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Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Chris Weigel has one of the rare mazda rx7's first gens here in Oregon and this is the story of its build!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...389486223d.jpg I meet chris through a person who worked at the auto parts store we both got rotary parts at. That guy also had a first gen. We three had similar interests lol. I had a dead rotary: https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...cc2386736d.jpg they did not. I asked some trouble shooting questions and he called chris to help. Chris came out to my house to look at it. I was pretty stoked about that and was really appreciative. I was not really knowledgeable on trouble shooting rotary engines. I had owned them for years but I never blew a motor, so I never bothered rebuilding one yet. This was the early/mid 2000's. I had however been doing body and paint for many years in the classic world and had a shop to do so. It was a side hobby I did for extra cash. We ended up hanging out as I got another rx7. The NW "super"moderator Robert White lived next to us and had a cheap FB he sold me for a few hundred. Ran great! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...54f197969f.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...76b11b28aa.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4599e84f7f.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...784fb816c0.jpg So we all drove around often. Hit up some meets. All the good stuff! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...d5e751299d.png https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...f905c061c7.png That is chris watching Robert do a burn out. We were envious of his GSLSE lol https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...b202b24549.png https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...1bfbff6436.png After a few meets I ended up buying this little gem: https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...826868fc62.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ee625ef2fe.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ce00a11f7f.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...1dfb8af7e7.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...c2ff5e27c1.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...0f04c5d61c.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...9858a9e460.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...98e96f0e40.jpg Then I got another one... https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ad627899d5.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...0bdd9b7f00.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...3657a08286.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
We ended up talking one day he came over and I was swapping parts around.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...b94d598d03.png We ended up talking about how we should get a body kit on his car and he should go widebody. I ended up convincing him that I would be willing to fix any kit he could get and do the job for free under conditions. The first that I get credit for the build. Any one asks who built the car, he would allow me the credit I deserve. It is an artists thing. Also that he pay for supplies. I can cover little things, but he needs to pay for paint and papers and glass. We ended up talking with Robert when he came over one day for my carb... ( he bought for 25 and sold to another person for 550. but that is another story.) https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...86fcb66408.png We ended up going to hoofhearted (bob putman of rotards in salem) for the kit. It was smaaaaaashed up mad. There was no front bumper and it had lost of bad bondo all over it. I said I can do it though. He paid them a few hundred and we took it to his house! https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...cdc9e4e044.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...bb568fb8da.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...c6e575d38c.jpg This was the best panel on the car... This is what I was starting with. The rest was going to need to be redone in major ways. |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
So it began! The project was decided! he was going to be using a Mariah Racing front bumper to go with the rest of the kit and I was going to repair and customize the rear spoiler. It was to be a dark cherry red/purple. I brought the car in and got started on it!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...a15a1884d0.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...9e1df6c48f.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...0d2e9dff56.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ce7e432db3.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...056d293231.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
There was so much body work to do. I first started mocking up the body kit and seeing what it was going to look like. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...31b015cb65.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4fbbb84d82.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...2d7fd7702e.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...60a3093a5c.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...e73eec912b.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
As you can see the rubber door trim was removed. I used one of the wife's hair dryers from the salon. Got hotter than the heat gun did ahahaha.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...aafe8b4c13.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ba9038d6de.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
I started getting the panels ready to be put on.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...34ae4c972c.jpg Despite my wants to not hack the qtrs and only scuff the metal for the epoxy Chris decided to cut it anyway. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...da6ae895c2.png https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...59665610a2.png was not my choice, however I am not the owner and he was convinced that it needed to happen to bring the rims out flush with the kit when he ordered new ones. Unfortunately he ended up sticking with the rims he had and just bought wheel spacers, so the hacking was not needed after all. So I continued on. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...95d65a4815.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...b6edbed9af.jpg It was time to put the qtrs on and then bond the skirts. This epoxy was gross and make sure the area is prepped before you put it down. I could not imagine having to take it off it it was done wrong! https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...187309b2cc.png https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...9d489a1075.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...1b3591d3d3.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...2da7e81acc.png The spoiler was hideous. I cannot stand it and he was open to a change so I started looking at how to make it more functional. |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Both sides of the spoiler were cracked and the mounting points where gone.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ebb370aa41.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...2aed5bcfc7.jpg After I got them all fixed up I mounted the spoiler. Seriously hideous. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...b99133b7bc.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...bfd9f64873.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...1bd7897b62.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
The new Mariah bumper arrived! It was clearly not going to fit... I needed to mod it.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...9992a25e8f.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
I cut to the closest fit but found that there was little to no ability to make the curve of the inner fender fit right. I was going to need to do major glass work. I got started on meshing the two together.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...b4499dfc27.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...f6e04a1872.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...2ca6bed218.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Chris came over and set up the bar that held it on and I started modding it!
