1st gen project
 

guys i have a clean 80 that has a bad 12a. in the first stage of a 302 swap.
stock shocks and springs are shot.
what is a good replacement ?
searching for front struts seem like options are slim
need some help here from a well versed rx7 lover please

sorry forgot to add a picture
http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...a12aissue5.jpg

If your SA is getting a 302 then your build thread will probably end up in the v8 section. As for struts and springs you can use 81-85 FB stuff and make a spacer for the struts since the SA ones are longer. For springs just get racing beat

thanks very much
sorry if this is in the wrong page
i have racing beat springs and a full bushing set on the way

guys
over the weekend i had a chance work at the car.
i got the passenger side front apart but now i'm confused.
when i look at racing beat front struts they show a straight shaft with no spring perches.
when i got the strut removed the hub comes off with it.
this is my first rx7 in my 51 years and have never seen a setup like this.
the manual says to pull the strut shaft up and down and if resistance is felt it should be ok.

i do have resistance but when i stand the strut vertical the center rod will fall to the bottom on it's own.
what do you think about this?

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...r/DSCF1403.jpg

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...r/DSCF1402.jpg

bump
anybody know?

81-85 fb will bokt right in

guys here is what i needed to know. i could not find any pictures of this at all.
a email to jim at racing beat was the best help out there.
so here is pictures so any one else can see if you too need to do a strut change on a first gen.

this piece needs to be un screwed from the body

[URL="http://[URL=http://s400.photobucket.com/user/91owner/media/mazda%20rx7%201980/mazdarx780frontstrutdiassembly.jpg.html]http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...diassembly.jpg[/URL]"]


then pull the shaft out

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...iassembly1.jpg

these parts are what is left

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...sassembly2.jpg

now i'm guessing that the struts now to be bought slide in the lower body.
can anyone tell us more on this please

Your new KYB struts will come with the left piece installed in the center piece and a new threaded collar that screws into your housing on the right. You'll need to reuse your rubber bumpstop and the dust cover.

thank you
that is good news
my racing beat parts came and very quick delivery to me in canada.
beautiful springs

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...gbeatparts.jpg


and now just about ready to pull this lump out. hard when all i have is outside to work and just a few hours every night.
but with these changes i am moving in the right direction

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...x780motor1.jpg

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...x780motor2.jpg

I bought, or rather, Santa brought me, the same springs and struts. I need to save up for the new bushings, but was planning on the same. Great minds think alike!

What are you planning to do with the 12A?

thank you
the 12a engine is not known problem for me. last summer when i bought the car i drove it home at worked perfect. so good in fact i commented the normal phrase { the motor must be just read to pack it in , it works so good}
2 weeks later at a stop light it was at steady idle when it started just like a piston engine drops 1 cylinder.
next day i looked at it and i saw a pool of prestone in a valley at the intake gasket.
replaced the gasket and the same result
later compression test showed very little on the front rotor. the rear shows 7.8' 7.5& 7.4.

my only reason for 302 is cost. 1400 for gaskets and seals is nuts to rebuild the 12a.
why so much?
for 900 a 300 hp 302 can sit in the car.
here is picture of the coolant issue

http://http://i400.photobucket.com/albums/p...a12aissue2.jpg