I owned a '81 GSL and now I own a '84 SE. I could tell there was a weight difference but was shocked to see the gross weight. 2300lbs for the GSL and 2600lbs for the SE?????? WTF! What did they do to add so much unecessary weight???

 

F/I plus bigger engine, drivetrain and brakes including much improved interior. the lightest 1st gen's are the SA's=my favorite ( I had 2). I only went for 85 due to its interior and original blue paint job. If I can find another clean SA, I will get rid of this one.

 

The interior would make that much of a diff? It's all the same carpet... Door panels couldn't be THAT much...

Dash maybe?

 

I doubt that the dash difference was any difference at all as far as weight is concerned. If anything, the S2 dash weighs more than the S3 one.

 

84/85SE weight 'gain' is probably more due to the electrical components and engine components that were added to this model to bring it 300lbs heavier.

The engine changes include a heavier intake manifolding system, a heavier TB, cruise control standard (including weight of ECU component behind driver's bin), 3 catalyst exhaust with feedback tube for '6'-port actuation, AFM and piping, and the FMOC and piping. Of course, the block is slightly heavier, as well as rotors. A/C compressor and piping was standard on SE's as well, adding quite a bit of weight.

Internally, the SE's had upgraded Clarion stereo/deck with EQ, 2 power amps behind the bins for front/rear speakers, power windows, power steering (on most SE's was an option), and even leather interior on some. Other than this, the materials were pretty much the same to other models.

Mechanically, the 4-wheel disks (vented all around) are slightly heavier, with associated calipers and lines. The fuel tank is slightly larger (IIRC, someone correct me), at 15.5 US gal, usable, and the fuel pump and filter are slightly heavier as well.

Whenever the weight difference comes up, I tend to remind readers that the SE's weight increase also includes engine componentry that bumps up horsepower and torque numbers, so some of that weight is to get more power. For this reason, the SE's are quicker, have better throttle response, and in some cases, get better gas mileage with their EFI system than some carbs. If the SE's had the 12a carb engine, then the sheer weight difference would be more of an apples-to-apples comparison.

Perhaps more telling would be to look at power-to-weight ratio's of the various models.

 

In reality, the weight difference between the two really isn't 300 lbs. Most of the difference is because the SE came from factory with AC whereas the GSL had AC installed at the ports or by dealerships (that is why there are two different AC systems for the 84/85 cars). Because the GSL wasn't shipped with AC, the AC is not included in the GSL's weight but is with the GSL-SE's.

Manufacturers also tend to list weights just by transmission (5 speed or auto) and break it down some by models (GSL-SE vs. non GSL-SE). You have to figure out what options that are included with that weight. From the numbers that I have seen, for the non -SE cars, it is only broken down by transmission. So, does this weight include power windows, cruise control, sunroof, PS, etc.? So is the number based on a S model, GS model, or GSL model, or some sort of average between them? We know the weight of the SE includes most of these options as they were standard (except PS and leather interior).

I am sure there is some weight difference, but I would believe that it is quite small. Think about it, if we were to compare a '84 GSL to a '84 GSL-SE, what are the differences? Well,

- engine is 20mm longer, but that difference is in the rotor housings (aluminum)
- the intake/exhaust is probably a bit heavier on the SE.
- there may be some difference in the fuel system weight, but I bet it's very small
- brake rotors are a bit bigger on the SE, but they are vented whereas the non-SE's are solid (rear)
- all options are the same (cruise, AC, PS, PW, etc.)
- interior is the same
- bigger wheel on the SE, but they are aluminum (probbaly lighter than the GSL wheels)
- the FMOC may be heavier than the beehive, but I doubt it is much (if it is heavier)

There are some other differences as well. My point is that I bet the GSL is for sure not 300 lbs lighter than the SE (especially if you compare S3 to S3). I bet the difference would be less than 100 lbs (same options, same year, same amount of fuel). I would be interested in seeing actual weight difference between a GSL (S3)and a GSL-SE with the same options. But as LongDuck pointed out, any small weight difference between the two is more than made up for with the 35% more power that the SE offers.

Kent

 

I can't talk about 1985, but now the "weight" of a vehicle is its mass, full of fluids, plus any option that will have more than 30% market penetration. What I described is "EPA curb weight" there are various other weights associated with a vehicle, and I can never remember what one is written on the door.

 

the weight of a 1985 GSL Manual is 2345lbs

 

1984-85 RX-7

S (5 speed) 1065kg (2350 lbs)
GS (5 speed) 1080kg (2345 lbs)
GS (auto) 2420 lbs
GS (auto) 2410 lbs (Calif)
GSL (5 speed) 2345 lbs
GSL-SE 2590 lbs

http://www.rotorhead.ca/topic.php?fl=tech&cntnt=1985

 

I took out the A/C and had the cats cut off my '85. When I went to the track with it last year it weighed in at 2356.

 

is it a GS, GSL or SE?

 

Something's not right with the kg/lb conversion there.

 

I didn't nitice that before. Heh...

More KG's and less Lbs... Odd eh?

 

Thought I put that in there,....it's an SE.

 

I know its stupid but........what is a SA? All I know is my '81 GSL was ALOT easier to push than my SE. :S. Removed/ing components presently.

 

the "SA" is the 70-80 model. i think the 1st gen remained the "SA" in australia all the way through to 85 though.

 

SA22C was the starting of the 10 digit VIN number in 1978-1980 RX-7's. In 1981, legislation required a larger VIN # and the coding changed the model to FB.

I'd also like to mention that SE's have Power Steering. Power steering system is 100LBS. AT LEAST on its own. If thats been mentioned before, I was too lazy to look.


I'd also like to mention that my 1980 weighed in on a full tank of gas at 2280lbs +/- 20 lbs.