1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Question re: FB Factory Original spoilers

Old Oct 31, 2005 | 10:36 PM
  #1  
Whanrow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Certified Old Fart
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Question re: FB Factory Original spoilers

Does anybody know which of these two is the "factory original" REAR spoiler?

1 piece urethane wrap around

3 piece fibreglass wrap around

I only want to put whatever was factory available at the time of production on my -se, so I want to be sure I buy the correct spoiler. I have found one of each for sale, and don't want to hold up either seller waiting on me.

BTW, If anybody has the factory orignal front spoiler with driving lights - I'm looking for one!

Hopefully some of you true guru's will know the answer to this one!

Thx
Rob
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2005 | 10:52 PM
  #2  
rotarygod's Avatar
Rotors still spinning
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,181
Likes: 23
From: Houston
Both I and my friend have what we both believe to be the factory option rear spoilers on our 1st gens and both of ours are 3 piece fiberglass. Neither of us are the original owners though. He bought his from a rotary fanatic who did alot to the car and claims it's the factory spoiler. I bought mine from a little old lady who bought the car new and didn't do anything else aftermarket. To me it seems like they are the fiberglass pieces but that would be the only time I've ever seen the factory use fiberglass. Don't go solely by what I'm saying as I'm not 100% sure. I would also like to know just to put my mind at rest.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2005 | 11:07 PM
  #3  
sigi's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
3 piece. My 84 GSL-SE has been in the family since it was new.

84 GSL-SE

Last edited by sigi; Oct 31, 2005 at 11:17 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2005 | 11:33 PM
  #4  
Directfreak's Avatar
I am a Jeeper Now.
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,371
Likes: 4
From: 3OH5
3 piece urethane is the original. I have one in my garage, waiting to go on.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2005 | 03:05 AM
  #5  
Kentetsu's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
I thought the original was 3 piece fiberglass rather than urethane. At least that seems to be what mine is.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2005 | 03:45 AM
  #6  
trochoid's Avatar
Old Fart Young at Heart
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 15,145
Likes: 8
From: St Joe MO
The original is 3 piece hard, not soft.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2005 | 03:49 AM
  #7  
kenn_chan's Avatar
Savanna Rx-7
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 12
From: yokosuka japan
Originally Posted by trochoid
The original is 3 piece hard, not soft.
both were options depending upon location......Japan had the soft urethane only, Canada, I am not sure, but I believe the US had the FRP ones.

also the front one was never available over here as a factory option, but many people got them from aftermarket places and had them mounted soon after buying the car.

kenn
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2005 | 07:03 AM
  #8  
Whanrow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Certified Old Fart
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Bump for more opinions.

Seems like fibreglass 3 piece wins out right now, but according to kenn chan above it seems like either one may be correct.....any more experts out there?
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2005 | 09:50 PM
  #9  
Whanrow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Certified Old Fart
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
BUMP again. I really need to be sure here, and even the long time forum members seem to have differring opinions.

Help me out here guys. I don't want to put anything not factory original on my -se!
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2005 | 09:58 PM
  #10  
kenn_chan's Avatar
Savanna Rx-7
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 12
From: yokosuka japan
Originally Posted by Whanrow
BUMP again. I really need to be sure here, and even the long time forum members seem to have differring opinions.

Help me out here guys. I don't want to put anything not factory original on my -se!

Like I said I am not sure about the states, and I would vote for the fiberglass (FRP) as being correct for the states, but the reason they had the urethane ones over here was some dumb *** law that if a car wrecked and glass, plastic, or FRP shattered and threw debris it could only throw X amount of debris, so most makers avoided FRP over here for stock applications, with the new polyurethane type bumpers that problem was eliminated over here.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2005 | 10:06 PM
  #11  
Directfreak's Avatar
I am a Jeeper Now.
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,371
Likes: 4
From: 3OH5
Mine is very hard Urethane.
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 01:27 AM
  #12  
RacerX7fb's Avatar
paradox
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
OK here ya go guys:
A Mazda ad out of Rotary Rocket, 1985. (sorry my scanner isn't big enough to fit both pages).


