exodus82

I just went to the junk yard and picked up a 85 GSL rear end for my 81 GS. While i was there i took the driveshaft too, i was under the assumption that they are different from 83-85. Do i need the drive shaft or can i take at back and use my old one. And a do i need one of those things that puts a different proportion of braking power to the front and rear. SORRY cant think of what its called.

Nick-7

Are you wanting to swap the diff only or the whole third member? I thought the axle shafts from pre 83 cars were different diameters than the post 83. The only difference in the driveshafts is the way they bolt to the yokes and the fact that the later ones have non-replaceable u-joints.

I you want to swap the third do this:

The best thing to do about the drive shaft is to swap the yoke (round plate with splines that the driveshaft bolts to) from your 81 third member to the 85 third and use your old driveshaft. The reason is the older driveshafts had replaceable universals.

exodus82

What about the brakes.

exodus82

Do i need to get a new master cylinder, what brake lines do I need other than the e-brake cables.

2Lucky2tha7

iTrader: (3)

Look in the Victoria British catalog, you can get either the rubber or steel braided brake lines for your application, as well as the e-brake cable! They're pretty cheap too!! Oh yeah, that valve you mentioned is called a proportioning valve, but I'm not sure if you'll need it or not------if I were doing the conversion, I would definitely swipe it off the car at the junkyard!!

erick1120

You will need the propotioning valve and if it is the same as the setup on the 84' GS then you will need the spliter for the rear brake lines. it is bolted to the axle housing just off to the drivers side.

jayroc

Do not waste your time swapping 3rd members and axles. Remove the entire assembly. You'll need a GSL rear brake line which can be ordered from most any auto parts store for $8 and also the ebrake cables. Just detach them from the rear where it Ys off.
The proportioning valve is kinda necessary, as drum brakes require more pressure to actuate than disc, though I've done swaps without changing this out and have had no adverse affects in normal driving.
Also, if the flanges are different on the rearend, and I'm not sure if they are or not, you can either replace d-shafts, or replace the flange on the rear and continue to use the old d-shaft. It's up to you.

exodus82

The ebrake cables are still there so ill pick them up on friday, i cut the brake lina that goes from the housing to the body of the car. I was wondering if i need the master cylinder off of the GSL, because in the VB catalog it is a different number.

82streetracer

iTrader: (1)

it is different, but you dont NEED it, your current system will work.

you will just get a bit more Rear-bias in your braking system.

exodus82

But isnt that what the proportioning valve does, theoretically the master cylinder wouldnt make a difference on the rear-bias.