Amercian Muscle - LHD to RHD conversions???

[Finn]

Does anyone here know a thing or two about converting an American LHD to RHD? Looking at importing a Dodge Ram 2500 as a tow vehicle. Waltons seem to do a great job but it costs big time.

[Squeak the Rat]

FYI, a vehicle is exempt from conversion to RH if it's configured as a hearse, ie it has coffin rollers installed.....regs don't say anything about number or size.......

[Crisis management]

My recollections (faint, its been a while) are that expensive is what to expect. Waltons have a good reputation and I think Bunce? on the shore.

Maybe PM Scumdog as he is into americana stuff?

If you need a Ram as a tow car are you buying a Hogley then?

[Finn]

FYI, a vehicle is exempt from conversion to RH if it's configured as a hearse, ie it has coffin rollers installed.....regs don't say anything about number or size.......

Good point. I've got a stiff too.

[Finn]

If you need a Ram as a tow car are you buying a Hogley then?

What's a Hogley? It's to tow a 5000kg 5th Wheel.

[Crisis management]

What's a Hogley?

One of them american motorbicycles......

Just another thought, If your near Dominion road, Mount Eden, talk to Ivan Segedin at his shop on Dominion (opposite Grange road & fortuitously, Davies undertakers establishment....)
He's been importing, modifying, american cars since Adam was a boy and may have some advice. Bit of a long shot, but you never know....

[Finn]

One of them american motorbicycles......

Just another thought, If your near Dominion road, Mount Eden, talk to Ivan Segedin at his shop on Dominion (opposite Grange road & fortuitously, Davies undertakers establishment....)
He's been importing, modifying, american cars since Adam was a boy and may have some advice. Bit of a long shot, but you never know....

Thanks. I'm an old Lynfield boy. I know Segedins.

[Waylander]

FYI, a vehicle is exempt from conversion to RH if it's configured as a hearse, ie it has coffin rollers installed.....regs don't say anything about number or size.......
Also if it considered a classic or to be used as a farm vehicle. Rego costs are up there though.

Also calling a dadge ram, american muscle is deceptive. It's a truck. American Muscle implies something along the lines of a Dodge Charger, or Pontiac GTO, those sorta cars.

[Finn]

Also if it considered a classic or to be used as a farm vehicle. Rego costs are up there though.

Also calling a dadge ram, american muscle is deceptive. It's a truck. American Muscle implies something along the lines of a Dodge Charger, or Pontiac GTO, those sorta cars.

When I'm finished with it, it'll be all muscle.

[Colapop]

How come you're not getting one of the many RH drive Ram's that are currently available here? I'm guessing the cost?

[Finn]

How come you're not getting one of the many RH drive Ram's that are currently available here? I'm guessing the cost?

Correct. I don't like paying retail.

[Colapop]

Fairy muff too. So you're getting a 5th wheel installed to haul summat like one of them big horse trailers? Is the rear suspension gonna be up to the job? May have to get the diff/gearbox toughened up too. Not that I know shit about these sorts of things.

[Finn]

Fairy muff too. So you're getting a 5th wheel installed to haul summat like one of them big horse trailers? Is the rear suspension gonna be up to the job? May have to get the diff/gearbox toughened up too. Not that I know shit about these sorts of things.

I'll be importing the 5th Wheel as well. Because the hitch is over the Trucks axles, it tows much better than a caravan. A Dodge Ram with the "Tow Package" is built for towing these things. The hitch weight is about 500 - 650 kg's depending on the models I'm looking at.

[Motu]

Peter Walton does Fords,he has the contract to do F series and Mustangs,dunno if he does other brands.Chryslers are sold new in NZ converted so they either get done before they arrive (possibly in Canada) or someone does them here.More Chryslers are sold here than American Fords,so I think they are done somewhere else.There is an absolute shit load of work to do on a conversion,and with a mordern vehicle with electronics,airbags etc it's a major task.We converted a MkII Jag to left hand drive last year....the customer supplied the kit,and as it was going to the US we had no standards to meet.I guess you have the money so aren't worried about the mega cost,usually around 20 grand....but expect delays,parts that don't exist are sometimes hard to find.

[Ixion]

Are you still fluffing around about caravans and motor homes and such shit? Harden up, man, a biker doesn't need any of that stuff. A bike, a tarpaulin and a fire kit,and an axe of course, and you've got all you need. Leave the mobile lounges for Maurice and his "special friends" . See, I've saved you megabucks.

[onearmedbandit]

We converted a Dodge Ram a couple years back now, can't remember who did (I could get my office admin to source the invoice) it but it was an outfit in Auckland and left us with little change from $25,000. Still cheaper than the stupid prices they charge for a new one here.

[Finn]

Peter Walton does Fords,he has the contract to do F series and Mustangs,dunno if he does other brands.Chryslers are sold new in NZ converted so they either get done before they arrive (possibly in Canada) or someone does them here.More Chryslers are sold here than American Fords,so I think they are done somewhere else.There is an absolute shit load of work to do on a conversion,and with a mordern vehicle with electronics,airbags etc it's a major task.We converted a MkII Jag to left hand drive last year....the customer supplied the kit,and as it was going to the US we had no standards to meet.I guess you have the money so aren't worried about the mega cost,usually around 20 grand....but expect delays,parts that don't exist are sometimes hard to find.

