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

Question re: FB Factory Original spoilers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-03-05, 11:12 AM
  #26  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (4)
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bryan, TX
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hrm, there is one of those rear fins on a car at a junkyard in San Antonio
Old 11-03-05, 07:38 PM
  #27  
keep it original!!

iTrader: (3)
 
boyee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,329
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
can someone tell me what year(s) these accessories were offered?
Old 11-03-05, 07:41 PM
  #28  
Rotors still spinning

iTrader: (1)
 
rotarygod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Houston
Posts: 4,181
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 13 Posts
Mine is definintely fiberglass. I had a piece break on it and had to fix it. I've worked with fiberglass for a while. That's defininitely what mine is and it came on my car originally according to the old owner who bought it new.
Old 11-03-05, 09:55 PM
  #29  
Certified Old Fart

Thread Starter
 
Whanrow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With all these differring stories, I had a thought. I wonder if perhaps the spoilers offerred by the factory varied by year. e.g. maybe they became 3 piece fibreglass at some point, and maybe the urethane went to 1 piece at some point.

I don't think there was ever that huge a market at the time our cars were built to allow enough demand for companies to make all these different versions that more or less seem the same basic design.

We need Mythbusters!
Old 11-03-05, 09:59 PM
  #30  
Senior Member

 
Arockrx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Boone, NC
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I second that ^^
Old 11-06-05, 01:00 AM
  #31  
RX HVN

iTrader: (2)
 
7aull's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,889
Received 227 Likes on 167 Posts
Mazda sold FACTORY EQUIPPED (not dealer or country distributor-equipped) spoilers on the 81-85 RX7 in most world markets EXCEPT North America. (eg: Europe and the UK). It is a one-piece rubber (if you call that Urethane) unit with a hole for the antenna. The Factory never sold 3 piece or fibreglass units. Interestingly (?) the US mazda Factory Parts Manual actually lists the spoiler (FA16-51-960B) and it mounting hardware, so maybe we could have ordered one once-upon-a-time?? And Whanrow, (shameless plug warning) if your are looking for the Real Deal, I imported 2 of these from the UK and one is for sale: $175 with brand new OEM fastener hardware and a mounting template (they are held on my 21 clips and screws). PM me if interested- I can send you some pix
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
Old 11-06-05, 10:07 PM
  #32  
Certified Old Fart

Thread Starter
 
Whanrow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PM sent to Stu....
Old 11-06-05, 10:24 PM
  #33  
keep it original!!

iTrader: (3)
 
boyee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,329
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
so the three piece spoiler or any kind of factory spoiler was never available for fbs in america? what about front air dams?
Old 11-06-05, 10:53 PM
  #34  
love the braaaap

 
85rotarypower's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Bognor, Ontario
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by 7aull
Mazda sold FACTORY EQUIPPED (not dealer or country distributor-equipped) spoilers on the 81-85 RX7 in most world markets EXCEPT North America. (eg: Europe and the UK). It is a one-piece rubber (if you call that Urethane) unit with a hole for the antenna. The Factory never sold 3 piece or fibreglass units. Interestingly (?) the US mazda Factory Parts Manual actually lists the spoiler (FA16-51-960B) and it mounting hardware, so maybe we could have ordered one once-upon-a-time?? And Whanrow, (shameless plug warning) if your are looking for the Real Deal, I imported 2 of these from the UK and one is for sale: $175 with brand new OEM fastener hardware and a mounting template (they are held on my 21 clips and screws). PM me if interested- I can send you some pix
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
Hmm, if this is true, then the one I have is actually a factory original spoiler. Mine is a rubber like material thats held on by 6 or 7 bolts, a bunch of clips, and two screws at the front tips. Has a hole for the antena. I originally bought mine about a year and a half ago but found a larger 3 piece Erebuni one in the junkyard. So mine is for sale, but as it turns out I'm missing the clips that hold some parts down and it has one of the mounting studs mostly torn out.
Old 11-06-05, 11:48 PM
  #35  
Unconfirmed
 
kuhlrx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: florida
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I will break it down for you sa factory was fiberglass larger one piece also called a duck tail.
fb factory was 3 piece not fiberglass some were not that hard some were all were urethane. fb none were one piece sa all were one piece. all that do not match this were non factory upgrades. world wide some dealers had factory autherised upgrades but these were not factory or factory suplied parts. do some research you will find this true. old mazda factory sales ads and catalogs dont change because someone down the street says his is factory. there are from 79 -85 4 differant part # world wide for the factory rear soilers 2 of those are for the sa one listed for street use one for racing , 2 for fb one for painted one for black I think, maybe bern or someone that still has the info vouch for this.
Old 11-07-05, 09:05 AM
  #36  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
LokiRx7.1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fairborn, Ohio USA
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow this is interesting I have a one piece spoiler I know its aftermarket but it was purchased in 1983 two years after the purchase of my vehicle new.... I think its from some place called rotary engineering in Cali, no longer in business of course. But I'm certain its fiberglass its the factory Ducktail spoiler. I'm confused will someone post some hard evidence on what is the real deal! And I've also never worked with polyurathane is it similiar to fiberglass? and overtime can it harden? J/W......
Old 11-07-05, 01:31 PM
  #37  
keep it original!!

