Im in the process of buying a 1984 GSL with 151K on it, that comes with all the mechanical parts out of a 1985 GSL-SE. Ive read the posts on the 12a to 13b conversion and know that i have everything except maybe the fuel pump and lines from the GLS-SE and i have access to my uncles garage that everything i could possibly want to do this project including a car lift.



My main question about do the full swap has to do with reliablitiy. The rx7 with 12a's had been made for 6 years in 1984 and the 13b for only 2 in 1985. So i was wondering if there were any issues related to the 13b being a relitivly new engine. its not going to be my daily driver but i dont want to take all the time to swap engines and wire up the computer ect. if its going to make it a car im going to have to work on more often.



Also i was wondering which of the engines its easier to get performance parts for, if realivly easy to get 13b power from the 12a. But then again starting with more you can usually get more in the end so this will decide if they about the same from a reliability stand point.



And regardless of if i change motors I'm going to put on the upgraded breaks, wheels, suspension and tranny(once i burn through the first cluch since ill have to drop it then anyways)

 

the gsl-se was the most reliable car mazda built, except for maybe the early miata

 

By 1984 Mazda had been building rotary engines for well over a decade. Reliability isn't really an issue on RX-7s - so long as you keep up on your maintenance. The GSL-SEs had in-tank fuel pumps IIRC, so you'll either have to buy a high-pressure external fuel pump or try and locate a GSL-SE fuel tank at a salvage yard. In my experience performance parts for 12As are generally cheaper - if you buy them used.

 

Swap in the 13b. The only pain in the butt procedures are switching out the wiring harnesses, fuel pump, and having to modify or buy a proper front plate to mount the engine correctly. The original gsl-se engine bought was junk but what can I expect for 50 bucks and now I have an s4 engine using gsl-se components. But j9fd3s is right, gsl-se's are very reliable....if they're taken care of.

 

Thanks for the helps guys, i looked and i not only have fuel pump, and lines but also the whole tank, the set up even comes with the gsl-se emblem to put on the back of the car. it even comes with the parts that have gone bad on the car, the passenger window doesn't roll up right and the front air dam is kinda messed up and a few other things. because the whole set up comes with everything i could ever possibly want, I decided to do the swap and i'm going to register the car with the gsl-se vin (he kept that too) since california can be tricky about those kinda things sometimes. wish me luck!

 

SE's did not have in-tank fuel pumps.....that is a fact!

 

its been my experience that the gsl-se is reliable if you dont take care of it too.

 

Thanks, I didn't know that. I bought mine out of a salvage yard missing the tank and pump.