When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I just want to share that I am in the process of doing a complete refresh on my 1980 FB. Stripped the FB completely and now doing metal work where the battery/batteries leaked to the chassis since...well since the car was new I guess. Planning to re do everything, even as best as I can.
We only have to do the left side where the battery was located. The right side is fine. We scraped away the old anti rust goop everywhere and had a good look.
I'll keep posting pics and short descriptions as we move along.
1979 and 80 models are "SA's" as denoted by the first 2 digits in the VIN. 1981 is when the NHTSA enacted new VIN requirements that changed the first 2 digits of North American RX-7's to FB. Looks like you have a major surgery here. If this is a re fresh, I'm curious what an overhaul would entail!
1979 and 80 models are "SA's" as denoted by the first 2 digits in the VIN. 1981 is when the NHTSA enacted new VIN requirements that changed the first 2 digits of North American RX-7's to FB. Looks like you have a major surgery here. If this is a re fresh, I'm curious what an overhaul would entail!
Thanks for the replies. As for an overhaul...I will take apart the 12A and see what needs to be done. Before reassembly of the entire car, I'll check every last nut and bolt. What's the proper term for what I'm doing?
Electricals and wiring will be "refreshed".
Thanks also for pointing out the "SA". What's the correct term? Change the referrence of the FB to SA?
I'm taking this apart and replace all the seals. It was running when I got it but I think it's time have a good long look inside.
I think I would call this more of a restoration than a refresh. Do you have any before pics of the car? How well was th eengien running before it was pulled? If the compression is good and it was running ok then I would just rebuild the carb, clean the engine externally and replace every gasket and vacuum hose. No need to open a can of worms if its not needed IMO.
I called it a "refresh" because my restorations are much more involved than this. You should see some of the other "resurrections" I had to do...for customers, not for myself. But I think you are right. Lets call it a resto from now on.
A 1980 built FB makes it one of the first FB production runs for the US market. It's an 81 model year FB but manufactured in 1980. You should confirm this by chassis number and build month.
A scanned copy I have of the 81-83 FB parts fiche, Published in April of 1992, shows FB production began in July of 1980, with VIN chassis number 500001
August started with 500076 (only 75 FB's produced in July of 80... but how many non-US 1981-model "SA's?")
September saw a start of 503736
My 1980 parts fiche shows a publication date of "May '83 - FINAL." It shows SA production ended in Sept of '80, as there was no SA chassis start number for October of 80.
Final start number s for SA's in 1980 per this document:
June 619393
July 624204 (June SA production 4811)
August 629533 (July SA production 5329)
September 629954 (August SA production of only 421 cars)
Seems clear from this that July through September of 1980, both SA's and FB's were in production
You mean the first photos? Yes it looked good on the outside. A few rust issues plus uneven paint. As we went deeper we found more rust and I wanted to make sure I got it all.
Did you guys know how heavy the front and rear bumpers are on the FB? I'm making molds for them after the painter finishes removing all the bumps and dips. I'll post photos as I go. I figure on a weight loss of about 20 kilos.
