93 RX-7 Rebuild

Show off your work! Anything from final results to full start-to-finish project journals.



Non-Lurker
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2021 6:25 pm

Country:
USA
PostPosted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 7:48 pm
Hello All,
This is my first post on these forums and I'm very excited to be doing this project. I'd like to start by thanking you for looking into this post and build. Ultimately I am new to auto body, but have a passion for cars which lead me on this journey. I've been able to learn a lot from these forums, but still would love any advice towards this project, because every situation is different.

Next, my plan for this build is to restore this car on my own with the skills I possess while learning new ones along the way. I believe in doing things the "right way," but within my own means to achieve a respectable outcome.I'm tired of having someone else do work in which I've felt I could've done better.

On to the car: I have a 1993 Rx-7 touring edition, purchased late 2020 in poor condition with clean title. As far as I can tell the frame is straight, but needs a lot of TLC to the body and some rust repair due to the harsh salty air we have here on the islands (currently in Honolulu, HI) overall, I believe its nothing I can't handle. I brought the car home and from there tore the car apart and for the most part into a complete shell sitting on Dollys.


Since then the car sat for a while due to work life schedule and now I'm ready to continue on to the body. I removed both front and rear windshield, and began sanding down most of the body. Began with P180 and finished with P320
IMG_0579.jpg


Here is some rust damage beneath front windshield:
IMG_9766.jpg


There are holes leftover from previous wing spoilers:
IMG_9544.jpg


Began making patch welds:
IMG_0804.jpg

IMG_0811.jpg


Once I finish patching all holes, Id like to move on to the rust near the windshield, but I am looking for some advice, what would be the best way to approach that repair? I would like to stay away from making a patch panel as my welding still needs some improvement. But perhaps treating the rust first, then adding filler? Please let me know your thought.

Also once body work is finished and I'm moving onto paint I would like to epoxy prime then use 2k high build primer. I've seen people use epoxy primer mainly over bare metal, but also on sanded paint as well. would that be okay? or should I mainly spot prime with epoxy over bare metal first then move on to the high build primer afterwards on the entire car?

Lastly thank you again for those who read this post, and I appreciate any help and advice to help improve this project and gain more experience.



Fully Engaged
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2005 8:48 pm
PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 3:56 am
Wow! Another Hawaii person after all these years!

You can use the epoxy over a properly sanded paint finish and bare metal…the rust by the windshield is cut out and patch. Filling it isn’t a great option and it’ll probably come back.

Love the old FD RX7’s! Good luck on your project!



Top Contributor
Posts: 6213
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 10:28 am
HI !
Nice Project I would love to do a 93 RX7 some day.

Ya Epoxy first Scuff it then do your Filler work and Hi build primers if Necessary? Lots of build with Hi build primmer You may only need a regular primer BUT only you know how strait your metal is and how much filler you really need as the body man.

The window frame Rot needs to be cut out and Patched!
Your welding and Patch fit up on that Bolt hole is Textbook perfect You got this!

Please Tell me your building a Bad to the Bone 3 Rotor for it!
I would love to play with one some day! I fantasize about a 4 Rotor build The stuff dreams are made of lol

Keep us Posted Lots of pics!
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.



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Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2021 6:25 pm

Country:
USA
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 6:21 pm
Doright wrote:HI !
Nice Project I would love to do a 93 RX7 some day.

Ya Epoxy first Scuff it then do your Filler work and Hi build primers if Necessary? Lots of build with Hi build primmer You may only need a regular primer BUT only you know how strait your metal is and how much filler you really need as the body man.

The window frame Rot needs to be cut out and Patched!
Your welding and Patch fit up on that Bolt hole is Textbook perfect You got this!

Please Tell me your building a Bad to the Bone 3 Rotor for it!
I would love to play with one some day! I fantasize about a 4 Rotor build The stuff dreams are made of lol

Keep us Posted Lots of pics!


I appreciate the encouragement and will definitely be looking into doing a patch panel for that area now as well. unfortunately I won't be doing any 3 rotor, but the plan is to keep it rotary with a single turbo.

mztykal wrote:Wow! Another Hawaii person after all these years!

You can use the epoxy over a properly sanded paint finish and bare metal…the rust by the windshield is cut out and patch. Filling it isn’t a great option and it’ll probably come back.

Love the old FD RX7’s! Good luck on your project!


I wasn't sure if there'd be any locals here, its nice to see! Thank you for the response and advice!



Top Contributor
Posts: 6213
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 5:08 pm
FD_NVRBTR wrote:I appreciate the encouragement and will definitely be looking into doing a patch panel for that area now as well. unfortunately I won't be doing any 3 rotor, but the plan is to keep it rotary with a single turbo.



I remember back in the Mid 90s Guys I know were playing with RX2s & RX3s
Always wanted one But got hung up on Big Blocks and Muscle cars along the way.

I watched a RX3 Two rotor Turbo back then pull an 8 in the Quarter I was sold on the little machines. But OMG was it Load!
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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