Does anyone have a source for new rear storage boxes for a 1st gen? I've got an '84 GSL-SE and the lids of both boxes have broken off at the hinge.

I had been using Mazdaformance (Jeff Haas Mazda in Houston) for OEM parts but they recently turned off their internet sales. Does anyone know another dealer who'll sell at discounted prices?

 

i;ve got some perfect condition used ones in gray if you're interested. im in canada though

 

Suggestion: Just cover a piece of board with matching carpet and screw them over the compartments. Be sure to use screw caps to trim out the screw ( if you are **** like me and have to have i just right. I have 6x9 speakers in mine and soon to relocate a redtop battery into the driver side compartment.

 

When my hinges broke I went to the hardware store and got a couple of little brass hinges and screwed them in. Way better than the crappy plastic hinges that come stock.

 

I know this sounds silly but I have been confused about this storage bin talk for sometime now. I have even looked to see if I had missed some little secret compartment. Are these in place of the rear seat? was it a particular model you guys got? Got any photos? Not jacking here just interested.

 

Rear seat? Now, that was the real rarity. But that is exactly where the bins would be.

 

Huh, never knew. thanks kc3414

 

I've got a friend who's been into these cars for a long time and a little has rubbed off helping him out once in a while. That and a "RX-7 Forum" crash course since he finally talked me into registering here.

 

take out that hole section and make a custom sub box over the tranny bump

I have been planning to do this for a while

 

worst place to put a sub box, with hatchbacks like these a much better placement would be something in the spare tire wheel well pointing straight up at the glass.

putting speakers where the storage bins is sounds like a awesome idea in concept, but theres no airspace for it to work properly and ends up sounding like ***. trust me ive tried on a few cars now.

the only way you can make it work is with a huge *** amp/speaker setup. you can get a better sound with a much smaller amp and sub placed properly.

g'luck

 

thanks for the recommendations. I'm trying to stay as stock as possible but if I can't find a replacement box I'll probably try the hardware hinge route.

 

I have 2 in burgandy. Decent condition. Let me know if your interested.

 

the subs wouldnt be pointing right up iam gunna be making the box way wider then were the storage bins come out because iam small and have the seat pushed farwards almost the hole way, so i can make the box bigger and still get it to point on a angle at the hatch glass. would this set up work better? i have thought about the extra tire spot but my is sort of might need that tire one day

 

The storage bins can still be found, but they are scarce. The storage bin hinges were a weak design, and may be better to upgrade. You should not have to resort to brass door hinges from a hardware store, or whittling a set of hinges out of wood. For example, McMaster Carr sells Load-Rated Plastic (polyolefin) Piano Hinges. (IIRC the originals were not load or temperature rated.)

Malloy Mazda has the best prices for OEM parts. Note that some of the older parts are no longer available or more expensive compared to aftermarket versions.
Malloy Mazda
Woodbridge, VA
703-490-8170 (local)
888-533-3400 (toll free)
hmkparts@aol.com (e-mail)
Ray Crowe is the parts manager.
(contact info is also in the 3rd generation FAQ.)

 

Say what??

 

I should mention that the hinges I used are by no means for a door. Each side of the hinge is about 1 by .5 inches. 2 or 3 of them for each bin is good. They cost practically nothing, are easy to get, and look good. I don't know why anybody would want to revert to cheesey plastic hinges.

And who said anything about whittling a hinge out of wood?

 

What exactly ave you tried that it sounds so bad???
I have done this to many cars in thepast years and it always sounds very good.
I have pix.....I will post them..
What do you mean there is no airspace. if you put MDF back there and measure it out its over 2.0 cu. ft.
Thats more than a single 12 needs and way more than a 10 would require.
Are you sealing the box all the way around. I have made noth sealed and ported boxs as replacements for the storage boxes and always have good sound.
My current FB is getting 2 twelves with maybe 600 watts. I'm not decided on the amp or subs yet...
The biggest power setup I ever did was 2 twelves, RF, I think they were punch HF2 models......It was a couple of years ago now.
We ran those off 2 seperate 600 watt(rms) Kicker amps. The car had a stinger alternator and a bunch of the basics. 0 gauge wire and huge capacitors.
All the equipment was borrowed so don't think we actually spent that kind of insane money on just bass. Well the box had 2 four inch ports in it facing towards the back of the seats.
The bass was insane!!!!!
I could hear that the size of the box was obviously a slight problem for 2 twelves with so much power but it still wasn't that bad. It was impressive even at low volume.
When putting a box in this spot it is critical to use MDF woof and to make sure it is sealed on all sides. I use aerosol can home foam insulation to seal all the edgess once its installed. I use a 4 piece box to cover the top, front, and sides.
One 10 inch should sound great with just 200 watts RMS with all that airspace.

 

RustyRotary and CosmicBang, could you post photos and details of your hinge replacements and how you connected them to the doors and compartments? This is by far the best way to go if you want to keep them stock and use them for storing stuff, as they were intended. But I haven't been able to figure out how to mount aftermarket hinges so they work and look good and I'm getting tired of picking up used compartments only to have the hinges give out after a year or two. So, how do you mount those hinges to the doors!!??

Thanks
Ray

 

Ok, all of you who post thats its a bad location have never tried it. I did it and it sounds awesome. I would recommend only 10's, but I used 12's but they could handle the small enclosure size. Your only going to get about .5-.6cuft on each box.




So, until you do it yourself, don't go spouting off at the mounth that they don't work! I hit 138db's with this set up.

 

138 db from how far though?

Remember that decibels increase geometrically as you half the distance.

 

These are the ones on my GS. On the GSL I used steel hinges. The hinges I got came with matching screws. All you need is a screwdriver.

 

Want bass? Then point your subs to the back like this:



Everytime the bass hits you clench your teeth together helping the hatch doesn't shatter... Right now the hatch glass flexs a solid 1-2 inches...

 

I'd be worried about that much bass in a 23 year-old car lol Who knows what screws are gonna pop loose and make something important fall off

 

Those hinges look real good RR, I was worried the screws would show through the cover but it looks like you used some short ones that don't. I'm headed for the hardware store now, thanks!

Ray

 

Pratch, The reading was taken at a local car meet. They set the microphone at whatever the IASCA standards are. I've since changed my setup to a single 15" facing the rear hatch, thats hits 141db. Oh, I did put the storage bins back in when I did this. It was not that the bin location was not good for sound, it was that I wanted my storage back.