OK, I'm new here so I just wanna say how much I appreciate the fact that this forum exists and thank for all the help I've already found searching the archives. I got this car as payment for a debt and have just been playing around with it for a while and now it starts, runs, and drives but it seems to be holding on to the gears to long. No matter how how much gas I give it it shifts around 4 k and iirc the last Rx I drove would hold on to them till 7k or so. This is a bone stock 1980 base rx7 with a 12a and auto trans. I have done all the obvious stuff like check for vacuum leaks and make sure the kickdown cable is hooked up. Where do I go from here?

Thanks in advance for any and all help, it is much appreciated.

Rich

 

I can't speak for the shift points on a 1980 RX-7 trans, but I can say that an auto trans in an RX-7 is like driving a car with a boat anchor attached.

Since you have a 1980, changing the trans to a manual isn't that tough. The hardest part would be finding the 1979/1980 manual trans.

parts list - all parts 1979/1980

1. Manual trans with cross member
2. Pedal box with pedals and switches
3. New clutch master, slave, connecting hose
4. 1979/1980 flywheel or light weight steal flywheel and use auto counter weight
5. 215 mm clutch disc, pressure plate, throw out bearing, pilot bearing
6. Shiftier surround and boots.

 

Find an 81-82 flywheel. It fits your rotors and is lighter at 23lbs compared with the boat anchor 79-80 at 30lbs. Those need to go to a metal recycler. Or get a light steel flywheel from RB or MZTX along with a proper 79-82 counterweight.

 

4K's pretty normal for an SA automatic. The shift points are pretty low. The good news is your engine has never been really stressed and should be in good condition as long as previous owners kept water in the radiator and oil in the engine. KC REPU is right. Converting it to a manual is not that hard. In addition to his list, I believe the starter for an auto is slightly different and the drive shaft too. Manuals also have a short hardline on the fire wall btw the clutch master and the flex hose.