crazy idea to legally bring newer RX-7 to the states
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Japan
Jimlab, he was correct when he stated there are TYPEs 1-6. The Series 6 had FD Types 1-3, Series 7 had FD Type 4 (my model that I own in Osaka, Japan), Series 8 had Type 5 and 6. The Spirit R was effectively a Series 8 'FD Type 7' special edition. When bying used parts for FDs here in Japan noone refers to the Series number - its always the FD Type. There are many bits on my 1997 FD3S Type 4 that will not fit on your car (eg my 16bit ECU) coz yours is an FD3S Type 1-3.
Super Snuggles
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,091
Likes: 34
From: Redmond, WA
Originally posted by Sukebe
Jimlab, he was correct when he stated there are TYPEs 1-6. The Series 6 had FD Types 1-3, Series 7 had FD Type 4 (my model that I own in Osaka, Japan), Series 8 had Type 5 and 6. The Spirit R was effectively a Series 8 'FD Type 7' special edition. When bying used parts for FDs here in Japan noone refers to the Series number - its always the FD Type.
Jimlab, he was correct when he stated there are TYPEs 1-6. The Series 6 had FD Types 1-3, Series 7 had FD Type 4 (my model that I own in Osaka, Japan), Series 8 had Type 5 and 6. The Spirit R was effectively a Series 8 'FD Type 7' special edition. When bying used parts for FDs here in Japan noone refers to the Series number - its always the FD Type.
There are only very minor differences in the 1992.5-1995 U.S. FDs. Does the type subclass apply to Japanese RX-7s only? What are considered to be the differences between type 1-3?
There are many bits on my 1997 FD3S Type 4 that will not fit on your car (eg my 16bit ECU) coz yours is an FD3S Type 1-3.
Last edited by jimlab; Jul 6, 2004 at 01:59 AM.
Rotary Freak
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Slovenia, Europe
Hehe, one nice feature living in Europe. If I had the cash, I could import one Spirit-R from the UK and drive it here completely legally (I'd have to pass emissions, but that can be taken care of) 
Only real problem is the right hand drive.
I was also playing around with the idea of importing an FD from UK (they go for as low as $7k) with all the bolt-ons and getting a salvaged FD overhere, do the conversion to LHD an sell it off. Or get Spirit R and convert it to LHD. Now THAT would probably get some nice price on the eBay
Only real problem is the right hand drive.I was also playing around with the idea of importing an FD from UK (they go for as low as $7k) with all the bolt-ons and getting a salvaged FD overhere, do the conversion to LHD an sell it off. Or get Spirit R and convert it to LHD. Now THAT would probably get some nice price on the eBay
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 316
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From: bay area CA USA
that would be pointless,
if you're going to rip EVERYTHING down,
you might as well put new IMPRESSIVE high performance goodies in there.
new oem stuff is slick because its built better than the first iteration..
but not worth putting that in when you can have something more powerful.
if you're going to rip EVERYTHING down,
you might as well put new IMPRESSIVE high performance goodies in there.
new oem stuff is slick because its built better than the first iteration..
but not worth putting that in when you can have something more powerful.
Hey, where did my $$$ go?
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Bimingham, AL
Originally posted by scotty305
re: switching VINs, there are more than two VIN locations, and most of them are stamped into metal, not just tags that can be switched. Have you ever taken a car to an insurance company? Mine (State Farm) checks at least two or three locations of VINs. If you could somehow find an insurance company that either didn't look or didn't care, this would probably work.
Switching parts would work for an insurance company, it would be similar to installing aftermarket parts on your car, but keep your receipts and be prepared for a fight if you want to make a $30K claim on a car that books for $16k. The japanese parts might not all be legal for US highways however, for instance if you have to pass a visual smog inspection or get pulled over by a really mean cop who wants to check your engine code. If the engine code doesn't check out as being US-legal, you car gets impounded (they've done this at streetraces, and impounded JDM SR20's and B16's).
-scott-
re: switching VINs, there are more than two VIN locations, and most of them are stamped into metal, not just tags that can be switched. Have you ever taken a car to an insurance company? Mine (State Farm) checks at least two or three locations of VINs. If you could somehow find an insurance company that either didn't look or didn't care, this would probably work.
Switching parts would work for an insurance company, it would be similar to installing aftermarket parts on your car, but keep your receipts and be prepared for a fight if you want to make a $30K claim on a car that books for $16k. The japanese parts might not all be legal for US highways however, for instance if you have to pass a visual smog inspection or get pulled over by a really mean cop who wants to check your engine code. If the engine code doesn't check out as being US-legal, you car gets impounded (they've done this at streetraces, and impounded JDM SR20's and B16's).
