Australian project. left to right 3.2

[saintz]

OK here goes, there seems to be a big lack of info on the web regarding converting from left hand drive to right so I'll endeavor to keep you all posted on my project. Background... she is a 1989 Carrera slate grey ROW coupe originally purchased in Germany, moved on to Japan and last April shipped to Australia. I purchased the car in December from an importer of Japanese heavy metal who soon found out that a left right conversion was just "too hard".

I was hooked after driving a 1985 targa but 3.2 Carreras usually go for around $50,000 (Australian dollars) here which was out of my budget but the $25,000 I paid for this low milage car was affordable as long as I did most of the dirty work and carefully sourced my parts, e.g. a dash pad costs $3050.00 here new, if you can get one, I scored a mint example for $400.00.

It seems there are two ways to attack a conversion such as this, in the eighties American and Euro P-cars were being imported into this country like there was no tommorrow (now you know where all those good California cars went) and literally thousands were "chopped" by mainly "cutting and stiching" the panels mirror image style which now makes buying a second hand car here a very scarey game.
Anyway I am choosing the second method which is more time consuming and expensive but should result in a more original look when finnished, I am buying the right hand drive metal panel componants by way of a front cut which is a wreck chopped through the front wheel arches back to the middle of the front floor ($4,500!).
I shall then unpick the spotwelds holding in the trunk floor all the way up to and including the dash frame and replace them with the right hand drive components just like the factory intended.

So far I have driven the car 100 miles before garaging her and disasembling the dash and trunk along with the wiring loom which will need lengthening in places, mainly the instuments as most other wires are centrally located.
here are some pictures of the project so far including shots of the car on the day I took delivery. (excuse the dirty wheels and tyres but she had just travelled half way across Australia on a truck!

By the way as the laws of my State require I am being instructed and checked by a qualified engineer along the way of this journey.............the usual disclaimers apply.

More will follow as the project continues. Any help and advice from those in the know will be appreciated.

[917]

saintz,

Hi! Wow.... I admire your conviction. That's going to be quite a big project.

I'm actually, an expat Aussie, living in Japan and I own an '86 model LHD Euro spec 3.2 Carrera.

Originally, I'd considered doing a conversion and selling it off in Australia, but after I had a good look at it, I changed my mind...

But in your case, at least the car is already in Oz, so you're half way there.

Good luck with it all mate and keep us posted along the way.

Chris

[jester911]

It is difficult to say something positive about turning a perfectly good dash into something a car bomb might have done neater.

Having said that all the luck in the world in your project.

[saintz]

I forgot to mention.....that in the State where I live no left hand drive cars are to be registered or driven unless they are 30 years old or older hence the project.

[eimkeith]

more, more, more!

[Series900]

Determination and patience, everyone needs a hobby and a goal.
keep going!

[gavinlit]

Good luck with it saintz. I'll be keen to see how it all works out.
Hey Chris What's it like driving an older porka in Japan? I didn't notice anything much old on the roads in the time I've been over there. Any maintenance/service issues?

[917]

gavinlit,

Hi! So, you've been here? When was that?

I know what you mean about all the new cars, but because we've been in recession here for several years, there's been quite a cultural change. So, people are more willing to hold on to their "old" cars for much longer and are more willing to consider buying a second-hand car.

As for Porches, like in most countries, I guess, there's quite a big Porsche sub-culture. I actually bought mine to race, so I've been competing in a Porsche cup series. I've been racing in a production class where our cars have to be road registered with limited modifications and running on road tyres. To my surprise, we usually get full fields of both the late model and older model P-cars, so I guess there are a few of them around.

Apart from driving to and from the race tracks, I never drive mine around at all. Being lowered with a so-so turning circle and no power steering combined with sitting on the left so you can't see to overtake or around tight narrow intersections. Add to that, that most of the roads around here only have a 40km/h maximum speed limit and it just becomes a total pain in the arse to drive it anywhere!...

I usually, just scoot around in my little 660cc automatic buzz bomb... It's great!

I do all my own maintenance and buy my parts from Pelican Parts, but there are quite a few workshops here who specialize in Porsche serving, modifications and parts.

BTW, I noticed your location is "Sydneyish". Which part?

Cheers mate!

Chris

[bell]

Originally posted by saintz
I forgot to mention.....that in the State where I live no left hand drive cars are to be registered or driven unless they are 30 years old or older hence the project.

that shows your commitment......there is always a way to get what one wants
good luck and happy welding

[gulf908]

Saintz,

I believe that Autofarm in the UK used to sell a conversion RHD kit years ago but I haven't heard of it still being available.
Check their website.
Good luck with your project !

Cheers,
Dennis.

[MBEngineering]

HI i worked at AUTOFARM when thay did the conversions back in the 1980is, i have 2 info sheets from that time, with info for the conversion, i can fax to you if you require them.

regards mike

[917]

MBEngineering,

Hi! I noticed that you are in Kendal. My brother did a couple of rallies over there with the late Dave Metcalf many years ago and my wife and I also visited there about five or six years ago. It's a really nice place!

BTW, if you don't mind, I'd be interested in seeing a copy of those sheets, too.

As saintz said, many states in Australia only allow importation and registration of RHD cars, so if I ever wanted to send my car over, I'd probably have to convert it too.

Cheers!

Chris

[MBEngineering]

HI pm me your phone No and i will fax them to you

regards mike

[917]

Thanks Mike!

PMed...

Regards,

Chris

[917]

Okay Mike,

I got 'em okay. Thanks for that.

Wow! Looks like a really big job. I think it would probably be best to find a written-off RHD with extensive rear-end damage and then do a cut & shut...

saintz, old mate, our thoughts are with you!

Chris

[gavinlit]

Chris - I've been over a few times. Most recently in July last year. It's good to hear that there's a subculture over there tracking the porkas as I've always kept my eye out and only saw one on the road which is not surprising given the driving conditions.

I actually live about half way to wollongong - helensburgh to be exact. But for most of the US folks on the board, sydney is easiest.

[917]

gavinlit,

Helensburg, eh? Did you have any bushfires around your area this summer? I suppose the high temperatures are starting to drop now though.

BTW, what kind of P-car do you drive? At least the roads down there are more suitable for enjoying one of these things...

If you don't mind me asking, what brought you to Japan in the past? Which parts did you visit?

Chris (from Tokyo...ish)

[saintz]

Great news MB anything is appreciated I'll PM you as well

[saintz]

After tidying up all the wiring loom and bagging it safely the Carrera is starting to look less like the afore mentioned car bomb and more like a shell waiting to be unpicked, now with the seats out and the front cut on it's way it looks like things will hot up over the next few weeks, especially since I am about to take 3 weeks leave as of Monday.

Worthy of note are the smaller items that need to be changed for the engineers certificate.

Exterior mirror bases need to be changed.

Flipper door on fuel filler neck needs to be added (to suit local unleaded fuel laws).

Rear seat belts need to be inertia reel (I need a set of these guys).

Child restraint points need to be fitted to rear deck.

larger items.....entire pedal box, brake booster bracket, one steering shaft and that is it at this stage.


Most of the work is structual, some things that don't need changing due to the car spending time in Japan are

......headlights, tail lights, mirror lenses, tyres, front seat belts to name a few.

More boring info to follow.

[saintz]