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HELP A NOOB OUT, 1979 engine swap

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Old 10-27-12, 01:09 PM
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OH HELP A NOOB OUT, 1979 engine swap

Ok so i have a 1979 rx7, im looking to swap an engine from a 1985 rx7.. i know that it should fit right in, mount and trans. The only problem im having is the wiring harness. Will it work with everything on the car, or will i have to make my own harness??
Old 10-27-12, 04:11 PM
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You'll have to reuse the external reg alternator off the '79 but apart from that will swap across fine. You'll also have a beehive oil cooler on that engine but up to you which one you use, although if the front mount is healthy then they are far more efficient.

By the way, if you want to use the beefier alternator then it can be easily done you just have to do some simple mods to the loom.
Old 10-29-12, 12:06 AM
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Originally Posted by captainbizzaro
You'll have to reuse the external reg alternator off the '79 but apart from that will swap across fine. You'll also have a beehive oil cooler on that engine but up to you which one you use, although if the front mount is healthy then they are far more efficient.

By the way, if you want to use the beefier alternator then it can be easily done you just have to do some simple mods to the loom.
OH MUH GOD, thank you soo much <3 you saved my life... im goin to pick up the engine tmrw, just out of curiosity, how much hp are those, i know the 12a in mine is 100 hp.
Old 10-29-12, 02:51 AM
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the 12A from 85 is rated at 101bhp.
Old 10-29-12, 07:43 PM
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lol i wonder what gives it the extra 1hp?
Old 10-29-12, 07:54 PM
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The 1985 12A does not use the same exhaust manifold as the 1979. The 79 uses what is called a Thermal reactor.

If you can get the altenator and dizzy it would be worth your time to swap out the points style dizzy for the 1985 electronic dizzy. Just a little extra wiring.

It would also be worth it to swap out the 85 beehive oil cooler for the front mount in the 79.
Old 10-30-12, 02:55 PM
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So what do i do after i remove the oil cooler, just bypass it? and put the mounts on? The ones on the engine i have right now look quite healthy. The engine only has 125, with bad apex seals sadly.. I really wanted to rebuild it, instead of replacing it, but the engine costed me less than the gasket set would have. :|
Old 10-30-12, 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Krammmm
So what do i do after i remove the oil cooler, just bypass it? and put the mounts on? The ones on the engine i have right now look quite healthy. The engine only has 125, with bad apex seals sadly.. I really wanted to rebuild it, instead of replacing it, but the engine costed me less than the gasket set would have. :|
To use, or retain, the from mont oil coller on your 79, just take off the beehive oil cooler on the 85 and use the 79 oil filter pedistal. Then you just hook up the oil hoses like they are on the 79.
Old 11-01-12, 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by project7s
lol i wonder what gives it the extra 1hp?
they made a bunch of small changes between 79 and 81

in 81 the apex seals get a corner piece with less leakage area, the spark plugs move closer to the combustion chamber, and this allows them to run it leaner so it allows the cat.

its partly why the 81+ models were rated with slightly better mpg
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