.50
A$215.00
Notes:
PLEASE READ THE DOCUMENT CAREFULLY FOR ANY DISCREPANCY IN DETAILS

66brm Seriously Crusin Dubber

140 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#828707
Do your research thoroughly, find out how hard it is now to import a modified vehicle as the laws have changed. You don't want to end up having a vehicle shipped over just to have to send it back