kawi825

I've seen many sites noting gradual differences, but I'm wondering if anyone can give a little advice on any parts I should be eyeing from my 81 auto US parts car, to keep for my 78 5-speed euro. Any largely improved parts from it I should install on my 78? Brake calipers, chassis parts, etc? Thanks guys.

(anyone know of a good site for showing differences other than wiki?)

kawi825

Wow, 100 views and not one reply?
Disappointing. Thanks anyway..

pcar928fan

You can probably find the differences by comparing the PET's for each car... You might check in with some of the big parts houses and see if those guys have any recommendations as well, but if you are not buying something they might not want to spend a lot of time on the phone with you... They get paid to sell stuff. Many of the early EURO parts will be unique but not better or worse than the later US parts. The US car would have had different FI so that would not be something you would keep and I am sure there will be a bunch of other parts like that...

linderpat

check ball joints. I can't remeber what year they switched from aluminum (very bad and prone to catastrophic failure) to steel. It may have been 81. As to the brakes not much difference. Your question is maybe to big, which is why folks aren't jumping in.

Ethre

Joints changed in 83 - but they may have been updated so it would be worth a check regardless. Save the eccentrics if going that route- with the correct combination from the two cars he can update to steel joints without buying new eccentrics.

Nothing much you can save on the drive train if I recall. Might save the torque tube for spare bearing carriers if you ever do a rebuild.
Fenders might be a possibility if the 81 was non-competition pack (no spoilers).
Miscellaneous interior switches, lenses for lights, fuel tank/pump, Alarms and suspension (same style, usable as spares), rear control arms (if they are bent on the 79)

Other than that I dont think there is much specific to keep? Nothing really that will be an "upgrade"

medipedicman

I am not sure that this answers your question directly but I have always found this to be a good read.

http://jenniskens.livedsl.nl/Evoluti...%20history.pdf

Ad0911

I have upgraded the front brakes of my '78 to "S" spec. This can be costly but I think the original brakes are just not up to the tak. They are the same as on the much lighter/not as fast 924. The "S" brakes are a lot stronger and are close to the originals visually. Furthermore you don't have to change the rear calipers or the master cilinder. The change involves "S" type hubs (spindles), dust covers and discs. Fortunately I had the hubs/spindles already in stock. The brake calipers can be bought new or recon. The pads are cheap, the discs not too expensive. This is all due to the fact that these calipers and discs were used on many other car, like FIAT, BMW.
The dust covers can be bought new from the Porsche delership as long as they last. I heard that they are NLA already. It is not needed to have the "S" bumpers with cooling ducts but it does help cooling the brakes..

Jadz928

Matt,
Tough question because they're really not that different. Biggest diff. being K-jet vs. L-jet FI.

Think in terms of common items that may break. Think about cores for rebuilding.
I know this is very broad (hence the difficulty in answering you question).

There is a large list of often missing or broken items I'm always looking for... however it's rather long, in my head and may not apply to your needs anyway.

RFJ

+ 1 on this reply

Vilhuer

Joints changed during '84 MY on cars made in September 1983. First US model VIN which got new style setup was 0404.

kawi825

Thanks alot guys, just what i was looking for. Since no one really jumped on a certain item that is much better in 81 than my 78, that answers most of my question. Mine is in very good (to me anyway) condition for it's age, and has very low miles (under 25k), and the 81 has 102k. The body is in very good shape (but so is mine). engine and tranny will probably be pulled this spring sometime and be put up for sale, but before i did that i really wanted to make sure no one pointed out some huge glaring thing that would/should be pulled from the 91 and put on my 78 because of a major improvement.

thanks again for the replies.