All:
My search has been unfruitful (likely because you can't search two letters, like "99").

Can someone point me to info/pictures of the vaccuum "block" that replaced the solonoid rats nest on later models? As i remember it looked like a black plastic brick that had all of the passages that are created by miles of silicone hoses in the US-spec cars, neatly molded in.

can ya help?

 

You can search for "99" by using "99*". It will take longer to perform the search, but it will work.

However, for this one, "rats AND nest" is a better way to search:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=rats+and+nest

 

I've seen one in person, it boggles the mind as to how much Mazda simplified things. Using it, however, will require completely redoing the engine harness.

 

For those of us w/ less knowledge...other than an obvious simplification of the notorious rat's nest, what are the pros & cons of this replacement??

 

I have no idea if it will even work with the PFC/stock ecu, even if you do rewire the harness.

Instead of having vacuum lines running everywhere between the solenoids, with separate wires running everywhere -- the whole rat's nest is one piece, with essentially one wire harness to it and greatly simplified vacuum hose connections.

I wish we could easily swap it in.

 

Yea I wish we could too...and this has got me thinking.

So I take it all the pics & info we got about it were from people who had J-spec 7s, and hence running the J-spec ECU? (im guessing the harness is different too...)

Is there anyone on the forum who has tried the swap?? (Also, don't some ppl use the PFC on their 7s in japan?)

 

Why would this be the case... or is it just supposition? Like mentioned, most all of the PFCs sold here are based on the j-spec version... I could see it not working with the US-spec ECU somehow, but we're talking about using the same solonoids to perform the same opperations, correct?

 

I don't know if it will work or not. It could be just a case of rewiring the engine harness.

Correct, but it's the j-spec version for the 92-95 cars, NOT the 99+ cars. There are significant ecu differences, as I understand it.

 

Hmmm... I assume there is a PFC model from Apex'i for the latter model cars?

 

I don't think it would matter with the PFC and the updated rats nest. I think the only problem will be hooking it up to a 92-95 wiring harness as rynberg already pointed out.

If you can do that, I don't think it would be a problem if you are using the PFC. Might be some problems with a stock ECU though, but no way of telling unless you try!

 

Well, gee... my 91k mile old harness is prolly getting crispy by now anyway... :-)

 

Ptrhahn, I may be able to get a picture of the 99+ rat's nest this weekend. If so, I'll post it up here on Saturday.

 

I saw it in the thread Mahjik posted. I wonder if "all" you'd need is the block and the j-spec harness?

 

This '99 spec rats nest is news to me. How'd I miss that? I like how the check valves are acually IN the assembly. I would love to have one of those...

 

Even if you just had the block and the chopped off end of the J-spec harness, you could probably splice stuff together and make it work. I'm glad Mazda came to their senses and did something about that mess in there!

Sonny

 

Does anybody know if it snaps into a big grid or are there separate leads off of the harness for each of the 7 connectors?

 

the actual haness looks pretty similar, its just got different plugs on the end of it. it does also route slightly differently.

they actually moved a lot of stuff around for that vaccum block, the coils are in a different place and the 6-7 remaining vacuum lines go to slightly different spots, and are different sizes

 

Hmm...so I wonder just how much effort it would take to make this work...

Ptrhahn, you thinking what I'm thinking?!?!

 

not a ton, you kinda just need the 99 spec parts

 

You wouldn't happen to know exactly what parts, would ya? The replacement block itself, the JDM harness...what else? (might as well spring for JDM UIM & LIM while you're at it, huh? hehe)

I also wonder just how hard it is to get ahold of these parts, being that you can only get 'em from japan... JT Imports? Chuck?

 

Hey Guys,

I'm heading over to Japan on business in August. I think I'll stop by the local dealership and find out the cost for a wire harness and block. Depending on the exchange rate it could be a good deal. I'll let you know.

 

The problem with running the 99+ wiring harness equipment is simple. It has to ALL be 99+. "It" meaning sensors that connect to the engine, 99+ wiring harness and 99+ ECU. Also remember that the 99 wiring harness is run to the American Driver's side so it is routed completely different than your wiring harness. You would have to cut and splice the new wiring harness to run the opposite way.

 

K help me out here for a sec. Maybe I'm oversimplifying things, but my engine & turbos are going to be pulled soon enough, and I'm literally emptying out the engine bay. So re-routing the harness is very doable I'd think (yes, it would be some SERIOUS bitchwork, but I think it's still doable). So it's only a factor of time and effort, not that it's complicated, correct?

When you say the sensors have to be 99 spec...what/how many sensors are we talking about? Are you saying you literally gotta change EVERYTHING, or just some select sensors? Cuz again, like I said, I'm getting my engine & turbos pulled, getting my engine rebuilt, diff turbos, etc, so that would be the perfect time to change everything I'd think...

As for ECU...does that matter? Because I'm currently running a PFC. I'd think as long as you have an aftermarket ECU, you wouldn't have a problem...correct?

My only question about that is (newbie question) since the wiring harness runs in the opposite direction, can you still leave the ECU in it's US stock location (passenger kickpanel), or would it have to be relocated to the driver's side? (I don't even know if that's possible).

Thanks a lot for the info man.

 

99 wiring harness plug that goes to the ecu is different so a 99 harness wont plug into a 93-95 ecu. I have a 99 motor thats going into my rhd project, and that vacum block is nice, but with all the solenoids in one sealed bunch, if one goes bad, you have to replace the whole thing $$$. im guessing that thing is $500 bucks from the dealer if not more, but if you wanted to run it, you dont need a 99 harness, you just need to buy some good quality female spade connecters and cut and splice your 93-95 harness, it wouldent have factory plugs, but it would be a whole lot cheaper than buying a 99 harness and cutting it up.



Michael

 

this seems like very good news. I mean, if you think about it, what is $500 if you are an FD owner. Thats like a week of allocated repair money (jk). FDN, are you going to be trying this out now or are we going to have to wait until everything gets pulled and fixed?