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My New 1978 RX3SP

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Old 07-19-12, 07:56 AM
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FL My New 1978 RX3SP

Just picked this RX3SP in Puerto Rico and I am updating it with new Radiator, Oil Cooler, New Holley 650, Ignition and Spark Plugs, new Fuel Pump. it has a 13B, Bridge Ported, Headers, 3" pipe, 1985 Rear end, Disk brake on all 4, 4 speed tranny, looking for the 5 speed from 77 to 80 to change it. Also need the rubbers plugs that goes on the floor and trunk to cover them.
Attached Thumbnails My New 1978 RX3SP-rotativo2.jpg   My New 1978 RX3SP-rotativo6.jpg  

Last edited by tonka_1956; 07-19-12 at 08:06 AM. Reason: title
Old 07-19-12, 07:57 AM
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FL RX3SP with a 13B

A look at the engine and the inside of the 1978 RX3SP
Attached Thumbnails My New 1978 RX3SP-rotativo5.jpg   My New 1978 RX3SP-rotativo1.jpg  
Old 07-19-12, 08:04 AM
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FL 1st and 3rd RX3SP

The one with my baby dauther back in 1977 when I bought this RX3SP at EL Paso, TX. I baby was just 8 month old, exchange the car in Panama to an old friend for a DATSUN 510 cuz the xwife did not like the louvers in the back for the girls to see out. 35 years later bought one just like the first one. I used to have the following Mazda RX:
1977 RX3SP
1979 RX7
1982 RX7
1974 RX2 4 Doors
1974 Rotary Pick up
1987 RX7
1993 RX7
1978 RX3SP
Attached Thumbnails My New 1978 RX3SP-rotativo3.jpg   My New 1978 RX3SP-rotativo4.jpg  
Old 07-19-12, 09:01 AM
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Man that car is clean and beautiful.
Old 07-19-12, 09:04 AM
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that story is sooooo cool......enjoy your new car, looks to be really clean.

if you are ever up for a nice long ride, we have a meet in a park in Weston FL that brings out all kinds of Rotary's (Normally between 50-70 cars) from as far a Jacksonville, Orlando and many cities from the west coast. Send me your e-mail and i will let you know the date once its set for this year. we normally host the meet the first or second week of November (Great Driving Weather) would love to see this car in person.

once again, enjoy the Car....its so sexy

simon
Old 07-19-12, 09:53 AM
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73 13B 4 port

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Originally Posted by papsmagu
that story is sooooo cool......enjoy your new car, looks to be really clean.

if you are ever up for a nice long ride, we have a meet in a park in Weston FL that brings out all kinds of Rotary's (Normally between 50-70 cars) from as far a Jacksonville, Orlando and many cities from the west coast. Send me your e-mail and i will let you know the date once its set for this year. we normally host the meet the first or second week of November (Great Driving Weather) would love to see this car in person.

once again, enjoy the Car....its so sexy

simon
SIMON,
Count me in for sure, my car should be ready by then =)
BTW..hows the REPU coming along??

Marco
Old 07-19-12, 09:56 AM
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If you ever want to sell it or looking for an FD let me know.
Old 07-19-12, 11:47 AM
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Smile

Originally Posted by papsmagu
that story is sooooo cool......enjoy your new car, looks to be really clean.

if you are ever up for a nice long ride, we have a meet in a park in Weston FL that brings out all kinds of Rotary's (Normally between 50-70 cars) from as far a Jacksonville, Orlando and many cities from the west coast. Send me your e-mail and i will let you know the date once its set for this year. we normally host the meet the first or second week of November (Great Driving Weather) would love to see this car in person.

once again, enjoy the Car....its so sexy

simon
my email is tonka_1956@yahoo.com, Thanks for the info
Old 07-19-12, 11:51 AM
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a couple of things I have notice on the car, fuel gauge not working, speedometer not working (just got the cable will change this weekend), installed new holley 650 since the old one was leaking, need to change the fuel pump in the back since this one is leaking a little and make alot of noise. Will be needing the door, trunk and ignition locks. Old owner put ford locks on the door square ones and the ignition key I have to play with it in order to start the engine. Other than that still working on it to bring it up to my standards of an RX3SP.
Old 07-19-12, 12:25 PM
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Fantastic car mate !!!! looks very nice !!
Although I must say that if it was me I would get rid of those seats and take care of the shifter .
Old 07-19-12, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by costas
Fantastic car mate !!!! looks very nice !!
Although I must say that if it was me I would get rid of those seats and take care of the shifter .
Looking for RX3SP seats and also a 1978-80 RX7 Transmission with a shorter shift. I agree with you on both. Not my style.
Old 07-19-12, 05:16 PM
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I have a 5 speed sp trans over in Daytona if you are interested.

The PO had one rebuilt and swapped it in and pulled this. He said it still worked but was noisy. He put in the new one and it was apparently just as noisy.

I dont know anything about its condition other than what I was told that but would be willing to sell it if you might be able to use it to have rebuilt.
Old 07-19-12, 08:36 PM
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Nice car once Luis rotary stage has an event up in Orlando I'll swing by with my rx8 Nd hopefully next year hopefully with my rx3
Old 07-19-12, 11:45 PM
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Wow!, very nice SP there mate!!

I'm a bit stuck on how all the louvers and rear spoiler attach to these cars, any info anyone?

