Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE

[00.]

Ok, I'm totaly new to this thing but I was thinking of buying a diesel 4wd delica in canada and importing it back to the US. But the only ones I saw in canada were right hand drive and I would prefer not to look like the local postal dilevery man or like a wanebe JDM honda rocket racer who is so die hard that he has to drive on the right hand side out of principal. So I was considering taking my US spec mitsubishi van and taking the dash out and the steering weel and puting it on the 4wd version, I would asume that it should convert over with a bunch of work but it should not be too difficult I hope. But my question is has anyone ever done this, also I'm asuming that all 4wd models are right hand drive since I have never sean one anywhere but if they were available left hand drive than that would be even better but I have never seen one. Any help would be great on this.

[nxski]

There is a great deal to work around when importing to the states. If you can, just get a 25 year old import and leave it at that. If you have thousands of dollars burning a whole in your pocket take a look at some of the suggestions here...

http://www.delica.ca/forum/import-to-the-us-3293.html

Good luck with your search...

[Mr. Flibble]

It is nearly impossible to do this. Unless you live in Canada for 1 year, or as a soldier you bring a Delica back after your tour.

It is possible to get a Mitsubishi modified in Canada with a legal US VIN number, but otherwise you have little hope.

I am probably moving to the Seattle area soon, and I will have to give up my L400 as there are no options for me to be allowed to keep my L400 in the United States if I continue to live here.

I don't want to give up my Delica, but I cannot legally license it in the US, nor can I insure it here. :(

[Yokohama]

The NHTSA is very strict about this! There is a list here of viehicles that can be imported (non-conforming):
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/elig010807.pdf
Check page 17 for Mitsubishi, not a single Delica! Of course, if it is 25+ years or older and can be made to comply with EPA and DOT regulations then it can be brought into the USA. But, the oldest L300 in the USA is only 24 years old!

The other way to import is to have the manufacturer give you a letter say that the vehicle you want to import is substantially similar to the USA version of it and that can be made to comply with minimal work. I doubt this would work with the newer Delica even if they are very similar to the old ones.
This may however work with a, say, 1989 Nissan 300ZX as it is almost exactly the same as the USA version (V6 version only).

So, the answer is, look at the post here about converting your body to diesel and 4WD; short answer is, not worth the money. I am just going to put a limited slip from a compatible Mitsubishi truck/suv (of course, when I figure out what USA spec Mitsubishi Trucks/suv models and years fit, and gear ratios, I will let everyone know).
http://www.delica.ca/forum/l300-2wd-to- ... 10070.html

But, hey, maybe as the USA DELI-gation, we can figure some stuff out to improve our vans. I love these vans!!! They are so awesome and so versatile! I am after another one, or two if I can...

[impalator]

Not sure about this as I have a right hand drive and it'll stay that way as long as I will have the van... however, there are left hand drive (i.e. same as continental Europe or North America) L300's with 4x4 drive (although the one pictured below is a gasser and not a diesel)... this one is a model that was sold in Switzerland and judging from the headlights and design it's probably an early nineties model...

The van pictured below is used by a Hot-Air Balloon company and the guy pulls the trailer with the balloon, propane, basket and all the gear as well as all passengers in the Van (up to 5 plus Operator and a driver on the ground) up hills (Switzerland is a hilly place) with no problems (wouldn't want to do that with my gutless 2.5 Diesel...)

It has sliding doors on both sides and it has a nice fully opening roof-window (tin... not glass)

It is a no-frills version (no fancy crystal light windows, cooler boxes, captains chairs and plush carpeting etc.) - just a more rugged, vinyl seat covered 4x4 bus.

I am not sure how this would work in the USA... but for Canada, where the rule is still 15 years it should really be possible to source a LHD L300 4x4 (albeit likely a gas-model) in Switzerland, Germany, France or Holland or so and then import it to Canada.

[Yokohama]

Not sure about this as I have a right hand drive and it'll stay that way as long as I will have the van... however, there are left hand drive (i.e. same as continental Europe or North America) L300's with 4x4 drive (although the one pictured below is a gasser and not a diesel)... this one is a model that was sold in Switzerland and judging from the headlights and design it's probably an early nineties model...

The van pictured below is used by a Hot-Air Balloon company and the guy pulls the trailer with the balloon, propane, basket and all the gear as well as all passengers in the Van (up to 5 plus Operator and a driver on the ground) up hills (Switzerland is a hilly place) with no problems (wouldn't want to do that with my gutless 2.5 Diesel...)

It has sliding doors on both sides and it has a nice fully opening roof-window (tin... not glass)

It is a no-frills version (no fancy crystal light windows, cooler boxes, captains chairs and plush carpeting etc.) - just a more rugged, vinyl seat covered 4x4 bus.

I am not sure how this would work in the USA... but for Canada, where the rule is still 15 years it should really be possible to source a LHD L300 4x4 (albeit likely a gas-model) in Switzerland, Germany, France or Holland or so and then import it to Canada.

