How to: convert a RHD to a LHD.

I will now attempt to explain how to switch a dashboard from the Japanese way to the some of the rest of the world way. Of doing things. Bear with me. This will get rough and unpleasant but if you bring a Snicker bar, a spoon, and a will to learn, you will. Learn, I mean. You will learn. How to swap a dash.

Onward. With a Tamiya WRX dashboard.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/dashow201.jpg

Unacceptable.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/dashow202.jpg

1. With your razor saw and mitre box (you have one, right?), start cutting the dash. I made an indepth plan of how to do it, but it didn't who up in the pics. The plan is to cut off the ends, and cut the console and the glove box out, leaving the center console attached to the vent area. You will see how this plays out as the we progress.

2. See how the ends are cut off, but the cut from the saw doesn't go all the way through the dash (arrow).

3. I cut the the gauge pod and the glove box segments the rest of the way out with my hobby knife.

4. Oh no! What have I done?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/dashow203.jpg

1. Swap the the gauge pod and the glove box. Notice I had to cut the parts so that they would fit in each other's place (arrow).

2. Glue it all up. Wow, it almost works!

3. Uh oh, there are two triangle shaped holes in the dash. What shall be done? I need to cut out patches and glue them in place.

4. I put celophane tape over the dash, and traced the holes so that I could transfer the shape to styrene sheet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/dashow204.jpg

1. Cut the triangles out of plastic sheet using the tape as a pattern.

2. Glue into place, and add putty. Save me!

3. Sand smooth and rescribe panel lines.

4. Bonus!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/dashow205.jpg

Acceptable.

Enjoy.

Cool! :sunglasse

Nice how-to, I've done a few myself w/the very same methods.

But I found a much easier method for the WRX (and S2000).

I bought the Maisto diecast for $6...it has LHD. :icon16:

Nicely done :)

HAHAHA nice tutorial! But what about dashes that have twisted center consoles...like the Supra?

Is that you in the pics btw hahaha

*Added to the How-To section* :sunglasse

Right on, man!! Great how-to!! You RULE!!

I added it to the how-to section first. ;)

thats nuts, it looks perfect

Cool how to Willimo, except it has one fatal flaw - you've converted it to the wrong side! Now us Ausies/Kiwis/Poms will have to go and convert it back. :D

Who do you think you are, subway?




Cool tut.

nice how to; thanks for sharing it to the world! :smokin:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/willimo/dashow201.jpg


Is it morphing time? :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Nice tutorial, Will.

Amazing!!!
Thank u very much!!!!

really really interesting, nice written, captivating and funny, you should do this more often, will!

Oli

a thing is not superclear int the tutorial tho, why do I need a spoon?


Oli

Cool! Now let's hide this tutorial where it'll never be found again. :lol: :screwy:

But what about dashes that have twisted center consoles...like the Supra?


You take the spare LHD that Tamiya supply :lol:

Great Tut Will! Is that you on those pictures?

Is that you on those pictures?

No, it's his roommates cat.

Very nice write up, but being a Brit, maybe I'll use it to convert a LHD to a RHD.
That cutting mat is clean, mine is flithy and it's only just been replaced at Xmas.

No, it's his roommates cat.

Ahhh! No wonder! :lol: Thanks for telling me Mikey:lol:

You take the spare LHD that Tamiya supply :lol:

well that was just a bad example :p I was referring to kits that don't come w/ both HD

hey thats great tut. :iceslolan

Wow thats pretty cool.