FbDrift

so as some of you may know, i just purchased an 83 fb, and it has been debaged and repainted (crappy green) from its original sparkiling black (H1). the only thing wrong with the car, besides the color, is it doesnt have an engine.

So my question, is there any way i can tell weather it is a GS or a GSL? i know its not an SE. here is a list of what it has incase that helps:

1. A/C
2. Black vinal interior
3. 5 spd tranny (dont thing that matters, but hey...)
4. when i turn the drive shat, both whells rotate in the same direction
5. if i turn one of the rear wheels the other goes in the opposite direction
6. waffles...dont know if that helps or not...

heres a cell phone pic of the badge:



i think i can make out the L but im not sure, it looks like the badge would have seemed to long to just be GS.

i consider this non-technical, but if any mods feel otherwise, by all means move it. its just been bugging the crap out of me!

jshiz

iTrader: (4)

What's your vin # or do you have a title?

nevermind, I thought I could also look up trim with a vin #

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

if it has rear disc brakes, power windows, a sunroof, and a rear wiper its a GSL. the 83 GSL badge should still be on the b-pillar, not above the tail light. we'll go from there and see where that takes us.

sam86

Can someone please explain the differences between the American GS, GSL and GSL-E compared to the Australian Series 1-3?

FbDrift

i have rear drums, non power windows, no sunroof, and no rear wipers.

so im assuming that makes its it a GS.

my VIN is JM1FB3312D0717743... i tried this as well and searched for any way to tell. but we would need a seperate number on the data plate like my celica supra had that was decipherable... www.freewebs.com/secondgensupra

j_tso

iTrader: (2)

GS, GSL, and GSL-SE are trim levels, and are different from country to country. "Series" refers to the years (79-80,81-83,84-85) and is pretty much universal.

GS and GSL in the US started in 1981, the fully equipped GSL-SE started in 1984 and came with a six port injected 13B.

FbDrift

sooo i have a gs then! yay! i finally know... i was kind of hopeing i had an lsd, but just another thing ill have to buy. starts prep for paint tomorrow!!!

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

are you sticking with the oem color???

daddy08

I picked up another GSL the other day and have an extra LSD rear end if your interested. we might be able to meet half way or something. I'm in colorado but omaha isn't all that far when it comes down to it.

sa7

iTrader: (13)

If it has no sunroof, doesn't it mean it's an S model?

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

nope. the sunroof was an option on the GS. check for other things such as power mirrors which were entry level GS equipment.

FbDrift

Thanks, but i really dont think that a GSL rear will hold up to the abuse its going to go through with the S4 TII swap. that and drifting will take its toll on it.

instead, i am going to go for a chevy 10 bolt rear end, i havent heard anyone on here use that, and i can really get it fabed pretty cheaply. I know granny's speed shop sells ford 9in, but they are harder to find, and fairly expensive.

chevy 10 bolts are all over the place, and they can handle any abuse i could throw at it. there is a guy about a mile up the road from me who uses a 10 bolt in his 600 hp camaro.

unfortunatly i didnt have time to prep for paint today, i was busy helping a buddy pull an engine, then we went to get the title for my rx7. i got to see some really sweet cars! an RX2, R100, Two Datsun 510's, a couple second gens, Z31 turbo, 300hp N/A Corrola...etc. good day!

you can find them at any junk yard, out of any s10, blazer, tahoe....etc.

as far as oem paint, that is not the factory color... i am going to start preping it for paint tomorrow. i am going to give the $100 paint job a test, its going to be back to black. (original paint on my car, was the H1 code, sparkling black) so it will be close.

Mazdaver713b: it has manual mirrors, or atleast one of them....

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

does it have the power mirror switch? is the other mirror on the car a power mirror?

FbDrift

no unfortunatly...there both manual.

good news is, i took the dents out and am sanding it down this very moment.

FbDrift

so after 10 hours of straight working on the car, heres what i got done:


first half of the car sanded, wow it sucks by hand...
fender went from bent as hell like this...


to this, its not perfect but its a heck of alot better.


hopefully ill finish sanding it tomorrow.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

keep us posed with your progress!

Mickster

iTrader: (2)

Good work! Looking forward to seeing the final metamorphosis.

FbDrift

thank you all! i dont have work tomorrow, so back to sanding, maybe even get a couple coats on it

DivinDriver

iTrader: (15)

An "L"?

FbDrift

First coat went on today!! i was very impressed... even though the paint was way to thin... it went on without a hitch. it really helps to have friends help you! i dont think im going to need anymore than 3-4 coats at this rate. after this coat drys im going to use 600 grit and wet sand it... then 800, then 1200/1500 then 2000/rubbing compound.






o shiney!!!

85 FB

Wow, that's a nice paint job. Very shiny indeed.

RotoricanNY

iTrader: (2)

I like! I need to paint my FB too, but first I wanna do a rebuild!

FbDrift

and the fun thing is, thats just the first coat unsanded!!! i still have to wet sand, and what not. so far its going great.

RotoricanNY

iTrader: (2)

sweet, mine has alot of minor body damage :-(

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

looking great thus far!! what was the original color of the car?