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ab1a6ce6be.png https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...c31b18872c.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
The fenders... I do not know where to start with this. I guess it was best to start with nearly nothing so I could really appreciate the build. ahahaha.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...7d19691d58.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...1428a9f0ea.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...3e8b52121c.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...24c8fed13b.png https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...93b4b5aa69.png https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...eafe388aed.png |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
After hours and hours of work I finally got all the panels finished up and all the glass work, glazing and primer was on! Now I just needed to mold everything together!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...0c058d6a72.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...473ece871c.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4e269609ab.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...09436aad86.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...47268e593f.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...bcda995f2f.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...0d7ca1f4d5.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
After much work I had the insides done and the outer glazing finished. the car was molded and now I could start on the rear qtrs and the spoiler!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...5b70c4b50b.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...3519883413.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...89df6afc01.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...48d4820e46.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...528aef17b1.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
The time had come! Final glazing was done and all the little stuff was done, the body was ready for primer!
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...0d3cb4a6a7.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...dd68524ec2.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...8b4f86ad12.png This was the best cheap taping job ever! It was 5$ and it worked perfectly! I was doing it for free and the supplies had run out from him, so this was now a budget build lol https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...98cf665099.png The original supplies had long depleted and it was now up to me to take from other jobs. however i was also building an all fiberglass 72 datsun 510 that had 46k Original miles on it! I had just finished this all fiberglass dodge superbee: https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...7efe64a0ea.jpg I was excited to get to priming and painting the car! |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
I put on my suit and my fresh air system chris got me. They make really nice cheap ones online. the problem is the kits never come with good filters. So make sure you seal the box off from where you are shooting and that room is clean from contaminates! It works much better than the 3m full mask set up though. a little bulky but an overall good design.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...6a0ace3775.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...2f98758b74.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
The car turned out amazing! the lines were all perfect! A final sanding and it was ready for color! It was the middle of December though and the freezing rain was making it hard to work! My electricity bill was insane. A dozen heating lights and oil heating to assure there was no fires. Not cheap lol. Worth it though. Result was perfect.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...56b2b85bdb.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...afdacb0170.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...97f1e62ac4.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...6ac8cfce17.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...e6fd907965.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...58d5fa3bac.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...d4ded5320b.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...5284375083.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...c6029e444d.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...efe52f1326.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Then came the color! The car was more than ready for it after a blocking. The color he went with was a ebay brand that looked ok. We hoped for the best with the color. It was a metallic pearl red/purple.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...fdd5fb4287.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...bb3e381896.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...2c2a7e30ba.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...26ee203ed9.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...beac540b4a.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Despite all the odds against me weather wise, I got it done! The car ended up coming together nicely!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...8ea20c05db.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...da8adce631.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...abe2815c0f.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...8232e17078.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...eeeae2a8a1.jpg THAT IS RIGHT, FLIP PHONE BITCHES! BECAUSE THIS WAS ALL WAY BEFORE THE IPHONE! ahahahaha https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...c99338ce83.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...fa13f1e2c4.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4d659164c2.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...93cf35a645.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...536a9cd50e.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Pulled the car out of the shop and had it ready to go!
