2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

need info on GTUs

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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 10:03 PM
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need info on GTUs

bought 89 GTUs want to know what the diference beetween all other models
and GTUs
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 10:04 PM
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https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/specifications-what-did-2nd-generation-rx-7-come-w-options-standard-features-249616/

Its in the stickys...

Edit: On further inspection it's NOT in the stickys. This HAS been covered though so try the search button.

Last edited by Wankels-Revenge; Jun 29, 2005 at 10:14 PM.
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 10:30 PM
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Yes, it IS in the stickies.
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 10:32 PM
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what does the stickies mean
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by SonicRaT
Yes, it IS in the stickies.
Hah oh i guess I flipped through it too quickly.

The stickies are the four threads at the top that STAY at the top. Have a peek!
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Old Jun 29, 2005 | 10:51 PM
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Let's see if I can do this from memory (I used to own a GTU-S)...

4.3:1 ratio Ring and Pinion gear
Viscous Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
Close-ratio 5th gear
Heavy Duty suspension & brakes (same as TII)
Aluminum NA Hood
TurboII wheels ("multi-x" style 16x7)
No sunroof (even the base model had a sunroof)
No ABS or AAS
No Cruise Control
A/C was dealer option
Aluminum jack & spare wheel
TurboII seats
Available in White, Black and Red only and I've only seen them with blue or black interiors, though there may be another color too.

I'm sure there are a bunch of things I forgot.

If you are trying to identify one that has lost it's badging or one that may have bogus badging, the surest means is to look at the sticker in the driver's door jam and if it indicates the stock tire size as 205/55R16, it's the real deal (The GTU-S is the only NA RX-7 to come with 16 inch wheels). Lack of sunroof is a very good clue too, but at least one person I know had one custom ordered from Japan with a sunroof (it added 4 extra months to the delivery date). You can also call Mazda's 800-number and have them check the VIN against their database. The GTU-S is identified in their system with the two-letter code "GS". No one can authoritatively claim a production number, but the are, without any doubt whatsoever, the most rare of all the RX-7s...far fewer produced than, say, the 88 Anniversary TII, which is documented as 1,500. I see 88 Ann TIIs all the time but the GTU-Ss I've only ever seen a handfull in years and years of looking. This is not to say it's worth appreciably more because of the rarity, though it certainly should fetch a small premium if it's in really good condition.

Hope that helps.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 12:46 AM
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A lot of them came with cruise control.
No power locks or windows.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 01:02 AM
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the 5th gear tranny ratio is the same as any other S5 n/a, so the tranny isn't anymore special than any other series 5.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 01:03 AM
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It depends on where you look. There are about 4 various documentations of the tranny being different, the manual I got with my car, a couple of books I've bought, and often from Mazda themselves when I call, but then in the FSM And other places, it's listed as the same. Who knows!
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 02:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Turbo2FC3S
the 5th gear tranny ratio is the same as any other S5 n/a, so the tranny isn't anymore special than any other series 5.
You are wrong. The 5th gear was 0.756 vs. the 0.697 of the standard NA box. Put this on top of the 4.3 R&P, and it was very short indeed.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 02:25 AM
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"No sunroof (even the base model had a sunroof)"

my base model doesnt have a sunroof...
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 02:26 AM
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Originally Posted by SonicRaT
A lot of them came with cruise control.
How many is "a lot"? Are these cars you saw personally, or only heard about (and, thus, may not have really been GTU-Ss). Very possible, like the A/C option, it was something the dealers installed. I've never seen the option on a GTU-S, but obviously any sample size will be small.

No power locks or windows.
True.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 02:28 AM
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Originally Posted by speed_monkey
"No sunroof (even the base model had a sunroof)"

my base model doesnt have a sunroof...
Is it an 89 GTU? That was the base model in 1989 (they stole the "GTU" badge from the prior year and put it on the base model, which was called the SE in 1988 and lacked any badge prior to that). Every 89 GTU I've seen had a sunroof.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 02:32 AM
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Well, considering I've owned 7 of them at one point in time, I'd think that counts for a lot. I've personally seen somewhere around 30 of them, and of those that were still stock, only 3 didn't have cruise.

Edit: Oh, and a great number of GTUs had dealer installed moonroofs.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 03:14 AM
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Originally Posted by SonicRaT
Well, considering I've owned 7 of them at one point in time, I'd think that counts for a lot. I've personally seen somewhere around 30 of them, and of those that were still stock, only 3 didn't have cruise.
Weird. I don't recall seening any with cruise. Perhaps some dealers were more agressive in promoting certain options, which might make it more of a geographic phenomina. On the other hand, I also don't specifically recall putting a lot of notice into luxury options when examining those cars I've seen.

