So, I have an 82 gsl shell and an 84 se complete parts car

For the axles, Can I put an 84 se pumpkin and axle shafts into a gsl axle? So I can get the 114.3 Bolt pattern. If you’re asking why I wouldn’t just swap the whole axle, I can but the GSL is rust free and the se has a lot of rust, not specifically on the axle but there is pitting on it, i’d rather have a nice rust free axle rather than one covered in rust. Obviously i’d paint it but it still has pitting and i’d need to do all of the brake lines on it. Thanks.

 

Any 84-85 axle will not fit into an earlier axle housing because they use bigger bearings.
GSL-SE axles in particular are longer than the non-SE shafts because those cars had vented disks.

 

You can however interchange the entire rear axle assembly and driveshaft into the 82. You will need to use the GSL-SE wheels however. And if you go that route, you will need to install the SE front strut and spindle assemblies with brakes as well. This will allow you to use the SE wheels and brakes on all four corners. You will want to use the SE brake master cylinder, booster, and proportioning valve as well.

 

Don't forget the brake cables sections that go through the frame. One on each side and they are Left and Right and cannot be interchanged.

 

in case its not 100% clear it goes like this:
81-82 is small bearing and small driveshaft flange
83 is small bearing big driveshaft flange
84-85 is big bearing big driveshaft flange.

so you can swap complete assemblies, but you can't put big bearing stuff in a small bearing axle

 

Don't worry about the driveshaft flange. If you swap rear diff you can get the flange that goes on your GSL pumpkin and swap it with the one on the SE and you can use your GSL driveshaft......

 

In case this isn't confusing enough, you can swap the side gears in the differentials between the two pumpkins and then install the GSL/SE pumpkin into the 82 housing. I did the reverse of this when I went from an 82 axle housing to a 84-85 housing in my race car.

OR

Install the GSL/SE housing into your car and find a pair of 84-85 GS or GSL axles and swap over the brakes from your 82 housing. This will allow you have the same lug pattern that you do now and use the rear brakes you are using now.....assuming your 82 rear axle has disk brakes.