1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

1979 mystery part

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Old 06-26-16, 02:33 PM
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1979 mystery part

Hi everyone. New to the forum and to the rotary world. My collection mostly consists of cars from the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s but owning a rotary powered car has always been a dream of mine so I pulled the trigger on an early build 1979 rx7. I have a few questions about it. Does anyone have a vacuum diagram for the 79 12a motor? My vacuum lines are a mess with most disconnected. I found the 1980 FSM posted on here but it doesn't look like it quite matches up so a diagram from 79 would be helpful. Second, what is this witchcraft device below? It splices into the wiring harness on the drivers side but its just dangling in the engine compartment with nothing connected or apparent hoses that it should connect to.



Old 06-26-16, 03:18 PM
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I see your "rats nest" is gone. I can also see that someone has rewired a bunch of stuff including the wiring going to the distributor igniters. They might have converted from points to an electric dizzy. Hard to tell from the picture.

The part your holding is not factory and I can't tell what it is. I also see a bunch of non-factory wiring in that same bunch of wires.

The 1979 and 1980 are so close, if not the same, I believe the 1980 FSM diagram would work for what you need.

The 1979/1980 parts manual also shows the vacuum rats nest diagram.
http://www.foxed.ca/rx7manual/manual...4%20ENGINE.pdf

Last edited by KansasCityREPU; 06-27-16 at 09:38 AM.
Old 06-26-16, 08:12 PM
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i agree, it looks period, but not Japanese. could it be that the car had cruise control?
Old 06-27-16, 09:48 AM
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Thanks for the replies. Yes a previous owner converted the 1979 points to a 1982 electronic ignition system which is a welcomed upgrade as well as removed the majority of the rats nest but it looks like the right most 2 solenoids were left intact. I will post a better picture tonight.

The mystery of this part continues. When I blow through the ports in either direction, I can hear an impeller inside spool up according to pressure, so there is not a diaphragm inside. I'm thinking it's some type of measuring device.
Old 06-27-16, 07:10 PM
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Alright everyone, I figured out what it is. Its a SpaceKom flow sensor model 1000. It was used to give a MPG reading. Its about 1970s vintage.

Also here is a picture of my partially removed rats nest FWIW.
Old 06-28-16, 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 59bomb
Alright everyone, I figured out what it is. Its a SpaceKom flow sensor model 1000. It was used to give a MPG reading. Its about 1970s vintage.
Ok I started to laugh when I saw this post. You made that up didn't you? Who the
hell cares what MPG a RX7 gets anyway.
Old 06-28-16, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 59bomb
Alright everyone, I figured out what it is. Its a SpaceKom flow sensor model 1000. It was used to give a MPG reading. Its about 1970s vintage.[/IMG]
Awesome. SpaceKom. Sounds like a Soviet company, maybe it's a part from a Trabant?

When you blew through it, did it make a sound like this guy?


Old 06-28-16, 12:27 PM
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You might be better off then I expected with the rates nest. I would clean up the wiring hack and remove that SpaceKom thing.
Old 06-28-16, 01:10 PM
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Exactly, who needs MPG in an old car anyway right?

Now that I know what it is, it's going to come out. I'm in the process of cleaning up the wiring harness/engine bay. The car was parked in a barn for the last 10 years.

It looks like some solenoids were left behind in the rats nest, anyone care to shed some light on that? If any
Old 06-28-16, 03:43 PM
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I found a more modern version of this spacecom.. Hell it even has installation instructions posted in the later replies.

SpaceCom MPG Gauge (1970s instrumentation) - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com
Old 06-28-16, 06:41 PM
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If I cared about the gas mileage I wouldn't be having fun.
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