1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Newbie help - for a wide body

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Old 02-28-05 | 10:42 PM
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Newbie help - for a wide body

I'm new to this board and this rotary thing. My other toy is the vette which I've been building from the ground up for 12 years, but this little rx7 is my daily driver.
Anyway I had a really nice lifted truck that was worth way over blue book and nobody could get financed, so I took bluebook and this 1979 RX7 with less than 60K original miles. So far I really like it, and am probably going to keep it. However I have many questions.

#1 - I'm really tired of carrying a funel around to put gas in it. Is there any kind of mod to move the gas line out from the original fender?

#2 - Should I be driving 45MPH in second gear because I'm only doing 5K RPM's?
It's natural to want to shift to 3rd but I'm just starting to hit the powerband.

#3 - I just bought an electronic distrubtor to get away from the points. The new electronic looks (from the outside) the same except it has 1 extra 3 prong plug that I dont have a plug for. Is there a thread (I couldn't find one) that tells the wiring for the conversion from points to electronic?

#4 - I've been investigating these weber setups, I've read many of threads, and I just cant seem to figure out which style is the best bang for the buck. They are a little more than I want to spend, But if I can get the right deal I'll go for it. some opinions would be nice.

Thanks guys I appriciate any help you can give me.


Old 02-28-05 | 11:51 PM
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Gas filler

Hey just an idea for the funnel...

You might be able to create a tube the has a lip on the outside of it so that when you want to fill up with gas you can just pull it out of the tank. Then when you are done filling you can place it back in and shut the fuel door. Kinda similar to the shaft of an umbrella.

I am sure that this could be done with a hollow threaded rod and a nut on the end so that when you slide the rod into the gas tank you don't lose it. It would probably be better if you could weld a lip to the edge.

Hope it helps.
Old 02-28-05 | 11:54 PM
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thanks for the reply. As an engineer I should be able to design something. I'm just so tapped out for time, I'd rather buy somthing.
Old 03-01-05 | 02:31 AM
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wow, more pics please
Old 03-01-05 | 09:51 AM
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that vette looks awesome... Most flame jobs look dumb but that one is really cool. That seven looks cool too... With the second gear going 45 mph I would say unless your racing or something to shift up. I would stay away from keeping the car in high rpms like that for a very long time, its ok to redline it but I wouldnt hold it there because the engine doesnt get a sufficient supply of oil to keep it lubricated...

Last edited by Dan_s_young; 03-01-05 at 09:54 AM.
Old 03-01-05 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Directfreak
wow, more pics please
Here's a couple more.
If you like the vette I have a huge website at Fast77
BTW thanks for the shifting tip. It seems odd to cruise at 45 in 2nd gear.

Old 03-01-05 | 02:15 PM
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Here is a possible solution to the fuel filler problem. Back in the mid 80's, chevy had a habit of hiding the oil fill cap behind the A/C comp. Many places offered an extention for this oil filler. It just may be about the right size to extend the fuel filler on that sweet looking 7. Most of these had a slight curve to them, while there were a few that were straight.
Old 03-01-05 | 02:58 PM
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I'll look into the oil filler deal. thanks for the tip.

If anyone is interested I contacted the original owner of this ride and he bought this car brand new and drove it to a shop where he had the imsa kit waiting for him. The car had 9 miles on it when this entire kit was installed. It took quite some time because there was alot of custome work done to this kit. I've never seen another one like this except in pictures but I gotta say they did an absolute incredible job. This kit look like its part of the car. It looks very natrual and all the line flow well.

Anyway I thought I'd share that.
Old 03-01-05 | 04:00 PM
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damn dude......!


Old 03-01-05 | 05:28 PM
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Nice over-the-top vette & even sweeter 7! Now that's not your Mariah mode 1 kit (as most street WBs have) -looks like full race. Excellent. I have a Pacific "IMSA" kit on my 81 but the rear fenders are no where near that wide (photos soon). Dude, what is under the hood???
Check out some of the IMSA Mazda Prototypes on my CD site:

http://members.cardomain.com/snapshot1

Last edited by Snapshot; 03-01-05 at 05:32 PM.
Old 03-01-05 | 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Snapshot
Nice over-the-top vette & even sweeter 7! Now that's not your Mariah mode 1 kit (as most street WBs have) -looks like full race. Excellent. I have a Pacific "IMSA" kit on my 81 but the rear fenders are no where near that wide (photos soon). Dude, what is under the hood???
Check out some of the IMSA Mazda Prototypes on my CD site:

http://members.cardomain.com/snapshot1
Under the hood of which car. Since this is a RX7 site I'll go there. IT's a stock 12A with all the emmision goodies removed. I really want a weber setup for it, but the cost for return doesn't look to good to me. I'll just keep the vette as my go car and the rex as my slow car. The vette is putting out over 600HP and about 712 lbs of torque. But I hate to say it I think this little rex is cooler looking. I never cared for them till I got one. Now i'm hooked.

Is that your Ferrari.....damn and I thought I had alot of toys

BTW I'd really like to see the pics of your imsa on your 81
Old 03-01-05 | 07:29 PM
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If you dont mind me asking how much did you pay for that car? (the 7) It looks like its in mint condition and really shows well.
Old 03-02-05 | 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan_s_young
If you dont mind me asking how much did you pay for that car? (the 7) It looks like its in mint condition and really shows well.
I took it in trade so I cant really say. I figure I gave about $3k for it. but I have since invested another $1200 fixing it.