-scott-
Thats cause you live in Cali. Just cause thats how it is there doesnt mean anything to the rest of the country. He lives in Michigan and while I dont know the laws there I do know no where is like Cali when it comes to that ****. Hell, I live in Alabama, you know what I do for emissions and vehicle inspection? Oh yea....nothing we dont do that here LOL
STEPHEN
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Joined: May 2003
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From: MIA
Originally posted by SPOautos
Thats cause you live in Cali. Just cause thats how it is there doesnt mean anything to the rest of the country. He lives in Michigan and while I dont know the laws there I do know no where is like Cali when it comes to that ****. Hell, I live in Alabama, you know what I do for emissions and vehicle inspection? Oh yea....nothing we dont do that here LOL
STEPHEN
Thats cause you live in Cali. Just cause thats how it is there doesnt mean anything to the rest of the country. He lives in Michigan and while I dont know the laws there I do know no where is like Cali when it comes to that ****. Hell, I live in Alabama, you know what I do for emissions and vehicle inspection? Oh yea....nothing we dont do that here LOL
STEPHEN
Back in the 7 life again
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,389
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From: NoVA
Ok, so maybe you could slip by registering the car but that still leaves insurance....if you are willing to trust your prize baby to dewey, cheatem, and howe insureance, go for it but god forbid someone hits you and THEIR insurance company cross checks your VIN, good luck getting any money for your car.
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Joined: May 2003
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From: MIA
Originally posted by su_maverick
Ok, so maybe you could slip by registering the car but that still leaves insurance....if you are willing to trust your prize baby to dewey, cheatem, and howe insureance, go for it but god forbid someone hits you and THEIR insurance company cross checks your VIN, good luck getting any money for your car.
Ok, so maybe you could slip by registering the car but that still leaves insurance....if you are willing to trust your prize baby to dewey, cheatem, and howe insureance, go for it but god forbid someone hits you and THEIR insurance company cross checks your VIN, good luck getting any money for your car.
Back in the 7 life again
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,389
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From: NoVA
Im not a lawyer so if it is completly legal in your state then by all means go for it but do ALL your homework first to make sure because it wont be fun if some idiot hits you and their insurance company finds a loophole to not have to pay you....and they will do thier best.
Originally posted by Rhode_Dog
the spirt R has a lot differn't nifty things in it, depending on the options it could come with, such as Recaro Kevlar backed seats, bigger and better brakes, bigger and better wheels, much better Turbos, a 16 bit ECU, a black box that was used to replace the rats nest, better paint, the 99 spec front end and wing of course. Differn't steering wheels and badges, it also came with a useless boost gauge. Differn't cooling fans, umm what else am i missing, 4.33 ring and pinion, and i think the transmission was improved somehow ( could be wrong). The suspension was beefed up too i belive. So on and so on....
the spirt R has a lot differn't nifty things in it, depending on the options it could come with, such as Recaro Kevlar backed seats, bigger and better brakes, bigger and better wheels, much better Turbos, a 16 bit ECU, a black box that was used to replace the rats nest, better paint, the 99 spec front end and wing of course. Differn't steering wheels and badges, it also came with a useless boost gauge. Differn't cooling fans, umm what else am i missing, 4.33 ring and pinion, and i think the transmission was improved somehow ( could be wrong). The suspension was beefed up too i belive. So on and so on....
the brakes are mazda speed cross drilled.
the wheels are the same size (for the year, 17x8 and 17x8.5).
the turbos are the same 99 specs.
the 16 bit cpu came out in 96.
the steering wheel is in every 99 and above, same with the boost gauge.
tranny is the same.
suspension is bilstein.
also, there were 3 versions. type a, b, and c.
allow me to add...
only the type a got the seats
only a and b got the brakes, the c had only red calipers.
the c is an automatic and has only one oil cooler as a result.
the a had red stitching in the steering wheel, gear shift, shift boot, and e-brake.
the a is a 2 seater and the others are 4.
type a is 22lbs lighter than the others.
type c doesn't have the bilstein
only the type a got the seats
only a and b got the brakes, the c had only red calipers.
the c is an automatic and has only one oil cooler as a result.
the a had red stitching in the steering wheel, gear shift, shift boot, and e-brake.
the a is a 2 seater and the others are 4.
type a is 22lbs lighter than the others.
type c doesn't have the bilstein
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: CA
jimlab they are referred as type*. Since I am naitive Japanese I know what it means when they said 1 gata, 2 gata (gata means type) and Spirt-R is one of the limited edition version of type 6. came out right after type 6 came out. Type 6 were made from Oct, 2002 to Aug. 2004. Sprit R came out on Apr. 2002.
