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

Tach in the middle

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Old 12-22-04, 08:39 PM
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1981 Mazda RX-7 GSL

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Tach in the middle

Hey guys,
I was noticing that on the RX-7 they have the tach on the middle, making it seem
like that is what one should be paying the most attention to. And the Speedometer is to the right. Why do you think that is?

Just an interesting thing to bring up.

Myc1972
Attached Thumbnails Tach in the middle-img_2947.jpg  
Old 12-22-04, 09:00 PM
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Because all you need to know when driving a 1st gen is when to shift.
Old 12-22-04, 09:06 PM
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The most important guage is in the middle, just as it's supposed to be.
Old 12-22-04, 10:11 PM
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Thats how any good sports car is. Look at any porshce, ferrari, whatever. Cause Id rather speed than not know when to shift.
Old 12-22-04, 10:19 PM
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The only Rx-7 years that don't have the tach in the middle were the 84-85.
Old 12-22-04, 10:39 PM
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The top speed on the speed guage is kind of sorry though. What's up with that? Guess you could get a digital speed gauge, those are phat.
Old 12-22-04, 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by //[T.0.P]//
The top speed on the speed guage is kind of sorry though. What's up with that? Guess you could get a digital speed gauge, those are phat.
All cars in 1981-82 had 85mph speedometers. It was the law.
Old 12-23-04, 01:49 AM
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No arguments here, mine goes to 120MPH.
Old 12-23-04, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by purple82
All cars in 1981-82 had 85mph speedometers. It was the law.

hell, am I happy I live in Europe: we at least have decent speedometers
mine was swapped for an FC one, cause I was outrunning the 210km/h limit of the 1982 SA one on a regular basis

As for those thinking the tach must be in the middle to tell you when to shift: doesn't the buzzer tell you
Old 12-23-04, 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by purple82
The only Rx-7 years that don't have the tach in the middle were the 84-85.
um... well, you are right, but the tach does share the middle (nothing is directly in the middle in 84-85), so it's still easily visible
Old 12-23-04, 07:11 PM
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I have an '84GS so my tach isn't in the middle, but shares the same size/position as the spedo (ie: both equally centred and equally sized).

In Canada there was never a law limiting speedos, so I'm pretty sure that our earlier spedos were rated at the higher level.

Now why they would limit the spedometre to a sorry little 210km/h, I don't know

Jon
Old 12-23-04, 07:18 PM
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Anyone know of a good site that show a conversion from a 82 Speedo to a 86 Speedo? I been searching around but no luck. I hate being stuck at 85Mph lol..
Old 12-23-04, 08:17 PM
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On the subject of tach's: You know what drives me crazy? Driving a car that doesn't have a tach. That's annoying as all hell.
Old 12-23-04, 10:27 PM
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My tach is center, and the speedo is all the way on the right of the center console.

only what is important is in front of me.

Check my sig\/\/
Old 12-23-04, 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by TheLatinHeat
Anyone know of a good site that show a conversion from a 82 Speedo to a 86 Speedo? I been searching around but no luck. I hate being stuck at 85Mph lol..
Don't even start... You'd be much easier of using a EU-spec (maybe UK?) speedo, that goes all the way. Since ours (mainland Europe) are in km/h only, you might not be very comfortable with it, but maybe UK ones are a better choice.
I swapped for a 86 one from an FC, but it's not an easy job.
Old 12-23-04, 11:09 PM
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I hear ya rotary emotions. Dose anyone have a picture of how the one from UK looks like? If not I might just get mine custom made.
Old 12-23-04, 11:17 PM
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just looking at that pic makes me miss driving my car damn salty winters.... ima cry...
Old 12-24-04, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by TheLatinHeat
Anyone know of a good site that show a conversion from a 82 Speedo to a 86 Speedo? I been searching around but no luck. I hate being stuck at 85Mph lol..
You don't have to go to the trouble. '83s had 125 mph speedos. They mount in with no mods and no calibration. The only problem is that your mileage will be messed up.
Old 12-24-04, 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by TheLatinHeat
I hear ya rotary emotions. Dose anyone have a picture of how the one from UK looks like? If not I might just get mine custom made.
The UK speedometer looks the same as the 1983 US speedo.
Old 12-24-04, 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by edwin-82/rx7
just looking at that pic makes me miss driving my car damn salty winters.... ima cry...

I know how you feel!
I hate snow and salty roads!


Myc1972
Old 12-24-04, 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by vipernicus42
I have an '84GS so my tach isn't in the middle, but shares the same size/position as the spedo (ie: both equally centred and equally sized).

In Canada there was never a law limiting speedos, so I'm pretty sure that our earlier spedos were rated at the higher level.

Now why they would limit the spedometre to a sorry little 210km/h, I don't know

Jon
Just thought id share my 2 cents. The speedo's were kept that low because it was thought to keep people from exceeding the speed limit. Personally, i think its fun to pin the speedo though...
Old 12-26-04, 07:06 AM
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Originally Posted by purple82
You don't have to go to the trouble. '83s had 125 mph speedos. They mount in with no mods and no calibration. The only problem is that your mileage will be messed up.
When I swapped my 1982 one for a 1986, I "simply" put the correct milage on the '86 one, at least within 500km of the real one.
Old 12-30-04, 04:22 PM
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All models of the rx7 have them in the middle
Old 12-30-04, 04:52 PM
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Not the 84-85 model.
Old 12-30-04, 05:55 PM
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My 80 has 85 limit. 79 had 120~

Easy conversion though for a 1980 just get a 79 plugs right in no mods.

Last edited by mckinneyml; 12-30-04 at 06:10 PM.


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