clubfit

I have an '83 GSL and I need to either rebuild or replace the engine. I have been lookng for another 12A, but after reading posts for the past couple of days am beginning to think that I wold be better off replacing it with a a 13B. It doesn't sound as if it is too much more additional work for e to handle, however their must be some drawbacks.

Apparent advantages: More power, greater availability, far more vendors offering parts.

Apparent disadvantages: A bit more work (mostly involing the front motor mounts), ????

Other than the oil pan, will their be a huge difference between using a '86-'91 13B rather than a '84 - '85?

Thanks for the help, Bill

IanS

iTrader: (4)

Either way, if you need any help with it let me know. I have a bunch of extra stuff also that you may need.

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Ok, first of all, are you going to keep it NA or turbo? For either turbo or N/A the motor mount problem is easily solved. All you need to do is get a front cover and oil pan from a GSL-SE and bolt them on the 13B. (Note - If you are going to do a turbo 13B, be sure to have the front cover drilled and tapped for an oil return below the OMP. Search for this if your not familiar with it) Those parts will allow you to bolt it into the chasis no problem, then you just need to figure out how to make it run! All 13Bs are fuel injected stock, so you can try and install the stock fuel injection computer and harness into your 12A car, you can get an aftermarket computer, or you can go back to a carbureted system. Its all really up to you and your wallet. After you got your intake taken care of, then you just need to get the exhaust done. This is just a matter of getting the 13B exhaust bolted on, and possibly some custom work under the car. Most people who do the 13B swap wind up with aftermarket exhaust. I would think however, that if you kept your 12A exhaust under the car, got a stock manifold or maybe a header for the 13B, you would just need to make them fit together, maybe add some pipe, maybe take some out. Either way an exhaust shop can do this. The downside however is using the 12A exhaust is going to be a power loss simply because it doesnt flow well enough even for a 12A. I also forgot to mention ignition. I know most people with the 13B swap are running electronic ignitions which are controlled by the ECU also, no distributor, so that would get wired in with the FI if you were using the stock computer, or an aftermarket computer that handles ignition as well, but those computers are more than a computer for handling the fuel injection only. However, I think its possible to put a distributor in a 13B, maybe one from a GSL-SE? However, dont quote me on that. Lets see, you also need a flywheel and clutch, and it should just bolt right up to your 12A tranny (unless you go turbo, then you should try and find a stronger tranny), then everything else should be ok. I hope that helps, I know its a lot, but with any luck, you might understand my ramblings, lol. Good luck!

~T.J.