got it? (^.^)
got it? (^.^)
Super Snuggles
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,091
Likes: 34
From: Redmond, WA
Originally posted by ooEfiniRx7oo
jimlab they are referred as type*. Since I am naitive Japanese I know what it means when they said 1 gata, 2 gata (gata means type) and Spirt-R is one of the limited edition version of type 6. came out right after type 6 came out. Type 6 were made from Oct, 2002 to Aug. 2004. Sprit R came out on Apr. 2002.
got it? (^.^)
jimlab they are referred as type*. Since I am naitive Japanese I know what it means when they said 1 gata, 2 gata (gata means type) and Spirt-R is one of the limited edition version of type 6. came out right after type 6 came out. Type 6 were made from Oct, 2002 to Aug. 2004. Sprit R came out on Apr. 2002.
got it? (^.^)
I've never seen "type" used in any U.S. literature, and you usually only see series mentioned by people from the UK and Australia who had longer production runs. I suspect that "type" is Japanese only, especially since you had to translate.
Originally posted by '98 Type RS
trivial, but the seats are carbon, not kevlar.
the brakes are mazda speed cross drilled.
the wheels are the same size (for the year, 17x8 and 17x8.5).
the turbos are the same 99 specs.
the 16 bit cpu came out in 96.
the steering wheel is in every 99 and above, same with the boost gauge.
tranny is the same.
suspension is bilstein.
also, there were 3 versions. type a, b, and c.
trivial, but the seats are carbon, not kevlar.
the brakes are mazda speed cross drilled.
the wheels are the same size (for the year, 17x8 and 17x8.5).
the turbos are the same 99 specs.
the 16 bit cpu came out in 96.
the steering wheel is in every 99 and above, same with the boost gauge.
tranny is the same.
suspension is bilstein.
also, there were 3 versions. type a, b, and c.
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,049
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From: orlando fl
sure doesn't look like carbon to me.. being all yellow and stuff.... are you positive they are not kevlar?
here's a link to a pic... http://www.evo-r.net/JDM/SRSeat3.jpg
here's a link to a pic... http://www.evo-r.net/JDM/SRSeat3.jpg
None
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,318
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From: Minneapolis
Maybe I'm missing something but the way this "type" is being described it just sounds like different models, just like we had touring, base and R versions for each year in the US. Each had a few different parts.
Kevin T. Wyum
Kevin T. Wyum
Belligerent Security
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From: Pulling you over
I WANT TO IMPORT A RHD FD SO I CAN LOOK TITE IN FRONT OF THE LADIES GETTING OUT OF MY CAR IN THE DRIVETHRU!!@! THEN I WILL PWN THE STREETS IN MY 500HP FD BECAUSE IT CAME FROM JAPAN YO
Super Snuggles
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,091
Likes: 34
From: Redmond, WA
Originally posted by Kevin T. Wyum
Maybe I'm missing something but the way this "type" is being described it just sounds like different models, just like we had touring, base and R versions for each year in the US. Each had a few different parts.
Maybe I'm missing something but the way this "type" is being described it just sounds like different models, just like we had touring, base and R versions for each year in the US. Each had a few different parts.
According to ooEfiniRx7oo the "types" are numbered consecutively and signify an evolution of the JDM FD over the production run.
If you're referring to the "type A", "type B" thing, then yes, they are just different option packages for a given model.
Originally posted by vspecpgt
sure doesn't look like carbon to me.. being all yellow and stuff.... are you positive they are not kevlar?
here's a link to a pic... http://www.evo-r.net/JDM/SRSeat3.jpg
sure doesn't look like carbon to me.. being all yellow and stuff.... are you positive they are not kevlar?
here's a link to a pic... http://www.evo-r.net/JDM/SRSeat3.jpg
Super Snuggles
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,091
Likes: 34
From: Redmond, WA
Originally posted by FDNewbie
I'd have to agree w/ him...I've read it EVERYWHERE that it's made of kevlar. Either it's wrong everywhere (which is entirely possible, but highly unlikely), or it is made of kevlar.
I'd have to agree w/ him...I've read it EVERYWHERE that it's made of kevlar. Either it's wrong everywhere (which is entirely possible, but highly unlikely), or it is made of kevlar.
http://www.shopmaninc.com/hybrids.html
The color has nothing to do with what it's made of.
Jim,
I understand it comes in different colors. I'm just saying that everywhere I've found info on the RZ & Spirit R seats, they've specifically said "kevlar" ie, it was written. I'm not going just by how it looks...
I understand it comes in different colors. I'm just saying that everywhere I've found info on the RZ & Spirit R seats, they've specifically said "kevlar" ie, it was written. I'm not going just by how it looks...
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,049
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From: orlando fl
yea thats what i mean. i know you can get carbon in different colors. but usually its its black and grey.... just like kevlar is usually yellowish and black.....
i doubt mazda wanted to be different and wanted yellow carbon fiber for the seats....
i doubt mazda wanted to be different and wanted yellow carbon fiber for the seats....