Edit: Oh, and a great number of GTUs had dealer installed moonroofs.
Ugh! Why would they do that to a delete-option model?! I suppose they did whatever it took to move them off the lots, but it's still a shame. Again, this is something I've never seen, despite quite a lot of looking, and certainly more obvious that some extra controls in the cockpit.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 03:18 AM
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Here, now you can say you saw one of them, lol. This is my car, dealer installed moonroof, and it has cruise.

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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 08:55 AM
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Found in the "what did my car come with options and standard features" sticky:

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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by SonicRaT
Here, now you can say you saw one of them, lol. This is my car, dealer installed moonroof, and it has cruise.


Good reference picture, the silver car has a stock sunroof, while the GTUs has a dealer or aftermarket installed sunroof.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 10:35 AM
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From: jackson,ms
ok how about this one...89 GTUs with a stock sunroof, and a/c. with no cruise control, power locks or windows. it does have the sticker in the driver's door jam and that says stock tire size as 205/55R16.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 11:06 AM
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why are you showing us a toy car?
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 11:22 AM
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From: jackson,ms
Originally Posted by hondahater
why are you showing us a toy car?
who me? toy? yeah it's my toy 89 GTUs with a factory sunroof, right next to my toy 79 L82 corvette and my toy 95 SC buick riviera at my toy house.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by speed_monkey
"No sunroof (even the base model had a sunroof)"

my base model doesnt have a sunroof...
Is your base model an S5?

Almost, if not all, all base model S5s (GTU) had sunroofs.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Blake
You are wrong. The 5th gear was 0.756 vs. the 0.697 of the standard NA box. Put this on top of the 4.3 R&P, and it was very short indeed.
Actually i have heard it is the reverse of that and what it does is make it VERY close to the final drive ratio of the other n/a cars. Meaning to have a similar overdrive. The 4.3 makes all the rest of the gears which are the same as the other N/A cars "shorter" and IMO more appropriate for road racing.

After road racing my 90 GTU for almost a year. I can attest this little difference makes A HUGE difference on many tracks. I have to use 2nd alot more than I think i would in a GTUs. Yet the car lugs in third if I dont downshift. The GTUs 3rd gear final driver ratio would be perfect for many mid-size road racing tracks.

Coming soon for my car. Miata torsen carrier, 4.3 gears....

Last edited by RockLobster; Jun 30, 2005 at 12:20 PM.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 01:29 PM
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From: Rohnert Park CA
Originally Posted by RockLobster
Actually i have heard it is the reverse of that and what it does is make it VERY close to the final drive ratio of the other n/a cars. Meaning to have a similar overdrive. The 4.3 makes all the rest of the gears which are the same as the other N/A cars "shorter" and IMO more appropriate for road racing.
Yeah, there was a typo in the owners manual. The 5th gear was/is the same as any other 87.5 and later non turbo, as it used the same tranny P/N as all the other S5 non turbos.

If it was actually a different tranny with a different 5th gear, the tranny would have a different part number than any other non turbo.

But then you see people posting mis-information all the time that the GTUs came with the Turbo's R type tranny... so I guess that is where people get the .756 number from.
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Old Jun 30, 2005 | 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Icemark
Yeah, there was a typo in the owners manual. The 5th gear was/is the same as any other 87.5 and later non turbo, as it used the same tranny P/N as all the other S5 non turbos.

If it was actually a different tranny with a different 5th gear, the tranny would have a different part number than any other non turbo.

But then you see people posting mis-information all the time that the GTUs came with the Turbo's R type tranny... so I guess that is where people get the .756 number from.
My information is from actual experience. Mine had the 0.756 5th gear. This is easily verified by observing the 10mph difference (68 vs 78 mph) in speed at 3K in 5th gear. Obviously, you must have the correct speedo gear or the indicated speed would be erronious. Edit for clarification: in every other way, it's still just a basic NA tranny; not a "turbo" box in any way, shape or form.

Trivia question: What was the only official reference to the 1990 GTU-S in any Mazda literature? The short 5th gear ratio!

I think the simplest explanation to the issue is that no one really knew or cared to know that seemingly trivial detail about the car at the time, so 99% of the literature incorrectly referenced the "normal" NA gear box. It's still really a trivial detail, but one worth arguing about apparently. Sorry I brought it up!

Last edited by Blake; Jun 30, 2005 at 02:23 PM. Reason: clarification
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