I would like to convert my Spark Yellow 3/78 from auto to manual. Just wondering who has done this and might warn me about unforseen things I might run into.

Any tranny mounting differences between the auto and manual? I have the tranny, but just want to know if the mounting pounts are the same between Auto and Manual.

Pedal assemblies are universal across all years correct?

Any insight or help would be great.

 

i've done it and this may help you. i made a thread regarding the swap:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/auto-trans-manual-trans-swap-part-ii-has-begun-783169/

 

Thanks

I am sure I searched about 6 different word combinations and didnt come up with anything.

This car is a bone stock original, but the auto is killing me. Glad to know that being a 79 it is a more straight forward swap and can use all oem parts to complete.

 

its not hard to do. LMK and I will find the pedals for you. but if you got the *****, I say, forget the SA booster and go for the bigger FB booster. There is a difference between SA and FB pedals due to larger booster on FB

 

Just to clarify.


You have a car from the first month of production, in a rare color, with one of the rarest options available.

(cue Indiana Jones) THAT CAR BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!!

I wouldn't modify it. Sell it to a collector and buy something less insanely rare.


- Pete (Hi, I have a pink '70 Hemi Barracuda, I want to know how to modify it...)

 

I was going to post basically what Pete said. You should really keep this one bone stock. The autos may not be fun to drive, but you have a rare combination and this combination is only becoming more rare with time (5sp swaps, wrecks, rust, etc.).

 

wouldnt be a bad idea to sell it to someone who will preserve it. plus it'll save you time and money and you can use the money you get from the sale to purchase a 5spd RX-7.

 

I'll trade you a 78 production Sonic Bronze S model 4 speed,and I will throw in a 5 speed transmission if you like that more. If not I have a spare pedal set or two if you want it.

 

Got pictures? I have a 1986 GXL with 5 speed (new clutch) and 135,000 miles I might trade. My wife can't drive a stick and I want to get her another RX-7.

 

Wow, the Summer has flown

I thank everyone for their input. Rest assured the car will be preserved and not hacked up or modified. The only reason that I am considering the swap is that is can be accomplished using all oem parts and mounting locations. If anyone has seen my REPU, they can attest to the lengths I go through to maintain originality.

Spark Yellows are my favorite and this is one I am glad to have in the collection. I currently that I have owned since 97 and will be special when done, but will lack the charm of stock & original. There is another clean roller that I have being delivered to my house in Nor-Cal this week to save from the crusher.

Since the last post, most of the work has been spent just trying to make it mechanically sound. Being in the desert, all vacuum lines would crumble is rubbed between two fingers. The carb was nasty dirty and seeped fuel. The intake gasket was shot. The carb has been rebuilt among other things, trying to source rats nest solenoids that have not gotten brittle and broken over the years is a challenge. For the wheels, I bought a set of period correct Hayashi mesh. For the stock option I acquired a set of the rare Yokohama Almex wheels.

I have been buying other NOS and OEM parts for this and shelving them in preparation for doing everything at one time. I was hoping 7 stock, but I just been gone too much with work to make progress like I wanted to.

I figure everyone might get a kick out of the plate

 

at everyone offering to take a collector's item off the hands of a collector...and worst of all, in exchange for a more common car just because it is a manual. Maybe if we wait a little longer someone will offer a manual Toyota Corolla. Did any of you even read the OP's sig? Ever seen the thread on his REPU or seen it at 7stock? He knows what he's doing and loves bone stock 7s as much as (if not more than) any other 7 enthusiast. He just wants to switch it from a stock auto transmission to a stock manual one. It will still be uber rare even after the switch.

Apologies if that comes across too harsh, but I find it bizarre that someone asks for specific advice here and gets (some) responses to the effect of "Give it to me ktnxbai."

 

you post here but not in BAW wutdahell

 

Maybe you don't understand quite the rarity of that car he was ask advice on modifing. We were just trying to point out the rarity,and maybe sway him from taking a very small pool of vehicles like this down one notch. It was moe on a preservation of our common love of these vehicles level than anything else if you ask me. 3/78 cars don't fall out of trees.

 

Yes, I did it on the now-deceased 1980 GS....the crossmembers are different, that's the one that caught me out when I did it. It was problem-free, otherwise.

 

I'm pretty sure I understand just fine how rare that car is or I wouldn't be irritated by your collective "give me your rare car for my common car even though you're a collector of stock cars and I'm not." He's not some idiotic newb trying to make a V8 swap on a rare old car. He's been a collector for years. If it were you, then maybe you would understand how rude that was. Offering advice about not making the swap is one thing; offering a completely outrageous trade is downright insulting. He has enough other cars of his own and doesn't need your DD in exchange. You want to trade? Go dig up a running car of the same color and year with a manual transmission, then he might be interested. Should be easy enough to find since you think it's so common, right?

Hi Steve-o. Meet Shaun (OP).

 

My offer wasn't an outrageous trade. It is a very similar car with a manual in it already. I never claimed it was so common by the way,but nice try. I do own the exact car he is looking for as well,and I know why he wants that color,and transmission combo as it is very cool. I,like many others was just trying to steer him away from modifying a really rare car that is all. I think I even PM'd him with an offer on all the parts to make the swap,and or even giving him the pedals for free(I have several). I guess I must be the rudest guy on this forum then. Maybe next time I will keep my mouth shut when I have parts that people need,and be the good guy.