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Was yours the first to be converted to right-hand drive in Australia at that time? Any kind of template to follow?
Not the first to be converted in Australia but the first in the State of New South Wales, there are extensive rules to follow, just imagine everything 100% reversed in the original build, believe me you just won't be able to do so.
Every company that does the conversions do a different job and don't all do a great job, mine is spot you may note the detail we went to.
Okay a few more pics, and yes conversion was completed many years ago, I'm just showing what we have to go through here in Australia A bit of gutting the car out Sad day Don't try this at home Even the heater box has to be reversed to operate as original Imagine this mirror reversed New Dash and door trims Hand made dash support bar and HUD support in cast Aluminium Booster is now on right side Cast brackets for AC compressor Wilwood brake rotors fitted front & rear, don't take note of surface rust, these have been in use for years and are about to be changed out.
Okay never liked the Radio and speakers so I completely removed the bose setup, rewired the whole thing and installed 3 way focal speakers in the doors and in the Back, the doors I had to make custom mounts out of MDF, yes I had to trim a bit of the door to make them fit.
Before you go into shock this and all C5 vettes in Oz have been converted to RHD so there not original so we can do anything we like it doesn't change their value, a bone stock RHD vette here is work A$60K + because of the import, shipping and conversion cost, I paid US$30K when I brought this in 2003. The Original Cardboard template Cut out in MDF Speaker cut out Focal 3 way speaker Paint up You can see with surround fitted what needs triming, not much. Speaker fitted Gutted centre console Pioneer double din fitted, the sound is so much better
ACI Hood, I cut the sculptures out and made them functional, I spent months looking for an indicator that would fit in the mirrors, these work great. A guy here in OZ has copied what I did with indicators, thats fine thats what we all do, mines the original, fitted Z06 rear brake ducts rear spoiler and seat hoops. Indicators in Mirrors
Billie Boat exhaust fitted, it was so load I put up with it for a couple of years then changed it out, I went with OBX Headers and mid pipes with cross over, mufflers are GHL and tips, yes its darn loud but doesn't drone as the Billies did. A lot of guys here will only use made in the USA this set up fitted perfectly and was 1/3 the cost. I intend to cut the Billie tips at the mufflers off and fit them up as they look better.
Front cats now gone OBX stainless Cleared perfect 02's 02's clear well no issues very neat neat Crossovers are not OBX
Those side mirrors are awesome. And the GHL exhaust is, IMO, the best sounding C5 exhaust there is. Agree with you - loud, but not deafening or overbearing.
Yes. Kind of like how we have stupid protectionist measures that don't allow us to import vehicles under 25 years old, they have similar. And the worst part there is each state has its own guideline, it's not even at a national level.
You have to protect Ford Australia, GM Holden and Toyota Australia.
I LOVE this thread! Thank you much for sharing all of this. This is all very cool, and you ended up with a really nice C5. I really like your hood. I don't think I've seen one exactly like that before.
You have to protect Ford Australia, GM Holden and Toyota Australia.
Ford, Holden have both folded and are no more, the company still exist but are badged imported cars from Europe and Toyota are no longer made here.
Holden started in the 50's I'm an avid fan, ford about the same time, toyota was a car built here only so good for jobs only, Sad day when our 2 cars went belly up because of their parent companies in the USA weren't making enough profit.
, wait till I get to the end and see what this has cost me, you will choke.
I really like your hood. I don't think I've seen one exactly like that before.
