Mazda's parts dept is usually ok if ordering 13B parts, even though there may be a (large) discrepancy between stated lead times and actual arrival times of the parts that are holding up your project.

But if ordering parts for a 12A, no emphasis on your part is enough to insure that someone at Mazda won't drop the ball. Here's how I know:

In mid-December I ordered an intake manifold gasket, a water pump gasket, a water pump housing gasket, a throw-out bearing and an exhaust manifold-to-pre-cat gasket from North Hill Mazda in Calgary. I emphatically stated that the car was an '84 RX7 with the 12A carburated engine. I was told that the parts had to be ordered from their Toronto warehouse and that the lead time for them would be five working days.

"Excellent", I thought. "This means that even taking into consideration the Christmas and boxing day stats the parts should arrive no later than Dec. 27th--- which would leave plenty of time to do my engine swap before my Christmas break ended on Dec. 31st."

Uh, not so fast. First, the parts didn't arrive until Dec. 31st--- too late for me to do the job on my break. Since the following weekend wasn't available to me due to other commitments this meant that the earliest I could do the swap would be the weekend of Jan. 12th and 13th. And since I had to work the 12th I only got to start on the swap this morning, Sunday the 13th.

...Only to discover once the parts were out of the bag that out of five parts ordered Mazda shipped four that were the wrong parts. Someone between here and Toronto likely assumed that the parts required were for a 13B, and that's exactly what they sent. Only the exhaust flange gasket was correct, and likely the only reason it was would be because it was a common part to both engines.

To make matters worse, Mazda prints on their receipts that their return policy is valid only within ten days of purchase and that there is a re-stocking charge.

I'll ******* destroy every car on their entire lot if they try to weasel out on such a technicality, especially since the ****-up was theirs and not mine. But since they keep bankers' hours I won't be able to call them until tomorrow.

Oh, and one more thing: If calling Mazda's parts dept, call early. After 8am they will be too busy and will not answer their phone or return messages. Ask me how I know this.

 

In my experience, Sunridge Mazda is the only way to fly. The parts lady there is the best.


I had to order 3 times from Kramer to get the right parts one time (******* crush washers and ****). North Hill didnt have part numbers and no microfiche to look it up. Or they were too lazy.


Sometimes I just goto Rx-7 Spec if its something simple that I know he has, gaskets and such. Prices are usually competitive, if not on the house.


Problem with sunridge mazda, is they also keep bankers hours AND Im on the opposite end of the city. Its like at least a 45 minute drive. And in the Land Rover, thats alot of fuel.

Even worse for you, being in Black Diamond.

Hey, did tony ever get ahold of you about his TII?

 

I called one parts office in T.O, for exhaust and intake mani gaskets. Was told I would be called back once he looked up the part #, that was over a week ago, still no call that I know of.

 

Why don't you order all you need from Mazdaspeed over the internet? FWIW
There is a really good parts guy at Gerry Gordon's Mazda in Winnipeg. He has been there for years and is approaching retirement. When he's gone there is no one there with the knowledge of the early RX7's. He is basically irreplaceable.
Mike

 

Have to comment on this living in Toronto they still get 90 % of the orders wrong they dont have the pre 87 parts on their computer so they are usless as they have to look through the old book.. and unless the parts guy acctually knows the differance they will send the wrong part.

 

Wow, this is encouraging.

And Alak, who is Tony and what's this about his T-II? And how is your project coming along? BTW, you were right about the intake manifold coolant leak on this engine--- the o-rings and gasket were both breached. This of course would have been no problem if Mazda hadn't dropped the ball.

As for the parts they sent me, I'm going to insist they give me the phone number of their warehouse in Toronto--- I want to talk directly to the person who is pulling the order. I half expect the voice on the other end to sound alarmingly similar to Tommy Chong's.

 

Thanks for the votes of confidence guys. Is this the RX-8 club? Most parts guys working in dealerships werent even teenagers when the last 12A was built. We have built a 12A peripheral port and got all the parts we needed that werent obselete from my dealership. The problem is the only listing for the parts are on the old microfishe, and half the dealers werent around when they were used. Some have been superceded and the updated part isnt correct. Im sure none of the dealers did anything on purpose, they probably dont have the information. If you know where to look (we do) you can find lots of parts and even part numbers to order so you dont have to rely on someone who doesnt even have the info to begin with. The reason I dont post or even go on the RX-8 club site is because all those guys do is bash dealerships and then come to me for help. This club has been great in the past when it comes to Mazda dealers, and hope it will be that way in the future.

 

If your going to order OEM Mazda parts from a dealership, call Steve at Scarboro Mazda 416-752-4310. He knows rotary engine parts very well and has the knowledge to look up micro-fische parts for anything older than 1985.
I've been ordering from them for a while know and they have been great....it just sucks when I need a part the same day, but what can ya do.

 

Tony has the Gunmetal JDM TII. Archangels I think is his handle. He just had a couple questions thats all.

My project has come to a screetching halt as the pulsation dampner gave birth to litres of fuel. Until I get another one, I cant do anything. Other than programming the computer, theres nothing else to do but start it.


Im chopping the exhaust off this week. I'll see if I can salvage the muffler for you.

 

The lady at sunridge mazda (for the life of me cant remember her name) looks up all the parts I need on microfiche. They get my order right everytime, but you have to be very specific in some cases.

She found me accurate part numbers on parts they dont even make anymore.

Usually takes about 3 buisiness days. From time to time they forget to call (depends on whos receiving), so I usually call them after 3 days if I dont hear anything.

 

If you are ordering parts you should look up the specific part number yourself. The parts diagrams are all over the internet in PDF files. Download. Look up. Go to dealer and give them the exact part number. I usually get the parts guy to give me the parts desc so I can cross reference it with what I wrote down to make sure everything is ok. The only time I ask more questions is if he/she tells me it's been superseded.

 

Thanks, S. I'm sure the muff will come in handy at some point, probably sooner than I think if our crappy luck continues on its current trajectory.

I'm not sure what questions I can answer for Tony, but he's more than welcome to ask away.

 

southern ontario = call banks mazda, they've been good to me.

 

I generally look up the part #'s myself, call them and give them the #'s. Only problem is, as mentioned above, most of the old #'s(probably all) have had revisions. I just keep an updated list of the current #'s so the next time I order anything I know I have the right #.

For those of you building se engines, the rebuild kits have been discontinued now so you'll need to order the 12a set and swap in the necessary gaskets for the 13b. For this kind of thing I found it easier to just order from Atkins. Usually get stuff within a wk.

Brent

 

Update:

I called both Sunridge Mazda and North Hill Mazda today. (North Hill to explain the predicament and Sunridge to talk to Leslie in parts dept to cross-ref the part numbers that North hill gave me.

North Hill was very good about the faux pas and readily took responsibility--- no re-stock fee, and they're overnighting the parts UPS. Mighty good of them, and fortunately for me I'd had a night to sleep on the whole issue and calm the **** down.

This means I can do the swap this weekend. All is right with the world. Thanks for all the help guys.