I have a project 84 SE, thats years away from going anywhere. I wanna swap in the LSD from it into my 83 LE.

Now from my understanding the driveshaft flange will match up, Because they changed the patten from 83 on.

My question is:

I just unbolt this (red circle)

I included a pic, becuase I always find them helpful to eliminate confusion.

Also what else do I need for this swap besides new rear end fluid with LSD additive. I plan on using royal purple.

Am I going to need anything else, besides a beer or two

Matt|ttaM

 

Move the axles too, the 83' axles are smaller and won't fit the splines if I recall.
I just put in a new lsd, pretty easy, just take your time and clean out the old fluid really well before putting in the RP. I put in the same stuff and seems to work fine.

 

How long of a job am I looking at? What tools will I need to do that, and will I have to drop my rearend?

 

Only if you have the GSL model. If not, it requires lot of heines as you will be doing some pounding to make it work. All my FB's were running the larger SE 3rd member.

 

So is swaping the axles a must, or just a recomendation.

I hate asking all these questions, but I am going home for a week end where my Shop and SE are loctated and I wanna be able to get it done with in a day or so.

 

It's a must, I believe the axles are different sizes....

 

83.5 - 85 are the same size/spline as the GSL-SE.

79-83.5 are small axles and will not work.

 

And if you swap axles,then youll be swapping brakes and lug patterns too.
Thats the one disadvantage to the SE swap,you have to do everything to make it work.The housing is the same as the GSL but the axles,rotors/lug pattern and calipers are unique to the SE.Swapping SE stuff into an 84-85 GSL housing is easy........but,
Since you have an LE,you have a drum rearend,which means discs and calipers wont bolt up.Why not just swap in the whole SE rear axle?

 

Huh? IIRC, LE's came with disc brakes, not drums.

 

Nope I got crappy old drums

I dont wanna swap in the SE rear end, becuase I have the special LE rims, the waffle style ones. I want to stay true to the LE look, but I want to upgrade from my open diff.

So whats the best way for me to get LSD without having to swap bolt patterns?

Edit: I need to keep using my same Driveshaft, I just bought a new one,

 

The LE is based on the GS platform which is drum/open rearend.

The only way your gonna be able to pull this off is to get a hold of an 84-85 S or GS rearend housing and axles, so you can keep the 110MM lug pattern and run the different/larger 84-85 SE third member.A GSL housing and axles would work too,and you'd pickup rear discs to boot.At that point though,youll have bought another complete rear axle and pillaging off your SE would be pointless.

Or rebuild the SE LSD with 81-83 side gears to fit up to the LE's smaller axles.

Unfortunately neither is a simple,easy solution......depending on your local wrecking yard's stock and your mechanical ability.

 

You have two options:

1.) Use a 1983 GSL differential.
2.) Use the whole rear axle from another GSL (Saves the bolt pattern) and keep your 1983 differential pinion/driveshaft flange.

1983 is an odd year because they made mid year changes. It also combines the small driveshaft flange with the small axles...

1982 and earlier had a big flange and small axles.
1984-1985 had a small flange and big axles.

 

I guess the only thing I can do, is crack it open and see what size axles I got, that way I can know for sure what to buy and if I need to buy.

Thanks for yalls help.

 

okay you're getting conflicting info. 84-85 all have big axles and small flange. 79-82 small axles and big flange. 83 small flange and small axles. You have to bolt the whole rear end in. the bigger axles will not fit in the small axle housings. !!PERIOD!! Just get any 83-85 GSL rear end and remember that if you get a 84 or 85 GSL rear end you'll get bigger and stronger axles. Thats what I did in my 83.

 

I already said that, but if you look in catalogs like Victoria British (Black Dragon) and such, they always list 1983 up to serial number such and such...

I think Mazda made design changes but wanted to exhaust their stock of parts before using the new parts. Hence Mid year change.

Not only, but some previous owner mighta monkeyed around with it. There were numerous open to LSD swaps aorund when dealers wanted to shut people up about chattering diff clutch packs.

 

Man why cant I just have a straight forward year model! UGH

 

cause you bought a 83. It's he best year in my oppinion. You got the nicer dash and don't have to buy a new drive shaft if you move to a big axle rearend.

 

Yeah, I do love my 83 Limited Edition wouldnt trade her for the world!

Dad bought it brand new in 1983, been in our hands ever since!

just trying to breathe some new fire up the ol tailpipe if you know what I mean