Just a simple question, is the vert windshield the same as a coupe?

 

yes.

 

"Extreme accuracy was the standard for the RX-7 convertible, the windshield header was permitted a mere 1mm of tolerance, compared to 5mm allowed for the coupe" (85) Matras, John. Sports Car Color History: Mazda RX-7

The above statement suggests that the windshield in the convertible and coupe are indeed different but I don't know from personal experience.

 

The windshields will interchange if I'm not mistaken...but might be a different NAGS number.

I install auto glass btw.

 

Interesting, less tolerance on the header would mean a tighter fit. I wonder if it's to help make the vert frame more rigid? And/Or if having a windshield with more room to wiggle and flex would over time wear more quickly and be more likely to crack?

 

I'll look in my book tomorrow, and I can get the actual part number and I can also get the exact dimensions of the glass and compare that to the coupe's dimensions. That will tell if its physically different.

Other than that the glass won't be anything special as far as thickness

 

They are the same, the Mazda and NAGS part numbers are the same too.

 

Thats what I figured, its been a while since I looked at my old NAGS book. I know there are different windshields for the FC based on color and Antenna

FW 521 BBN and FW 522 which are the same...except color of shade band I think.

FW 636 - - - Has antenna built in

 

Thanks guys! That answers that one.

 

Yeah, one has tint (522), the other doesn't (521).

Pretty sure the 522 also has the antenna, but I would need to check my parts book.

 

Antenna? You mean those 2 lines running up the windshield in the front? If thats for the radio, thats dope :P

 

Yeah. I think the 521 is tinted, and the 522 is tinted with Antenna and 636 is non tinted with antenna. I think lol.

 

Damn I thought my windshield was messed up because of those Two lines! what are they for anyways?

 

If I am not mistaken there is an alternate antennae wire for AM radio operation (with use on the stock radio unit).

 

the lines are the vtec

 

I thought the header that the windshield fits into being different in tolerance from vert to coupe was the important variable, not the windshield itself.

 

On the UK cars, the windscreen is the same, but the top trim piece is different on the vert.

 

Actually the stock radio was a diversity tuner, and the windshield antenna increased reception range quite a bit for FM reception.

 

Thanks for clarifying

I always wondered what that stripe was on some cars, some have one, some have 2 parallel, some have none. I always assumed it had something to do with alignment of the windshield when it was installed.

Can that same antenna be used to get signal for a sirius radio, or digital radio? I'm betting not, but it never hurts to ask.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong here Icemark, but I believe the antenna wires or "lines" in the windshield increased in length between the early S4s ('86-'87) and late S4s (87.5-'88). I remember that the antenna lines in my '87 base were shorter than those in my buddy's '88 GXL. I assume this was done to increase radio reception or was it merely a difference between windshield manufacturers?

 

There are small antenna lines in the windshield but, there aren't any wires coming off the windshield. It connects to a button like connector.

 

No, different tuned frequency than Sirus.

It is tuned for FM, not for higher bands.

So if you had a FM digital radio with a diversity tuner you could use it with the other antenna.