Has anyone every attempted? Seems they were built to accommodate both sides? I have a 90 carry and Facility insurance costs are forcing me to.
I've looked at it, and it does look possible depending on how much work you want to do. The steering rack would have to be replaced, but there are right hand parts available in various parts of the world. Most other components appear to be the same, with wiring and brake lines having to be lengthened or changed. The throttle mount is completely different, but that too could be fabricated. I picked up an older (87-88?) 1000cc LHD Suzuki for parts, and comparing it to my RHD 1990 carry, it's all doable. I too have had issues with insurance companies here in Ontario, but ended up getting "grandfathered" in, but I cringe every time I get a renewal, waiting for them to drop me. The other issue is, would the insurance companies want to insure a modified vehicle. I don't have much confidence in that either. Good luck on your project
It's much easier to insure it if you get a business license. Give Right Drive a call, they may be willing to help you out if you're nice.
Looks exactly like my changeover, mine is a 2002. Just rearranged the stock dash pieces. I did not do this, was done while rebuilding after being imported to the Phillipines from Japan. I also think they just inverted and swapped end for end the Rack & Pinion steering and remade the mounts for the unit. Apparently the clutch & brake pedals will mount either side. The clutch cable was extended(which I had to redo) as the extension broke shortly after I got it. Haven't studied the accelerator cable or the pedal mounting as I have had no problem with it working. Fred
The steering rack was interesting. I did just that, rotated end for end, but then of course the wheels will turn the opposite direction, so then rotate 180 degrees but then the pinion is pointing at the ground. Now, cut of the top (now bottom) and weld to other end and use a through bearing. The pedal unit does not mount either side. There is no mount holes for it. You have to make it fit. In addition to remounting it, i moved the brake booster over to make room for the heater unit. This meant dissecting the brake unit, cutting the crank arm from the shaft and moving over and re-welding it as well as making a new mount for the pot.
Thanks Limestone. How u doin? i meant to mention, insurance was going to cost me around $2300 or 2400 when rhd. That is for bare bones, no collision etc. I now pay $535/yr. like less than 45$/month. It was a bit of work, but it does pay off if u wanna drive on the road. Im in Ontario Canada.
The clutch cable extension you did was about the same as I finally wound up with, except I used plain link chain and a proper sized padlock as the quick link as nobody here could understand what I wanted but it does the job. The extension they fabricated only lasted about 6 months before it broke, my cobbled up setup has been working now for about 5 years even though it looks a bit quirky with that padlock down there. Fred
Doing well here, thanks no complaints! Fred, your the kind of guy that, where there's a will there's a way! I like it! Limestone
Limestone, Most of my working years as a fleet mechanic was a 'get it done' and 'keep it working' situation and I learned that sometimes you just got to do things a bit out of the ordinary to keep the overall job moving and over the years developed some quirky ways to accomplish what had to be done. Fred
Fred, I completely understand! I had a similar experience, and also under the same conditions in a heavy equipment shop! Get it done and keep it running, the best way, and least evasive way possible! Your my kind of mechanic! Limestone
DIY Guy, really nice job, any chance you have a couple pictures of the dash modification. Also whats the interesting tube frame vehicle in front of your truck? Thanks Bryan.
Thanx Fred got that arm coming! I had a situation with my trans clutch arm seizing It was the cross shaft and the trans housing I broke off my lever trying to get the shaft to move! The return spring was off its perch and had it wedged! Since I was having clutch issues I had the flywheel turned I had more taken off the outer edge giving me .040 preload Good stiff peddle, just wont disengage I fixed that by extending the clutch peddle perch for cable end By about 1/2 in and it really works!
Do you remember which companies quoted on your truck in Ontario ? I'm in a jam as Hagerty refused to cover mine as it's a 2005. I should have done more research, I thought it checked all the boxes as it's 20 years old which is a classic in Ontario, but for Hagerty's program it has to be 25 years old. I don't love paying $2K+ but it's better than having a paperweight in the garage.
