1980 Rear, Fix or replace it?
 

I have a 1980 1st gen with the open rear and the right axle is bent.

I am also replacing the motor so the rear will be seeing approx. 300 ftlb. instead of the <100 ftlb from the 12a.

At the moment I am planning on replacing the rear with an 8.8 or a Toyota something (cant remember what it is but my freinds use it at lot for offroading).

I'd really prefer to keep the stock rear because it would be easier and this car is just a street car. I'm not building it for any one type of racing and to be honest I'm too busy to get into racing so I don't need something bulletproof.

So it comes down to this, does anyone make a good LSD for this rear, and is it worth keeping it or should I just replace it?

Thanks

Look for a used rear end from either a GSL or GSL-SE. Try for a GSL so you don't end up with a different bolt patter for the wheels. The LSD makes the car a lot more fun... You should be able to find one for under 300 bucks, and the swap will take an afternoon.


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+1 :icon_tup:

The -SE I'm driving is defintely more fun. LSD FTW

Besides, bolt-in is so much less of a headache than fabbing, more reliable too

also the gsl lsds are stronger than the se lsd

Do all the suspension mounts match? I couldn't find any info on whether the suspension mounts changed from 79-80 to 83-85. If it is a direct bolt in that would be awesome. Thanks for the info.

the mounts are similar, but improved. locations moved. i'm not sure if it would be all bolt in, but shouldn't be too hard.

I thought all 84-85s had the same big spline axles and lsd.... How is the -SE diff different other than the ratio?

The clutch packs are differernt between the 2, nothing else. Thunkrd often speaks of things he yet not knows.

I've also been told that the ring gear is thicker in the GSL than in the -SE rear end.


Also, i'm pretty sure that the suspension mounting points changed on the body, not on the rear axle, for the S3 cars.

i was talking about the lsd clutches. there was a write up on the comparison between the gsl and the se lsd design. i am pretty sure the gsl was a 2-2 while the se was 3-1.

sorry for being an idiot and writing things i do not know.