The front airdam and rear wraparound spoiler were part of the "Mazda Finish Line" accessories.
Made of hard polyurethane and both were three piece (I've had two of the spoilers) These things are heavier than fiberglass and much more sturdier.
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 01:56 PM
  #13  
Whanrow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Certified Old Fart
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Originally Posted by RacerX7fb
The front airdam and rear wraparound spoiler were part of the "Mazda Finish Line" accessories.
Made of hard polyurethane and both were three piece (I've had two of the spoilers) These things are heavier than fiberglass and much more sturdier.
Priceless!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!. Now the only problem I have is that I can get a 3 piece fibrglass, or ONE piece polyurethane. By the sound of it, the fibreglass is out, but the poly is ONE piece.

Any way you can scan the back half of that ad to see if you can tell if its one or three piece?

Thanks
Rob
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 06:03 PM
  #14  
kenn_chan's Avatar
Savanna Rx-7
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 12
From: yokosuka japan
Originally Posted by Whanrow
Priceless!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!. Now the only problem I have is that I can get a 3 piece fibrglass, or ONE piece polyurethane. By the sound of it, the fibreglass is out, but the poly is ONE piece.

Any way you can scan the back half of that ad to see if you can tell if its one or three piece?

Thanks
Rob

good research by Whanrow the one piece sounds like the one here in Japan, maybe a JDM part?

kenn
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 10:28 PM
  #15  
nick1's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener, Ont. Canada
you can tell by the picture of the back of the car on the left page that it is a 3 piece. you can see the lines where the parts come together
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 10:40 PM
  #16  
Paradox's Avatar
backyard tuner
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 0
From: BC, Canada
thats rather interesting. i didnt even know spoilers were a factory option!
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 10:49 PM
  #17  
boyee's Avatar
keep it original!!
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 8
From: SF Bay Area, California
any exterior factory options for the 81-82 year RX-7s?
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 11:04 PM
  #18  
Keegan's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
i have some pics of the turbo model i can post in a bit
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 11:34 PM
  #19  
Keegan's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
here is a stock turbo rx7
Attached Thumbnails Question re: FB Factory Original spoilers-first-gen.jpg  
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2005 | 11:36 PM
  #20  
kenn_chan's Avatar
Savanna Rx-7
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 12
From: yokosuka japan
Originally Posted by Keegan
here is a stock turbo rx7

are you sure that thats stock? that looks like the old Urban silhoutte model front chin spoiler.

Kenn
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2005 | 01:50 AM
  #21  
RacerX7fb's Avatar
paradox
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Whanrow, you must be giddy with excitement! (and not let my original post sink in ) reread it, and see what nick1 said.
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2005 | 02:13 AM
  #22  
RacerX7fb's Avatar
paradox
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by Keegan
here is a stock turbo rx7


Looks like the U.K. Elford Engineering RX Turbo, not a Mazda factory original.
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2005 | 06:48 AM
  #23  
PaulFitzwarryne's Avatar
Apprentice Guru
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Cloud Nine and Peak of God
Originally Posted by Keegan
here is a stock turbo rx7
The stock 12AT engined RX-7 did not have a front air dam or rear spoiler in any of the three models.

I agree it looks like the Elford which was a private development in the UK with a TO4 turbo and SU carb, and dolled up to look more powerful than its 160hp. It had numerous problems of quality control.

The other option being a UK car, is it could be a TWR version which was more powerful but the front air dam was similar to the Elford.

Last edited by PaulFitzwarryne; Nov 3, 2005 at 06:55 AM.
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2005 | 06:52 AM
  #24  
Whanrow's Avatar
Thread Starter
Certified Old Fart
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Nick1: You're right. I didn't see the fine little lines in that other photo.

RacerX7FB: Sorry, it didn't sink in as all the urethane ones I've been able to find are one piece, so your text was contradicting what I have been able to find out.

I'm wondering if SOME of the people with 3 piece THINK its fibreglass, when it actually a very hard urethane (which would have hardened more over the years).

Can anybody describe just how hard the urethane is? Is it possible to mistake for fibreglass?
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2005 | 10:27 AM
  #25  
Kentetsu's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,359
Likes: 14
From: Grand Rapids Michigan
I don't know man, I had to resand mine to get some chips smoothed out before I painted it. It sure as hell looked like fiberglass to me. Rock hard, and layered. I don't know, I've never worked with urethane before so maybe they are similar?
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:43 AM.