cpt_gloval

iTrader: (1)

seriously. in the whole process of removing my old broken engine and putting a newer one in, not once -- SERIOUSLY, NOT ONCE -- did i scratch my head and think to myself "why in the hell did mazda do it this way". with the exception of the wacky emissions vaccum nightmare, which i don't fault mazda for since there were serious technology limitations at the time, the 1st gen rx-7s design is incredibly straightforward and easy to follow. not to mention, all you need is 3 different sized metric wrenches and a couple screwdrivers to do 90% of the work on the car.

kudos to mazda. it's a bummer the manufacturers are shying away from easy-to-maintain in favor of lining the pockets of the service departments.

Kentetsu

I agree. It is the same way with the old Z cars too.

I also had a '73 Lemans with a 455 in it, which was pretty simple. The only problem with it was that it seemed that the whole car was designed to fail. I'd drive it for an hour, then spend a week fixing whatever wore out. By the time I sold it last summer, it was practically a new car but I was beginning to have to replace parts that had already been replaced! What a nightmare!

But yeah, the Japanese early stuff just makes sense....

ChasRX

You can thank our own big-fat U.S. liberal environmental tree-hugging programs for the wacky emissions garbage.

Rogue_Wulff

Back in the early 80's, I had a Ford courier pickup, which is just a re-badged Mazda B2000. My brother managed to spin a couple rods bearings in it (long story, dumba** brother), so I had to rebuild the motor. I was just as amazed at the simplicity, and low amount of tools needed. A cheap set of K-Mart sockets, added to the usual engine building tools, was all that was needed. I drove that truck till the body was about to fall off the frame. Kinda amazing, as I drove like a typical teenager the whole time I had it.
This is what has me sold on my first gen.
BTW, I found a set of brake pads I had bought back then for the truck, they also fit the first gen.