Anybody out there able to advise on practicality/cost of converting an MX5 from Left hand drive to right hand please? This is a US spec (air Bags) 1991 1600cc model, which I think I could get cheaply. I think most of the parts will be available in the destination country, but are the relevant holes and fittings in place for both types of steering and pedal fittings?? (1/00)

I am told this conversion is a real sod of a job. I have not done it myself nor have I heard of anybody else doing it. Although somebody mentioned it on the list a while back.

Apart from the obvious problems, like a new steering rack and a new dashboard, there are some hidden things to watch for. Like the ECU is in the passenger foot well, so this will have to be moved. This will mean a new wiring loom! No doubt there will be other 'little' things you find as you go along. Little things add up to big bills.

You should be able to get all the parts from Eunos breakers/importer (Powerdrift, Ka Yu etc) but with the second hand market the way it is at the moment I don't think this is a cost effective conversion.

Just my two pence worth. If you do try it, then Good Luck! (1/00)
I was in a meeting with one of my engineers and a Mazda engineer by phone, we did discuss this problem and you are very correct in the issues you raised. As we looked over a diagram of the car, we found that it could probably be done but the cost was astronomical. The one thing about the ECU, in the later cars at least the LHDs, the ECU has been moved and is located behind the passenger seat however I believe this only applies to '94 and later cars. All that aside, we determined by best guess, labour time would be 3 to 4 weeks, 8 hrs per day but that is just a guess on the time. Even if it could be done in half that time, labour would be a nightmare and as far as I am concerned not the typical DO-IT-YOURSELFER affair. Again, this is not ment to discourage but just a little pinch of how difficult it may be. (1/00)
I haven't done a lhd conversion yet, but I did recently install abs in the car, so I can say that I took it apart pretty far. (it involved removing the complete brake system, steering rack, front subframe, fusebox etc) I doubt very much that it is possible to do the conversion. None of the holes are provided. Once everything is out of the engine compartment, you'll see that the left and right sides are totally different. The holes for the fuse box etc are totally different of those for the brake system/steering rack on the opposite side. I wouldn't be surprised if you would need a different front subframe too (not sure on that one though). (1/00)