Hello all,
I've been interested in putting together a list of parts from other Mazda vehicles that are compatible with the 1st gen Rx7. Anything that is a direct fit or requires simple modifications. My end goal is publish the list so that everyone can save themselves the frustration of trying to find discontinued or hard to find parts.

 

'81-85 calipers (not hangers) are interchangable with FC single-piston. The pin is also different between the two, and I can't remember if you use the FB or FC pin.

 

A S4 water pump housing will fit 1979-1985 12A and 1984-1985 13B with minimum modifications. Does require a S4 water pump and pulley.

 

...and S4 air pump, and S4 fan clutch but with 1st-gen fan.

 

idler arm bushings are the same as a Datsun 1200

 

Hello,,
Could You explain to me why I would want to make this switch? is it for performance? better cooling? Or, are You just saying what parts will swap with different models?
Thx, Sam

 

The aluminum housing is about 7 pounds less weight. It also affords the addition of an after market temp sensor along with the factory one.

 

How do you use the OE temp switch in an S4 housing?

The switch is strictly for the choke and emissions controls, BTW. The sender for the gauge is under the oil filter.

Seems to me that this is beyond the scope of the post. The housing is not directly compatible. I mean you could also say that an LS3 from a Camaro is a bolt in if you make your own mounts and use a transmission from an LS1 car and do a little wiring and have a driveshaft and exhaust made.

IIRC the interior door handle cups are a generic Mazda part that you can find in B2000s and 323s.

The biggest problem is that the 1st gen was really the last of the 1970s cars. It's a warmed over RX-3 with a wider, longer, swoopier body. Anything compatible with it is mostly from earlier cars. The only things that are really forward-compatible are some minor Miata things like the ring and pinion in 1.8 cars, and the cupholder from an NA will fit in the same cubbyhole that the SA's gigantic ashtray did.

 

on that note, the pinion bearings are the same as a 94-2005 miata and 95-2003 Sportage front diff

 

the little rubber stopper on the clutch and brake pedal fits every Mazda from 1970-2003ish. B001-43-028 i think

 

the Rx7 is the survivor of the lot, most of the other compatible cars are long dead.

 

You are correct, it is not a direct "fit" in that to retain all the factory functionality, it does require the housing to be tapped to accept the factory sensor. It is however a simple task.

I would equate it to a vendor that makes direct fit parts like T3. The only difference is that T3 is using their labor to make the part where as we as hobbyist are using ours.

 

Didn't know that. So S4 fan clutch will bolt to the FB fan and water pump?!

Are there any spacing issues? My car is an S2 1982.

 

so sad, but so true.

 

I had to drill the holes out in a 84/85 fan spacer so it would fit a S4 water pump housing.So you would need to drill the S4 clutch fan holes a little bit to make it works. It's not much though.

 

2006 Subaru outback h4 alternator.
​​110 Amps of goodness

You can find refurb/returns on Amazon warehouse deals and save a ton on this part.

 

No. FB and SA fan clutches bolt to FB and SA water pumps. FC fan clutches bolt to FC water pumps. But the FC fan will not fit the FB fan shroud, so if you put the FC corrode-o-matic water pumo housing on, you need to use an FC fan clutch (and pullies) with an FB fan.

The SA/FB air pump also does not mate up with the FC water pump housing. You also will have fun trying to make the alternator bracket work and clear the distributor.

I used to have a Subaru alternator on my '80. It was from my '88 GL.

I was amused by how Mazda had Mitsubishi electrics, Subaru had Hitachi electrics, but the Subaru alternator was the exact same form factor as the Mazda part, same wiring connectors too. The only difference was the Mazda alternator has a 10mm threaded pivot bolt and the Subaru is 8mm.

I didn't do it as an upgrade, I did it because my 80's alternator died and I had the Subaru alternator sitting in the garage, it fit and it worked and I didn't have to spend money.

Some 80s Subarus had dual sheave alternator pullies, too.

 

In 2010 or so, I put an FC front subframe in my car. I cut and lengthened the steering shaft to go from the FC rack to the '84-85 FB power steering column.

Today I found out that an NA Miata's steering shaft is almost exactly the same length as the one that I'd fabricated. Yes, both ends are the same spline, too.

 

12A 1985 GSL with S4 water pump housing, S4 water pump, S4 air pump bracket, S4 water pump pulley, S3 fan spacer, S3 fan clutch, S3 Fan, S3 air pump, S3 Alt, Banzai Alt bracket.

 

Thank you