I know the rear louver has a narrow strip of stainless steel accross the top of the back window (I've got a pic of one) but how does it attach to the body?

I wonder how the Holley 650 would compare to a 48mm Weber? The ignition switch you could probably put back close to original with a Kia type, just the part the key goes into and it connects into the original barrel.

As for the seats, being an SP it might be next to impossible to find them but 808 coupe seats retrimmed might be the go, just be sure the passenger side has the foot release lever so it can tilt forward. Then again you guys got more coupes than sedans (no foot release lever on sedans) so it might not be an issue as it is here (Australia).



Keith

Last edited by keithrx3c; 07-20-12 at 12:02 AM.
Old 07-20-12, 01:35 AM
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Originally Posted by keithrx3c
Wow!, very nice SP there mate!!

I'm a bit stuck on how all the louvers and rear spoiler attach to these cars, any info anyone?

I know the rear louver has a narrow strip of stainless steel accross the top of the back window (I've got a pic of one) but how does it attach to the body?

I wonder how the Holley 650 would compare to a 48mm Weber? The ignition switch you could probably put back close to original with a Kia type, just the part the key goes into and it connects into the original barrel.

As for the seats, being an SP it might be next to impossible to find them but 808 coupe seats retrimmed might be the go, just be sure the passenger side has the foot release lever so it can tilt forward. Then again you guys got more coupes than sedans (no foot release lever on sedans) so it might not be an issue as it is here (Australia).



Keith
the rear window louvers have a metal strip along the top,and 1 little piece one each bottom corner of the back window,all of them slide under the window trim.the quarter window louvers are either attached with screws or rivets.
Old 07-20-12, 02:27 AM
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OK, would you or anyone else have, or be able to take, some close up pics PLEASE? Also, does the rear spoiler have one long bracket for it to attach to the boot/trunk lid or are there small separate brackets?

Sorry to be a nuisance but I really need to find out specifically how the parts fit to the car properly.


Keith
Old 07-20-12, 06:08 AM
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Originally Posted by rotorypolo
SIMON,
Count me in for sure, my car should be ready by then =)
BTW..hows the REPU coming along??

Marco
Sent pm
Old 07-20-12, 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by HadaGSL-SE
I have a 5 speed sp trans over in Daytona if you are interested.

The PO had one rebuilt and swapped it in and pulled this. He said it still worked but was noisy. He put in the new one and it was apparently just as noisy.

I dont know anything about its condition other than what I was told that but would be willing to sell it if you might be able to use it to have rebuilt.
Let me know how much you want for it.
Old 07-20-12, 09:36 AM
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Just get an 81-91 N/A tranny and shorten the remote shifter as most of us have done. If you want a rebuit, use miata internals with shortened input shaft on a fb tranny casing.
Old 07-20-12, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by keithrx3c
Wow!, very nice SP there mate!!

I'm a bit stuck on how all the louvers and rear spoiler attach to these cars, any info anyone?

I know the rear louver has a narrow strip of stainless steel accross the top of the back window (I've got a pic of one) but how does it attach to the body?

I wonder how the Holley 650 would compare to a 48mm Weber? The ignition switch you could probably put back close to original with a Kia type, just the part the key goes into and it connects into the original barrel.

As for the seats, being an SP it might be next to impossible to find them but 808 coupe seats retrimmed might be the go, just be sure the passenger side has the foot release lever so it can tilt forward. Then again you guys got more coupes than sedans (no foot release lever on sedans) so it might not be an issue as it is here (Australia).



Keith
They are screw in or rematch the rear spoiler and the front one is bolts and washer and nuts holding it , I will take pictures this weekend and post for you mate. on the louver the top part is pushed in between the glass and the window molding, the the two bottom ones are rotated between the glass and window molding and it has a screw to keep them in place...very cool

Last edited by tonka_1956; 07-20-12 at 09:47 AM. Reason: updates
Old 07-20-12, 07:49 PM
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Thanks Juan, pics would be great, the more detailed the better.

I'm starting to suspect that the body around the rear window might be slightly different. It seems to me that the fixed windows might sit further out from the body than on the cars with the reciprocating (wind up) windows.

I wonder, did the US spec 77/78 808 coupes have the wind up rear windows or fixed like the SP's?


Keith
Old 07-21-12, 09:25 PM
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looks nice thet car was in ceiba puerto rico i know the owner juan you emailme for parts but i may know who have em i email you sometime next week good luck that car looks very nice
Old 07-22-12, 12:24 AM
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Juan, this is the ignition lock I mentioned,

MAZDA ROTARY IGNITION BARREL LOCK KEY SUIT 808 929 323 RX3 RX4 RX7 | eBay

Is that what you're after?


Keith
Old 07-22-12, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by keithrx3c
Juan, this is the ignition lock I mentioned,

MAZDA ROTARY IGNITION BARREL LOCK KEY SUIT 808 929 323 RX3 RX4 RX7 | eBay

Is that what you're after?


Keith
Thanks great site for Rotaries
Old 07-22-12, 02:46 PM
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I have a 72 Rx3 ignition with a key for sale I pull it off a 72 Rx3 I got for parts. So let me know. That's a nice Rx3 Sp. I know someone that had one same color he sold the car.The new owner was driving it for the first time an 10 mins later a woman on her cell slam it to him totaling the car. He pay 20g and in 10 mins it was gone. This Sp was mint.


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