Has Anyone Here Ever Fully Restored A FC?
08-13-2006, 07:29 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by cymfc3s' post='832705' date='Aug 13 2006, 02:33 PM
Yes. I was one of Menlo Mazda's top parts customers for something like 2 quarters. I can't remember what the total ended up being, but it was crazy. And that was replacing ZERO body panels, just all the stuff around it.
Well once I get my restoration outline done i'll know exactly what parts I REALLY NEED to get. Then i'll know how much im looking at and might decide not to fully restore it. Maybe just fix the body up and say forget the rest. I haven't even really SERIOUSLY began tearing the car down yet im just thinking ahead so I don't tare it down then come to find out the panels are unavailable. All I did is take out most interior, front bumper, side skirts , hood & tail lights so far. My main concern is the back of the car & the underbody. Then I was going to get my motor rebuilt but ive decided to pull it and rebuild it myself in the process of waiting for parts etc. I called mazdatrix and they said they don't carry any "hardcore" body parts. Here's a pic of the back... it was a nice suprise when I was taking off the tail light assembly. I knew there was rust bubbling through the paint on the middle tail light but didn't know the inside was this bad.
08-14-2006, 08:55 AM
#14
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you would be MUCH better off to look for another car, there are plenty of low mileage cars out there with no rust on them.
The parts you end up welding in will probably rust at the welds later on down the road.
The parts you end up welding in will probably rust at the welds later on down the road.
08-14-2006, 09:51 AM
#15
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Originally Posted by Rob x-7' post='832745' date='Aug 14 2006, 06:55 AM
you would be MUCH better off to look for another car, there are plenty of low mileage cars out there with no rust on them.
The parts you end up welding in will probably rust at the welds later on down the road.
yeah we had a gsl-se come in, and it had had the rear taillight panel replaced (big sheet metal peice thats basically the back of the car), and it was rusting at the seams
08-14-2006, 12:41 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by Rob x-7' post='832745' date='Aug 14 2006, 05:55 AM
you would be MUCH better off to look for another car, there are plenty of low mileage cars out there with no rust on them.
The parts you end up welding in will probably rust at the welds later on down the road.
Yeah I know. Ive been told that by every place I contacted for parts.
Ive been up all night contacting people and mazda about parts. Just got up from an hours nap.
Still waitng for banzaitoyotas reply to the PM. I will not scrap this car!
08-14-2006, 05:27 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by WNT2CREALPAIN' post='832772' date='Aug 14 2006, 09:41 AM
Yeah I know. Ive been told that by every place I contacted for parts.
Ive been up all night contacting people and mazda about parts. Just got up from an hours nap.
Still waitng for banzaitoyotas reply to the PM. I will not scrap this car!
Try Weldthrough primer. Its like Zinc Oxide or something. Works very well. Ive got a dub that had a whole rear quarter welded on. Its been 5 years of MN cold,snow and Salt. No rust yet.
but yeah, dont mean to bum you out but I would just look for a new body. They are a dime a dozen.
08-14-2006, 07:05 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by GMON' post='832795' date='Aug 14 2006, 02:27 PM
Try Weldthrough primer. Its like Zinc Oxide or something. Works very well. Ive got a dub that had a whole rear quarter welded on. Its been 5 years of MN cold,snow and Salt. No rust yet.
but yeah, dont mean to bum you out but I would just look for a new body. They are a dime a dozen.
Yeah that's what I was going to use that weld through primer/self etching primer. [ j9fd3s ] Did the guys use the weldthrough primer? Thanks for the advice and opinions. I don't know call me crazy guys or whatever but I have like this fetish for rx's. I hate to see when one of these cars go to the junkyard as it is.... especialy if I am the owner of it. My TII was my first and favorite car I ever owned. It's special to me. Ive had lot's of fun & good times with it, even though it was nearly stock and **** on my world for the time being lol.
08-14-2006, 08:57 PM
#19
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while I can appreciate your willingness to restore a car, when it comes to having to cut out panels because they are rusted then it becomes a little unreasonable considering there are plenty of rust free cars out there needing much less work. When you cut out the panels there is always a underlying reason why it rusted, and that usually becomes evident when the panel is removed, you might find more subframe rust once you start cutting- then it can get out of hand real quick.
Usually if you CANT find any better cars then people go all out, but then you also have to consider the value of what your doing- the car is not worth that much and to put all that time into a car that wont give you any return on your investment does not make much sense. Thats also saying you dont place any value on your free time.
Its also not like a older muscle car where you can get all kinds of parts in exact reproduction.
You may need to get past your sentiments and find a better shell, maybe one that just needs some bolt on parts to be 100% again.
If not then good luck with your project, hopefully you can do alot of the work yourself because to pay someone to cut and weld panels can exceed the value of the car.
Usually if you CANT find any better cars then people go all out, but then you also have to consider the value of what your doing- the car is not worth that much and to put all that time into a car that wont give you any return on your investment does not make much sense. Thats also saying you dont place any value on your free time.
Its also not like a older muscle car where you can get all kinds of parts in exact reproduction.
You may need to get past your sentiments and find a better shell, maybe one that just needs some bolt on parts to be 100% again.
If not then good luck with your project, hopefully you can do alot of the work yourself because to pay someone to cut and weld panels can exceed the value of the car.
