Hi Shane,
The heads are interchangeable but not the same. The main difference
in Spit 1500 heads through the years has to do with the air injection
system(s) fitted. '74 had no air injection. '75-'76 had an air
distribution manifold which injected air into each cyl port.
77-early '79 had no air dist. manifold and instead injected air
directly into the exhaust manifold just above the cat-con.
Late '79-'80 models (rubber bumper) went back to the air dist.
manifold, but a different one than the earlier cars had.
(all of the above applies to US spec non-Calif. cars only)
Most parts on the '74 will fit your car directly. The tranny is
a different style but can be fitted along with it's clutch,
rear mounting bracket, and drive shaft. The '74 brake m/c is
a different type but it can mounted to a later car provided
you also swap the PDWA and all hydraulic pipes down to the
first junction at the frame. Later m/c will not go into
earlier cars without some bulkhead modifications.
Engine, diff, brakes, axles etc. are a straight swap.
Instruments are the same except '74 has mechanical tach.
Steering columm & switchgear are not easily swapped.
There's some extra relays and such in the '74 that have no
place in the later cars. Wiring harnesses could be a bit
complicated to swap. Earlier bumpers will fit later cars.
It get's a bit more sticky if you have the later '79
rubber bumpers but it's do-able.
As you mentioned, body parts are the same. Most interior
bits can be interchanged too.
Hope this helps,
Bob
Sizemore, Shane wrote:
>
> I have a chance to buy a 1974 Spit 1500 (complete parts car) and was
> wondering if the head could be used on my 1979 model....I noticed in the
> VB catalogs, the part numbers for rebuilt heads are different on the
> 79-80 models.
> Also, what is of use on this car (besides body panels and the comission
> numbers!)
>
> Shane Sizemore
> Douglasville, GA
--
Bob Sykes
.sig on holiday
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