mazdeuce - Seth
mazdeuce - Seth Mod Squad
2/25/19 10:31 a.m.

Quick question. Can you put a FB RX-7 on a tow dolly and not explode the transmission? Short 20ish mile tows back and forth to rallycross. 

bluej
bluej UberDork
2/25/19 11:13 a.m.

Any reason not to put the rear end on the dolly and tow it backwards if the trans is an issue?

accordionfolder
accordionfolder Dork
2/25/19 11:47 a.m.

If it's anything like the miata (it probably is) - half the internet says it explodes all the things, half says you'll be fine. I always say bring some bailing wire and just disconnect the drive shaft and wire it up if you're worried. I don't like towing cars backwards on dollys. Even with a locked steering wheel if anything comes loose - you lose control, and the tie rods are definitely the weakest link on most car's front ends.

mazdeuce - Seth
mazdeuce - Seth Mod Squad
2/25/19 11:48 a.m.

I found a copy of the owners manual online that says it's fine to tow the first gen cars with a dolly or flat. I appreciate any other input, but it sounds like we're cool. 

TheRX7Project
TheRX7Project Reader
2/25/19 12:00 p.m.

I towed mine from western Illinois to Milwaukee on a tow dolly, and it appears to be fine, even 11 years later. I'm assuming it is stick?

mazdeuce - Seth
mazdeuce - Seth Mod Squad
2/25/19 12:19 p.m.

In reply to TheRX7Project :

Yes, stick. It will be towed with a mid 90's Nissan Hardbody which makes a tow dolly much more appropriate for the task at hand. 

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr UberDork
2/25/19 12:23 p.m.

Related?  Those transmissions have synchro made of lead or something.  The only fluid I found that works well is idemitsu gear oil.  We went through trans about 1 per race.  Now we are good for multiple seasons as long as we change it every 3rd race (about 35 hours on track or so)

Vigo
Vigo UltimaDork
2/25/19 7:10 p.m.

Generally the reason why you don't want to tow a vehicle backwards on the tow dolley is that the towed vehicle's front caster angle effectively flips and destabilizes the steering instead of stabilizing it like it would rolling forward. Wheel lift tow trucks can get around this somewhat by putting a lot of angle on the towed vehicle.  For example, if you had 3 degrees of negative caster and you lifted the back of the car up by 10 degrees, you now have 7 degrees of positive caster. 

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
IT92dSi1A3fOCspFBRt1UhAvC8R9sjLGdMT1MruZMrtYAU9ECHfmyKqRIk0oSJSV