Yank Tanks Conversions?
Discussion
Even though i'm only 15, I really love all cars, and am glad to have found this section of Piston Heads.
But anyway, when i'm old enough to afford it, I want to import a late 80's early 90s full-size American car, like a Caprice or Crown Vic. But, I would obviously want a slightly more efficient engine and for it to be RHD, because i'd want to use it as a day driver. Seeing as RHD yank tanks are exceedingly rare, and all of them are petrol (rather than the diesels they should've been) I wanted to know if it was possible for cars of this type to be converted to RHD from LHD in the UK, and if they can be fitted with diesels. (Yeah, I know it'd be stupendously expensive to do, lol, but I was just wondering) And would those cars (late 80s Caprice's/Crown Vics) be rust-proofed? If not, could they be?
But anyway, when i'm old enough to afford it, I want to import a late 80's early 90s full-size American car, like a Caprice or Crown Vic. But, I would obviously want a slightly more efficient engine and for it to be RHD, because i'd want to use it as a day driver. Seeing as RHD yank tanks are exceedingly rare, and all of them are petrol (rather than the diesels they should've been) I wanted to know if it was possible for cars of this type to be converted to RHD from LHD in the UK, and if they can be fitted with diesels. (Yeah, I know it'd be stupendously expensive to do, lol, but I was just wondering) And would those cars (late 80s Caprice's/Crown Vics) be rust-proofed? If not, could they be?
The whole reason most people want a Yankie motor is because of the petrol V8. But if you really want diesel and rhd go get a rhd Chevy Caprice or Cadillac Seville (both were marketed here in the 80's) then tour the scrap yards for a Chevy 6.2 Diesel c/w auto transmission (if you can find one in good condition). There were plenty of these used in Chevy & GMC vans. The early 5.7 (350 cu in) didn't have a good reputation. Don't expect significantly better fuel consumption for the diesel though.
Yeah I definitely wouldn't rid myself of the V8's in the cars, i'd put it in the garage or something, but I was really looking to just make them more efficient, as 27 mpg is a little poor nowadays, and seeing as their older now would it be lower? Cos essentially, I want one of them as a day driver, because new cars.... well they're real good but I just want a good old one, but I want it to work well and have some life left in it yet once i'd done it up to an acceptable level.
My daily, 2.8 V6 Camaro gets 26ish mpg, depending on how I drive it, still looks the part and can still get into 3 digit speeds. If you want a V8 then it's going to cost. Personally the only diesels I've ever seen on the US car scene have been vans and pickups. The late model petrol versions get good mileage as they are all fuel injected so tuned properly, or LPG'd, can be useful. Unless you want a cop or Checker cab look a like I wouldn't bother with a Caprice etc as a daily. Too heavy and not very interesting to look at. 2.8 or 3.1 V6 Camaros or Pontiac Firebirds, the same car just different noses and tails, are cheap, think 1500 pounds and are already here so you don't have the problem of importing and SVA ing your purchase. I drive for a living and have no problems switching from a RHD truck to a LHD car. Have you found Classic American, American Car World and Custom Car magazines? A good place to start.
Good luck
Good luck
LPG would be worth considering. Forget the engine swap - it just doesn't make sense. To do a professional job will be a lot of greif and you will end up with a under-powered car that probably still does poor mpg..
Left hand drive really isn't a problem. Conversion will be difficult and horrifically expensive. your best best would be to try and find an oz car which would be RHD.
Left hand drive really isn't a problem. Conversion will be difficult and horrifically expensive. your best best would be to try and find an oz car which would be RHD.
roscobbc said:
LuS1fer said:
Only problem with LPG is I believe you can't use the Chunnel.
I thought that lpg cars were now allowed? web said:
We regret that LPG and dual powered vehicles cannot be transported by Eurotunnel for safety reasons.
F93 said:
Even though i'm only 15, I really love all cars, and am glad to have found this section of Piston Heads.
But anyway, when i'm old enough to afford it, I want to import a late 80's early 90s full-size American car, like a Caprice or Crown Vic. But, I would obviously want a slightly more efficient engine and for it to be RHD, because i'd want to use it as a day driver. Seeing as RHD yank tanks are exceedingly rare, and all of them are petrol (rather than the diesels they should've been) I wanted to know if it was possible for cars of this type to be converted to RHD from LHD in the UK, and if they can be fitted with diesels. (Yeah, I know it'd be stupendously expensive to do, lol, but I was just wondering) And would those cars (late 80s Caprice's/Crown Vics) be rust-proofed? If not, could they be?
You want to do what???????But anyway, when i'm old enough to afford it, I want to import a late 80's early 90s full-size American car, like a Caprice or Crown Vic. But, I would obviously want a slightly more efficient engine and for it to be RHD, because i'd want to use it as a day driver. Seeing as RHD yank tanks are exceedingly rare, and all of them are petrol (rather than the diesels they should've been) I wanted to know if it was possible for cars of this type to be converted to RHD from LHD in the UK, and if they can be fitted with diesels. (Yeah, I know it'd be stupendously expensive to do, lol, but I was just wondering) And would those cars (late 80s Caprice's/Crown Vics) be rust-proofed? If not, could they be?
Go hand in your pistonheads junior membership card immediately.
Diseasel FFS!!!!
chevy-stu said:
It's great you're interested in cars, especially the often mis-understood American variety. Not wanting to pi$$ on your fire but I think you will have problems insuring any American car or any Import even for a good few years to come..
Really not true, for what ever reason US cars are far cheaper to insure than something like a Fiesta.Chap I worked with wanted to buy his first car after passing his test, a 1.4 Fiesta was going to be about £1400 3rd party F + T but a V8 Mustang £600.
