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Old 02-02-2018, 11:03 PM   #1
bobbypk
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Join Date: Aug 2016
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Lakeside
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2005 Impreza
CGM

Question RHD Conversion

Can we get a RHD swap thread going? Ive done some digging and only come up with a few threads that all have the same amount of info.
What about all the times you thought about selling "as it" because S**T just wouldn't work? How did everyone get a clean swap in, it cant be just plug and play. What is the wiring like, how many brake lines did you have to replace, do you need to replace the hard power steering lines, does the steering linkage tuck nicely around the downpipe and did you do any extra heat shielding to protect it?

Basically what are all the little things you did to really make your project shine?
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Old 02-03-2018, 05:07 PM   #2
Vancouver98STi
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1998 JDM Impreza STi
V4 GF8 White

Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by bobbypk View Post

Can we get a RHD swap thread going?
To RHD... or from RHD ?
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Old 02-03-2018, 05:09 PM   #3
bobbypk
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To RHD, my bad I should have clarified. To RHD from LHD. I now wonder if the opposite would have the same issues tho...
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Old 02-07-2018, 01:35 PM   #4
v2rocket_aka944
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RHD car in a LHD country is about as big a PITA to live with as you can get.

but easiest way would be to buy an RHD front clip from a JDM importer.
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Old 02-21-2018, 06:20 AM   #5
drewdogg
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I had a rhd v4 sti for a few years, and wasnt a pain at all. Parking and walking instead of a drive thru was no biggie to me, and there's usually less or no line inside. I still park and walk in now 10 years later.

In terms of what "fits nicely", as you were referring, just compare car-for-car. Downpipes are essentially the same other than a few inches at the very end. The steering pump is in the same place so lines still go to the same place, you would need rhd a/c lines. Brake lines from the master cylinder to the ABS pump would change, steering rack and crossmember is mirrored but direct swap. Some things people don't generally think about is HVAC under the dash. If you get the same type of system (auto hvac or mechanical/cable driven) I've heard that you just un-loom your harness and move cables for the controls which are in different places. I had a jdm front clip, so I just merged the whole harness where it was cut at the door jam. Oh yea and front door electrical controls would have to be sourced too.

There's a lot of little things you dont think of that buying a front clip will make so much easier. Almost anything with a nut/bolt is a direct fit once you cut and weld the rhd firewall. If you are one of the few like me that swap the rhd wipers, it is a bit more work lining up the passenger side wiper bracket. Again, having the whole front end is a big help as a reference to where things would have to be welded (pedal box, firewall, wipers).

Last edited by drewdogg; 02-21-2018 at 06:26 AM.
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Old 02-21-2018, 07:03 PM   #6
bobbypk
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drewdogg View Post
I had a rhd v4 sti for a few years, and wasnt a pain at all. Parking and walking instead of a drive thru was no biggie to me, and there's usually less or no line inside. I still park and walk in now 10 years later.

In terms of what "fits nicely", as you were referring, just compare car-for-car. Downpipes are essentially the same other than a few inches at the very end. The steering pump is in the same place so lines still go to the same place, you would need rhd a/c lines. Brake lines from the master cylinder to the ABS pump would change, steering rack and crossmember is mirrored but direct swap. Some things people don't generally think about is HVAC under the dash. If you get the same type of system (auto hvac or mechanical/cable driven) I've heard that you just un-loom your harness and move cables for the controls which are in different places. I had a jdm front clip, so I just merged the whole harness where it was cut at the door jam. Oh yea and front door electrical controls would have to be sourced too.

There's a lot of little things you dont think of that buying a front clip will make so much easier. Almost anything with a nut/bolt is a direct fit once you cut and weld the rhd firewall. If you are one of the few like me that swap the rhd wipers, it is a bit more work lining up the passenger side wiper bracket. Again, having the whole front end is a big help as a reference to where things would have to be welded (pedal box, firewall, wipers).


I want to swap as much as I can over, including the wipers. My biggest question is with the wiring harness. Is the jdm harness plug and play, or is flipping the Usdm one less of a hassle? Should I swap the wiring from the left door into the right? I’ve read some things about the rear lights needing some wiring?
I will be getting parts off a front clip, I think including the brake lines and everything so that should be no biggie, worst case is I run some new ones. The usdm subframe is the same as the jdm one or different?
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Old 02-22-2018, 02:44 AM   #7
drewdogg
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That is, what I think, one of the biggest pains about subaru - unless they are the exact same car, the wiring is very different. If you have no electrical experience then flipping the harness is going to be the easiest option (if its the same type of hvac of course). If you use the JDM harness then merging that into the usdm harness will include wiring in the rear (doors, fuel tank, windows, lights, etc) but again thats a ton of work and you very likely won't have a jdm schematic to use either.

The engine subframe/crossmembers are the same.

disclaimer: my experience in this is limited to GC and GD
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Old 07-04-2020, 03:58 AM   #8
Wildmax
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Hi. It's Max from Italy. I have bought an Impreza Type Ra Sti Limited 1999 imported from Japan and I want to convert it from RHD to LHD but in Italy it's impossible to find the spare parts. Can someone please indicate me places or sites selling a complete dashboard for lefthand drive ( without odometer and clocks) and all the pieces needed for the conversion? I know that the firewall can be modified without cutting and welding the whole part but only closing the old and opening new holes already marked in the sheet.
Thank you very much for helping me
Max
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