Thanks. Heard good things about Waltons who convert Dodge and also Eagle Motors in Taranki. Both are around the 20k mark which still makes it worth while bringing in. Chrysler want $120k NZ for something I can import and convert for $72k. Exact model although I'll probably get a used one with a 6.9l Cummins diesel. It'll pull a house.

[Finn]

Are you still fluffing around about caravans and motor homes and such shit? Harden up, man, a biker doesn't need any of that stuff. A bike, a tarpaulin and a fire kit,and an axe of course, and you've got all you need. Leave the mobile lounges for Maurice and his "special friends" . See, I've saved you megabucks.

But won't the Sky dish create a bit of wind resistance on the bike? Besides, this is NZ. NO CAMPING, NO FIRES, NO DOGS. The remote spot we go to is littered with NO DOGS signs. They used to be really expensive painted aluminum ones. We took them. Next year, they were plastic. Off they come. There was nothing this year. Cool.

[Motu]

Thanks. Heard good things about Waltons .

Peter Walton is good old school Kiwi blue collar,he's worked from the pit of his father's garage into an empire,just from bloody hard work,taking oppotunaties as they came along.When I wanted to buy a hoist 8 years ago I checked out the market,had all the broshures and had the salesmen in with the pitch.Then I decided on the one I wanted,but still hadn't seen the ones Peter imported from the US.''No point looking at a glossy photo he said,come on down and check one out,I've got a couple here''.On one of them was an F250 4x4 on backwards with the motor out,Peter is a huge guy,and he grabbed hold of the back axle and started swinging from it....pretty secure.Then he said ''There's another one over there,go and put that Lexus on it and see what you think''.He is certainly my kind of salesman.When I said I'd take it he said...''Do you want me to send my 2nd year apprentice up,and he'll instal it in 4 hours?,or you can do it yourself....I'd suggest you do it youself,they are built by Yanks,so they make it pretty hard for even a retard to fuck up''.So I installed it myself,best thing I ever did.8 years later people still say - ''Have you got a new hoist?''

[Scouse]

Also if it considered a classic or to be used as a farm vehicle. Rego costs are up there though.

Also calling a dadge ram, american muscle is deceptive. It's a truck. American Muscle implies something along the lines of a Dodge Charger, or Pontiac GTO, those sorta cars.Errrr ithink you will find that the Dodge Ram Viper is certainly a Muscle machine or are you not up with the play yet...?

[Waylander]

Errrr ithink you will find that the Dodge Ram Viper is certainly a Muscle machine or are you not up with the play yet...?
Somehow I doubt he would be looking at one of those to tow stuff with lol.

[Finn]

Somehow I doubt he would be looking at one of those to tow stuff with lol.

I don't know, I had to sit on a beer crate to see over the dash in the Ram. My lady said I look like an under age kid trying to drive the thing. I would of hit her but she's bigger than me.

I'm a Lynfield boy going back to his roots. Yeeeee haaaaaa boooooy!

[Scouse]

I don't know, I had to sit on a beer crate to see over the dash in the Ram. My lady said I look like an under age kid trying to drive the thing. I would of hit her but she's bigger than me.

I'm a Lynfield boy going back to his roots. Yeeeee haaaaaa boooooy!Yea your obviously not intimidated by taller woman

[Finn]

Yea your obviously not intimidated by taller woman

She was wearing flat shoes when you saw her. Every now and then, I take her out to give her some air and she puts on heels. It's ridiculous.

[Drunken Monkey]

A good freind of mine used to work for Waltons. They are doing the 'official' Ford LHD to RHD conversions, plus their usual stuff. PM me for more info.

[Nicksta]

PM Frenchy.. he does it for a living...... might have an idea for you ;)

[Timber020]

I helped a mate (a little) convert a few pickups some years ago, he got the conversion kits from south africa. I think in canada they do the conversions for the south african and commonwealth market, might be worth looking for.

[The_Dover]

I thought frenchy converted heterosexual men to the dark side?

my bad.

[JimO]

Also if it considered a classic or to be used as a farm vehicle. Rego costs are up there though.

Also calling a dadge ram, american muscle is deceptive. It's a truck. American Muscle implies something along the lines of a Dodge Charger, or Pontiac GTO, those sorta cars.
SR10 is the fastest truck in the whole wide world

[JimO]

you can buy one in the states, tool around in it over there for 3 months and then drive it legally here left hook, there is a truck company owner in dunedin driving about in one at the moment

[kro]

Bunce and Curtis have always been the premier importers/converters from memory. I think they used to be up in Albany, but that was years ago, they probably shifted closer to the big city.
The guy from Segedins has a good rep too, a guy I know bought 2 Camaro's in, and he helped in the process somehow (this is back in antiquity, and I can't remember the details).

[Motu]

Eversons used to do the Chevs just up the road from me...my mechanic who did the Jag used to work there.They were pretty crazy and made their own sportscar too.

[slowpoke]

She was wearing flat shoes when you saw her. Every now and then, I take her out to give her some air and she puts on heels. It's ridiculous.

Talk, talk, bloody talk! We horseless bicycle folk out in the country don't trust you landed gentry city types: give us pictures...put the "graphic" in "graphic detail."


Besides I could do with a larf...........

[Lou Girardin]

8 litres of premium will turn it into a usable vehicle.

[Finn]

8 litres of premium will turn it into a usable vehicle.

8 litres? That's hardly enough to start the bloody thing. Thinking of getting a bumper sticker on the back... EAT THIS GREENPEACE!