All, I've been meaning to make this post for awhile now. I have an '85 GSL-SE and an '85 GSL. I'm looking for help and ideas on restoration plans for one of the cars.
A little background on both cars is in order.

GSL-SE - I've owned this car for 15 years. Have driven it on and off. Interior is in excellent condition. Exhaust needs rework. Suspension needs rework. Drive shaft is clicking under hard acceleration. Clutch pedal went to the floor last weekend, guess it needs work too, but was otherwise drivable until this. Heat/Air work great. All features inside work. Frame and body in very good shape.

GSL - The car is new to me, acquired cause I couldn't pass on the deal. I originally thought I would part the car out, but it's in decent shape and this doesn't seem like the thing to do. May be. The engine is mildly ported, not sure on the details here. It doesn't run though. Racing Beat headers and exhaust, 10 years in the field old. Interior is in good shape. Some type of Holly carb? Frame and body are in very good shape. Supposedly, everything else interior works.

My end goal would be to rebuild one of the cars with moderate performance upgrades, and get rid of the other car. All this before April 15th. I'm considering a budget of 6K. This would not be a daily driver. A weekends kind of thing. To me, "moderate performance upgrades" include, ported motor, exhaust, clutch and clutch.

I've determined that I'm not willing to dedicate the time to learn/rebuild either car myself. No good location is a major factor here.

I live near Memphis, and to my knowledge, there aren't any local shops that have the expertise to help in the work needed.

I figured I'd throw out the situation and see what ideas or recommendations the group had, to the end of accomplishing my goals.

Thoughts?

 

cost wise on the SE:
clutch master or clutch slave cylinder is out. check the inside firewall for signs of leak. I would replace them both.


Driveshaft: u-joints can be purchased new but here in SOcal, it is hard to find a machine shop who will take on the job to grind the orignal cap and such. Cost wise, may as well buy it new OR get a custom driveshaft and have them install a large replaceable u-joint (again here in Socal, it is around $250).

If its my choice, I will keep the GSL since the motor has been ported and such. See the GSL-SE and use the funds for something else. I have the same problem. I have 3 RX-3's and I love them all. its hard to part from either one lol

 

Pics of both - to help with decisions.

 

well for $3,000 you could just put a race ported engine from rx7store.
put a big carb on it for cheap power.
find a turbo2 tranny and custom drive shaft.
After all this you should be under budget depends all on what you get but i ported engine runs about 3k from them and they have a ok rep so far for being the new guys.

 

WackyRicer - I'll be checking the master and slave as you described later this morning. And, it sounds like a new bulkier driveshaft is the way to go. On keeping the GSL, If keeping this car would represent a significant amount of savings, due to the pre-ported motor them that's a big plus. I guess I need to evaluate what the power differences are between the two "rebuilt" cars. If this was a significant number, that would help in the decision. As you said, it's easy to like both of them. And they'll be much more appealing when running tight and clean.

Directfreak - Pics coming

Man_in_black49464 - The engine doesn't sound like a budget breaker. I already have a carb, I wonder if it would fit. I took a few pics, posting shortly.

 

 

i like the gsl se because it has a bigger engine, and FI but i know a carb is easier to work with. i think no matter what you choose youll love it

 

Based on the pics - I would keep the GSL-SE. (it IS running after all).
The fact that the GSL has been sitting so long (and not running) can be a huge problem with everything down the line too.

I would also swap the RB Exhaust, and good driveshaft over to the SE too. Keep the Holley Carb and have it rebuilt, you can put it in the SE later. Even if the SE is not ported - with intake and exhaust, e-fan, and some upgraded coils, - you will have a very quick 1st gen. You will save thousands of dollars.

Then you can then either sell the GSL, raid it for spare parts, or both. An SE is more desirable anyway.

 

A GSL-SE with a stock port engine, RB exhaust, RB carb intake, and custom ignition makes for a rather quick ride.
Here's mine:





Of course, I also happen to have a mildly ported 12A car with plenty of pep and suspension upgrades.

 

personally, i actually prefer the '85 GSL to the SE (generally speaking, not your particular cars). i just felt like throwing that out there ....

i'd have to agree with just about everything Directfreak said though. the SE seems to be the smart choice here. you have much more history with it, and even if both cars are as clean as you describe, the SE would ultimately hold more value and, yes, more esteem as well.

do your repairs on the SE, restore whatever needs restoration, and pirate any desirable performance parts from the GSL. when you're finished, sell the GSL.