It's practically flawless now. Including brand new bucket seats, new idler arm, and a ton of wrecking yard cosmetics.
Old 03-02-05 | 12:59 AM
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3k for it? Thats sweet i wish there was 7's around here like that in such great condition. We mostly just have stockers around here. The vette can be your drag car and the 7 can be your weekend autocrosser, how awesome is that the best of both worlds... off topic do you have pictures of your bucket seats? What kind of car did you take them from? How much did you pay?

Last edited by Dan_s_young; 03-02-05 at 01:01 AM.
Old 03-02-05 | 02:05 AM
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That has got to bee one of the sweetest RX7`s i have ever seen... And for the kind of cash you paid for it, you have made a sweet deal indeed!

I just had a look at your cardomain site, are you thinking about selling it? (In that case, i wonder what the freight would be to Norway..:=))
Old 03-02-05 | 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by mortenf
That has got to bee one of the sweetest RX7`s i have ever seen... And for the kind of cash you paid for it, you have made a sweet deal indeed!

I just had a look at your cardomain site, are you thinking about selling it? (In that case, i wonder what the freight would be to Norway..:=))
At first I was gonna sell it, but now that I've fixed everything I just cant seem to actually do it. I'm really liking this car.

My seats aren't actually installed yet, I bought them off ebay, but I was at pineapple racing which is the local mazda HiPro shop in portland and they had just bought a set and they were unbeivably confortable. heres a link if you want to see the seats. Ifelt it was a great deal. I'll shoot pics next week, they will be installed this weekend.
Old 03-02-05 | 09:57 AM
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ive always been weiry of those seats, although they look really cool the shipping costs more then the seats... That seems kinda iffy to me...
Old 03-02-05 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan_s_young
ive always been weiry of those seats, although they look really cool the shipping costs more then the seats... That seems kinda iffy to me...
As some-one who lives on E-bay, its just the way they do it to make it look more appealing. I paid $288 to my front door for seats that I've already sat in. Just look at the overall price. It's a steal.
The mazda shop has now purchased 2 sets of these and they are extremely satisfied.

Try to find a pair of seats that have the hinges and rail for under $500. It not to easy.
Old 03-02-05 | 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Snapshot
...Now that's not your Mariah mode 1 kit (as most street WBs have) -looks like full race....
Not sure what you meant by the WB comment, but the Mariah MODE-1 kit is now one of the most used "FULL RACE" kits out there... See here:

Mariah Motorsports at 2004 SCCA Runoffs

-Bern
Old 03-03-05 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Bern
Not sure what you meant by the WB comment, but the Mariah MODE-1 kit is now one of the most used "FULL RACE" kits out there... See here:

Mariah Motorsports at 2004 SCCA Runoffs

-Bern
That is one pretty red seven you got there, dude.

Some people are more impressed with emptied out shells of a car that some old race ****** may have pissed on one of the tires back in the day. Get past the sentimentality. Would I trade my Mode 1 for the "race body" Snapshut speaks of ? No. I want the look and the speed and all the creature features. You seem to be well on your way, too.
Old 03-04-05 | 02:54 AM
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I'm doing a widebody kit on my 85, but your's has what I feel, are the best front fenders out there. They fit the lines of the body better and actually add a little down force to the front end.

Kudos on a primo find.
Old 03-04-05 | 06:18 PM
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http://www.mariahmotorsports.com/

That is the Mariah Mode 1 kit which looks nothing like the full IMSA race kit. Note the rear fender flares on the Mariah are minimal. The rears on Mako's car are much wider.
David: I'd love to have Mako's body w/ street reclineable Recaros like in my 240Z, my mahogany Dino & Momo, & a kick *** sound system.
Hell, it reminds me of a wide body 911 turbo I see in the physician's garage every day.
Attached Thumbnails Newbie help - for a wide body-ext_mode1_3.jpg  

Last edited by Snapshot; 03-04-05 at 06:22 PM.
Old 03-04-05 | 07:38 PM
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Mariah does extreme rear fenders also, if wanted... this an option on this Mariah Mode-1 car...










Cheers,

-Bern
Old 03-04-05 | 07:47 PM
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Hood Scoop

Anyone got a mustang GT hood scoop? I wanna install it in the FB and RX-3 but i wanna see how it will turn out before I buy it. Better yet, maybe someone can photochop it for me.
Old 03-04-05 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by wackyracer
Anyone got a mustang GT hood scoop? I wanna install it in the FB and RX-3 but i wanna see how it will turn out before I buy it. Better yet, maybe someone can photochop it for me.
What year mustang GT? I have a freind that has a 'glass shop, and he makes many types of scoops/hoods. Gimme an idea of which scoop, and if he has one, I could (carefully, don't wanna scuff the paint) place it on my 83, and snap a pic
If ya liked what ya saw, I could give ya a price for the scoop. I doubt he would want to go thru the effort of making a complete hood mold, unless there was substantial interest in a complete hood. If there was enough people willing to buy, he would most certainly go to the effort of a complete hood mold.
Any part he makes, from molds he has made, will fit. No if's, and's or but's about it.



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