Hey All,
I’m new to the forum and new to RX-7 ownership. I have had my 79 for about 6 months now. I am currently in the middle of an auto to manual conversion. This forum and RadPotential on YouTube have been great resources, but I still have a couple of questions.

My RX-7 is an automatic federal 1979 and my donor car is a 5 speed manual California 1979.

1. I have heard that later FBs have a different drive shaft between auto and manual. When I compare the two drive shafts I have, they appear to be identical in length. Did the auto and manual use the same drive shaft in 79?
2. Is the only difference between the speedometer cables the length? Can I reuse the speedometer cable that is already installed? I assume I will be able to change the toothed end that installs into the transmission.
3. Since my donor car is a California 5 speed, the transmission has both a top gear (4th gear) and overdrive (5th gear) switch. I know it really doesn’t matter that much, but does my federal auto (3 speed) even have the ability to interface with these switches? Or should I just ignore these switches?
4. Has anyone come up with a creative solution for the NLA shifter boots? Both the outer rubber boot and the visible leather boot? Are there any similar shaped rubber boots? It doesn’t need to be pretty. As for the leather boot, I should be able to custom order something.

 

1. Yes - they are the same for your year.
2. I believe the speedo cable length for the 1979 auto and manual are the same.
3. Ignore the switches.
4. Not sure about this one.

 

Thank you!