Well....after 3 years or so of leaving our poor 85 all alone and off the road...My wife and I are getting ready to buy a 79. The 79 has lots of rust, but has all factory parts. Our 85 has a great body, the perfect color, but all after market crap. how hard will it be to switch everything including the engine from the 79 to the 85? I know some parts wont mesh but good idea? The engine in the 85 is the 12A

Thanks,
HotdorkboiRX

 

For the most part, the engine will be an easy and direct swap. Bolts right in, but I do believe that the later starter is different than the early starter. Either way it won't be hard to figure out which one fits.

There are some structural changes between '79 and '85, but again most stuff is swappable. Obvious ones are front and rear bumpers, tail lights, marker lights, and stuff like that. The interiors are different but again, mostly swappable.