GTU vs GXL
 

I just bought an 88 GTU and I notice some suttle differences in it (Hood is way lighter and it has a K&N Filter charger?) when compared to my 88 GXL. What are the differences in these two Rx7's.
The GTU has a good engine but the frame is bent. What parts would you suggest (if any) I should take from the GTU and put on my GXL?

Well I think both have LSD's. Your GTU obviously has a aluminum hood. Hmmmmmm, I doubt the K&N was stock lol. Don't really know.

Basically the GTU is a base (called SE) car with larger brakes, mirrors and spoilers from the T2, and weight kept to a minimum (no power windows & locks, or leather option). Wheels were 15" (same as GXL), LSD (std on GXL and T2 as well), and sport tuned suspension. 150mph speedometer was also shared with the GXL and SE while the T2 got a 160mph speedo.

It was also the precursor to the GTUs, an even further weight reduced model.

Greg O.

My 88 GTU did not have the aluminum hood. That sucks.

I believe the GTU also came equipped with a different gear ratio (to improve acceleration). Pretty sure it was 4.1 on the GXL vs. 4.3 on the GTU.

This info should be in the archive also. :)

The 1988 GTU (only this year and model) is a successor for the 1987 (1986?) "Sport" model, which is basically a stripped down FC with the "hard" suspension and better brakes.&nbsp Most people like to call it a "Turbo II" without the turbo engine.

In 1989 (and 1990), this model was suceeded by the "GTUs".&nbsp Mazda did produce a 1989 (and 1990?) model that was also called a "GTU", but this was their base model for just those years.&nbsp Confused yet? :) It was this "GTUs" model that had the 4.30 rear end, not the 1988 "GTU".

1988 "GTU" models did or did not come with aluminum hoods - this is not consistent.&nbsp There are also a bunch of 1988 "GTU" models that did come with sunroofs.

All 1989-1990 "GTUs" models should have aluminum hoods - unless something can dispute this?

Otherwise, your GXL would swap almost all it's components with your 1988 "GTU" no problem.




-Ted

my gxls speedo goes up to 160..... not 150

I think all autos had 3.9's, all manuals had 4.1 except for GTUs (not to be confused w/ GTU's)
The GTUs had 4.3's

Turbo II's and GTUs came in manual only, I dunno if any others came in manual only

Autos 3.8
5-speed Except GTUs 4.0
GTUs 4.3
And some GTU came with the TII TRANNY, Like my 88' GTU, :D If u plan on converting to boost, get the TII drivetrain,

n/a drivetrain max hp : 240
TII drivetrain max hp : 450

Yes, but you have a 1990. In 1988 T2's were the only model listed as having the 160mph speedo according to the RX-7 brochure.

Greg O.

Actually its 5-speeds have 4:10 gears & the TII have 4:30 I believe.

The autos I think have 3.90.

Only real differences besides the options with the GXLs is the actual weight difference from the options. I believe the GTU was 5 lug as well, they both have the adjustable suspension I think & lager brakes. Only upgrade you can really do is the aluminum hood if I'm not mistaken.

I didn't think ANY n/a came with the turbo tranny... Are you sure it wasn't swapped in before you bought it? I assume if it has the tranny, it must have the driveshaft, and the diff, right?

-Tesla

I know that a lot of guys have mentioned the weight difference between the GXL and the GTU/GTUs. Exactly how much lighter was the GTU. I believe my '88 GXL weighs a porky ~3600lbs (according to the sticker inside the door jam).

3600???? wtf

nooo...thats only the gross vehicle weight.....like the MOST it can handle...not what it weighs...

it prob weights around 2700-2900 lbs

Ya if your weighs 3600 lbs you might want to take out the 150 cement blocks you fit in there somehow, lol. A GXL should weigh I would think around 100 lbs more maybe a little more, depending on what hood the GTU has.

This sport model listed above, is it in 88's as well? Because I have an 88, but it doesn't have the SE badging on the sides, and no options basically. It's pretty light I'm sure. Oh and it has the 14 inch rims. Just wondering.
Thanks

WellI have never seen any "SE" badges at all. Or sport for that matter. I am not sure what the difference is between the 2, for a while I thought they were the same, u know "Sport Edition." Someone said they were different so I guess someone will tell us now. I mean they have options anyways, or the option of certain options so some are different.

I'll just stick with the "base" lol.

Argh.
 

Okay, you guy want the definitive answer? Here it is: http://devils.eng.fsu.edu/bmatts_stuff/FCdesc.txt That's an "essay" I wrote for a buddy of mine...

Brandon

(no, I don't have a 7 yet, but I used to have two, and am going to buy a TII this Friday, so shaddup.)

Yes ur're right about the figure, i was takeing them off the top of my head. No, a collector owned it he never touch anything, left it bone stock!! I know i love my tranny!:D Yes i have the whole drivtrain.

From the looks of that very informative essay, it appears I have one of those very rare "true base" RX7's. I have the 14inch steel wheels (although they look like alloy, but probably are cast steel), absolutely no options whatsoever. This could really be the lightest RX7 produced, for 2nd gens anyways!

From the "essay":
Power windows are lighter than manual? hmmmmm.......:rolleyes:

-Tesla

Whoops. Meant to correct that; it was pointed out to me shortly thereafter, but I never got around to fixing it. But...

Actually, yes, the power windows motors/regulators/etc are lighter than the manual bits. The GTUs-with-manual bit however was secondhand information. I was contacted by no less than 4 people with GTUs-es who all said that they had power windows, so, uh... oops :D

No, the "true base" had 14" steel wheels with hubcaps that were identical to the 626 of the same year. The plain-jane-base had the 14" "phone dial" wheels. There were VERY few super-bases made, and they were all made VERY early. (and most of them were shipped to Canada) I've seen pictures of them, and they're not pretty :)


Brandon

ok im confused. i have a sunroof, power mirrors but no power door locks or power windows. my hood is wicked heavy. it came with those 4 lug hubcaps that are like 14" or something. dont know which model, but im leaning towards GXL. can someone tell me what i hav???

You don't have a GXL, GXLs had 15" rims and were 5 lug. You have the SE I guess from reading that thing linked up there^