Suspesnion ideas for 1st gen RX7 or Mazada 626?

[miatacp]

Ok, enough about all the political stuff, time to get back to more important things.

Here is my 1981 Mazda 626, 4cyl, 2bbl carb, RWD, 131,000 miles, and I'm the second owner. Was bought new here in Greenville from Snyder's. I've got just about everey piece of paperwork on the car including window sticker and original buyers contract. Suspension platform is based on the 1st gen RX7 but with a 4-banger instead of the rotary.

I've got interior upholstery work to do but engine and tranny are smooth as glass.



Question is, what upgrades were done to the Club's RX7 in terms of suspension. This things needs new struts & shocks and I might as well go with springs while I've got it apart. But what to get, ah that is the dilema.

I want better handling and not as much body roll, but not a tank-like ride.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[CU ZCar]

The last iteration of the club RX7 (that ran) had Koni reds, 380lb-in (? ask Rob Summers) springs on coilover sleeves on the front and cut stock springs in the back. It also had a Watts link that had all the rubber replaced with rod ends and I think there was a ball/roller bearing at the center pivot. The front sway bar was very large, in the rear I think we either pulled an endlink off or removed the sway bar altogether. Lastly, it had a set of camber plates.

The Konis we had were odd, they were red but the fronts were externally adjustable. Most modern Koni Reds I thought were only adjustable by removing them from the car and compressing them fully to engage the valve adjustment.

The rears were adjustable by depressing a button and rotating the piston into one of four positions, also a little different from the norm.

Either way, they seemed to do their job OK.

[Silonius]

That thing is sweet! I never knew 626s were RWD at one point. Gotta love that 70s hold over brown paintjob!

[miatacp]

Silonius Wrote:That thing is sweet! I never knew 626s were RWD at one point. Gotta love that 70s hold over brown paintjob!

Thanks. The story is that originally they were intended to be equipped with the rotory but due to poor gas mileage at the time of their introduction, Mazda decided to go 4-banger.

I bought one when they first came out in 1980. They had a minimum of a 6 month wating list. Datsun had also reintroduced the restyled 200sx at the same time and both cars didn't last long on the dealers lot, if you even got to see one. I ordered mine and then waited. About 2 months into the wait the dealership called and said they got one in that had been ordered but the guy found one somewhere else and didn't want this one, then asked if I was interested. YEAH, OF COURSE, I can't stand waiting.

No real options back then except AC. You could delete things as this one had the power steering deleted.

I also have a 1982 Luxury model that has all the bells and whistles, even the optional passenger side view mirror.