 

greyseason - I feel the same way. I'm inclined to work on the SE.

Directfreak - Yes, the SE seems to be the choice, barring the previous questions being answered about the cost of porting the engine, against an already ported 12a. Hummmm.
I wondered if the RB exhaust would match up to the engine or not. I thought the header spacing might be different. If it will work, I next wonder what kind of damage has been done by rust due to 10 years in the weather. I guess there's no real harm in bolting it on and giving it a go. Worst case, it's got a hole in it somewhere or otherwise unacceptable, and I get a new one. Best case, instant upgrade!
Same goes for the driveshaft. I wasn't sure if it could be swapped out. Sounds like it will work in my SE.

Rogue_Wulff - Nice car man. It's helpful for me to see what others are doing with similar situations. So, I noticed you put a carb on that car. I guess the FI isn't worth messing with when porting or upgrading to performance parts?

All, the real conundrum I have to figure out first is, Who can do the work? I really was hoping to find someone locally, or close by, that was interested in the project. I even considered cutting a deal with that individual/shop that could include the second car as compensation.

I suppose, if you guys support the thought process, I could do the work myself. Again, no good workspace and not alot of time...

If I order a ported engine, e-fan, ignition systems, are these things I could reasonably expect to "bolt in"? If there's any possibility at all of me doing this work, I need to start out with a reasonable expectation of what I'm getting into. Else, I need to defer and include the cost of afore mentioned work in my budget. To be clear, it isn't that I don't want to do the work, it's just that I don't want to get a project 1/4 started and find myself unable to competently complete.

 

What type of parts are you thinking when you say "desirable performance parts"?

 

when i posted that, for some reason i had it in my head that you said there was a ported 13B, with Holley and exhaust, in the GSL . now i see i was mistaken. just ignore that comment. everything else stands.

 

My SE was already modded with the RB exhaust and RB intake/carb when I got it. The previous owner also bought the car with those mods already in place. He nor I really knows whether the engine is stock or has had any port work done.

No. The RB header from a 12A won't fit the 13B in the SE, port spacing is different as you suspected. The rest of the RB exhaust system will swap though. The SE header comes with an O2 sensor port. Kind of important if you intend to keep the EFI in place. On the other hand, the stock EFI has limitations of what it can do, in terms of keeping up with internal engine mods.

The ignition system used in my SE is a rather popular, and cheap system. It uses 3 GM HEI modules, and 3 coils. It's a DIY setup, and the parts to build it can be had for under $100, or you can go really crazy and invest closer to $200 for really high end stuff.
Search for "DLIDFIS" for more info.

The SE has a few things that make them a bit more desireable to most for making more power. Bigger engine, bigger brakes, and much more common wheel bolt pattern, just to name a few.

As I said, I have the SE pictured above, and a modded 12A car (pictured in my avatar).

 

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

So, at the end of the day, the SE looks like the car to keep. I'm anxious to get a list of parts going to order, but a few decisions have to be made first. The largest being can I find someone to assist in the rebuild, or am I going it alone with help from the forum. At this time, it doesn't look like I've got any option but to do it myself. I just don't want this project to string out over half a year...

 

I'm sure you can fine someone on this forum you lives near you. just look around the forum for people in that part of the states

 

So, I've decided that I'm definitely going to rebuild the SE, and get rid of the 12a. I'd like to find someone interested in the 12a, because if I don't, it's going to get parted out by end of next month.
I have been watching the forums for anyone that lives near Memphis TN. that might be interested in helping with the rebuild. If anyone knows someone, send them my way. I'd love to talk to a shop in these parts that's interested in the project.

progress is coming...

 

If you want to part the 12a, I might be interested in the carb and intake. Depending on what size carb it is and if the intake is after market or not.

 

I'll get back with you when I figure out what direction I'm headed in.

 

I'm ready to start buying parts. Any recommendations on parts and pieces would be appreciated.
Here is the list I'm starting with.
engine work/type/turbo
suspension
clutch
transmission
fuel injection or carb
electronic fan
other?
paint
enjoy!

 

I always told myself id upgrade the brakes and suspension first, since a car that only goes
in a straight line and cant brake is no fun! but you seem to be on the right track. adding a turbo will jack the price up a great deal, and who doesn't love a NA rotary? And if your sticking with EFI, youll need to upgrade the fueling system to keep up with the added power.