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Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:37 am
by DelicaDJ
Looks like that's the case...
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:58 am
by Yokohama
00. wrote:I appreciate all of the concern here but I did not really even want to get into the import stuff on this post I just wanted to know if anyone ever converted the delicia to left hand drive. LOL please some let me know!!!! LOL. But for all the american who really want a car from an other country, please read this post its the only way you can do it, it can't be done legaly. period......
I guess it comes down to if you think you can get away with an importation scam in this hyper-vigilant post-9/11 world; you really think they are going to not notice something the size of a van not returning to Canada when, as was pointed out, the driver did return. Yes, I think that is going to send up the TERRORISM alarm! Can you say "detained for questioning"?
Aside from being highly illegal, I would not want the US government and the Canadian government coming down on top of my friends, not to mention myself.
Of course it can be done legally for many vehicles; you just have to be an RI and do the crash testing and modifications for compliance. Remember the whole thing around the R32, 33, and 34 Gt-R? It was a matter of compliance. Although they now only allow the SRS compliant R33 into the USA (of course the R35 does not count).
If I really was motivated enough, I would take my van to Canada and convert it to 4WD there. If you looked at the post when I asked about 4WD conversion, you will note that in one reply there is mention of a person selling an almost complete conversion of a USA L300 to diesel/4WD! That would be the way to go; 100% legal would be my understanding.
Here it is for your convenience:
"I have an L300 LHD Mitsubishi van that was imported new into the US and carries a washington title. The van was bought into Canada to modify it from 2wd/gas to a 4wd diesel. Most of the body conversion has been completed and the vehicle basically requires the running gear putting in and finishing. The owner was on the forum but due to the amount of time it took to find a body shop that was willing to take on the complex job of converting the vehicle the owner has fallen off the face of the earth. I have about $7000 invested in this project and figure another $2-3 k would complete it so that it is a fully legal `Delica` on US roads, no illegal import or grey area, just a LHD US registered van that has been modified. If interested in this project, please call 250-927-4536 or email
ccautos@telus.net for more details and 100`s of pictures of progress and parts van. Thanks, Glen"
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:11 am
by thedjjack
You are better off starting with a LHD US 2wd.
Swap a Solid Toyota Axle with a trans-Transfer case from Mazda or Ranger (assuming it is the right side output or adapted a Toyota transfer case)). Now get really creative with steering linkage.
This would be way easier then swapping a Delica gear under it.
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:58 am
by 00.
Ok thanks for pointing that out, LOL, but yes I guess I need a left hand drive delicia, that is my fault for the dislexic title. But are left hand drive delicias available in canada? I thought they were all inported as right hand drive.
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:41 pm
by jessef
LHD one's are imported via Taiwan.
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:53 am
by Mr. Pistachio
Hey Jesse,
Is there a reason why Delica's aren't imported from Taiwan? Cost, reliability, contact in the market? Because there's indeed factory LHD that exist it be quite interesting for QC market and general safety.
Cheers
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:15 pm
by jessef
hard to find a 'good' clean/low km's one and that has been converted professionally.
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:11 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
Mr. Pistachio wrote:Hey Jesse,
Is there a reason why Delica's aren't imported from Taiwan? Cost, reliability, contact in the market? Because there's indeed factory LHD that exist it be quite interesting for QC market and general safety.
Cheers
What do you mean by "general safety"?
Falco.
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:14 pm
by nxski
Uh oh, looks like we might be getting into another RHD vs LHD safety argument
If I can get a jumpstart, I'd just like to point out that they both have their benefits and their downsides...
(phew, I think my bases are covered)

Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:02 am
by Yokohama
I have owned a legally imported JDM Fairlady Z, and yes, RHD is awesome to drive around in, but there are some downsides. The first, is that if you live where you have toll roads, you have to end up having to unbuckle and reach across the seat every time! Same for any drive-threw. Also, for some reason I had problems parking to the curb; being on the wrong side threw off my sense of spacial relationship. I had to sometimes open the right door and look down at the curb when parking.
Some people are really into the JDM look, and that is cool, but it is not an absolute necessity for me.
Re: Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:06 am
by Yokohama
00. wrote:Ok thanks for pointing that out, LOL, but yes I guess I need a left hand drive delicia, that is my fault for the dislexic title. But are left hand drive delicias available in canada? I thought they were all inported as right hand drive.
Still problematic and EXTREMELY ILLEGAL! For probably less than price of obtaining a LHD factory version you could just buy the one being converted as mentioned above. Besides, being 100% legal without having to worry is priceless.