---
title: 79-80 Mazda Rx7 Performance Updates
description: Family-owned 1979 Mazda RX-7 SA maintained in Colorado. Thoughtful upgrades and detailed service keep this classic rotary driving the way it should.
---

[REspeed Rotary Engine Blog ](https://www.respeedshop.com/blog)

# [79-80 Mazda Rx7 Performance Updates](https://www.respeedshop.com/blog/79-80-mazda-rx7-performance-updates)

 Written by [MazdaDoug](https://www.respeedshop.com/blog/author/mazdadoug) | Apr 1, 2026 12:00:03 PM

## **1979 Mazda RX-7 SA | Maintenance & Thoughtful Upgrades**

This is one of those cars.

Family-owned since new, purchased right here in Denver in 1979—and still driven, every year.

Not parked. Not forgotten.  
Driven the way it was meant to be.

## **Why These Cars Still Matter**

Cars like this are pure analog.

No assists. No filters. No distractions.

Modern cars are faster, quieter, more refined—but they’ve lost something.

Connection.

In an SA chassis, you feel everything:

- Steering input
- Weight transfer
- Engine response

You don’t just drive it—you **participate** in it.

And when you get it right, the reward is immediate.

## **Fuel System Service | Fix the Small Stuff Before It Becomes Big**

This visit started simple:

- Cold start issue (choke-related)
- Minor fuel leak when parked

That’s where details matter.

We went through the system:

- Replaced aging fuel hoses
- Inspected and serviced the carburetor
- Found a cracked gasket causing the issue

Nothing dramatic—but exactly the kind of problem that turns into something bigger if ignored.

Handled properly, the car goes back to doing what it should: starting clean and running right.

## **The Next Phase | Exhaust System Reality**

There’s one part of this car that’s reached the end of its life:

The factory exhaust system.

Back in the late 70s, Mazda used a thermal reactor-style exhaust manifold to manage emissions.  
Heavy cast iron, with secondary air injection routed through it.

Over time, the internal structure breaks down.

Symptoms we’re seeing:

- Backfiring on deceleration
- Exhaust escaping through the secondary air system
- Reduced efficiency and inconsistent flow

This isn’t a “maybe later” item—it’s time.

## **Planned Upgrades | Do It Right While You’re There**

The fix isn’t just replacement—it’s an upgrade.

- **Racing Beat exhaust system install**
- Transmission removal (access + efficiency)
- Rear main seal replacement
- Undercar cleanup (oil + debris)

If you’re in there, you handle it properly.

That’s how you keep a car like this on the road long-term.

## **<https://www.respeedshop.com/services>Still Doing What It Was Built To Do**

For a car approaching 50 years old, this one is strong:

- Starts hot or cold
- Runs clean
- Drives exactly the way it should

And that’s the whole point.

Small tires.  
No power steering.  
Minimal brakes.

And yet—

You can throw it into a corner, feel it load up, run it through the gears to redline…

…and grin the entire time.

## **Final Thought**

Cars like this don’t exist anymore.

If you’ve driven one, you get it.  
If you haven’t—you’re missing out.

<https://www.respeedshop.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLI2ixrMdMdSEzGqWDkk0Xrvrw1H%2B5sUouRNuqes7f9bJdqNe5MelZ5i%2FtfZsH%2BxtxHV4kOinuyNagyEuRfXfvQ1prKO7VM%2FhZR9i9r7XaNmj0hkxfBO%2F0%2B767e9lUHttaWuzN2KvMb9wvImvYJ4cLhWjz8tM07Gw%2FqJS6MUbjW1Qxj%2BV%2BkKGg%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=155935216958&portalId=85804>

[View full post](https://www.respeedshop.com/blog/79-80-mazda-rx7-performance-updates)

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