PowerBook 170 & 180 Part Compatibility

[rnb]

So I have a 170 that's in pretty much perfect condition except the tunnel vision issue. I have a 180 that's in not-so-great physical condition, but the display is perfect even after a few hours - so is everything else internally. Can I put the 180 screen in the 170? Can I put all the internals from the 180 in the 170 since the 180 is faster? Can I do none of that? Not sure what the limit is here and I'm having trouble finding a definite answer to this somewhat specific question so hopefully somebody here knows! If I can Frankenstein something perfect for me I plan on attempting to bake the tunnel vision out of the not-so-perfect Frankenstein so don't worry about any of this going to waste.

Thanks!

 

[finkmac]

not much is compatible from what I understand, other than the trackball, keyboard, and probably most of the plastic shell.
the logic board, cpu board, and interconnect cables are not compatible between generations (140/145/145B/170, 160/165/180, and 165c/180c).[/B]

 

[rnb]

not much is compatible from what I understand, other than the trackball, keyboard, and probably most of the plastic shell.
the logic board, cpu board, and interconnect cables are not compatible between generations (140/145/145B/170, 160/165/180, and 165c/180c).[/B]

Thanks! The majority of the damage on the 180 is on the display's inner bezel and outer shell so maybe I could just put the 170 display shell on the 180? Seems like either that or put everything from the 180 in the 170 shell since the internals need to match?

 

[finkmac]

what does the damage look like?

 

[rnb]

what does the damage look like?

It's purely cosmetic, gashes and scratches on the top and around the edge.

 

[Shaddam IV]

With a non-tunnel-vision screen on the 180 you're lucky. You can repurpose the 170 Bezel on the 180. Putting the 180 mother- and daughterboards into the 170 will result in various gaps at the back, since the 180 shell needs to accommodate the 180's video out which the 170 doesn't have; also, the motherboard won't fit because the internal mounts (near the battery enclosure) are in different places. This can be solved if you remove the relevant internal mount, but then you'll miss a screw and the powerbook won't feel as solid and stable.
The 180's keyboard won't fit in the 170 if I recall right (the 180 keyboard has reinforcing struts that reduce flex, which the 170 keyboard doesn't have).
When you switch the screen from the 180 into the 170 shell, you'll also need to move the inverter board from the 180 into the 170 shell. The 170's inverter board only works with that (1-bit) screen; it has no contrast adjustment that, however, is required by the 180 screen.
In short, I don't think this is a good idea. Get a cheap 160 or 165 off eBay and transplant your 180's innards there: Screen, inverter board, mother- and daughterboard.
Good luck!