79+80_rx-7

Ok, I *wanted*to put a GSL-SE engine, tranny, suspension, in 1 of my SA's, but I would feel bad tearing down a perfectly good *FIRST GEN* rex, for my own selfish purposes. And besides the fact I cant find one CHEAP, or any ones at any junk yards, so, I have thought of another plan.

I thought, since the junk yards over here, have a **** loads of second gens, I could get one cheap, and not give a damn, about tearing down the ugly thing.

Which brings me to some questions
1.)Is the suspension better in a second gen car, than a GSL-SE????????????
2.)Which one has the *BEST* Suspension???
3.)Which one has the *Best* Tranny???
4.)Which one has the *Best*Engine???
5.)Should I have posted this in the 2nd gen. forum???

THANX, I APPRIECIEATE EVERTHING
LATERZ, Andrew

riffraff

second gens went back to the 4-port 13b style (well at least the TII did, not sure about the n/a).

suspension is nicer, tranny is stronger.

79+80_rx-7

THANX. I APPREICIATE IT ANY OTHERS??? SPILL YOUR GUTS PEOPLE ANYTHING

THANX LATERZ

riffraff

you should not feel to bad about doing swaps though.. unless you are trying to restor the SA, and keep everything stock....

right now my engine is from an rx-4, and when ever i get around to it i am going to put on a rear axel from an 81 gsl.

79+80_rx-7

I have NO clue to why, I would feel bad about tearing somthing down. Its just, everytime, I look at a car, I guess I see its potential. I just can only bear, to stand, a totalled rx, giving up its parts, but if its NOT totalled, I feel bad, like its a WAIST or somthing. I just dunno.
LATERZ

riffraff

gotch ya

Manolis_D

iTrader: (2)

I think 1st gens had a solid rear axle, whereas 2nd gens have a 6-link IRS... pretty big difference there! (advantage 2nd gen). 2nd gen motors are also all fuel injected, giving better power, mileage, and driveability.

I'd agree with you on this one and go with the 2nd gen.

riffraff

gsl and gsl-es first gens have a lsd rear end.

79+80_rx-7

do ANY second gen, have an LSD IRS??? I am pretty damn good, at fabricating stuff, and this would be pretty easy to do. I am glad I did not stick that 240SX rear in it, when I had planned to
THANX, LATERZ Andrew
Oh yeah, how much do you think a yard, would sell one complete, if they had over 10??? THANX AGAIN

riffraff

i am not sure, but i think that some of the second gens did have lsd

however, if you are thinking about doing some custom fab work to mount it to your first gen, i donot think that it would be worth it. an 81 or 82 gsl rear end will bolt right up. you would not even need to cut the drive shaft, all you would have to do would be change the brake lines, and e-brake line.

79+80_rx-7

Well, most of it is for the "wow, cool" factor. And I was told that I couldnt put a IRS in there. So I will most likley wind up with IRS.
So, what model of car should I pull from the junk yard?
Do I need a T2 tranny, rear? WHAT???? I want to know which models have what I really, can care less about the T2 engine, because, of the fact, it will probably fail, 2 hrs after I start playin with it So, I might buy a T2 motor, to rebuild, and a N/A motor to first install What the diffs, between GTU, and GXL ???
THANX I GREATLY APPRIECIATE IT

riffraff

the only difference between the TII and GTUs is turbos (the gtus does not have any) .otherwise, tranny, rear end, and everything else is identical... i donot know what the difference is between the GTUs and GTU but i would imagine that it is not much... GXL is different all together.. it has all of the bells and whistles inside the car, but everything that makes it run is similiar to the base models

Max7

The T2 and GTUs did not share the same tranny, the T2 has the Turbo tranny while the GTUs has the N/A tranny with a better rear gear.
The only thing better about the GTUs vs the GTU was minimal luxury's and the better rear gear, everything else was the same.
think of it as a base model with upgrade brakes = GTUs

Max7

Peejay pretty much covered the IRS swap in a post long, long ago. To much work, for no gain.
most of the racers that have commented said you will gain the wow factor, but loose handling.
So only put in an IRS if you want to do it for fun and the wow factor, not to improve the rear end handling ability.

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

how can you lose handling with an irs when that is what its supposed to improve?

