89 to 86 conversion
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
89 to 86 conversion
I'm looking into buying two rx7s. Both.together. and the 89 gtus is kind of rusted.bad. the person was goin to swap everything to 86. Motor tranny so forth. Now. I was wondering. If you take Taillights from 89 as well as front bumper. How much work is needed. And will the fenders have to go over as well?
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Green Bay
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its easiest (well all things considered) to swap EVERYTHING. You'll need to gut the 86 to an empty shell then swap every last component from the 89. ALL the wiring and computers relays and such. That's the front harness, rear harness, dash harness, both door harnesses, and engine (emissions) harness and battery harness. You can keep the brake and clutch hydraulic systems but the brake and clutch switches mounted to the pedals will need to be swapped. The fuel pump connectors are the same so no need there. Id inly swap brakes if your 86 is a 4 bolt hub or if the donor has 4 pistonand the 86 doesn't. It is a bit of time consuming and labor intensive but its the best way to make it all work. You can ignore the auto seatbelt crap if the 89donor has it. I've done it before took about a week. Download both service manuals (86-88 and 89-91) it'll help. Be careful with the wiring retainers to be able to reuse as many as possible
#10
Full Member
Thread Starter
Well as far as I know. The 86 is only missing the motor and trans. The harnesses can't stay with the motor. The motor from the 89 is not original. It's a used with like 50 k on it.
#14
Full Member
Thread Starter
but thanks for the insight on harnesses needing swapped. i would have never thought to. unless schaft said too. he lives close if you couldnt tell and is i think dying to help. only cuz he gets stuff i think. lmao. jk. sooo. about the harnesses.. do you have to take out dash and stuff too. or no? im assuming ecu has to go as well??
#21
Rotary Zealot!
iTrader: (8)
Its easiest (well all things considered) to swap EVERYTHING. You'll need to gut the 86 to an empty shell then swap every last component from the 89. ALL the wiring and computers relays and such. That's the front harness, rear harness, dash harness, both door harnesses, and engine (emissions) harness and battery harness. You can keep the brake and clutch hydraulic systems but the brake and clutch switches mounted to the pedals will need to be swapped. The fuel pump connectors are the same so no need there. Id inly swap brakes if your 86 is a 4 bolt hub or if the donor has 4 pistonand the 86 doesn't. It is a bit of time consuming and labor intensive but its the best way to make it all work. You can ignore the auto seatbelt crap if the 89donor has it. I've done it before took about a week. Download both service manuals (86-88 and 89-91) it'll help. Be careful with the wiring retainers to be able to reuse as many as possible
Also, swap the trim. It looks better that way