RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum - 1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)

Distributor Pickup Coil and Breaker Plate

mxmckeon — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:54:14 GMT

I'm trying to replace the distributor pickup coil and breaker plate, but the reluctor is in the way. I removed the screw in the shaft, but can't get the reluctor to come off. From what I've seen in the manuals, it sounds like I need to remove the distributor. Any input on whether it can be done without removing the distributor? If this has already been addressed in another post, my apologies.

Has anybody removed the engine+trans from below?

j_tso — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 16:30:30 GMT

Rebuild time is approaching and there's a DIY auto place near me that has lifts.
With a lift and appropriate transmission jack I think it should be simple to lower the engine and transmission from the bottom of the car.
Basically like doing it from above except the steering gear under the oil pan has to be unbolted but the hood and radiator can be left in place.
I think there should be room for the engine to move back a bit so the cross member can stay in place.

Anything I'm missing? The shop rents the bays by the hour so I'd like to minimize time.

Waffle Wheels

PJPilot — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:32:50 GMT

Any advice as to how to remove the center name badge on 1980 waffle wheels? Is it full wheel removal, or worse?

Like to see if these center caps can be removed for re-paint. Thanks for any info.

Shitty FD starter for FB

Holdfast — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:58:16 GMT

So I ordered a starter from rockauto. Got the AC Delco one. Same one I ordered for a customer about a month ago. That was normal Fb 1.2kw size starter. What I got now is a shitty FD 1.2 kw starter made in China. I know from passed experience with one from orilleys. That they don't spin fast enough to start the car. So instead of risking ordering another from a different brand and receiving the same thing. Because this one is going back. I want to get the 2.0kw rx8 starter. The one with no nose. Ive swapped those into FD without modifying with zero issues before. What I want to know is. Will the rx8/turbo starter fit and work in a na /fb bell housing? I doubt they are making the frame/nose part of the starter specifically for this type of starter to fit into a na rx7. I think this is just a FD starter without modifications. Sold as a fb starter. These are gear reduction starters. So I can't swap the nose of the big starter onto the small one.

My old Bosch rebuild starter. New AC Delco made in China starter. Looks brand new not rebuilt..

1981 G'S carb problem!!

Barry Daniel — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:33:31 GMT

Hello,
Would really appreciate any suggestions regarding my stalling 1981 rx7 GS. Owned since new and extremely well looked after. Collector plates with only 51,509 miles. Always garage kept.
For about 1 year, whenever engine reaches normal temperature (manual choke
closes/recesses) the car no longer maintains its 750 rpm and stalls.
Original carb.
Being serviced by an excellent and experienced mechanic who has extensive experience with Mazda rotaries. I gave him a carb tune up kit...from Atkins Rotary. He cleaned everything and checked for vac leaks. Checked all settings. Reinstalled carb and car still stalls. Terribly stressful!! He replaced gasket too.
He figures perhaps some electrical issue.

I need my super car running properly. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you!

All original. 1981GS.
June 2026.

Need help

Spiker — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:17:19 GMT

81 12a with street port. Turbo charger with BAE intake. This is a draw through setup with a 380 holley double pumper carb. Will not idle below 2800rpm just falls flat and dies. Tried almost everything in the book to fix it including checking for vacuum leaks. Above 2800 runs strong. Wondering if a holley sniper might work with this application if so which one? Thx in advance.

mazda oempartsonline is it reliable

donsz — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:59:52 GMT

I'm looking for an OEM fuel pump for a 1985 RX7 GSL-SE (N304-13-350C). Mazda oempartsonline apparently has them available (no picture though).
I' was wondering what experiences others have had with this vender. The fuel pump is expensive ($421), and difficult to find (OEM version). So I
want to be sure about them before ordering.
Thanks,
don