iTrader: (3)
 
boyee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,329
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
i too second that we all need some clarification. this is very interesting to me since i am all about the history of RX-7 especially the 1G. anyways can somebody please find some hard evidence? so the official mazda offered factory spoilers for all years of the 1G? they were made of different material for different years? they were offered in other countries but not north america? some were equiped because they had imported them? all help is welcome. thanks.
Old 11-07-05, 07:36 PM
  #38  
Unconfirmed
 
kuhlrx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: florida
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hint
"I think its from some place called rotary engineering in Cali, no longer in business "
(not factory)
you guys were shown what the factory fb one looks like on the first page of this thread.
yes they did offer them in north america and many 7's were sold with them new in the usa and can. some were also sold with after market apperance pkgs from dealers that installed non factory parts know as gound effects back then. because it may have came from a mazda dealer installed on a new car, it does not make it a factory part. aftermarket = non factory
Old 11-07-05, 07:42 PM
  #39  
keep it original!!

iTrader: (3)
 
boyee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,329
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
just to clarify.. there were some hard and soft (3 or 1 piece)FACTORY made by MAZDA and sold in north america installed on FBs.. interesting.. must be pretty rare because this thread was the first i ever heard they were factory.. always thought they were aftermarket.. also the same goes for the front air dam and fog lights that can go along with it.. very interesting indeed
Old 11-07-05, 09:27 PM
  #40  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
LokiRx7.1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fairborn, Ohio USA
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wink

Originally Posted by kuhlrx7
hint
"I think its from some place called rotary engineering in Cali, no longer in business "
(not factory)
you guys were shown what the factory fb one looks like on the first page of this thread.
yes they did offer them in north america and many 7's were sold with them new in the usa and can. some were also sold with after market apperance pkgs from dealers that installed non factory parts know as gound effects back then. because it may have came from a mazda dealer installed on a new car, it does not make it a factory part. aftermarket = non factory
I did not say I had the factory spoiler it is in the factory style I hope you arent insulting my intelligence because I think I specifically said the spoiler was bought two years after the initial purchase, Im sorry you misunderstood my post but you could have been a little less snobbish reguardless, I am interested purely because I love learning the little intricate details of Rx-7's
Old 11-08-05, 07:24 AM
  #41  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
Lee Lyons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Calgary; AB
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3 piece hard...fibreglass
Old 11-08-05, 01:02 PM
  #42  
Unconfirmed
 
kuhlrx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: florida
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LokiRx7.1 , I was not being snobish. I was simply using a quote from you to show the group involved on this thread not to read in to what is posted and asume things are factory by doing so. I knew what you ment, but to read your post some may not.

excert example
" But I'm certain its fiberglass its the factory Ducktail spoiler."
this may lead some to belive your tail is fiberglass and it is factory. your car is a fb correct?

do you see what I am saying?
more than one of you ask for some clarification when its in the first page of this thread.

factory tail spoilers are 3 piece and Urethane. urethane is a rubber like materal and through temp or age may harden over time. being a rubber like materal and may feel harder or softer but same stuff. the jdm ones were a much softer mix of urethane

there were posibly over a 100+ after market supplers world wide that made or supplied tail spoilers some were factory autherised enabling dealers to sell them.
7aull in his post gives one of the part # for the north american tail spoiler that is for a 3 piece Urethane paint to match unit. but says mazda factory never sold 3 piece units. stu has a sa and sa units were one piece.
lee lyons just post "3 piece hard...fibreglass"
If you do not want to belive what I have said look at the facts just in this thread posted by others with pics
Old 11-08-05, 02:06 PM
  #43  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
LokiRx7.1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fairborn, Ohio USA
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am not debating any info thus far. I am just interested in the subject at hand. I'm sorry I misunderstood, thank you for clarifying.
Old 11-08-05, 05:35 PM
  #44  
keep it original!!

iTrader: (3)
 
boyee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,329
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
so mazda did offer factory performance/style spoilers to japan, europe, etc., but not to north america including the usa. the spoilers that we might see today on 1G that look like factory could be either aftermarket look-alike or a real one that was imported. correct?
Old 11-08-05, 10:14 PM
  #45  
Certified Old Fart

Thread Starter
 
Whanrow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
KUHLRX7:

7aull in his post gives one of the part # for the north american tail spoiler that is for a 3 piece Urethane paint to match unit. but says mazda factory never sold 3 piece units. stu has a sa and sa units were one piece.
In other words Stu's one piece (for sale) is an original for an SA, but not for an FB if I understand your statement above...however the brochure earlier in the thread clearly shows a 3 piece and the text specifies polyurethane.

