Is this fixable?

[jerd_hambone]

I found an FC for a good price, and it's close. It's mint inside and out EXCEPT...

Guy didn't put it in gear, rolled down his driveway, hit a tree. Not insanely hard, but it definitely needs some new stuff.

Fenders bowed, not much damage to the hood and bumper.

http://images.craigslist.org/3n63m33l95T25Z15X4aae7f39c2cd5f5c140c.jpg

Is this fixable in your guys opinion? Or would you use it as a parts car/part out?

Car is running, driving, clear title.

[jerd_hambone]

Well a better way to word it would be "Is it worth fixing?"

[Buggy]

I'd say go for it if you can get it cheap. Get a used hood, bumper, fender, and whatever else you need. Looks mostly cosmetic from the pictures. Should only cost a few hundred bucks to fix.

[jerd_hambone]

Luckily, I've got a lot of spare parts laying around. Including a hood and fender. I'm more worried about the unibody and radiator support area. Afraid it may crushed some.

[My5ABaby]

Just take a good look at it and if you can for a test drive. Or just buy it as is at a low price and mention that you're not sure what kind of damage it has so you can talk him down.

[jerd_hambone]

It's about 150 miles away. But I plan on talking with the guy in depth later on tonight, and if possible going to check it out this weekend. And if it is drivable, bringing it home. If not, I'll have to find a truck and a dolly, or pay for a tow. Neither of the latter I want to do. Haha.

If it does have more extensive damage, I can possibly just get it and part it out. I'll make more than my money back, I hope. It is pretty cheap. $600 cheap.

[tweiss3]

Definately fixable

[jerd_hambone]

It's a GXL I believe. It's Winning Silver with red interior. Apparently not a common color.

I'm more held back not on if it's fixable, because after going to school for automotive body repair, almost anything is fixable, but if I'll have to get a front clip haha.

[RotorDad]

Grab it up cheap man, not too sure about that red interior. Mine came with grey/black interior.

[jerd_hambone]

Winning Silver was only available on S5 GXL's, and the red interior was only available on Winning Silver S5's. It's the only color combo for the Winning Silver.

So, regardless, it's a rare car.

I may try to talk the guy down considering the distance, but I'll have to find silver bumper, hood, and fenders.

Also car has 120k something miles on it, rebuilt engine with paperwork, and is an auto-manual convert. Has S4 shifter though, not sure if the trans is S4 also. Guy knows a bit about rotaries though. Has compression numbers, but they are low. Tested with a cheap gauge and about 3 feet of line. Has VERY consistent numbers. But a bit low. Possibly from the cheap gauge and excess line.

[jerd_hambone]

Supposedly on the colors that is.

[rx7 FC TII]

itll buff out lol

sounds like a good project. really you need to look at how much and how willing you are to do alot of work on this FC. it might seem fine right now but a couple months/weeks/days/years down the road it could have major problems. remember these cars are getting up there in the age. it seems like a good car with the rare side to it. but take these factors into account. definitely have a good daily driver on the side. thats the mistake i made when i got my first FC.

[jerd_hambone]

Oh trust me I know. First FC I had was a 87 base. A total hack job. Overheated because the radiator was junk. Thermostat wasn't even for an RX7. Clutch was gone, flywheel had 1/2 inch grooves in it. Interior was destroyed.

Second FC was almost mint in and out. Engine was destroyed.

I'm not looking for a straight DD. I've got two trucks to drive. This is a 100% project. One good thing, everyone gets rid of red interior. Haha.

I just don't want to put a front clip on a car.

[rx7 FC TII]

oh ok sounds like you got a good thing goin then. i would suggest you take a trip over and check it out yourself. do a real compression test and get the numbers for yourself. also take a good look at the damage and make sure theres no major damage to the frame wheel well area..etc that he has missed.

basically i wouldnt want to get in over my head with it. some small damage can look ok but when you tear into it to repair you can find a number of larger issues.

[jerd_hambone]

Definitely. My last FC was side swiped slightly. But it did enough damage to make the passenger door jam closed and threw the body alignment way off.

