Crashing and fixing Mazda RX7 FD (non-shite)

[KruJoe]

Shit Dave!

I missed it first time around so didn't know you had this. 

 

There's a black one of these (I think, it might be a bit older) on a farm near us in Yorkshire, it's in good shape but hasn't moved for years. Let me see if I can find a picture...

[KruJoe]

These might be a couple years old now, but the car was still there six months ago. If it's still there, it has probably been stood five years by now.

 

 

 

I don't know why it has been parked up and left. A busy young farmer owns it.

 

Possible spares car?

I'm still in Thailand, but can give you a number if you'd like to inquire. Let me know mate.

[Craig the Princess]

Ouch, not nice at all. 😞

[Station]

These might be a couple years old now, but the car was still there six months ago. If it's still there, it has probably been stood five years by now.

 

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I don't know why it has been parked up and left. A busy young farmer owns it.

 

Possible spares car?

I'm still in Thailand, but can give you a number if you'd like to inquire. Let me know mate.

 

Thanks Joe, can you PM me the number and possibly the address.

The b-pillar is bent on mine, it's going through the insurance and will probably be written off. A new door won't even fit as it's bent.

[xtriple]

How did you do that then?

 

Glad you are okay (you are yes?) but shame about the car. Could the 'B' pillar not respond to a porta- power?

[KruJoe]

That's shitty news mate.

 

 

I just tried sending the info, but your inbox is full I think. Archive/delete some messages and I'll try again first thing - I'm off to bed now, 1am here.

[Slartibartfast]

I'm sorry, mate. Bad times. What happened?

[overrun]

Shit, mate. Sorry to see that!

I love FD's.

 

Was yours on a beaver tail on the M1, south, this afternoon?

[doobietoo]

itll tcut owt thart.....

[Jim Bell]

Achievement unlocked.

You have added character to your ride.

[anonymous user]

That's a bit of a bugger, it looks still driveable and it looks fixable with a bit of work, assuming there are any secondhand parts around. I agree that the insurance will probably want to write it off though.

[Station]

Parts aren't that bad to come across, but they're expensive. I've been quoted a grand to fix if I supply the bits (rear wing, door, rear quarter). I've got a door. It really wasn't a cheap car so I'm not touching it.

 

I took Jon/Dugong out for a spin, went round a roundabout, put a bit too much power through the wheels, the second turbo bit and span the car as we exited a bend - we went up a kerb sideways and backwards, smashed into a lamp post and put us through the bushes. A small tree, which I annihilated, ripped one of the oil coolers out, dented the wing, bumper, ripped the splitter off and smashed the sidelight.

Amazingly the door glass didn't smash and I opened the door fine.

The reg plate was lost in the bush so we all went back up later to retrieve it. The cars been in my garage for a few weeks while I sort a few other things out.

 

It's had a bit of work done on the engine, don't know how much power it has, it's too much for me though!

 

TL:DR Jon LOVES getting in crashes.

Edited September 16, 2016 by Station

[skattrd]

I missed you getting this as well, hopefully it will see the road again, and good to hear you and Jon are ok.

[KruJoe]

Still seeing this:

 

 

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Do you have space, Dave?

[Bear]

Fucking hell, this is the saddest thread. Glad no injuries but you must be gutted

[dugong]

Three crash 2015 does not need repeating.

My bottle has gone as a result.

[Station]

My box now has space for you Joe 

[KruJoe]

Have a rummage in there now, I think you'll find a fresh deposit.

[overrun]

Was it your car being transported then, mate?

Cannot imagine there are many spoilerless, black FD's knocking about.

[Station]

Thanks Joe!

No, I put mine back in my garage after it happened, have driven it to work a few times since because "it doesn't seem fair".

Does need new spark plugs as it's popping heavily lifting off the throttle and lighting up the Mersey Tunnel with flames from the exhaust.     

 

If anyone's interested, this bushes on both sides weres completely worn and disintegrated and could be moved out of the tie rod - there was about 1cm of play/toe in the rear wheel on both sides. It never felt right going round corners, as demonstrated to Jon by me on that night. BTW Sorry Jon!

 

 

[stephen01]

Gutted for you, no doubt back to new as soon as.

[garbaldy]

Rear stear sure makes the arse twitch.

 

I haven't seen one of these cars for a while so must be worth fixing.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Sorry to see this. It must be worth fixing. I hope it is repaired - I really like the shape of these cars.

[Station]

I've been doing a bit of work on this - I've decided to take it on myself. It really doesn't look that bad at all now.

I borrowed a hydraulic ram 'dozer' kit which is a wonderful bit of equipment. The b-pillar needed to come out an inch as the new door wouldn't close. It took about half an hour, and a bit of light hammering to get everything in place. I thought the b-pillar was completely bent, but it looks like it came out with just a slight bendage, which has really picked my hopes up immensely, there's no other damage to the floor or anywhere else - how lucky am I!

 

I'm gutted a branch managed to leave a single dent in the bonnet:

 

 

It does look much better with the new door on.

 

 

From the front anyway - the rear has a huge gap where the lamp-post hit.

 

 

I'm going to cut the bit in front of the wheel out and weld the new section in. I'm removing all the spot welds to make it easier and less mess.

I'm looking for a decent spot weld drill if anyone can point me in the right direction. There's about 50 - 70 spot welds I estimate?

[Dave_Q]

I got mine from machine mart, haven't used it that much but it drilled out 20 or so spot welds in pretty short order when I did last use it.

 

The key to it is to centrepunch the spot welds well to give the drill something to centre on.

[Station]

Finding and buying bits for this car is

A ) Difficult

B ) Expensive

 

As soon as anything comes up for sale, it's gone.

A trip to Bristol, 400 mile round trip, got these wings. Also bought a set of genuine APEXi coil overs which should sort out the constantly rebounding suspension in front. It drives horrible.

 

I've sorned the car until I fix everything to stop me going on cheeky unnecessary 12mpg drives; hopefully have that dent pulled out in a couple of weeks as well.

[dugong]

Autolink didn't have any bits, Dave. Sorry.

 

Was really pleased to see this on the road again last week. A bit worried the last MoT didn't pick up the suicidal amount of play in those tie rod bushes, though.

[Station]

No worries Jon, I have everything I need now, apart from a few interior bits!

 

Have a photo of Piazza fuel up photo:

[fordperv]

Omgdriftweapon I do have alot of love for FD's they are a beautiful shape and make a great sound when your wringing their necks

[Station]

Here I go - the most expensive repair job I'll ever do

 

 

 

Argh

 

 

What an 18 year old car sill looks like when it hasn't been subjected to cheap road grit. There's no rust anywhere on this.

 

 

Just loads of nice white Japanese sand:

 

 

I removed the spot welds with a spot weld cutter from Machine Mart, they come apart like magnets.

 

 

I've already got the other panel off and will weld it on when I can be arsed!