So if I want a factory original for a -SE, it would be 3 piece urethane - correct?
If I wanted one for an SA it would be 1 piece.
Old 11-08-05, 10:18 PM
  #46  
keep it original!!

iTrader: (3)
 
boyee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,329
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
is an original for an SA, but not for an FB if I understand your statement above...however the brochure earlier in the thread clearly shows a 3 piece and the text specifies polyurethane.
but this meaning that since n.a. never sold original spoilers, his original spoiler mustve been imported from japan,europe,etc. where mazda did offer their original spoilers and installed in a u.s. spec car correct?
Old 11-08-05, 11:45 PM
  #47  
Kickin' a little asphalt

 
SevenHeaven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK I have a headache now...

1st off lets get some definitions correct. This has been leading to some confusion.

"Factory equipped": The part (in this case spoiler) is installed at the factory by the manufacturer (Mazda factory in Japan) on the production line.

"Port Installed Accessory": The part is installed by the distributor (Mazda Canada, USA, etc.) at the port of entry into the country before the vehicle is shipped to the dealer. These can be anything from stripes, radios, spoilers, body kits, A/C units etc. These are not factory parts, but parts sourced and approved buy the distributor from local vendors (eg. Goodyear, Clarion, etc) or through the factory accessories program. The end customer would not know the difference between a "factory" part and a "port installed" accessory and they have no real reason to know.

"Dealer Installed Manufacturer Approved Accessory": The part is available to the dealer (ABC Mazda Sales) from the distributor (Mazda Canada) for sale to the end customer. These are parts from "Mazda Finish Line" or the Mazda accessories catalogue or the "Dealer installed options" in the back of the sales catalogue. These parts are sourced and approved buy the disributor from either the factory accessories program or from a local vendor. Some dealers will install these parts on a car as soon as the car comes off the truck. This can make the buyer think that it is a "factory" part when in fact it is not.

From my knowlege (wich is mainly with Canadian spec 84-85 cars) the 84-85 RX-7's did not come "Factory Equipped" with spoilers or front air dams. These parts were available through dealers as part of the "Mazda Finish Line" line of products. The spoiler was a three piece unit. I am not 100% certain what it was made of, that info is stored at my parents place, but urathane sticks out for some reason.

The aftermarket had all kinds of spoilers available... Here is a pic of my car with its spoiler. Its a black soft rubber unit.

I hope this helps you out!
Attached Thumbnails Question re: FB Factory Original spoilers-untitled.jpg  
Old 11-09-05, 12:52 AM
  #48  
keep it original!!

iTrader: (3)
 
boyee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,329
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
yes this did clarify a whole lot.. for all the folks, including me, that want to have everything "factory equipped" or "port installed accessory" will never know what they have.. i guess as long as it came from the dealership its mazda factory enough for me..
Old 11-09-05, 07:51 AM
  #49  
Certified Old Fart

Thread Starter
 
Whanrow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Inkerman, On, South of Ottawa, the 2nd coldest Capital in the World
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yes this did clarify a whole lot.. for all the folks, including me, that want to have everything "factory equipped" or "port installed accessory" will never know what they have.. i guess as long as it came from the dealership its mazda factory enough for me..
You hit the nail on the head for me. I only want to put stuff on the car that I could have gotten from Mazda on the very day I bought the car. Whether thats "dealer installed accessory", or whatever doesn't matter to me as long as I could have bought it new from the dealer with that EXACT part.

From all the discussion and good comments from many people it seems that a 3 piece urethane spoiler, and 3 piece urethane airdam with driving lights would be what I should be looking for. Not 1 piece urethane, or any fibreglass untis at all.

And SevenHeaven speaks from actual knowledge - he used to work for Mazda at the time.
Old 11-10-05, 12:00 AM
  #50  
RX HVN

iTrader: (2)
 
7aull's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,889
Received 227 Likes on 167 Posts
Let me clarify _my_ statement about "Factory" equipment spoilers. That is, the rear spoiler bolted-to-the-car-in-Japan, NOT Dealer/Distributor/ Aftermarket units:
Mazda itself only supplied ONE type of spoiler for the FB (81-85) RX7: Rubber ONE PIECE. I have brochures of all the production years from all of the markets and these only illustrate this type of spoiler on Mazda Factory-issued brochures. Yes, to add to the confusion, distributers in the various markets would issue there own literature and some would include other spoiler variations supplied locally - but -again- Mazda itself only sold the ONE PIECE RUBBER unit on its RX7s from the assembly line.
And the part number out of the RX7 mazda parts manual I quoted earlier in this thread was for this OEM Rubber unit - ONE PIECE (not three piece).
Stu Aull
80 GS
Alaska


Quick Reply: Question re: FB Factory Original spoilers



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:50 PM.