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Well I had owned a few dozens 1st and 2nd gen Rx7s. Had an Rx2 briefly and have kept my eyes out for some classic Mazda for awhile. Recently this 1974 Rx4 popped up locally and I had to have it.
Reman 13b in early 80s with 5 speed from Cosmo. Working on the tuning of the 48 IDA. May or may not have failing oil control rings, we shall see.
First things are sorting steering and suspension...
The steering and suspension is a mix of original stuff and GSLSE uprights with RE speed coilover stuff. The spherical bearings were toss. Springs are too shift. Spring collars are loose. Will be redo that whole mess.
Ordered the front refresh kit from PAC Performance. The lower ball joint design looks a little different between the one PAC supplied and whats on there but I will be able check when I press the old ones out.
I have some parts for the idler arms but appears pitman arms don't exist for the early 1974. May see if it can be rebuild.
Saw that for sale. What a great car. Excited to see your progress. Wanted to get it myself, but I don't have the old school knowledge the car deserves.
The progress continues! I got a spare steering box from ebay and sent it to Red Head Steering in Washington to get rebuilt. Just arrived this weekend so I will be hoping to put that in tomorrow and start reassembly.
so they were able to replace the joint in the original pitman arm?
It looks like they disassembled it, cleaned it, and reassembled with fresh grease and boot. Doesn't have any significant play and definitely isn't "new" but seems fine enough. I will get a side by side of the FB pitman arm to compare them
Great looking 4 Coupe , owned a few of these and 74 was the nicest looking IMO . Black interior thankfully as some came tan or green . The steering wheel is from a Cosmo I think , not original .
Keep us updated with your progress
So the Rx7 pitman arm is definitely different from the early Rx4 one. The threads and locator look the same to mount to the steering box. But the balljoint is larger on the Rx7 and the plane of the joint is off a little.
Okay so getting there. The out tie rods I got from. RARE parts. Inner ones in 10mm are hard to find, like you won't, but the taper is 7 degree between the 10 and 12mm versions. So I got the very expensive taper reamer bit and modified the drag like to accept the later, easier to find inner tie rods.
The T3 coilovers for the rx7 are a bit Shorter than the rx4 wants. So it sits too low. Waiting on riser blocks.
That is a sick car man........ I have a 73 rx3 and so does my best friend, you don't see these around washington only rx-7 and we want to start doing what you are to your RX-4 , We just put a 13b in mine. I have rx-7's too but this Rx-3 is something Really want to get to and its in good shape!, Kinda got busy rally crossing the rx-7 right now, so dam much fun!!!
Updates! The engine in the rx4 got to the point where the smoking was making it embarrassing. Like old people would flee back into their home least I exacerbate their COPD. So pulled the old and popped in a used, but good one!
