Early GL Compatibility

[TOsborn]

I'm looking for a parts car for my '82 GL 3 door hatch, and was wondering what (if anything) changed between the hatchbacks between '82 and for example, '86.

 

I'm looking at my options, and I have come across an '86 GL 3 door hatch at a reasonable price, but don't know about parts compatibility.

[torxxx]

most of it will swap over. the tail lights/headlights/markerlights/grill are gonna be the biggest issue. Other than that, the cars were the same. Almost all EA81 bodies, as long as they are the same body type 95% of the stuff should swap.

 

3 door coupe ---> 3 door coupe

Sedan --> sedan

wagon --> wagon

 

as far as the body parts go.

 

underneath is a diff story. The struts will bolt up, engine/trans/rear diff are all the same as long as its an EA81 setup. I dont mess with teh EA71 stuff so I'm not sure but I think 81 was the last year of the EA71 as far as the cars in America.

 

And if the 86 is in good shape, no rust I say jump all over it. They are becoming more sought after than the wagons are (at least here in Alaska. There is literally 0 EA81 sedans left alive up here, but theres a half a dozen EA81 hatches in my city and I've seen people pay 2500-3k for a nice hatch)

[Mykeys Toy]

As far as parts compatibility and swapping it comes down to this... everything is swappable including fenders as long as the headlights are the same. After a certain year (which year idk) there are electrical and plug differences. A lot of the Gen2 ea71 cars are also a direct interchange.

 

OT

I love my sedan and finding specific parts is tuff.

[WoodsWagon]

There's the hatch:

 

 

And there's the 3-door coupe:

 

Parts do not interchange between the two.

[TOsborn]

^ha, thanks. Still figuring out the terminology.

 

Thanks for the info, going to follow up on the '86. I'm mainly concerned about sheet metal (ie fenders, doors, and the such) so this may work out.

[turbosubarubrat]

the 82-87 brats will also work too if your only looking for doors(different glass) and fenders and mechanical parts all are the same(besides drive live and a few other things do to length difference) and everything is the same from the doors to the front bumper, the hatch are prity much the same from 82-87 besides lights as they pointed out

[TOsborn]

Cool, I was wondering about door compatibility with Brats, since they are both two door I assumed they might work.