im new on here and just trying to get some info. restoring a 1982 that i got for 700 bucks. already got a new clutch, all new brakes and master cylinder and did a tuneup. car runs great now but i have a few questions. first off the taillights are faded, cracked and pretty much gone. the car is in decent shape and im looking to paint it but im wondering where i can get some tailights new. found some used ones at a few places but not having any luck. do they no longer have new ones? also i have the stainless strip across the back of the roof. is there any way to remove this before painting to look like the other cars? thanks

 

That stainless strip is from the "Targa" edition. It's not really functional, just decoration. I believe it's just screwed on. But don't quote me on that one... Wait for someone else to chime in on that.

For tail lights, I'm afraid the age of the car makes them either unavailable or rather expensive. Check for someone parting a car out.

 

dang.. ok well i found some decent taillights on ebay that are complete for 125 with just a few scuffs. guess ill jump on that and hope i can keep the price down. also another question. im aquiring some mazdatrix 2 inch lowering springs for rather cheap. ive done spring/strut changes before but was just wondering if theres any tricks of the trade anyone might know to make it easier. and the rims im looking at are 15x7 fronts and 15x8 rear with +20 offset. will these fit w/o rubbing after i have the springs and what size tires to ppl usually go with on this size rim for best fit?

 

u can probably go as much as 205/50 for the 15x7 and probably as much as 225/50 for 15x8. i've ran 195/50 on 15x7.

 

cool. ill write that down. just want a good stance and wheel gap filled with no rubbing and wide as possible. trying to make a decent play/track car. also i found some mazdatrix sway bars i can get for around 110 used with all of the hardware. will this make a big difference with the springs and be a good investment?

 

Woah woah... Easy there fella.

Have you even had her out on the road before?

Learn how she feels on the stock suspension before playing with sway bars. Lotta racers actually throw the stock rear one away and run without one.

The rear suspension on the first gen is pretty rigid on account of the solid rear end.

 

ya i had to drive it a lil while when i was swapping out a blown motor in my powerstroke f250.. so much for havin 5 grand in work done and a d66 turbo. 45lbs of boost on stock headgaskets didnt hold up too well after a few months.. put down 507 hp and 786 lb feet of torque tho. gotta love a diesel hahaha. but neways ya the rx7 wants to swap ends pretty quick. figured stiffening up the front might help but wasnt sure? i lost the bid on them springs just now so i gotta look around. any suggestions on a certain spring? what works best? i was gonna stagger the rims 15x7 and 15x8 to help with oversteer too?