I'm swapping in a manual tranny for the auto my rx7 came with and i read the writeups and the haynes manual but these pedal boxes are giving me trouble. Of all things...
Anyways are there any tips, tricks, or writeups on how to swap them out?

 

I can't speak for anything older than a 1984, but I did the swap in my 1985 GSL and you don't need to remove the box. Just remove the long bolt. You do have to remove a few sensors to make room but it's not hard. It is a tight space and removing the seat is a must to get your head up under the dash.

 

the pedal box comes right out of peepers, but i have no dash, i think the last stock one i did was an FC, but i did loosen the dash to lift up the one corner.

if you can unbolt the pedal(s), its probably better.

actually if you're going to do this kind of work, pulling the dash, or lots of yoga help. under the dash is the hardest to get. plan C might be to lift the car a little and just sit next to it, this is how the british cars are

 

Exactly!

Take the long bolt out of the auto box and replace it with the longer bolt from the manual box. Then just slap the manual brake pedal in place of the auto brake pedal, throw the clutch pedal on the end of the bolt, and you're good to go! You can remove the auto trans TPPS (throttle pedal position sensor), you don't really need a clutch switch, and just leave the two sensors for the brake pedal where they are. It isn't too complicated!

The transmission mounts on the other hand...cut the manuals out of another car and weld them in place in front of the auto ones in the tunnel.

 

The tranny mounting bracket isn't that big of a deal. That's how the turbo two trans is mounted in the early cars. My GLC had a similar bracket. If you are worried about shear/ flex and movement weld a gusset on there. I recommend Mazdatrix completion tranny mount as well.

 

If I remember correctly you will have to loosen the steering column from the dash in order to remove the pedal box. I've done the swap. Takes about a day with all of the parts in front of you. I did a writeup that I can post a link to if you would like.