Hey ive been a 2nd gen owner for a litte over a year and have been coming to this forum for about a year now too. This is my first time to post in the 1st gen section because im looking for a first gen. I want to get oen and turn it into a rally car and I was wonder what I should be looking for. Thanks for any help!

 

Rust....or you should be looking for not having any.

When picking up a FB look for rust behind the cargo bins. A philips screw driver is all you need to get the bins out. There should be a mat behind the bins, when you lift it check along the wheel well.

IMO look for either a '79(smaller engine, lighter frame) or a '85 GSL-SE (larger engine, heavier frame)

btw: FB's RULE!!

 

Ok so look for rust by the wheel wells. Should i listen for any engine noises like pinging and what not? Anything first gens do that seconds dont? Cause I know what im looking for with a second gen.

 

There really isn't that much of a difference between the 12a and 13b. If your familiar with 2nd gens then FB's are much much much simplier to work with.

I do want to mention that the 12a is much louder then the 13b with open exhaust.

You may want to figure out if you want FI or carb. Racing Beat makes a good modded carbs, intake and exhaust system for the FB's.

I believe '84 and previous do not have computers. The '85 GSL-SE is the only FB with a 13b, comp and FI. (basically the works) The only problem, it's hard to find the GSL-SE.

 

Oh yeah i know. Right now im looking at an 83 gs or maybe it was a gsl. Basically I just want a project car and its only like 300 bucks which is a major plus. My friend and I are thinking about making a road trip to houston to go pick it up.

 

I own a '83 GSL and a '85 GSL-SE.

IMO they are the best FB's in the US.

 

i'd imagine for rallying you'd wanna start with a GSL - or at least swap in a GSL rearend.

 

How do you distinguish between the models?

 

gsl and gsl-se have disk brakes on the rear instead of drums.

 

if you're rallying you'll want a gsl or se for the lsd. or you'll need to swap to keep from being a one wheel gravel slinger.

 

I'd get a base model or gs and then swap in a gsl or gsl-se rear. That way you don't have the extra weight from the sunroof right at the top of the car. I've know a few racers who have cut the sunroof top off and welded in a non-sunroof top to help balance the weight, center of gravity, etc. But then again, if you just want something to play with get whatever you want because you're sure to have fun in it.

 

But with LSD, you'd be a two wheel 'gravel slinger.' I don't think it would make that much difference off road and in the snow. LSD is more useful on road. Think about it.

 

imo go for an 83-85 gs with a blown motor and no sun roof. put a gsl rear end and a streetport 12a and a racing beat header and a racing beat intake and a holley and hold on. the sun roof thing is big becuase i can show you some pics of what my streetport 12a did to a gs with a sun roof i twisted up the whole body. right now i have to get a brace i can punch it in my gs and watch the shifter move about 2 inches to the right. i have to much torque i have streched my motor mounts in less than 3000 miles. back to the drawing board.

jr

 

sorry, 85, but the fastest gravel cars are all-wheel with electronic adjustable diffs fr, ct, and rr. why? because one contact patch trying to grip instead of 4 is obviously not very fast. i used to rally a camry. fwd with an open diff is about the worst traction scenerio you could come by. an lsd is used for low traction (otherwise why use is it) and gravel and snow is normally considered low traction. only things to beat it is mud and snow.

 

Actually it really does make a great difference if you have an lsd when off-roading. On the regular diff if one wheel started spinning then you'd have a greater loss of accelleration because of lack of power on the other wheel. This would all translate to slower times on the stage too. With the lsd you'll still have wheel spin, heck going at those speeds around dirt corners you're going to have spin, at least you'll have power at both wheels and less loss of accelleration with better stage times. Of course the driver will have to learn how to drive out of the driver's side and passenger side windows when going around corners

 

Which is why the fastest cars are usually heavily sponsored and the 4wd cars are put into a different class than us 2wd cars.

The NA rotaries that rally are lsd rear-ends and are usually in the same class as Omni's and Rabbit's plus other small cars. You get the idea.... And it's always neat when you're in the woods and can hear the different exhaust tones, the rotary always stands out.

 

hmmmmm, that brings up a quite interesting observation. The GSL that I am looking at buying does not have disk brakes. Does that mean that the owner rebadged it? It has a sunroof and stuff, but the back brakes are drum brakes.

 

Didn't they add discs to GSLs in 84. So previous would have the drums?

 

ok, well if that is true, then the one I am looking at is misbadged because it is supposed to be an 85 GSL and there are definitely drums on the back.

Keith

 

my 83 gsl has rear disc - i believe all gsls had 4wheel disc.

 

well shoot dang... that sucks. Hopefully I can find a GSL rear then..... no biggie, the car is in pieces anyway.