I have a very early '79 (6/78) that I want to keep bone stock and I have a few questions:

There is some play in the steering column at the streering wheel end. I can move the steering wheel up and down about an 1/8". Is there a bushing I can replace?

I have a very small coolant leak that I have traced along the top of the engine to what looks like the back side of the water pump. The front of the pump (belt side) is dry as a bone. Any ideas as to where the leak could be coming from?

Does anyone have a "spare" piece of side moulding laying around? I need the rear most section between the rear wheel and the tail light. it's the early skinny style (79 & 80)

The A/C compressor comes on anytime the fan is on. I noticed that in 1981 they changed the fan switch so you can run the HVAC fan without the A/C compressor. Can I replace my fan switch with one out of a 81 or 82, or do I have to some wiring changes as well?

The car appears to be some sort of special edition with a sunroof and factory A/C. in addition, it has the Mazda-BBS wheels and teh rear bumper with small black bumpers on teh bottom side. Does anyone have any information of any special editions that year?

THANK YOU!!

 

Congrats' Post some pics.

 

my steering wheel does the same thi8ng in my 79

 

I have some play left to right....is that normal in a 84 with no ps?

 

I have some play left to right in my 84 with no ps...is that normal?

 

Small black strips on the bottom of the rear bumper would make it seem like its an '80, but maybe it could have been part of the special addition.

 

PICS PICS PICS

I might have that strip you need. PM me on saturday.

 

Hi Tony-
congrats. You have a nice-sounding 79 GS with the optional sunroof. BBS wheels, if that's what they are, were not available in the SA (79-80) model, so someone's put those on later. Aren't the BBS's 14"?? The rear bumperets are off an 80, so someone swapped out the bumper at some point. Accident? The yellow is a pretty rare color and unique to the 79 - nice
Steering column: there is a bushing at the top-end of the column, but this only keeps it from
shifting side-to-side in its casing. AFAIK the column itself is fitted into the steering box as a complete assy, separate parts were never available for the assy and it is replaced as a unit. That's not to say you couldn't take it apart, but re-assembly might be problematic ... Any chance the bracket the column mounts to at the dash is loose? Or maybe the car was bumped in the front end and the collapsible part of the column collapsed a bit, giving some free play?

Coolant: sounds like it is leaking where the pump BODY (as opposed to the impeller assy that bolts to this) is leaking? Odd unless someone pulled the whole body then maybe forget there is a small circular metal spacer/gasket used on one stud in addition to the gasket that fits to the engine block. Without this spacer the body would not flush-up to the block correctly and could leave a gap for a leak??? These gaskets are cheap and easy to get and only 4-5 bolts hold the body and impeller on the block. Easy to pull and re-seal. NOTE! torque on these bolts is VERY light: about 15ft/lbs. Get a factory service manula if you haven't yet. $15-$30 on ebay regularly...
Like every one else, I would love to see your car! in and out! engine! make it a separate post so we can catch it on the Forum main page-
enjoy a great car!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

I don't think there is any difference on the fan switch between 79 and 80, and my A/C doesn't come on when I turn on the fan. Sounds like a wiring issue.
Are you sure they are BBS wheels and not just the factory waffle type wheels?