This is my second '85 FB and I've never been able to use the cargo straps securely. They seem, well, retarded. I'd like to point out that I'm a CDL driver with plenty of experience with ratchet straps, chain-binders, and securing means of all shapes and sized. Hell, my ex wife liked to be tied down and I always did a decent job with that. But these straps don't seem mechanically able to work at all. If I snug something down it can easily move loose under force.

I am about to cut the straps short and sew them into short loops so I can just use bungees. But I like to stay as original as I can, so can anyone tell me what I'm missing here?


They look nice at rest, but can't seem to hold damn thing when the car stops suddenly. My sunroof would always come loose after an hour or so of mountain driving.

About to cut and sew like this. Then use bunge chords to secure cargo.

 

I always thought they where sunroof straps.

 

Yes, sunroof or whatever straps. To keep cargo from killing you in an accident. But they don't stay secure holding anything (in my experience). So am I totally re-re or do these just suck?

 

and to add to that,
It's Spring Baby! And my family is out of town, and I am smooching on my FB all weekend! Vroom vroom brap brap!!!!

 

So I got curious and just went out and checked mine.

They cinch right up, tight as can be, the harder you pull on them the tighter they get.

So this proves that even someone with mental deficiencies can make them work.

So it must not be the straps, not sure what else the trouble could be.

Nice looking FB Max, my friend Mike has the same unit, Tender Blue Metalic, red pin stripe.

He even has the same 15" Rewinds on his.

But what's that thing hanging out your tail pipe that looks like a tube?

You're not feeling suicidal, are you?

 

Not suicidal, no. It's an O2 sensor mount. I've been tuning my Holley and Eddy against each other today, cage fight style. The A/F meter hasn't proven very useful, as it bounces all over the place. 12, 15, 10, 17, 20, 10, etc. $300 wasted, basically. But I am sure enjoying the day with my FB. Just got my Eddy back on, and I'm going out to tune it. That's the nice thing with Eddie's- you can tune them "on the fly" without removing the carb. Holley is infinitely more adjustable, but must be removed to do it. With an Eddy you can make small or large adjustments in 10 minutes on the side of the road.

I like easy. Just ask my wife. Haha, vroom vroom.

 

Vrooom vroom for sure. Nothing like a day tuning carbs to put you in a good mood.

On those straps, try playing with the clasps, try different arrangements.

As I recall if you don't have then installed in "clinch" mode they will slip.

They might be a little different than the ones for the bedroom.

Here's a photo of Mike's 85 GSL that looks like yours. He's an aftermarket carb guy too but he's got the dual Webers.

Now that I see this picture it looks like the pin stripe might be white on the Tender Blue Metallic.

 

Wow, that guy copied me almost exactly. He needs to fill in the sunroof hole to be as hard core as me though. Ha, but our cars really are almost clones.
I'm taking the Eddy off right now and jetting the Holley down a step. I hate to say it. But the Holley just runs better. Everywhere in the rpm range. I'm sad because the Eddy is so pretty and so simple, but the Holley is running buttery smooth Everywhere in the tach. Ugly as sasquatch's ***, but smooth and predictable. Live and learn.

 

Even for holding the glass or metal sunroof in place, I just find it easier to place the sunroof lenghwise with the short edge against the cargo area divider and its good enough for spirited driving. On the straps themselves, I finally just removed them, 4x12mm bolts and called it a day. I dont miss them in the back, and I find that I dont carry anything back there for simplicity, anyway. The bins are far more useful for storage of extra engine oil, coolant, and belts.

 

The SA straps are even more fubarred. Its a Y with the single strap and cinch at the crotch of the Y.

 

Okay, I'm glad it's not just me. Sometimes I can't see what's right in front of me, but the buckles on these things just don't seem to hold tight. I'd like to have some way of securing cargo if I take a weekend trip or something, but this strap arrangement is more in-the-way and useless.

 

i never really understood what i was supposed to be putting back there? ive usually taken them out, or they tuck under the carpet easily too.

 

we probably went over this, but;

idle, just adjust it so it runs best, just like any engine. start at like 12.2 and go leaner and see what it likes.

steady state cruise, 1500-3500rpm, 13.5-15:1. an efi car will shoot for 14.7, usually the carb wants to be slightly richer.

WOT: best power seems to be about 13.2 or so, but it is nice to be a little rich, and between 12.5:1 and 13.2:1 you probably wont be able to tell the difference, so 12.8 is a good target, give or take.

it is totally valid to just get it to like 13:1 everywhere, and then lean out the cruise area slightly.

 

I tweeked and tested until about 1:30 am, and found the O2 sensor read much more stable on the Holley, which is running GREAT now. On the Eddy it really was all over the map, but it's pretty steady on the Holley.
Current jetting is 56/59 but I'm going to try 60 in the secondaries today. The AF leans way out at high rpms. It idles around 12.5 -13, cruises happily between 13.5-14.5, but hi-rpm (6-8000) puts me in 16-18 territory. It feels very strong there, but piston knowledge has me spooked by those numbers. I'm going to put the 60 jets in and see how the #'s look and how the car runs. I might even take the wife for a ride - I've had it since October and she's never sat in it. She wants to, but I've been making her wait until it's running good.

 

4 x M6 bolts. A 12mm is a fairly big bolt - I believe the damper to axle bolt is 12mm (M12)


Here are a couple of closer pics in case yours are different. These stay nice and tight

 

If you're committed to solving the luggage strap issue, just replace the buckles. I went all out with some high tech metal ones --> https://www.varusteleka.com/en/produ...RoCt04QAvD_BwE

But there are cheaper plastic snap buckles that also work well. I replaced the original straps with seatbelt web, but you could just sew them onto your existing straps instead.

 

The 3 legged "Y" arrangement for the SA's use the same type of hardware for adjustments. Both versions were designed to hold the sunroof in place, not secure misc. loads. Due to this, their adjustment is somewhat limited around the size of the roof panel. When used for their intended purpose, I've never had a problem, but I'm not normally flogging it around corners either.

 

FWIW, I have an 83 GSL and it's got the Y-Strap.

 

I've always toyed with the idea of putting a cargo net back there. Like the tailgate delete nets you see on the back of pickup trucks. But 99% of the time I don't have anything back there but the one jug of two stroke oil that stays pined against the tail light.

 

 

I don't care for the stringy ones. I have one on my bike, but I think in a car it would get all tangly. I want like what you'd find in a big cargo plane or semi.

 

I'm with you Q-dog, I like the bigger straps too.

 

^ the cargo is very secure there

 

Glad to see you got your cargo straps fixed Max, remember the RX-7 community is always here to help.

 

I am more for stringy ones