Redwood

Okay, I'm going to attempt straighten this out with my limited second gen knowledge. BTW, I would have posted this in the 2nd gen forum, the answers would have been much more informative.
86-88
SE=base model (not to be desired for parts)
Sport (became GTU)=Had some upgrades like LSD
GXL=Has LSD but tranny is same as SE
TII=You want it. Great LSD, strong tranny, best suspension
89-91
GXL=The high end model. LSD here.
GTU=Lower end model. Not sure on LSD.
GTUs=You won't find one. 100 made. The TII without the turbo.
Vert=Everything's a little different, but has LSD and good suspension
TII=Still what you want

If you're unsure whether it's an LSD or not, simply turn one wheel (if it's a decent junkyard it should be up on something. if it's not, you're SOL) and look at the other wheel. LSD means it will turn the same way. No LSD means it turns the opposite direction.
As for tranny's, all n/a's (except GTUs) had pretty iffy tranny's. Since you're already going to be fabricating a bunch, you may as well grab a TII tranny. With an n/a tranny, you can only make around the 200 hp mark before you start having situations. The same tranny internals were used 83-88. They were upgraded for 89-91, but I'm pretty sure they still were pretty weak.
CONCLUSION: Get TII parts. It's the best bet and it leaves you open to make more power later on.

riffraff

thanks for the backup redwood.... i thought that the GTUs was simply a TII with no turbo..

Max7

Because you would have to duplicate the EXACT mounting points for the IRS and all related parts to keep the suspension geometry, be off a little and it won't work like designed and handle worse.
and since there is no way to mount it exactly on the first gen, without giving the rearend a 2" lift to clear everything. your out of luck.
even then, I've seen many First gen's set up properly have fast lap times then 2nd Gens at Mid-Ohio race course.

Felix Wankel

Fairly close.

(all cars run a 4.10 diff unless otherwise noted)

S4:

SE: Base model. Don't bother. 4 lug bolt pattern with crappy single piston caliper front brakes.
GTU/Sport: Same car. Some have LSD, some don't. All were 5 lug.
GXL: Luxo cruiser. All should have LSD.
Vert: Don't bother. Wussy *** 3.9 open diff. No verts ever had LSD.
TII: Strongest, all were LSD. However, the pinion flange is different from the NA's.

S5:
All the 89+ cars were 5 lug, and only the TII and GTUs (and maybe a couple GXL's) had LSD. The GTUs runs a 4.33 diff.

And, FWIW, the GTUs DOES NOT USE A TURBO TRANNY! And any FC that has an auto has a shitbox 3.9 open diff.

This would be a major project that would only be good for the **** factor.

Redwood

Is the tranny stronger than the other n/a trannys?
This statement is about the most accurate made in this entire thread.

crafoo

Hey, since there is so many 2nd gens out there, could you get me some parts?

Could you get an idea how much the yard would want for the following parts? I'd also pay you something for the time spent getting the parts, esp. the engine harness - you have to pull the intake to get at all the plugs. Thanks!

I want a TurboII air flow meter, ECU engine wiring harness, and the ECU itself. The ECU harness is the one that goes through the firewall on the passenger side. The ECU is below a kick plate on the passenger side floorboard, just under the dash. Might as well grab the injectors too.

79+80_rx-7

Well, the junk yard I am going to, you have to be 18, so I have went there 5 times, and was only let in 3. They yank there motors out, most of the time. I found one GXL with its motor. As for finding a T2, I looked the last time I was there(6-8 months ago), and couldnt find ****!!! So, next time I go hunting, I will look to see if they have any, I will try a different yard also, but most wouldnt let me in last time, because you have to be 18 ****. But I will look, and I might just get a complete T2 that has been totalled, but with a good drivline, and use it, and I will see if I keep it F/I or not. I will look for those parts you requested also
THANX LATERZ, Andrew

79+80_rx-7

Whats the "**** factor"??? I am doing this, because I want a bad ***, first gen. It will be light*(its going into an sa) it will have awesome handling*, and plenty of power*. Also, it should b pretty cheap*. Those are the reasons, for doing this And for the factor, that the 12a, I think is about to die, and I want to yank it before it does, so I can rebuild it for my 80, to bring it to become a daily driver
THANX LATERZ, Andrew

riffraff

what he is saying is that it would have to be for ***** and giggles.. basically just to say look what i did..

79+80_rx-7

is he talking about the IRS, or the hole idea??? I think everything is gonna be worth it when its all said, and done The only hard part is finding, a T2 at a yard, around here
THANX LATERZ, Andrew