Can you Convert 85 Riviera to T-Type Riviera with donor car?

[mwildt]

Hi,
I currently own 2 1985 Rivieras.

First:
1985 Firemist Red V8
Heavy duty suspension
Has most options and importantly NO RUST.

Second:
1985 Black T-Type (Black) that appears to have major rust.
I had hoped the rust was not so bad, but at present I think my best bet is to move the parts off this Black T-Type to my Red '85 and in the end have a nice, fast car.

I assume this is possible, but can someone provide the details as to what would be needed???
My guess is as follows:

- Engine and Transmission
- Engine wiring harness
- Rear Disc Brakes and master cylinder (as my Red '85 currently has drum)
- Both the the digital instrument cluster so might not need the swap since the T-Type is the same only has the boost gauge that appears to not work anyway.

If this is possible, I will most likely have to do a slight engine overhaul since the T-Type engine seems to be leaking oil at a very high ratio.

Anyway just looking at options, I love the Rivieras, but find I really need more speed out of them and the T-Type seems to be the answer, but not many of them around.

Thanks

 

[turbofish38]

Yep you can do it. It aint going to be easy but at least you have two complete cars to start with. Okay just imagine the car rolling down the assembly line. What you want to do is strip the V-8 car down to a bare tub on a rolling frame. The turbo Riviera is just like a turbo Regal. It has it's own specific fuel delivery system and electrical wiring. You'll have to transfer the fuel lines and every single bit of wire harness over. Even the wiring for the HVAC. Its easy because the harnesses are modular. The brakes are easy to convert. All the hard lines from the proportioning valves are the same from the valve to the rear control arms. All you need to do is swap boosters along with the brake pedal if you want to keep the hydraboost. Just swap the knuckles on the rears as the brake hoses will attach to the same steel line bolted to the lower control arm. Oh and swap the prop valve too. The tranny mounts are the same along with the CV shafts so all you need to do is drop the drivetrain in and make sure all the mounts line up in the correct holes. The exhaust system is the same from the cat back. Make sure you swap fuel tanks. The SFI Riv has the same type of baffles as the TR tank. I'm in the process of re-tubbing a Riviera T-Type and have parted a few of them so what ever question you have I should be able to answer it.

 

[mwildt]

Eric,

Thanks for the info, I was hoping it would not be the complete of a break down of the car. I will have to weigh my options. I generally have more time than money, (mostly since I have a 2 yr old who consumes most of my free time) so I hoped swapping the engine and trans would be worth a mechanics time/cost. If a complete car pull down is needed I think its over my free time at this point.

I'll let you know which way I go. Perhaps the rust on the car is worth a body shops time, to be fair I had not gotten a quote, but I will just to see what they would think.

Thanks!!

On another note have you ever figured out how to get those sun visors that have the lighted mirrors to stay up? Mine keep falling down whenever the weather is over 80 degrees and sunny. I have replaced the visors from cars in parts yards and they never last much longer. There is no screw to adjust to hold them up and I have not yet figured out a solution.

Mark

 

[turbofish38]

There is a plastic bushing that you can install to keep the visors nice and tight. The GM part number should be 12337899. These also work on the Regals.