It would still need a certification letter and would have to be the same year range as the USA L300. The problem maybe that it is 4WD, and that there was never a 4WD USA L300.

[00.]

Well, Thats the thing I was going to swap the win numbers on my US delicia, there is one on the dash and one in the engine bay, figured I would just weld that one, and swap the other one along with my US dash, the US delicias are fairly worthless in bad shape, so I was going to use it as a parts car. Lets just say I know too many people who have done some similar magic work on other vehicles they have imported; such as the VW ralley golf from england, and lancia delta, its the only way we can get these cars here in the states somewhat illegaly but they never know because the car is still basically the same car with just some extra goodies on it and they are almost 25years old anyways, and all the cars can be easily made or are already DOT ready and can pass emission standards, its just the US goverment that wants to put all kinds of technicaleties on this and I'm not goin to deal with the rediculous tax oriented technicaleties so they can suck money out of me. I have imported a lot of motorcycles from canada and I know it can be a pain even if the bike is a 1960s model, but its definetally much easier once the vehicle is 25years old.

But I'm not too worried about the import, I'm more concerned about how much work will go into the right hand steering conversion. I do like this van a lot, I have yet to drive one but i have heard nothing but good things about the the van. Is there a link or a post on here where it describes all of the different models available and all of the different options available. I would love to know all the differnt styles and options these things came with, I have found a lot of different versions on the web but its hard to tell what year and what options are what. Once I get the driving side figgured out than I can try to get one. If I'm going to swap vin numbers it would not be a good idea to have the right hand steering on the van because someone is going to ask questions...

[Yokohama]

its the only way we can get these cars here in the states somewhat illegaly but they never know because the car is still basically the same car with just some extra goodies on it

What you you mean "somewhat illegally"? It is VERY ILLEGAL!!! Of course, it is the same for lots of other things people do concerning vehicles. You have already realized your biggest problem is RHD. Of course, the other issue will be the sliding door on the wrong side, etc. I would wonder if US agents on the US-Canada boarder would be more in tune with what to look for, as they see this more.

I will tell you this, and they have talked about it here, that if you get busted, it is seriously bad.

The feds have been really cracking down on people doing this for about the last 5 years. It took them forever, but they figured out that people were doing this. They had this kind of thing going down in Florida for years. Importing cars from offshore islands in the dead of night. Using small craft and beaching the car and then using a local warehouse to swap the VIN with a USA model from the same manufacture.

[jessef]

If I'm going to swap vin numbers it would not be a good idea to have the right hand steering on the van because someone is going to ask questions...

That's not your only problem and if you choose to go ahead with it, I will have no sympathy when you get pulled over and will be ticketed for an inspection.

And you will. The reason is because a L300 4x4 Delica is so unique that you will catch everyone's eye including the law. Not only that, but you are riding on different chassis and compared to a US spec L300, you are lifted nice and high off the ground. That's another reason why they can issue an inspection.

But if you do go ahead with your plan, I would love to see how you are going to a) buy one in Canada from a Canadian showing your US ID and b) drive it across the border without crashing through the gates to get across.

Like others have said, this is the thread regarding imports into the US and if you go through it, you will notice that every angle has been thought of and discussed.

http://www.delica.ca/forum/import-to-the-us-3293.html

[00.]

Wow you guyes are serrious about this stuff;;, thanks for the concers here, but the answer is simple a friend in canada buyes the car than drives it to the US so he can give it to me. I don't even cross the border with the car. And it is legal for a canadian resident to cross in a supposedly illegal vehicel. I don't understand why this is even illegal since canadians can drive the car here in the US, why can't US residents drive it here? Just because they made up a law that is why. The car is 100% safe to drive on US roads and will be emissions ready and will be DOT ready too so I don't feel bad about this at all, its not like I'm going to drive some choped up hot rod with one wheel comming off.

[Tinytoy]

If your not too concerned about the legal end of things than do I have a van for you!!!(may or may not run) for dirt cheep!Send your friend!
Good luck with the locals.

[mararmeisto]

Wow you guyes are serrious about this stuff;;, thanks for the concers here, but the answer is simple a friend in canada buyes the car than drives it to the US so he can give it to me. I don't even cross the border with the car. And it is legal for a canadian resident to cross in a supposedly illegal vehicel. I don't understand why this is even illegal since canadians can drive the car here in the US, why can't US residents drive it here? Just because they made up a law that is why. The car is 100% safe to drive on US roads and will be emissions ready and will be DOT ready too so I don't feel bad about this at all, its not like I'm going to drive some choped up hot rod with one wheel comming off.

It's not about DRIVING it on the road, it about REGISTERING it for the road, and you can't do that with a vehicle that was not sold in the US market unless it is MORE than 25 years old.

Thank you Big Three motor producers who were worried about better-built, more capable sports cars coming out of Europe during the 70s. American manufacturers couldn't compete with them, and knew it, so they petitioned the government to keep the vehicles out until (they hoped) people wouldn't want them any more.

There are plenty of Kei trucks being brought into the US, but they never get registered and never get driven on public roads: guys are using them for hunting trucks and off-road toys. Read this site for a bit more info - note the restrictions on road use.

