Looking at buying a 1984 SR5 as a project car, possibly.

[ClockworkTGT]

So I'm curious.

Is the SR5 a lot crappier than the GT-S? I always hear about the 4A-GE in a GT-S, but I never really hear much about the SR5's 4AC and that worries me.

They're both an AE86, aren't they? So what's the huge tuning difference between the SR5 and the GT-S? Keep in mind that this (may) be my first project car so I'm just getting in to tuning so I realize I may be asking something incredibly obvious and stupid.

[ClockworkTGT]

Also, would it even matter if I got a SR5 versus a GT-S if I were planning to engine swap to a SR20DET?

[4agetercel]

yes they are both AE86's

SR5 is carb'd GTS is fuel injected, GTS has rear disc brakes SR5 has drums, GTS has a upgraded interior... stuff like that

[ariel_86]

Yes and no, the SR5 and GTS are both AE86's. But that's an argument I don't really want to get into.

The GTS rear end is stronger than the SR5 rear end, but if you're swapping in a SR20DET, you should really look at getting a stronger rear end anyway. I don't think the SR5 rear will last more than one clutch kick/burnout with an SR motor, but a few people seemed to have kept a GTS rear together even with a modified SR plant.

You'll also need to run a fuel return line, or set up the fuel system to BE a return-less system, since the SR5 doesn't have a return line like the GTS because it's carb'ed vs fuel injected. The wiring should be the same headache, and you'll have to get a mount kit or fab mounts and cut a new hole for the shifter anyway, so those won't change between a GTS or SR5 chassis.