zetecr

Apologies if I somehow missed the info in my searches, but..

I have a JDM RHD series 8 (2001) car, and need to remove the instrument cluster surround. I've been reading vaious instructions, and it looks like it takes a lot of force to release the clips. The thing is, I can only find 1 screw hole at the bottom left of the surround piece, whereas various instructions say 2, or even 3 screws for LHD cars. Would someone familiar with JDM right-hand-drive dash let me know for sure how many screws need to be removed (or extra clips to beware of), before I start pulling hard on it? Thanks.

Ceylon

iTrader: (3)

They're the same as the LHD rx-7s, just a mirror image

Check these two links:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ht=remove+dash
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ht=remove+dash

rx7rs02

Nice, 2001 - Ive got a series 8 also (2002).... Not sure how many have S8's in this forum. Quick question (off topic), my car wont engage the second turbo until the water temp is up to normal (85 deg C on my obdii tomtech) - does yours do the same? Ive had the ecu out and its not modified.

zetecr

Ceylon, thanks for the reply. I ended up exploring further on my own and found that, unlike instructions given in a number of instructions I came across (incl the one you pointed out), mine needed the dash side panel removed (which is also a scary experience if one doesn't wish to break the clips), which then exposes a third screw holding the bottom air con trim. After removing the bottom air con trim it seems the same (mirror image).

BTW, I see you have a FEED car? Mine has a bunch of FEED parts, but not sure if it was put together by them. Do you know if there is a way to tell a genuine Fujita Engineering prepared car?


Hello rx7rs02. I haven't noticed this, as I've only had the car a week and I'm usually reluctant to drive the car hard enough to bring on the second turbo when not up to temperature. Mine runs Power FC, so I'm not sure if it might be different to stock.. But I'll try next time I drive it and let you know.

rx7rs02

Hi Zetecr,
thanks for that, although I suspect with a powerfc, yours will be different.
I have just fitted racelogic traction control - Its quite different on the S8, if you are thinking of fitting it, let me know.
I love how the cars come in from Japan, all the go fast bits are generally already fitted.
(as per below, except the racelogic and avcr)
Cheers.

2002 RX7 RS, Autoexe 3inch catback, K&N Carbon fibre air intake, Techtom MDM100Z, Racelogic Traction Control, Earth grounding kit, Apexi turbo timer, Apexi AVCR, Defi Boost guage and logger. Body and wheels: factory spec. Innocent blue Mica.

Ceylon

iTrader: (3)

My car is built by me, not FEED - Its just wearing a lot of their parts

I'd imagine you would have receipts for parts fitment/tuning etc to show it was modified by them if it was.

I'd be gentle on the throttle (I keep mine below ~3krpm) & definitely not try to boost her until shes warmed up. Rx-7s have double throttle control, which is basically butterflies in the upper intake manifold, these are not fully open until the car is warmed up (Restricting airflow). This is to reduce the impart of full throttle on a cold engine, but that doesn't mean its sensible to floor it from cold

zetecr

Thanks for the advice, Ceylon. I certainly wasn't going to floor it from stone cold . In any case, it looks like it won't mean much to rx7rs02 given the different ecu, so I won't even try..

rx7rs02

Hi,
No, I certainly dont floor it from cold (This is my 23rd year of owning rx-7's continuously). If you have a digital temp gauge, you get to appreciate how long it can take to actually get to normal operating temp. I warm it up for a minute, then drive it about two kilometres, and then it finally gets to 85 deg. Only a couple of times have I given it a bit of boost during this warmup period, generally when the temp is about 75deg. Still no 2nd turbo. Gotta be the full 85deg. Anyway, when I get my avcr in (Ive done all the wiring, have to drill out the restrictor pill actually in the turbo now.. ouch) then it may change that behaviour. Actually I quite like it, its saying - no you cant have full boost, I'm not warmed up enough yet! Very clever.


Cheers.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

there should be another screw on the far right side hidden under the knee kick panel, on USDM market cars there is only 2 screws that hold the gauge hood to the dash panel so i would have to say that the JDM hood is just a reverse copy of the USDM one so you just need to find that one last screw.

just be sure to try and work the hood off the dash slowly and carefully, they can break fairly easily if you aren't careful. try finding a plastic trim prybar also and work it in slowly, it will help get some leverage on the front.

beckrx

iTrader: (18)

Check out this link - How to install a 99/2002/spirit-r JDM cluster:https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/%5Brx7-boutique-tutorial%5D-how-install-99-cluster-your-usdm-fd-863565/. The attached pictures show where the clips are on both the cluster hood and the dash. Karack is on point that you must first start working the clip points with an interior trim removal tool. You won't disengage the clips, but you will start "massaging" the points to make it easier for removal. Once I did this, I made sure that the hood was free from any oils/lubricants. I washed my arms well to achieve the same purpose and then I hugged the cluster hood, interlocking my fingers, to apply force evenly with my arms downward then backward towards the steering wheel as I slowly leaned back into my seat. This popped the cluster hood free without breaking any of the clips.

zetecr

Thanks Karack and beckrx. As mentioned above, I did manage to get the job done eventually. I also (somehow) managed to avoid breaking anything THIS time, but I'm sure some of the plastic clip posts were stressed and weakened. I'm going to be even more reluctant to pull like that again next time (if there is a next time). Where can you get one of these trim remover tools you mention?

beckrx

iTrader: (18)

You can find them on eBay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/INSTA...motiveQ5fTools, or at Griot's Garage, http://www.griotsgarage.com/p2p/sear...rrivals&page=1. If you search "trim removal tools" you should come up with what you need.