[jessef]

Wow you guyes are serrious about this stuff;;, thanks for the concers here, but the answer is simple a friend in canada buyes the car than drives it to the US so he can give it to me. I don't even cross the border with the car. And it is legal for a canadian resident to cross in a supposedly illegal vehicel. I don't understand why this is even illegal since canadians can drive the car here in the US, why can't US residents drive it here? Just because they made up a law that is why. The car is 100% safe to drive on US roads and will be emissions ready and will be DOT ready too so I don't feel bad about this at all, its not like I'm going to drive some choped up hot rod with one wheel comming off.

You would have your questions answered if you would just read through this thread mentioned already :

http://www.delica.ca/forum/import-to-the-us-3293.html

Some quotes to answer your questions :

but the answer is simple a friend in canada buyes the car than drives it to the US so he can give it to me.

The answer may be simple for you but it can pose some legal and criminal problems for your Canadian friend.


It is quite simple.

Canadian drives down into the US with his/her vehicle.

Canadian flys/walks/train/bus/gets a ride back up into Canada without the vehicle he/she entered the US with.

Customs flags your Canadian friend. Questions are asked and must be answered. Unless your Canadian friend wants to be caught in a lie and face criminal charges via homeland security/customs, they can simply say that they sold it to you.

Well that is illegal. It is illegal to import a vehicle into the US in this manner. Your Canadian friend is now in deep poop.

Please do not ask anyone to do this for you.

One more note, I strongly recommend you keep your 'ideas' to yourself since posting on the internet in forums can come back and bite you in the ass down the road when you openly talk of illegal stuff.

Just my 2 cents. Ignore or read it.

On a more pleasant note, I spent a lot of time researching for my US friends to accomplish what you are looking for. I spent hours at the border crossings with Canadian and US customs officers sitting down and trying to find solutions.

I tried everything I could and out of the many many internet forums/threads regarding importing newer than 25yr vehicles in the US, the only real successful one's are what we've talked about in the main Import to US thread.

I posted somewhere in the past year how to import a vehicle newer than 25 years old.

You will have to search for it.

Short version :

1. Dual citizenship
2. Registered importer and offroad use only
3. Get a canadian to drive it over the border (high risk to the canadian)

that is it. Period.

I know people who have tried everything possible and none were ever successful at importing. This spans over the last 10 or so years with different types of imports.

The easiest option is #3 but who will you find to risk their customs status when they drive a vehicle down and come back up without it ? The criminal/border/customs risks are very high for that Canadian.

You have the border to deal with.

Just imagine what can happen if the customs officer just happens to pull you in for a vehicle inspection.

I can list a number of things.

US Customs see a bizarre-lookin' Japanese-thingy coming in at the border with a VIN that matches an existing bizarre-lookin' Japanese-thingy registered in the USA.

Original VIN stamped into the frame. What will you do with that ? If you grind it down, they will see that it was manipulated.

Original VIN plate on the firewall (underneath seat). What will you do with that ? Pop out the rivets and remove it ? If so, they will see that it was manipulated.

The color codes, diff ratios, engine size/type in the VIN between USA Mitsubishi Vanwagon and Japanese JDM Delica's are different. Give that some thought. They might.

If you or someone else is going to attempt this, just be aware of the criminal charges that potentially may come your way.

I am writing this to scare people from doing this.

Some unsuspecting Canadian Delica owner may end up doing a 'favor' for someone by driving their vehicle across the border, when in fact they could wind up in serious trouble with the law.

I.e. - buy the skankiest/cheapest Mitsu VanWagon you can find in the US of A, drive it up over the border here to Soviet Canuckistan

What will you tell them driving back down ? Do you realize both coming up and going down, they snap a picture of the vehicle ? Well they do and they can check it on the spot. If they do, you're busted.

I don't want to see or hear of any fellow-Delica owners get in trouble over driving one down in the US or going out of their way to make it happen.

Great forum - quite the education here

Let's say I have a family member who lives in Canada (I need to find out whether or not they have obtained citizenship yet). What if the vehicle were registered in their name and it just so happened to be driven 365 days/year in the US? Would they have to insure the vehicle in Canada? Any potential downsides or foreseeable problems with this option that you guys can think of??

Two problems.

It will depend on which province they live in (vehicle will be registered/insured) that will dictate how long they can drive outside of the province insured.

The second is again insurance. What happens in case of an accident ? You can really open up a liability lawsuit if it goes that way.

What would your family member think of you driving their vehicle insured under their name outside of Canada ?

Primary residence.

Realistically, you can get away with a few options listed on this thread.

Your problems can go from small to major if you get into an accident. That's the major issue. Especially if liability insurance is involved. Then it can get ugly.

[00.]

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......

[nvanadm]

The title is a little misleading here "Can I make a delica RIGHT HAND DRIVE". Most Delica's are already RIGHT HAND DRIVE. Did you mean Left Hand Drive?? Why not just buy a LHD Delica? Wouldn't that be easier?