I just recently purchased what I thought was an '86 GXL for $150. Upon further inspection I have absolutely no clue what trim level it is.

Both front fenders obviously say GXL on them, never been replaced.

Car has a sliding sunroof.

Car has backseat.

Car has crank windows.

Car is 4-lug.

Seats have positionable head rest.

No power steering.

Car has a/c.

Car has tilt wheel.

Car has cruise control.

Car does not have AAS.

Car does not have rear wiper.

This thing is like Frankenstein, funny thing is I KNOW the car has never been modified, I've known the owner for over 15 years.

I havent gotten underneath to verify LSD or not.

 

It sounds like a combination of factory options, port options, & dealer options.

Years ago (before option packages) most features were a la carte.

 

it is not a gxl. someone put decals on it

 

Well, the drivers door does not open from the inside or outside so I can't get a month of manufacture. If anyone has any tricks on getting the door open without being able to open from outside/inside PM me.

 

It sounds like a base model that probably had been hit in the front at some point. So, someone threw on GXL fenders. Everything about that car is base model, except the fender stickers.

 

Or the dealer just put GXL stickers on it? Can they do that?

 

look here. Sounds like a luxery package. I did not do much research into your problem though.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/specifications-what-did-2nd-generation-rx-7-come-w-options-standard-features-249616/

 

All GXL's had:5 lugs, AAS and power steering. You have a luxery package that someone added features (not hard to do, I ahve done it with my car that was in RX tuner (Oct 2004)) Then they bought the decals and stuck them on. You see cars that are fakes on Ebay occationally. Still a good car. But not a GXL

 

look up the vin id in the FAQ.

sounds like a base model with some options added then had the fenders replaced due to something or another that happened in its 20 year life span.

 

Check for LSD, 86-88 GXLS came stardard with LSD

 

might just be a base model with features and options from the dealership.

 

I'm not sure, I'll know more when I run the VIN via Carfax.

One question still remains - how do you get a a door open when the inside and outside handle don't work. Its a little hard to take the door panel off when the door is shut, lol.

PM me, I don't really want that kind of info on the board for the general public.

 

it is a GX (luxury Coupe) that someone put GXL stickers or fenders on.

 

Thank you Icemark. After looking through the options faq, I couldn't quite tell what this monstrosity was.

 

First thing I would try is to enter the car through the passenger door, remove the screw for the inside door handle, and pull the handle post to the front with a pair of pliers. That would be hoping that the door handles themselves were bad and not the post going from the doorhandles to the latch itself.

If the post is broken, then you'll have no choice but to tear up the interior door panel. It comes apart in two pieces though, and the bottom (flat part that begins at the seam right under where the door handle kicks out) would definitely be easier to replace later. Then you'd have to go and actuate the latch through the inside of the door. If that doesn't work, you'd have to evaluate based on what you've learned and see what could be done.

Absolute worse case you'd remove the window glass, regulators and as much as you can with the access you got from removing the interior door panel, then cut the door with a torch until you got close enough to disassemble the latch post (if you cut the door all the way through, the front part should swing open easy and just remove the hinges) then replace the door entirely.

Or, if the door's in good shape, get a cheap car alarm and wire the auxiliary ports to roll your windows up and down, weld your doors and slide in like a nascar driver

 

About the door:
You may be able to get to the door handle pull rod by removing the inside handle cover plate and flexing the inside panel out some.

 

They might have put the stickers on at the dealer or at the port when it came off the ship, if the owner was the original owner. If he wasn't the original owner, I would bet the original owner did it.

 

I'lll have to try that. I removed the inner door handle and tried pulling on the metal rod connected to the door lock. I tried opening it while I pulled on the rod and it didnt open.

 

I bought it from the original owner, he says he bought it new like that. Must have been put on by the dealer. I doubted it was a GLX as soon as I saw the 4-lugs and single piston calipers.

 

Just remove the seat and take it out the passenger side then all the screws should be accessable to romve the door panel. The bottom will tilt in a little then should slide straight up, I've never tried to do this on mine with the door shut. After it is removed you should be able to look in and see if the rods are still connected by the nader pin and the handle the longer bar heading up the the handle needs to be pushed down to operate and the little plastic clip on the door handle it self will break often. If this doesn't help most body shops can assist with a little charge of course, or you could stop by a fire station they have great tools for opening doors and I know if you came by my station we would love to cut the door off but you would be back to the welding it shut when we were done with it.