I have an '83 ZX with rebuilt non-turbo, which I have restored the interior and had it ready to put back in the car, when a lady pulled out in front of me and totalled it, bent the frame. I have found an 81 non-turbo, but I was wanting to put my restored interior in it, but I am not sure what, if any will fit. A mechanic told me he didn' t think the interior would fit. He has tried an '83 blinker unit, and that the blinker will not work on an 81, and some of the electrical stuff wouldn't work. Has anyone had experience on what will swap and what will not, interior, parts etc. or a website that will tell you what will cross over. Thanks for any suggestions

 

When you say interrior, I figured carpet, dash, console, door panels. I don't know what the blinker has to do with it. Are you talking about swapping in all electronics?

As long as they are both 2-seaters, then all the rear panels and strut tower covers will swap over including all carpet. Dash is the same all years. Center console will work too. If you have power windows on both, then the door panels will swap over. Leave the electronics alone. You won't have the talking lady or self-dimming interrior lights anymore.

If you want to install anything else like the dimming lights, cruise control, or talking lady then that's more than just an "interrior part" that's another project in itself.

 

I was told that the blinker switcb is not wired the same on an 81, and that the blinker will not work. I didnt know if window switches, gauges, or what else would not swap over. No, I just need to know, cause my wife wont go for 2 parts cars on the back of our lot, so I may strip one of all that works and crate it up and get rid of the rest. I have looked for an 83, but cant find one. I didnt know that the 81 doesnt have self dimming interior lights, but i can live without that. What i was really trying to determine was, with 2 parts cars worth of 83 parts, did i want to get an 81, if many of my parts wont work. Thanks for your help.

 

You are better off with an 82 or 83. Other things like the brakes and suspension are unique to 82-83. You'll run into fewer problems going that route.

As for the turn signal arm, I would have thought they were the same. I don't know for sure. Maybe your mechanic was thinking 280Z/280ZX.... unless he really knows Z-cars.