so I want to paint my faded windshield trim, and drip edge. im unsure i want to take it off. is there replacement rubber pieces for these? i know the trip clips are easily available.but not sure about the rubber and what not.

should i just leave them on and mask the windows and roof?

 

Just leave the trim on and mask off. It's MUCH better then taking it off and more opportunity to damage something.

 

Mask off and prep with steel wool and wet sand. Then hit with etching primer. Then paint it with a satin black or gloss black. I did gloss black (engine paint) cause I figured it would fade out eventually. Not too faded yet, so satin is probably the winner for correctness. I did my many years ago and its holding up fine. Just some rock chips here and there.

Heres a link to a post I made when I did this:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-gene.../#post11031727

 

Regarding the rubber pieces, all is explained here: 1st gen rx7 windscreen trim/moulding weatherstripping - AusRotary

 

Kypreo- really superb layout of the moldings on your Link! Thanks for posting that.
Think that altho it would be great to have the complete rear rubber support behind these metal strips, I think there would still be some benefit of just using a finer generic EDGE molding that would at least guard the edges of the trim strip btw it and the body work, similar to what you show (and is used) on the A-pillars...
This sort of push on edging is available in a variety of sizes on the open market.

Stu Aull
80GS
Arizona

 

I got tired of trying plastic-dip, rubber seal, silicone..........

 

the metal windshield moldings do no actual sealing, if it leaks, its between the body and the glass

 

You're welcome, Stu. Glad you found it useful. I'm still tracking down a suitable aftermarket edge protector moulding for the A pillar and lower windscreen trim (which is a 4mm wide J shaped profile - originally only on 84-85 models). If i find something suitable I'll be sure to share details.

something like this would likely do the trick: https://www.trimlok.com/rubber-extrusion/rubber-edge-trim/neoprene-epdm

or maybe: http://www.edgetrim.com/edge-trim/fender-flare-trim/

 

KYPREO,i read thru your thread about the windshield trim available from Mazda,did my best to copy part#s from what you had laid out there, Did you order those pieces from your local dealer who sourced them from Mazda Japan?
I know i've seen on this website somewhere(haven't found in search) a mention of a person in your country making reproduction taillight gaskets for FBs and someone that makes gaskets for center trim panel. I found a person on ebay from your country that repros rubber seal on outside edge of taillight that seals to body,goes by spazmaz0. Possible same person is making all these items?

 

I ordered the parts from my local Mazda dealer. They didn't have stock in Australia and so brought them in from Mazda Japan, which still had a decent amount of stock available. I note the parts are listed as available through many of the online US Mazda dealers. Atkins has them too, but with their usual quite substantial markup on normal retail list prices Mazda dealers charge.

I did look into getting some of these seals reproduced and actually contacted the person you mentioned, Alexis (trades as Fibremaz, not to be confused with the US-based Fibremaz). I would need to get a die made up to produce the extruded rubber pieces. It was going to cost over $1,000 to tool up and get the first batch done. I raised the possibility of making them on 3 forums (including this one) and got a big fat zero interest, so decided not to go ahead. It was cheaper to just get the brand new parts from Mazda. His tail light rubber seals are excellent though - I bought some as spares and they are exact matches, but appear to be made of superior material, which hopefully withstands UV exposure over time better than the Mazda ones.

 

Thank you,sorry i missed the opportunity for those gaskets though it sounds like it didn't get very far. Awhile back i tried to get support here for a group buy for some unique one of a kind RX7 swag,had a fair amount of members lined up after a bit,had negotiated some good discounts on the merchandise. The vendor disappeared,finally got hold of him, he told me he was getting ready to take a trip to New Zealand and would contact me on his return. Never heard from him again,no response to my emails. The only good part about it was that no money had changed hands.

 

Here where I live is a company called Steele Rubber and they make all sorts of reproduction rubber stuff for classic cars. I had mentioned to them they need to get into the Japanese cars with solutions because theres a real need. One of my RX7 buddies is a neighbor and friends with Mr. Steele the owner of the company. I will see if I can get him to nudge them about this. Its great opportunity for Steele Rubber and would benefit a lot of that classic JDM car owners out there.

https://www.steelerubber.com/

 

I had a quick look through their catalog and didn't immediately see anything that suited, but if you'd like I can post up a scale drawing of the profile used for the A-pillar trim edge protector. I suspect the lower windshield trim is the same profile, as the rubber edge size matches. A Miata cowl grille seal also looks to be a very close to match to this. I'm going to try to find one in person to compare. I have a couple of FC cowl grille seals are they are the exact same profile as the A-pillar trim edge protector, but larger overall. I'm 100% sure other Mazda models from the 80s would have used the same seal somewhere, as Mazda would have sourced it all from the same supplier using as little different tooling as possible.

 

You are probably right about the shared bits between models. I know the GLC and the 626 from the 80s shared or could share pats with an RX7 of the same vintage or close enough.