Hi Everyone
I have a 1983 Series 1 Rx7 which I am trying to get back on the road. The last time I had it running properly was in 2019 and that was only a run up and down the driveway. I am working on various issues at present one of which is a high idle speed which I haven't managed to sort out. The car has done 114,000 miles.
I am thinking that I should get the carburettor rebuilt as the car has been stationery for so long and have looked on-line for companies that rebuild Nikki carbs but have not found one that actually boasts this service albeit that there are plenty of companies who appear to rebuild other makes of carburettor. Does anyone know of a company that rebuilds the Nikki and has anyone had first hand experience of using their services. Thanks
Rambler
Hei there,
It's definitely worth searching for someone who has experience with the 4-port Nikki from before. I sent mine to a general expert here in Norway and got back a very shiny paperweight (it didn't work). One of the problems with the tricky nikki, is that Mazda continuosly developed the carbs, so there are a multitude of versions around even for the Rx7 SA22C and FB, sometimes even for the same year of manufacture. To find the right overhaul kit is a bit like needle-searching blindfolded in the proverbial haystack. If you have the right parts, doing it yourself is not as scary as it seems, though. If you can get someone to clean it up for you (ultrasound f.ex), and all the diaphragms and vacuum clocks are in working order, it is a pretty straightforward job :)) (or so I was told, see my thread S122A Project Commencing under Old School Mazdas on this forum). Malcolm has done his FB carb himself, too. He might have a piece of advice or two. Best of luck!
Hi John
I'd echo what Eccentric Shaft has said about considering tackling the job yourself. Jamie R and I managed it over a weekend together, where he came over to my place, we dismantled a Nikki (taking lots of photos along the way), cleaned up what we could (a small ultrasound cleaner of mine helped), then used a rebuild kit from "RockAuto" in the USA to reassemble everything.
RockAuto Nikki Rebuild Kit (https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=987386&cc=1192294&pt=5964&jsn=8&_nck=eAAcbbIvRAlf1jhXZhVauLDd1BfEUmz0Cm4YgBcE57ASb5SjaJM73cjUmARqXYzsSnC58it1NpgvLnnKDWqNr3KJK7Vmf987fr3gJEHTyNbcP1q%2FTJjuC9kYnXE%2B9tfh9ax56hyPNwN4jBHaLEQwOxjPOwP9rZV6hUvBtRH2QYXHSV7vOjKYzXDP9aiugTA%2B%2FtZRKF1qQHe1tsE9UkSvjaQfmD%2FtoqZJPKwo7xSwjg%2FUtlyYV6I1Guqxzoo1bZF2es3S%2BxG7BGXkKya7k2iNY002J9vpjqX1vf4e2R8Xh7ostWjgUVhY1pf1rgE0g4aCx7tej%2BY6ae3sdW2p3%2Fl8G5%2BwBrSuMTy%2FqNSl82VZGBEp8Qzd3QJjmzgLyV1MBkXsCk5m30HwzCMH5ZkOws9%2BAfNm9UfiSlg%2FpSVFvPBr3kGwtG2K5DIX6CYWAWscgZMNGGAnh3imtt%2FNE1SMtl7j3Q%3D%3D)
My only previous experience with Nikki's was that I was fortunate to pick one up cheap (many years ago) and had taken it apart and cleaned all that I could. I have yet to attempt to re-assemble it though!
This topic may be helpful (where Jamie twisted my arm to help him with the Nikki rebuild), especially the last post with some YouTube links:
https://mazdarotaryclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=85476.0 (https://mazdarotaryclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=85476.0)
The Nikki we rebuilt now resides on a 12A installed in a project car, built by Jamie, a rotary powered Lada - details here:https://mazdarotaryclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=85454.0 (https://mazdarotaryclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=85454.0)
- so our reuild was successful!
An FB owner I know recommended speaking to this guy Carb Reconditioning (https://weber-carbs.co.uk/). - based in Chlemsford, Essex, I have no personal experience of his work though. The FB owner said, "he does all types of carbs, not just webers. Very professional, excellent work, photographs everything."
In speaking to several people who have used "generic" carburettor rebuilding companies in the UK, the vast majority have had to do further work to get them to run correctly.
Or, maybe someone on here can recommend a rebuild company in the UK that has experience of the Nikki?
Just a quick note to say that "Southern Carburettors" was mentioned by Clive in one of the topics linked above, as a possible company to enquire about a Nikki rebuild. Sadly, I found this when I did a search:
QuoteSouthern Carburetters Ltd
1974-2025
***********
It is with great sadness that Southern Carburetters Ltd ceased
trading on February 24th 2025 after 51 years.
*****
There are many reasons for our closing:
Health, we both had surgery in the last year, with more to come. This lead to us having to work reduced hours for a year now.
The downturn in the classic car economy since the last election & the recent budget offered no help at all.
The after effects of a poorly executed BREXIT meaning the loss of a lot of our EU customers
along with a huge increase in shipping costs between us.
******
We would like to thank all our suppliers past & present. We would especially like to thank all our
customers over the last 51 years. It has been a pleasure to meet many of you in person over that time & to see & discuss your cars & your carburetter problems.