Date:         Thu, 10 Feb 2005 11:15:43 -0800
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Swapping '86 front end onto '82
Comments: To: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <420A58F5.10353.3AE98C96@swright.zuiko.sls.bc.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

If you swap the whole thing, it is very simple and straight forward. I
have put late 85 front ends on 82 bodies a couple of times. The 86+ is
the same process and no harder. Better brakes on 86+. I would have used
86+ except I was stripping a couple 85 Vanagons so that is what I had.

Mark

Shawn Wright wrote:

>In looking at the front suspension of my new '82 Westy, I see some pretty
>sad looking rubber bits - I can stick my finger between the sway bar end
>and the popsicle stick bushing, for instance. And since I might want to go
>with power steering someday (meaning new steering knuckles, etc) it
>occurred to me that I might consider swapping the whole lot from a newer
>van - lower control arms, ps rack, newer brakes, the works.
>How big of a job is this? I'm guessing I could probably break it into several
>phases to make things more manageable.
>
>Are there any major pitfalls that might not be obvious? Anyone have the
>parts lying about...? ;-)
>
>
>
>--
>Shawn Wright
>I.T. Manager
>Shawnigan Lake School
>
>
>