Flamin' NOS

I totalled my TII a couple weeks back and now i've got a 83 gsl in great shape but not running and a TII which runs awesome but has a totalled hood, windshield, roof, fenders... So I've been thinking of doing the swap. My question is, can you put TII brakes on a 1st gen? It would provide unreal stopping and the ability to use almost anywheel you want (TE-37 on first gen )
Also, would it be possible to swap any suspension bits and pieces? Mostly the rear suspension. Frankly, the watts setup still scares me and I don't want to shell out the cash for an -se right now. Do you guys have any ideas?
thanks
steve

NOTA V6

IMHO, it's gonna take more effort and money to make the GSL into the supercar that you could easily turn the SE into.

I'd get a running 12A (or whatever you can find for a reasonable deal) and drop that in the GSL. Then, take the TII stuff and bolt it all in to the SE you buy with the money from the GSL that you sold. You can get a steal on an SE in good shape with a blown motor, or extremely high mileage if you are patient.

You will be happier with the end product if you aren't worried about the linkage, or the brakes, or the diff, or any of a dozen improvements the SE had over the GSL.

I've owned:

1 '85 S
2 GSLs one '84 and one '85
and 1 GSL-SE

I would never go back to a 12A model for any reason, unless I was able to get it VERY cheap. Like almost free. The SE is really that much better. Especially when you are talking about the TII swap. It will have all the parts you will need to mix and match with the TII stuff to fit it all in.

Good luck on your new TI project.

setzep

If you found a way to put all that suspension in your gsl I'd be impressed! I can see how the front suspention may be doable in someones garage but swaping in the whole IRS into the rear of your gsl may be a little tough. But if you do get it all in there you better share how you did it with the rest of us

Pele

iTrader: (28)

How so? Swap crossmember or redrill for the 13B, He wants teh IRS, so the 110 MM bolt pattern and the 3.90 rear wont pose a problem, and he's gonna have to fab the suspension, thereby killing the use of the 20mm lower suspension links. Other than that. The SE and GSL are the same.

NOTA V6

GSL-SE has the more common bolt pattern for a wider selection of larger wheels, which will be deireable if you are doubling the stock horsepower.

You will already have the misc. parts you need with the SE to facilitate the TII swap (oil pan, front cover, OMP, etc.)

Deeper diff ratio in the SE.

Bigger break discs in the SE.

SE has larger master cylinder.

'84-'85 RX-7s have 140mph speedos.

My point is that you can buy a GSL-SE and not have to put the work into swapping all that stuff in, or worrying about the 12A car equipment not being up to the job. It simplifies things, which is saving time.

Time is money.

If "swapping in" the IRS was that easy, don't you think more of us would have done it?

Pele

iTrader: (28)

I never said it was easy, I just said if he was going to do it, he wouldn't need the following:

Pele

iTrader: (28)

BTW, Welcome back to the 1st gen world.

Is that 83 the same one you had before?

"Tasteless purple with flamejob" I believe it was.

Flamin' NOS

Yep, still got it I'm not too psyched about doing the swap, but it's got a clear title and i'm using a "use what i got" theory. It should be fun when all is said and done.
I doubt that the indy rear setup is possible. The geometry wouldn't be right and if i remember, the 2nd gen is a couple inches wider so that might be one more problem. I'm going to take some measurements tomorrow, but I think I'll just rule out the idea.
The brakes however might be possible. I think that could be rigged up. If i remember, someone in OZ has done it... but what have they not done?

NOTA V6

I stand by my statements. Namely the following:

"IMHO, it's gonna take more effort and money to make the GSL into the supercar that you could easily turn the SE into." And this one: "My point is that you can buy a GSL-SE and not have to put the work into swapping all that stuff in, or worrying about the 12A car equipment not being up to the job. It simplifies things, which is saving time.

Time is money."

Creating more work just to have more pistons in your break calipers doesn't make sense. You can upgrade the pads and brake lines on an SE, and they will be more than adequate for a modded TII engine. I have yet to hear any of the turboFB guys complaining about not having enough stopping power, and some of them are not SEs.

IMHO, it would be easier and more cost effective to follow the suggestion I added to the thread above. Too much horsin' around for not enough results the other way.

But hey, I've got my own project to worry about...

rotorhead46

Flamin' NOS,
What did you end up doing? I've got a similar
situation. Started a TII into my '82 GSL way back
in '89 after I wrecked my new TII. The engine is in, the hood now has a TII scoop in it. Next will be a full repaint in original Maya Gold.

However, I still have the TII's front & rear subframes/suspensions stored away nice & dry. I've been wondering just how bad dropping the entire TII IRS subframe into the GSL would be & came across this thread.

I've got a full shop w/lift, tranny jack, air tools, MIG welder, etc. so it's just a question of how big a project I want to take on. (vs several other projects I've got underway.)

'gards,
rotorhead46

TheAMAZINGNorad

um, this is probably going to sound stupid..but if you take a t2 engine, use its tranny. Now, i know ya got to make a custom transmission mount, but if your doing a swap thas not a big deal. Now, cant you take the part from the back of a t2, the LSD and stuff, and like make custom mounts for it too? then just bolt it all on? I know this is probably real dumb...im not this into cars. Im eventually going to put a 13b into my gsl, and was also kidna wonderin, what difference does the bolt pattern make? So your limited on rims, ive seen a few i like. Ive got a LSD, so whats the big deal about swtiching to the GSL-Se or T2 rear end?

rx7passion

the big deal it is alot of custom work to do something of that nature. about the same as tubing out the rear end and putting a 9" rear end in. hell half the crap in my car is custom fitted to the car. there have been threads before on doing this and even if you get it all to fit you can get just about the same "handling" out of a watts link with a few upgrades. imo not worth the effort. unless you have a tube chassis and a fat wallet

V8kilr

id love to see this done.

peejay

I'll do it for ya, but I'm gonna have to take the car as payment

Flamin' NOS

I don't know what the hell I'm doing. It's great. My 83 needs most of it's suspension replaced as does my TII. I've got 3 rexes and can't drive any of them. I need to save all my money for Wyoming Tech which I'm starting in October and I'm stuck driving a god damn joke of a datsun. It sucks. In a couple years, I'll be making good money and can afford a 3rd gen. Until then, I'll just probably fix something and drive that.
steve

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Do what I'm doing adn work at an auto parts store or shop...

I work for Merchant's Tire and Auto... I get parts for cost plus 10% and they pay well.

I gotta ask my boss if he can special order some shocks and springs for me...

Hmmm... Koni or Tokico Adjustables? What type of springs? Hmmm...