Suspension bushings

Fredoo — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:51:30 GMT

Hello,

I have a pristine 1982 GSL with only 40K on it. Car has lived the majority of its life in IL/IN, has always been stored indoor and has never been out in the winter. I typically drive it a little each year in the fall but for the past 2 years have only started it up and moved it in and out of the garage to clean it. Mostly because my tires were like 30+ years old and I didn't want a blow out! I finally got some new tires today (first time I have every had the wheels off since I purchased it in 1994!). I did a thorough inspection of all the suspension and brake components with it up in the air. The car was undercoated when new so it mostly looks grungy and dusty. The brakes and lines (I do a fluid flush every couple of years) look good but the suspension bushings are all cracked and don't look so good and there are also a couple of broken boots on the steering components. I was considering replacing the worn bushings but it looks like I will only be able to obtain poly bushings. I am also considering new shocks and springs (I don't see any leaks or weeping on the shocks or struts nor spring sag - but since it may all be apart..)
Problem I have is that I don't want to take away from the original condition of the car. Any thoughts on this?

Highway RPMS?

Paveldzh — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 03:39:00 GMT

Hello, I'm trying to decide what final drive ratio I want for my Toyota 8" swap and I was doing the calculations for rpms and I think I'm missing something? According to the calculator with my current believed ratios according to mazdatrix for an 85' GS I should be doing almost 100mph in 5th at 4k rpm, currently I'm doing about 76 mph in 5th at 4k rpm. Either the gear ratio calculator I'm using is wrong or something is different. Now the funny thing is the speed/rpm start to make sense assuming I have 4.77 gears like out of the Kia sportage diff. Did some ******* put kia sportage gears into an otherwise completely stock base model car??? Am I missing something? What rpms are you guys at on the highway?

https://mazdatrix.com/transmission-a...-ratio-charts/
https://tremec.com/aftermarket/resou...io-calculator/

Castrol GTX synthetic blend (Green bottle)?

bigdaddyum — Sat, 30 May 2026 22:37:20 GMT

Is this an approved blend for the Rotary? I didn't realize there are multiple bottles that are alike and used the blend? What is the ash contend for the synthetic blend?

Booster removal nikki

Badfighterpilot — Sat, 30 May 2026 21:56:45 GMT

How do I remove the primary boosters. i just broke both of them, luckily I have another carb.

Steering won't go past half

Badfighterpilot — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:55:38 GMT

So my my steering is loose, but the wheels only turn about im assuming half way based on the stoppers. when I go from right to left there is almost half a turn play, but from left to right its arround an inch. I dont understand this steering box stuff. My car is lowered pretty much to the max. The wheels aren't hitting.

Finally running again

Shanerx7 — Wed, 27 May 2026 03:05:08 GMT

My rx has been down for awhile because I had to do the clutch. Its finally done and I fired her up today. When I was doing the clutch I also stripped the carb, deleted the choke and put on a ebay header followed by a universal flex pipe. I still need to put on the resonator and get a muffler. I need to bleed the radiator and brakes before I can drive it. I also made the mistake of firing it up with the garage closed it scared my two oldest but my youngest just slept.

Nikki jetting

Badfighterpilot — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:19:32 GMT

I need to re jet my nikki for a semi bridge. It's running 15:1 on idle aeround 2k rpm and maybe a little lean on power. Will the mazdatrix jets work in the slow speed position. If so how big should I go compared to the stock ones.

Ignitor Problems?

Mork — Sun, 24 May 2026 16:00:12 GMT

Hello,
I took out my �83 a couple of months ago. When restarting the car, it wouldn‘t idle with rough running. I decided to set the idle as high as possible to limp it Home but then, it „snapped“ back to life, after like 30 mins. I first suspected the Carb but after replacing it with an used one of unkown condition, the Problem persisted. Coils are new and replacing spark plugs didn‘t help either. Fuel pressure is present but I have to add, that the fuel pump clicks periodically on ignition with an simultaneous „twitch“ from the gauge cluster. I‘ve read, that the trailing ignitor sends signals to the Tach as well as the fuel pump, so that would check out? I have yet to adjust the timing but since the distributor screw is rusted on, I don‘t think, it could have slipped.
Thanks in advance