Ok, ok, so I wouldn't take out the petrol V8. I just heard of the 10-15 mpg and thought it was probably a little stupid giving today's petrol prices. I didn't prefer the diesel, just wanted it for better the supposedly fuel consumption, but I guess I was proved wrong.
So, I could get a pretty decent US car and import it, get it done over and cleaned up (not modded to buggery), all for a low price? If its low, how much is low? like £10-20,000?
So, I could get a pretty decent US car and import it, get it done over and cleaned up (not modded to buggery), all for a low price? If its low, how much is low? like £10-20,000?
F93 said:
Ok, ok, so I wouldn't take out the petrol V8. I just heard of the 10-15 mpg and thought it was probably a little stupid giving today's petrol prices. I didn't prefer the diesel, just wanted it for better the supposedly fuel consumption, but I guess I was proved wrong.
So, I could get a pretty decent US car and import it, get it done over and cleaned up (not modded to buggery), all for a low price? If its low, how much is low? like £10-20,000?
Are you seriously wondering if you could get a decent yank motor for between 10 and 20KSo, I could get a pretty decent US car and import it, get it done over and cleaned up (not modded to buggery), all for a low price? If its low, how much is low? like £10-20,000?
Seriously?
Have you looked on ebay recently?
You could get something awesome for that money.
F93 said:
Ok, ok, so I wouldn't take out the petrol V8. I just heard of the 10-15 mpg and thought it was probably a little stupid giving today's petrol prices. I didn't prefer the diesel, just wanted it for better the supposedly fuel consumption, but I guess I was proved wrong.
So, I could get a pretty decent US car and import it, get it done over and cleaned up (not modded to buggery), all for a low price? If its low, how much is low? like £10-20,000?
If I wanted a big Yank car, I would look for a 94-96 Impala SS, ideally a 96 as they are marginally more desirable. You ought to be able to find a stunner for the low end of your budget or less. They are also nigh-on indestructible vehicles.So, I could get a pretty decent US car and import it, get it done over and cleaned up (not modded to buggery), all for a low price? If its low, how much is low? like £10-20,000?
If you want something more modern, look for a Cadillac CTS or 2005+ STS. I have a V6 STS, on US Gallons, being driven agressively I get 17-18 US MPG (20-21 UK) in the city and on the highway I get around 27us MPG (30+ UK)
It hits 60mph in 6.9 seconds and is a fantastic driving car. Added bonus is that the CTS and STS are available in factory RHD.
If you want to fly, find a CTS-V, that's a 4-door Corvette but those are LHD only.
The 10-15mpg rumors came from the 1970s, when our emissions standards were, quite frankly, stricter than the technology of the time could cope with. In the late 1970s a US-Spec BMW 5 Series had a 3.0L engine, got 10mpg city and 15mpg highway and took 11 seconds to hit 60mph so ti wasn't just the American cars that were dreadful (A 30 year old American car properly tuned ought to pass emissions standards for 5-10 year old European car)
A modern, and when I say modern I mean 1990s and up, American V8 is generally going to be very clean emissions-wise when compared to a European car, especially one from the 1990s, and will generally get, at worst, 16/18uk MPG in town and at the very least 20 UK MPG on the motorway, realistically you will do better.
For conservative MPG estimates, go to
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
and look up whatever car you are interested. City MPG assumes in-town driving, stop and go traffic. Highway MPG assumes cruising down the motorway.
TO calculate UK MPG divide the US MPG figure by 3.8, that will give you the miles per Liter. Multiply that number by 4.5 to get a UK MPG figure. US Gallons are 3.8L, UK Gallons are 4.5L.
Example: 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood, 5.7L V8. New Estimated MPG 15 City 24 Hwy
15mpg translates to 15/3.8 = 3.95 x 4.5 = 18mpg UK. The original rating was 17mpg City, or 20mpg UK.
24 / 3.8 = 28mpg, The original rating was 26mpg US or 31mpg UK
In 2008 the EPA downgraded the MPG figures of every car sold in America to more conservative figures. A Fleetwood will get 26-28 on the highway if driven conservatively, scream down the highway at 75 with the air con on full blast and you'll get 23-24.
Which isn't too terrible for a car that dwarfs a BMW 7 Series with a 5.7L V8 that will do a sub-15 second quarter mile
Thanks for the advice! Very very helpful. I love the 96 Fleetwood's, there just so very... well they're legendary. Thing is I like the look of earlier cars, like late 80s. The 86 Brougham is the exact style I like. Also, if you search the Striking Distance car chase on youtube, I like the Crown Vic used in that chase.
But the 96 Fleetwood is definitely a good idea.
But the 96 Fleetwood is definitely a good idea.
[quote=Captain Cadillac
If I wanted a big Yank car, I would look for a 94-96 Impala SS, ideally a 96 as they are marginally more desirable. You ought to be able to find a stunner for the low end of your budget or less. They are also nigh-on indestructible vehicles.
[/quote]
Me too. whats the advantage of a 96?
alas (from my perspective) they are all auto, although there is a company that sell a conversion kit to 6sp manual in the US. the £/$ will start to add up though
If I wanted a big Yank car, I would look for a 94-96 Impala SS, ideally a 96 as they are marginally more desirable. You ought to be able to find a stunner for the low end of your budget or less. They are also nigh-on indestructible vehicles.
[/quote]
Me too. whats the advantage of a 96?
alas (from my perspective) they are all auto, although there is a company that sell a conversion kit to 6sp manual in the US. the £/$ will start to add up though
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