82 GS to 84+ GSL-SE front swap
 

Good day,

I have been looking up how to do a swap on an 82 GS to an 84+ GSL-SE setup. I think I have found all the info I need, but I can't seem to tell if the front struts (the part that breaks and spring mount too) are the same on the different the models (GS, GSL, and GSL-SE)? Are the cars with the 12a's and 13b's the same up front (for those years)?

The real reason I ask is because I don't have a donor car, and this black dragon site has the struts for sale, but they say 12a for that year.

(62-254 Damper, http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icata...l.aspx?Page=62)

My end goal is be able to use the re-speed big break kit, but I think I’m dead in the water unless I find a donor car. (And if I find a donor car, I will just keep it.)

I'm not sure if they're the same, but they do interchange. You can unbolt your GS strut top (4 nuts up top) and steering knuckle (two bolts underneath) and, with a little weight on the lower control arm, you can pop the whole strut assy out. There may be differences related to the SE's studded hub and calipers, but the hardpoints on the car don't change.

You know after a good nights sleep, I really didn't ask the question I wanted. I wanted to know about bolt pattern for the wheels. After some more reading I think I have found what I need. Every thing but the GSL-SE have the same bolt pattern. So my real question is there any way to get to the other bolt pattern with out a set of GSL-SE front struts? Any one make a kit like re-speed? or does any make the struts? Have not just gone down to Mazda yet.

The only way to do it is with wheel adapters, but that solution generally sucks. The other option would be to redrill the SE hub. The SE is the only FB variant to have conventional lug studs and nuts that you can hang the wheel on prior to tightening. It's also 4x4.5". All the 4x100mm FBs had lug studs, where the fastener passes through the wheel and threads into the hub, so the hubs, rotors and calipers are fundamentally different between the two cars.