So I have an opportunity to work as a mail carrier. Yay! But I would need to use my own vehicle. Crap... So all day I have been looking at right hand drive vehicles with no luck in finding one in TX. So I have been thinking about switching my manual transmission for an automatic. Has anyone done this? How hard is it? I have a 1994 dakota. If I have to get another vehicle, I have to sell it. Then I will be sad but at least I will have a job. So.... Input?

 

it can be done but its not going to be cost effective.....best bet especially for delivering mail would be a blazer or exploder............lol............I have used blazers for 6 years before finally getting an llv(long life vehicle) from the post office......

 

To go from a manual to an automatic will be a little easy as far as the bolt on, but the wires will take a little time, and you will need the PCM from an automatic. Also, you will need the cooler lines to the radiator and might as well add in an additional oil cooler.Your best bet is get all you need from a junkyard or someone who is parting out a truck.

 

I found someone around here selling a Jeep Cherokee that is right hand drive so I am just waiting for an email back. I'd have to sell my truck and don't want to but money is money, right? How did you get an llv? I was looking for surplus postal vehicles but couldn't find any.

 

I was planning on doing that if this is the way I decide to go. The area junk yards rarely ever have a 94 dakota though. If I remember correctly from when we replaced a buddies, 93-96 are compatible. I think.

 

92-96 will work for most of the parts, gauges and computer stuff wont from be compltely compatable

 

after 6 years as a rca (rural carrier associate) or a sub as its more commonly known as I finally made regular carrier.......and after 2 years as a regular carrier my route was actually assigned a postal vehicle....so I got pretty lucky I think........right hand Cherokees are awesome but terrible on gas..just lay in a supply of front brake pads and spare oil.......also if the Cherokee has more than 100k on it make sure the trans has been rebuilt..........because delivering 500 or 600 houses and stopping suddenly 450 or 500 times is hard on brakes and transmissions......

 

I just found a 2001 Saturn that is RHD and affordable (so I might not have to sell my truck). Do you know anything about saturns? I am going to look at it tomorrow maybe and take it to a shop to check it, but the guy was up front about some minor things.

 

saturns are much better on gas but a LOT harder to find parts for........the rhd Cherokee uses 99% of the same parts as a regular Cherokee........and some say the Saturn sits too low for rough roads....don't know about the area u are going to be working......if its mostly city u might be ok but if you have gravel or dirt roads I would definitely go with the Cherokee....both carry about the same amount of mail and packages........if it were me I would go with the Cherokee......but I may be biased as I have owned 5 Cherokees......only one rhd though.........

 

The only cherokee I found the person never emailed me back or called me. The roads around here are mostly paved, a couple dirt. But none that I don't think my old mazda could have handled. I am wondering about the parts now. But I already accepted the job so I can't really wait too much longer for something else to come along. The only RHD vehicles I found and got a response to were this saturn and an 82 Jeep. That would have been so much fun but the guy was very clear he did not think to would do well being driven for hours every day.