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as my first post to the forum, i'd like to sort something out that i can't quite figure. i've tried to research on the differences between mk I and II, but my car isn't really set in either as far as i can tell... It's an 86 with 6-packs, it had side skirts and has a c-transmission... what is it? i just bought it a few weeks ago as my new project and the only thing i can tell is that it's a piece of... err... work?
please help!
its a mk1.5, the middle child of the changes between mk1 and mk2
It is either an mk1 or mk1.5. 86 was the year between the mk1 and mk2. In my opinion the mk1.5's were more or less mk1's with a few small differences. I don't know why you have the C tranny...I am pretty sure all mk2's had the C tranny regardless of the engine so maybe you got a mid or late 86 model when they were switching from the B tranny to the C tranny.
I dont want to steal your thread, but I have the 86 turbo as well, and i have plenty of pics on here of it... is it possible that mine is the same? i never understood the differences, even after searching and searching on here. i know taillights and stuff like that are different on some models, than others... but other than that... hmmm. i have the same tails as you, and HAD the same spoiler before i shaved it.
does an '86 Mk1.5 turbo exist with a C tranny?
Garrett76ztdoes an '86 Mk1.5 turbo exist with a C tranny?
Its on the metal plate attached to the firewall.
Some of the MK1.5's had the 'C' trans. Bart, one of the original tuners of the S12's, who was also ironically located in Boise, was the only person I knew of that had a MK1.5, and the little differences were always an issue. If I remember right, he had a C trans stock, so his was a late-year. I think the changeover MK1.5 models may have only been produced for a month or two.
There is relatively little differences between the MK1 and MK2 turbo cars, but the CA20's saw a leap to newer technology during the MK2 change. The MK2 CA20 ECCS system is very similar in function to the turbo cars of all years. All models experienced wiring harness changes, which can lead to hell for us that are swapping motors. It may be many years before all of the routes are mapped well in terms of the wiring.
Its also rather difficult nowadays to properly identify a MK1/2 because so many things may have happened to the cars during that time. For example, his car may be solidly MK1, but at some point someone may have blown the trans and not knowing any better swapped over to a newer trans taking the driveshaft with it. Especially for a guy at home, or even in a shop, you never really know what may have happened in the past. From a body standpoint, his car shows all the signs of MK1, but its the wiring/mechanicals that determine whether its a MK1,1.5, or 2 lol This is how I came about having the first CA20ET, a shop swapped in the CA20 longblock when the 1.8 blew and no one knew about it. After 20 years, who knows whats happened!
there must have been a tranny swap, because the tranny itself is most definitely a c, but the firewall engine code says b... thanks a lot guys!
also, do you know how to get in touch with "bart"? is he still in boise? maybe he can give me a few pointers
He is completely inactive on the internet, I have his contact info but he's usually really busy running his own construction business. He is one of the premier sources of info for tuning and modification of the CA18ET and suspension, at least the old-school ways we did it.
You might try and look up his business, his name is Bart Cepek, I believe he does flooring but also pretty much all ends of construction. He's got a newer Chevy Duramax diesel truck for work, if you see it around town.