Hey guys, Thought I'd share with you my 2006 Dodge Ram SRT/10's RHD conversion. It shows the main conversion process from start to finish. It's not something you guys get to witness everyday (if at all). It's a lot of coin to get it done professionally but it makes life a little easier being a daily/weekly runner in the land of the right hand. Took around 6 weeks to convert at Eagle Automotive in New Plymouth, New Zealand (of course) which is around 4-5 hours drive away from me. This conversion was done well before it was The Batram back in May/June, 2008. This was just to get it road legal, so the end result is a bone stock Night Runner. Looking back, it's been a while since it looked like that but I forgot how sexy it looked even in stock form. Dodge really hit the nail on the head with the SRT Night Runner Rams IMO. This question would have come up so I'll answer it now. RHD laws: A vehicle must be converted to RHD if it's not older than 20 years at time of import. Eg: 2010 - 20 = 1990. Any vehicle older than 1990, like 1986 is fine and exempt. All other LHD cars must be converted (if they can be, not all can). Rams, Mustangs and F150s are the normal, others may not be convertible. You can "bypass" this law if you buy and own the vehicle in question for 90 days (or more) in the country of origin. You can then import it back, register it in your name and show your ownership in the US and it's fine to keep LHD. For me, I wanted RHD, for this truck. It took over 9 months to get this truck up the drive bone stock, RHD from the date I purchased it. A long wait but WELL worth it. Cheers, Carlwalski Freshly landed sitting at the import holding area/zone. Filthy from transit.....poor thing lol Engine prior to conversion Interior prior to conversion The factory MPH Speedometer cluster The new OEM KPH Speedo imported from Canada The RHD Conversion begins! Protection galore. They're very thorough at Eagle. New RHD firewall holes for brake booster and steering column, etc From below....... After being mocked up and painted Underside with the transmission out The T56 6-Speed manual transmission out Inside the cabin The newly completed RHD dash! Closer up, bloody mint! The new RHD dash, KPH speedo, pedals and short shifter in place..... From the (now) passenger side. New RHD engine bay Yay!!!!!!!!!! From the passengers side 100% road legal: conversion complete, Vined, Reg, WOF, RHD cert/plate and NZ plates. Ready to roll...... A good groom, wash, wax & polish then on to the delivery truck and on it's way to it's new home 6/6/08 - truck arrives around noon YEHAAAAAW! What a f#%ken BEAST! Gently mate, gently........... New engine bay configuration in person New brake, clutch, steering column setup, etc From above....... Another view....... The "old" drivers side The new RHD cockpit The shifter and dash area. New RHD driver controls Up the drive after several trips taking the family for their first drive and getting use to it's size and driving habits Safe and sound in it's new home.
Wow...from your other pictures, I just assumed the truck was originally a RHD version sold not in the US! That place does AWESOME work!!! :worthy:
So how did they do the dash? Is there a RH version of that? or did they fabricate it? (would that even be possible?)
Nope, no SRT10 Rams (or any Rams?) were ever RHD from the factory. Good question, it's a custom piece made up by the RHD shop. A typical RHD conversion will set you back around $20-$25,000 USD. Not cheap. Depends on the options to. Like 2 power seats, power windows, console, dash, etc. So having them make the dash etc is all part of that. Not all LHD vehicles have shops that convert them, in fact, there are only around a dozen vehicles RHD conversion shops will do and they are: Dodge Rams, modern Dodge Challengers, Hummers, Ford F150s, F250s & F350s, Chev Silverados, Chev Suburbans, Chev Supercabs, Cadillac Escalades, 06/07 Ford Mustangs and GMC Sierras. Their main crust are big pick ups, definitely. The shops choose what they feel will sell well buy 1 vehicle then go about designing an identical dash and conversion kit but RHD. Once they are happy, they simply use that as a mold for future kits and use it as a template. Cheers!
Carl, I knew the work was done well, but the "Detail" on everything is amazing. You certainly got your money's worth. Thanks for sharing the process. :hug:
Shifting left handed...lol. Well, I can dribble a basketball left handed. Looks awesome...what it took to convert your truck is amazing.
I'm pretty sure in New Zealand they just drive around in first. First, and reverse. They don't reverse the gas and the clutch pedal so it's not a big problem.
HAHAHAHA Not sure whether or not you're taking the piss or not but I sure hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1st and Reverse and just this year we're getting McDonalds for the first time, that and cellular phones lol. Pedal setups remain the same. LOL, again, pretty much answered in the first post. In NZ, like the UK, Aussie, South Africa etc we drive RHD so left hand shifting is what we are used to, it's natural. It'd be like me asking if RH shifting is hard to you guys hahahaha so, obviously, LH is natural and easy. Now. RH shifting on the other hand? THAT took a little time to get used to. Not only the shifting but the shifter AND position of the driver and the position of a vehicle on the road takes time to become accustomed too. In the end I have both LH and RH cars, as it is now, 3 RH and 2 LH. I've been lucky enough to own and drive 3 LH vehicles in my life so I can definitely be classed as ambidextrous! :laugh: Thanks for the comments guys, good for you to see what happens outside of the USA. Cheers, Carl
Wow looks amazing Do u have any pics of steering rack as looking to convert my ram and cant find steering rack any where in uk Cool truck
Didn´t see this thread before Carl, but damn that is some serious work done to that truck before you made it pure evil! Kudos! Fredrik:ilovesrtc:
