I did alot yesterday may not look like much but she is coming along. Yesterday I swapped the front suspension from the 85 to the 83. Installed the front 2 SS braded brake lines. Made a new longer line for the oil cooler so I could change the angle as not to have it directly infront of the intercooler. The bracket for the coils was installed and added a piece of metal to mount the fuel presure gauge isolator to when it comes time.

I debating on the next project to take off the front cover and replace it with the one I have made for oil return or to work on the rear and swap the 85 to the 83.

Have a question on the rear end swap will I have to use the drive shaft from the 85 in the 83 or are they interchangable?

 

Drive shafts are interchangeable betwixed fb's

 

It's looking pretty good. I like that bracket for the coils. Sounds like youre in about the same place as me.. I really need to switch over to a front cover that's been tapped for my drain, instead of using the oil pan, AND I just bought a full gsl-se suspension that I need to put in. It'll be awhile before I get to putting that on though. It's a long and slow process, my friends keep asking me about my car, you know "is it done yet?", of course I reply, it'll never be done!

 

Nice work, I like the coil bracket.

 

What's wrong with using the pan for the drain plug?

 

Some people say that it can cause oil to backup into the turbo. I guess depending on where you put the line going to the oil pan, it could actually be under the oil, or right at the line

 

I have had a return in the pan for over two years. With no problem that I know of other than the rubber hose deteriating a little and it getting a little messy. I have had the oil pan off the car with the dipstick installed and the full line on the dipstick is actually higher that the oilpan. So I dont believe anywhere in the pan is below the oil lvl.

 

Turbo suppliers clearly state oil return should be free-flowing, and NOT below oil level in the sump. Some people may have got away with it in the past, but if you've got the time, go the front-cover route. I drilled and tapped the front cover 1/2" NPT, adding a 1/2" NPT to 3/4" hose barb. If you cut off or de-braze the flange on a stock S4 return line, and connect via a short piece of 3/4" hose, it'll look nearly stock.

Seanrot, have you had any problems with high temps in the idler arm area? I put a heat shield on mine the other day, but my S5 housing is nested up pretty tight against it.

 

The 83 drive shafts came with 2 different flanges, depending on vin #, the 83 may of may not fit, the 85 will.

 

I also finished rebuilding my turbo too. bought it off yahoo auctions Japan. Sent the shaft off to peirsdeisel in Washington state to be balanced and clean up. Bought a rebuild kit from them too. Wasn't that hard to do. This is a K27 which is alot beefier then the little K26 I have in there now.

 

Why are you swapping to an older Car? I liked your 85.

 

The 85 engine popped, and the 83 only has one spot of rust where as the 85 only has one good spot of clean metal. That and i have found two points on the 83 that are a little nicer than the 85. the top of the strut towers if flat on the 83 much nicer for a strut bar and the front brakeliines have the hardline to softline connection in the body where as the 85 has a hole in the body and a bracket under that to hold the connection between the lines. I like the interior of the 85 better though and its moving to the 83.

 

do you knoe the cut off? mine is over 734000.