I have a 1979 GSL and it's pretty beat up cosmetically, but almost everything is new on it form suspension to buchings a lot of things, so I finally found a 1983 fro almost nothing and it's a GS model.
I want to swap everyhting from my 79 over to the 83 but, I do not want to swap the complete rear axles. The 83 has all new brake components but the 79 has "issues" including cracked drums so, all I want to do is use the rear complete differential(punkin) and put it in the 83 rear axle. Is this okay???????
I know that 1984 and 85 used different size axles but since I am dealing with a 83 and a 79 everything should be fine, right?
Let em know what you guys got, any write ups or lins to a post would be great, I didn't get to much about this when I searched, just info on swapping axles.

 

79' and 80 only came in S, GS, and Limited Edition models. somebody slapped a GSL badge on yours.


79-82 has a smaller flange that connects the diff to the driveshaft, 83-85 has a larger one.

Drums are like $nothing.99 at autoZone, pepboys, whatever. They can get them fairly soon too.

--Evan

 

I am almost positive that there are GSL models from the series one, they have a sunroof and LSD with drum brakes, I have know 3 people so far with cars like that....hmm...
as for the flange size on the diff, that's right they are different sizes, I was under the cars this morning, I remember hearing that before also, but its 1984-85 that are larger. up to 1980 is considered series one, 1981-1983 is series 2 and series 3 is 1984-85. I am pretty sure that's right but anyone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

The flange is bigger on 83 also. I know this because i had to use a 82 diff(pumpkin) on my 83 which i'm sure is an 83 axle because it has the smaller axle bearings.

 

I'm just going by experience from swapping them over... you NEED the right flange size, otherwise, you're fuXored.