Nairaland Forum

Siena: I'm starting this thread, in response to the RHD to LHD debates that have been popping up quite frequently.

For starters, a lot of people wishing to convert their cars tend to post wanted ads for just the steering rack and dashboard / fascia.
There's more to it than that!
I'll give a list here, some models may require more, or less, but generally, you shopping list should look like this:

1) Steering rack.
2) Dash / fascia (some recent models have a massive steel frame that supports the dash, pedal box, aircon / heater assembly and steering column).
3) Pedal box (very critical).
4) Steering column (very critical).
5) Instrument cluster (some models have a symmetrical cluster, so will fit both LHD and RHD cars).
6) Complete aircon / heater assembly (runs the width of the car, behind the dash, critical).
7) Aircon high-pressure hoses.
8] Wiper assembly / mechanism + arms.
9) Centre console (some models have console angled towards the driver).
10) Gear shift knob with release button (auto only).
11) Dash wiring harness (or RHD harness can be extended, if the technician knows his onions, retaining OBD / OBDII / EOBD capability).
12) Heater / aircon air ducting.
13) Glovebox (some models have a symmetrical glove box lid, so will fit both LHD and RHD cars).
14) Handbrake lever (if it's unique to LHD and RHD models).

I'll go through the critical parts now.

3) Pedal box: Generally, the pedals are angled to make the best use of space in the footwell. Transferring a RHD set-up to a LHD layout is dangerous! "Technicians" will usually bend them into shape, to allow them to operate within the confines of the LHD footwell. Unfortunately, 2 things happen - the pedals get shorter, and worse still, the spaces between them get tighter, especially on manual cars. It's not uncommon to find these bodged cars with pedals so close, in an emergency situation, where one may intend to stamp on the brake pedal, will jam on the gas pedal, and perhaps slam into the car in front, or whatever they were trying to avoid in the first instance. It could be a child! The alien configuration also hinders the free movement of the gas pedal cable, and the pedal may appear "stiff", and often the revs will be higher than normal, as the pedal often doesn't fully return to the idle position.

4) Steering column: The steering column on LHD and RHD cars are different. The bracketry that supports them is also different, and when a RHD column is used in a LHD car, the "technician" will attempt to weld on a crude bracket to support the mid and upper part of the column / bearing housing. These brackets will weaken, due to the fact the steering shaft is operating at an angle it wasn't designed to. Of course, it will bear greater load on the crude bracket that supports it, causing it to flex. Several cycles later, stress crack can appear, and the welds could break off. I need no say what happens, if the steering column suddenly detached at a critical moment, perhaps when overtaking a fuel tanker. . .

6) Complete aircon / heater assembly: This is an item that's commonly overlooked. LHD and RHD assemblies should NOT be adapted to work on the wrong side! The pipes that come from the compressor / condenser / receiver drier via the firewall, into the evaporator that sits behind the dash are extremely high pressure. If the aluminium pipes are forced / bent into place, the chances are they will fracture, and whilst R134-A refrigerant isn't flammable, it is poisonous, and will cause instant frostbite if it comes into contact with skin / flesh. Also, if the heater pipes split, at best, you'll end up with your feet scalded by boiling coolant.

Cars that have had the RHD heater / aircon assembly "modified" to work in a LHD layout seldom work properly. Oh, the cold air will come out all right, but sometimes not via the vents in the dash, as the ducting that directs air to the vents is either missing, or don't line up with the LHD dash. So, the air ends up coming from places they shouldn't - ashtray, stereo aperture, onto your feet only etc.

Of course the wiring is also an issue - I've had emails with pictures, where the cars have been so poorly converted, it's a wonder they haven't set the cars alight! Most recent was a lady client of mine, who exported her 2006 Mercedes CLK 230 Kompressor last March, and after the 3-day conversion by some shop in Lagos, the whole car shut down. The entire dash harness, which is the central electronic distribution point, melted. Luckily, the battery didn't have enough reserve, else the car would have caught fire.

I had to send her a new LHD dash harness, (the original was too far gone to salvage) a new ECU, and heater / aircon assembly, as besides the fact it was an "adapted" RHD unit, the melted wiring harness had burnt holes in it. She ended up with a bill from myself of just under £5,800. That was at cost price too, then add to that the labour incurred at a Mercedes Benz main dealer, it was an expensive lesson.

So guys, please, when going for a LHD conversion, don't limit your shopping list to just the immediate obvious - steering rack and dash / fascia, there's more to the conversion than that. Some of these items, like steering, pedals etc could put your lives at risk, not to mention your family and other road users / pedestrians. Do your homework, when you find a competent engineer to carry out the conversion, be it in Nigeria or the UK, please, please do your own research into the shop you're using, ask them questions - you can draw on this thread, if you feel you need to know more, I'm only too happy to give advice.

I always take pictures as I progress in a RHD to LHD conversion, so the customer at least has an idea what behind the dash looks like. Once it's all bolted in place, it's very unlikely you'll ever get to see what's hidden there, short of removing the dash / fascia yourself.

Moderator / Monitor_1, I'd appreciate it if this thread could be stickied, a lot of Nigerians at home, and abroad, can benefit from this. And use it as a checklist when considering a conversion.

Whatever you decide to do, please be vigilant, and stay safe!

Gotosub: @Siena. Can you convert a Range Rover P38 from RHD to LHD? how much would it cost?

JustMotors: Please can somebody tell me what it will cost me to convert 2001-honda accord(UK) they call it Honda UK or Adida.
Thanks