How difficult is it to swap out a rearend from a '85 GSL-SE to a '85 GS? Also, a bit off subject, how hard would it be to swap front suspenion and stuff?

Thanks!
Chris

 

I'm not positive, but I've heard the rear end is a drop-in replacement, except for the fact that the Limited Slip diff's drive shaft is a different length than the standard diff, and the bolt pattern on the wheels i've heard is different (4x114.3 for the SE vs. 4x110 for the GS). I'm totally unsure on the front, but aren't they identical?

 

I believe rotor-lynn has done this. She'll probably be able to answer many of your swap kweshtins

 

whta about with a gsl to a gs. Should be evern easier i heard. but does anyone know

jr

 

The rear end is fairly easy swap. It's straight forward. Don't know about your mechanical skills but it took me about 2 hours to do it by myself. I am a mechanic though. I would recomend haveing a friend. That thing is heavy as hell to be moving around by yourself.

Also, use the brake master from the SE. The disc brakes have a different master cylinder. You don't have to use it but I would recomend it.

As far as the front suspension. It is a bolt in. Straight forward as well.

You should be able to do the whole thing in a days work.

Good luck,
Mike

 

Drive shafts the same length.
I swapped an SE into an S model no problem. (except the SE's axles were no good)
Do use the master cylinder/proportioning valve from the SE as Mike mentioned.

An 85 GSL to 85 GS would be easier because you'd still have the same bolt pattern in the rear.(Still need the master cylinder)
If you just want LSD the third member should bolt right up into the GS axle housing.

 

Thanks

 

One thing I forgot, if you're going from drum to disk you also need to swap the e-brake cables.

 

rotor-lynn, thanks for all the help. I'll PM you with more questions if I find any. I'll more then likely have a friend helping me with this, but wanted to make a list of exactly what was needed. Sounds like I need the front suspension (wanted to switch bolt patterns as well as get LSD), rearend, brake cylinder, and e-brake cables off of the donor GSL-SE. rotor-lynn, how much did the conversion cost you, may I ask?

Thanks,
Chris

 

I'm afaid to add it up. I hope your swap goes smoother than mine. The actual swap is quite easy, we had problems with trashed parts after we got into tearing the donor axle apart.

 

I would imagine spending AT LEAST a couple hundred dollars to do the swap with used parts.

 

x4

 

im not sure about how hard it is, but the guy that owned the car before me, swapped a gxl-se rear in my gs. i think he did it in a day. but one thing he didnt do that i did. the stock lug bolts for the rear arent really long enough for some reason. there were only 3 threads holding on in each lug bolt. so i got some others from a junkyard. i think it was a older jetta i pulled them off. so if you dont swap them, i wouldnt corner hard

 

rotor- lynn has it right, I've installed the rear out of an '85 gsl-se into a '79.... remember to grab the driveshaft, e-brake cables, and master cylinder w/proportioning valve.

That ends todays lesson of how to make equal length black marks on the pavement and stop faster afterwards!


RAC


EDIT: Oh yeah! I think the front drops out after 17 bolts/nuts.... not too difficult.

 

I should've posted pics of the driveway, making equal black marks is an easy way of checking to see if the LSD is good.

 

And Fun Too!

 

search. v8kilr has a step by step thread on this.

 

Aaaactually.... a NON-lsd rear will also leave equal marks on the pavement. The way to really tell is to put one rear tire on something soft like grass and the other on pavement. Then rev it up and let'r rip! IF you leave a nice black patch on the pavement, then you KNOW you have lsd and you also know it's not worn out.

PS- don't do this on your own lawn.

 

yeah, leave it on the crabby neighbour's lawn... the one that's always out there with the table kife pulling out weeds from his lawn, and who leaves his blinds open a crack to see what's going on outside while he's watching TV from his $500 LAY-Z-BOY... well, that's one of my neighbours at least...



Jeff

 

LOL..... yeah.... we ALL have at least one neighbor like that

 

so what if they dont leave equal lengths? if it is owrn out, what do you have to do? replace the whole rear?

 

If the grass test fails then it means the third member clutches have worn out. The clutches can be rebuilt but at what cost is the question.