instead of using wheel adapters it sounds stronger to do the suspension swap, what year GSL-SE do i need to find and what all is involved in the swap? im a GM tech so i dont see any problem no matter how difficult it seems...plus i want a challenge

 

-SE's were 84 and 85 only. I believe they are both the same suspension wise.

 

There were only two years of the SE cars, 84 and 85.

The swap will not be a problem for you, The front is 4 nuts up top and two bolts down low and the brake lines, Also I have the parts for a front swap for sale in the parts section.

The rear can be done as just the Axles and rotors and Calipers, if you have an 84 or 85 car, Or you can pull the entire rear end. If you have a 79 - 83 car you will need the Drive shaft to go with the rear, if you have drum brakes car you will also need the E-brake cable. If you have a 79 or 80 car the thread pitch on the brake lines is different than the SE and will have to be adapted.



Take a look at the FAQ thread Stickey at the top.

 

The '83 Rx-7 has the same drive line as the 84-85 cars.



John

 

I must be blind...i'm about to do the same swap and can't find any FAQ sticky with this swap info in it

And you say if your starting with an 84/85 car ( I have an 85 GSL)you can do just the axles and brakes? Does this mean that the 85 GSL and 85 GSL-SE have the same diff physically and internally, just the axels and brakes are different?

 

The GSL would have the 3.90 Gear LSD where the SE has a 4.09 Gear LSD but both have the Large Axles.

The SE had larger Rotors on the Front so I bet the Rear would also. Not Dia but Thickness.


I thought it would be in the Sticky, But maybe not.

 

I thought the 83 Had the Small Axles. Does it have the Large Drive Shaft on the Diff end?

 

Although the '83 has the small axle bearing, it uses the same non-replaceble u-joint drive line and rear axle pinion flange.

John

 

so the easiest way is to get a 84-85 SE rear end and driveshaft to swap in, will the ujoints be different sizes or are they all universal size? plus the gearing in the SE axle is lower than in my stock 82 correct? so that will also be a plus to the swap...

 

That is the best way, Ujoints dont matter, The drive Shaft to Pinion is the difference in the 82 and the SE, so you just need the SE Drive shaft. Dont forget the e-brake cable or the front end change over. It is a manual and not an Auto. Correct.

 

yes...5 speed manual...and a question for the my new motor, when i swap in the 13b and tranny will the driveshafe still work, or is there a difference in the tailshaft length? I know im askin alot of questions but im just starting this and wanna do it right the first time

 

Drive shaft is the same length, So no problems.

 

what bout the actual rear end pumpkin itself. Is the GSL identical to the GSL SE or is the SE beefier?

And is are the axles the same on GSL adn GSL SE only difference being the brakes and rearend gearing?

 

ive got a 82 w/ drums if i wher to do a rearend swap what would i be looking for, just the rearend, brake lines e-brake cable and driveline?