I recently bought a 1985 RX-7 owner told me car was an SE. But I have a buddy who say he doest think it is. Car has aftermarket wheels and I want to change them. Car has a 13B large street port with a racing beat manifold and a holley carb. I need to knwo what I have so I do not purchase rims with the wrong bolt pattern. Anyone know what I can look for to determine if this car is the SE bolt pattern or not?

 

Stock configuration is lug bolts for 12A cars and more normal lug nuts on studs for the 13B. Someone could have put studs in 12A hubs, but probably a GSLSE pattern if you have lug nuts. You can also look at the number before the X in the middle of your VIN. If it is 1 the car started life with a 12A. If it is 2 the car was born with a 13B engine.

 

There's usually a big logo, upper case letters of GSL-SE on the left rear behind the hatch.

Bring in a wheel to a shop and have them measure it for you. If it's 4x114.3 then it's an SE hub.

I think there's something in the serial number that indicates an SE vs a 12A car. Look somewhere for the serial number coding scheme.

 

Other than taking a wheel to a shop I cannot determine whether this car is an SE. There is no X in Vin number and no upper case GSL-SE on rear hatch. The only thing I have that kinda tells me I may have an SE is the owners manual shows a car with the SE wheels on it but I am not trusting that.

Any other Mazda detectives out there that can help me let me know what I need to look for.

 

http://rotarygod.com/index.php?title...er_Explanation

 

You're making this way too complicated. Why don't you just measure the bolt pattern yourself. You'll know right away if you have SE hubs or not. With a measuring tape, if you measure 4.5" (114.3mm), it has SE hubs. If you measure 4.33" (110mm), it has 12a hubs.

 

the vin breaks down thus;

for JM1FB3323F0888156

J = japan, duh
M1= Mazda, in the us, in europe its MZ
FB = Rx7, FC is the 86-91 rx7, NA is a 1st gen miata, etc etc
33 = coupe, duh
1 = 12A, 2 = GSL-SE
3 = check digit, there is some mathematical formula to compute this, on an 80's mazda its 0-9 and X
F = year. off the top E is 84, F is 85.
0 = assembly plant, 0 is hiroshima, 1 is hofu, 5 is flat rock. ALL Rx7's were built in hiroshima
8 = year/series. 8 = 85, 7 is 84. in a non us vin this is more useful.
88156 = build number.

so if you have a vin that is JM1FB331 this is a 12A car. JM1FB332 is a GSL-SE.

the GSL-SE also uses wheel studs, the 12A is bolts. GSL-SE has vented REAR disc brakes

 

the Vin is JM1FB331 so I guess its not an SE will still measure the boolt parttern in case any SE stuff was used car has alot of upgrades and changes.

Thanks to all of your help.