Handyman84
Member
- :
- 1973 Mazda RX2
Hello fellow old school rotary fans! Let me introduce my car first.
It's a 1973 RX2 coupe. It's been in my family since 1983 (if my dad remembers correctly) which is just a bit longer than I've been in the family! I grew up with this car, and have loved it since I can remember knowing what a car was. I wanted it to be my first car, but that didn't work out (it had thrown a rotor tip and wasn't driving for several years, but when I got back from Iraq in 2006 my gave me the car and I put a new 12a engine in it. I drove it a little bit for a couple years but it was very hard to start for some reason and that made it only a weekend car. Then the clutch went out on it. 2 years later I am finally getting time to put into it (I got married and have a child... things that don't promote fixing a project car on a tight budget forced me to wait so long). Anyway I measured the lightweight steel flywheel on it and the inner dimension suggested that it could accommodate a 225mm clutch (I even called Racing Beat and they said it would) So a couple of weeks ago I bought a 225mm street/strip clutch and pressure plate from Racing Beat in anticipation for putting it on today and driving it tonight!
Sadly things did not go according to plan. The clutch does indeed fit in the flywheel, but the pressure plate's friction surface is too big, which makes the bolt holes on the plate about 1/2 inch away from the holes on the flywheel.
like this. (3rd picture down)
http://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...ifying-aluminum-lightweight-flywheel-1033340/
So I guess I just need to buy a new flywheel from Racing Beat, right? One designed for the 225 clutch?
Now let me tell you more about my car. It's got a street ported 85 RX7 12A mated to an RX3 SP 5 speed tranny. It is lowered with unknown brand suspension pieces from the 80s I presume. I have a battery relocation kit to move it to the trunk and a new starter to hopefully help with the difficult starting (did notice the old positive cable on the car now is melting and smokes when I crank the car - this will obviously be replaced) There is some rust under the car that I am going to have to take car of, a bit in the frame around the engine too.
You guys want any more info? Any ideas on things I should look out for, or tip on how to tackle new suspension components, especially bushings? I want to get this car on the road as soon as I can because to good folks down here in Alabama don't know a damn thing about this car and I'd like to take it out on the street and educate them.
Oh also my brother has an R100 that has a street ported 12A he is working on. Only thing holding him back is that the brakes lock up as he drives it. The more he uses the brakes the more they drag. I think he needs to replace the lines, what do you guys think?
Thanks for any info in advance!
PS - tell my if my pictures don't work... I'm not sure why I can't just copy and paste them...
It's a 1973 RX2 coupe. It's been in my family since 1983 (if my dad remembers correctly) which is just a bit longer than I've been in the family! I grew up with this car, and have loved it since I can remember knowing what a car was. I wanted it to be my first car, but that didn't work out (it had thrown a rotor tip and wasn't driving for several years, but when I got back from Iraq in 2006 my gave me the car and I put a new 12a engine in it. I drove it a little bit for a couple years but it was very hard to start for some reason and that made it only a weekend car. Then the clutch went out on it. 2 years later I am finally getting time to put into it (I got married and have a child... things that don't promote fixing a project car on a tight budget forced me to wait so long). Anyway I measured the lightweight steel flywheel on it and the inner dimension suggested that it could accommodate a 225mm clutch (I even called Racing Beat and they said it would) So a couple of weeks ago I bought a 225mm street/strip clutch and pressure plate from Racing Beat in anticipation for putting it on today and driving it tonight!
Sadly things did not go according to plan. The clutch does indeed fit in the flywheel, but the pressure plate's friction surface is too big, which makes the bolt holes on the plate about 1/2 inch away from the holes on the flywheel.
like this. (3rd picture down)
http://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generati...ifying-aluminum-lightweight-flywheel-1033340/
So I guess I just need to buy a new flywheel from Racing Beat, right? One designed for the 225 clutch?
Now let me tell you more about my car. It's got a street ported 85 RX7 12A mated to an RX3 SP 5 speed tranny. It is lowered with unknown brand suspension pieces from the 80s I presume. I have a battery relocation kit to move it to the trunk and a new starter to hopefully help with the difficult starting (did notice the old positive cable on the car now is melting and smokes when I crank the car - this will obviously be replaced) There is some rust under the car that I am going to have to take car of, a bit in the frame around the engine too.
You guys want any more info? Any ideas on things I should look out for, or tip on how to tackle new suspension components, especially bushings? I want to get this car on the road as soon as I can because to good folks down here in Alabama don't know a damn thing about this car and I'd like to take it out on the street and educate them.
Oh also my brother has an R100 that has a street ported 12A he is working on. Only thing holding him back is that the brakes lock up as he drives it. The more he uses the brakes the more they drag. I think he needs to replace the lines, what do you guys think?
Thanks for any info in advance!
PS - tell my if my pictures don't work... I'm not sure why I can't just copy and paste them...
