Swapping '83 rear suspension into a '79
#1
Swapping '83 rear suspension into a '79
I know the front suspension it the same and I know the rear suspension and brakes are different between '79 and '83. Has anyone tried swapping in suspension and brakes from an '82-'83 car into a '79-'81 car? Im about to so i'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck...
#2
I've been wondering about this for awhile as well. I could get a decent deal on some '82 rear end parts, and I was thinking about swapping them out [due to better brake design in '82?]. I think everything should bolt up though.
Let us know how it goes.
Let us know how it goes.
#3
ya, probably would be easy. Front brakes are not the same... are they? I think they front is very simular design but not the same.
You should be able to bolt on the front strut assemblies complete and the rear lower control arm with brakes as a complete unit. Done deal.
Also, 83 will have a 3.9 rear gear whle the '79 may have 3.54 or some other higher gear. swap in that low gear for faster acceleration!
If you find an 82-83 2+2 (even non-turbo) it'll have CV half shafts! Swap those in too.
You should be able to bolt on the front strut assemblies complete and the rear lower control arm with brakes as a complete unit. Done deal.
Also, 83 will have a 3.9 rear gear whle the '79 may have 3.54 or some other higher gear. swap in that low gear for faster acceleration!
If you find an 82-83 2+2 (even non-turbo) it'll have CV half shafts! Swap those in too.
Last edited by Bleach; 08-10-2005 at 01:16 PM.
#4
I did an 82 rear end swap to an 80 once. Pretty simple to do, as long as the 82-83 rearend is complete. All just bolts up the same. The brake lines are different & I just got a set of steel brake lines to make them match up w/ no fuss. The caliper bolt spacing is diff too. I've heard that a good caliper upgrade for the 82-83 is the rears from an 89 - 93 240sx.
I will prolly end up doing that to my 280zxt because the 79-81 calipers suck *** & I would like to have the turbo cv joints. If I do that tho, I will be cutting the suspension arm brackets & weld them on lower, to change the camber.
I will prolly end up doing that to my 280zxt because the 79-81 calipers suck *** & I would like to have the turbo cv joints. If I do that tho, I will be cutting the suspension arm brackets & weld them on lower, to change the camber.
#5
Orignially posted by Bleach
ya, probably would be easy. Front brakes are not the same... are they? I think they front is very simular design but not the same.
You should be able to bolt on the front strut assemblies complete and the rear lower control arm with brakes as a complete unit. Done deal.
Also, 83 will have a 3.9 rear gear whle the '79 may have 3.54 or some other higher gear. swap in that low gear for faster acceleration!
If you find an 82-83 2+2 (even non-turbo) it'll have CV half shafts! Swap those in too.
ya, probably would be easy. Front brakes are not the same... are they? I think they front is very simular design but not the same.
You should be able to bolt on the front strut assemblies complete and the rear lower control arm with brakes as a complete unit. Done deal.
Also, 83 will have a 3.9 rear gear whle the '79 may have 3.54 or some other higher gear. swap in that low gear for faster acceleration!
If you find an 82-83 2+2 (even non-turbo) it'll have CV half shafts! Swap those in too.
#6
I'm going to be doing the same swap Drew. I found myself a 83 turbo 2+2 rust bucket and I'm gonna pull the motor, tranny, and rear end(CV's baby ) out of it. Anybody know if the difference in front suspension and brake design is worth the swap? I have the option of grabbing the front suspension too, but don't want to take the time of removing it if it's not worth it.
#9
Originally Posted by Bleach
Remove the front and sell the complete strut/brake assemblies to some 510 guys.
$150 a pair is the typical market value.
$150 a pair is the typical market value.
#11
Originally Posted by jfairladyz
Now that'd be worth my time. Thanks for the info. And Bleach, do you have the gear ratios on the T5? Or where to get them.
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