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...af9c0af5ca.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...3fc3ef2383.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...60846b24ca.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ce1801e91b.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...ba8a8af63e.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...5c8bbd3394.jpg |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Chris was more than ready to get back on the road. The entire summer and into winter I had been working on his car. From cure times to times I was not able it took a while and he had to deal while I was driving around my car to all the meets with my brother. He wanted to be there like he was last time, but it was not fun for him to show up to Bobs (from rotards, this was his shop in albany) and Robert white (rx7 club moderator) meets in a classic american car. So he missed out on things Joel, Tom, Darren, Bruce ect would be doing and now could catch back up!
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...6c8e9cc74a.png https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...1259bd87b4.png He let it sit the best he could during winter but then he had to drive it! Unfortunately that is when the motor went out on it and he ended up parting out the motor. He started talking about going LS like aaron (tweek games) on the club and I was not having it. I had just finished this car: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4ad0d084b4.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4c433e755d.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...5387ea3c9a.png https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...3ae930ca0e.png |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
So I gave him the motor from my rhd... I had been working on it for a while and had taken so many down I realized that I can probably make another one for free. I even had new seal kits. I had been making many motors for people once I started in on the RHD and retired the widebody to a new home in washington. I sold the widebody for 800$ and chris the complete drivetrain with the act clutch and all the externals,ect for 1500$. It was my first motor and I offered it with the warning that I learned on this one and no promises lol. I said he could make payments or pay me when his taxes came in or whatever. I just did not want him to put a LS motor in the car I just made!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4486f18f6a.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...f86055f1ef.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4d61cac98d.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...0b3415b5a1.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...97afe717c3.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...9b4067462e.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...3fb94a931a.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...37bc904254.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...9e2c6f0c74.jpg I pulled it back out and took it over. I helped him drop it in and then hooked him up with a bunch of externals to assure this it was perfect! https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...71d08ed29b.png Again sorry for the bad pictures. It was a flip phone back then. I was just about to get the brand new iphone lol I had bought a 1978 rhd Savanna and was going to be restoring it back to its original glory. It came with many things that were not being used in other builds and so I gave them to chris for free to assure his car was solid! Now with the new black interior, Apexi N1 exhaust, aluminum radiator, cusco racing seats and autopower roll cage from my other widebody fb in the first pics! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...fb61de8562.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...4391199145.png https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...68279c25f3.png https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...5028ae191b.jpg This was a 1990 Cosmo 13b twin turbo motor that I pulled from a low miles JDM car. I gave it to chris as the final gift to assure he would remain true to this car staying rotary. |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
This is a short video of this build and a little cruise at the end of it. A few of the videos of this car driving around are on my youtube page if you want to see the rest!
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Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
Five years later...
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...8d405876f9.jpg This was five years after I rolled it out of the paint shop. Three engines in and still boosting like crazy on the one I made along next to the other ones! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...55662239f1.jpg Bought him some new bi color lights for the FB from AUS. They really brought the front end together with that nice intercooler he mounted in there! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...14793d5995.jpg He got some nice pictures in and I see it around every now and then! https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...85a5553058.jpg About the time I was finishing up the 78 savanna I started rotary workz with chris. I had a large shop and was willing to do what I did for him for others if he was wiling to help make others what I had made him. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nop...09fc43be86.jpg He agreed. He got started on the social media pages and the swag. I ended up giving him the business as we had a falling out over ideas and what the reasoning for it was. This is a while other story for another thread. The car is around and driving amazing! |
Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
I have had a few questions about the turn signals in this car. Here is a write up on the lights and how to make them. I could not get Chris to ever put in the black interior or modify the bulb housings, so no pics of it unfortunately, however here is a detail write up on how to do it!
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Re: Joe Maddox 1985 13b Turbo Widebody FB Build
For those who are wanting these lights on their cars, here is the cheapest and best place to get these generations lights!
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MAZDA-RX...QAAOSwVJhZVbgt |
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