I'll definitely cheek the inner wheel wells for crinkles, and check how straight it is. I'm not to worried about the engine, it'll be swapped out eventually. As long as it lasts to get me home haha.

[rx7 FC TII]

yeah man it sounds like you got a pretty good plan. id get it as long as there isnt any unforseen damage that is major. finding those parts might be difficult in the silver but if you get the paint code it shouldnt be a problem.

[jerd_hambone]

According to the guy, the car was garage kept for a long time and the paint is in excelent shape. If I can't get the parts in Winning Silver, I'll paint the whole car. It's hard to get good matching paint for FC's.

[JustJeff]

Aside from the obvious, I'm betting only the bottom bumper support frame is bent. My vert took a similar hit from a pothole at an apt complex. Hit it hard, bottomed out the car, snapped my front lip and bent a support that the bumper attaches to.

To finish out my coolstorybro.com, I called the city to try and get them to pay for my damages and they said it was private property. I called the complex manager she said that they were not liable because they did not have enough time since the hole formed to either mark it or fix it. I didn't file a claim with my insurance cause my deductible was more than the damage.

[jerd_hambone]

As long as it's just the supports, I can deal with that. If it went deeper, I'm may just get it and part it out.

[jerd_hambone]

I just talked to the guy, he seems like a nice guy. But I found out the car is quite a bit further out than I thought at first. It's in Louisville, and I live on the border on Tn. So about a 5 hour round trip, add that up for two cars, or twice. Hm.

He said the damage doesn't mess with the car running and driving, he's even taken it on a few strolls.

He said the driver side is where the damage is, and it bent the bumper brackets, popped the hood up, bowed out the fender, put a crinkle in the passenger fender, and broke the drive side headlight mechanics.

Can't come down on the price though. Hmm.

[firzen]

If the damage is too much, why not turn it into a crapcan racing machine?

[TitaniumTT]

expect to buy alot of new factory sheet metal, a bunch of spot weld cutters, and do alot of welding. But shit man, you just went to school for collision repair right? Should be a piece of cake, no?

[jerd_hambone]

If the damage is too much, why not turn it into a crapcan racing machine?

Too much hassle, not enough benefits.

expect to buy alot of new factory sheet metal, a bunch of spot weld cutters, and do alot of welding. But shit man, you just went to school for collision repair right? Should be a piece of cake, no?

Sadly I have zero equipment to do such work, and I'm not paying to have it done haha. Luckily I have a driver fender, hood, and headlight assembly.

I'm just terrified of what I'll find when the front end is off.


I'll driving to Louisville and back multiple times for this car if I get it. Thats around 400 miles per round trip. I want it to be worth it.

[project86]

have the guy raise the hood and take pics of the rad support and ish. how much did you say he wanted for it?

its not that hard to match the paint on these things ;) ive done it! id fix it if the price is right. and it sounds like you have half the parts you need. plus.. you have been without for tooooo long.

[jerd_hambone]

He's just asking $600. And honestly, that isn't that bad. Not the cheapest FC I've bought, but definitely nowhere near the most expensive.

But with the painting, I'm a perfectionist, so any dent, ding, scratch, or rot will be fixed. Soo I'll spray the whole car.

[project86]

But with the painting, I'm a perfectionist, so any dent, ding, scratch, or rot will be fixed. Soo I'll spray the whole car.

man i knew there was a reason i liked you :rofl:. im the same. buy it. just do it

[jerd_hambone]

I probably will. If all goes well, I'll be checking it out this weekend.

And you like me because of my pretty hair hahaha

[project86]

wait.. it does run right?

[project86]

I probably will. If all goes well, I'll be checking it out this weekend.

And you like me because of my pretty hair hahaha

haha damn! youre right! its is the hair!

[jerd_hambone]

Yeah, car runs and drives. Guy said alternator needs changed, and he'll do that.

[TitaniumTT]

We like you because you post pics of boobies..... now post some more

[jerd_hambone]

TT if I had a gal around with big boobies, I'd sure throw em up. Sadly I have no women around at all now haha.

I'm cursed. No woman has stayed around longer than two months since my ex-fiance.

[project86]

We like you because you post pics of boobies..... now post some more

......if we like jay jay here because he posts boobies.... what the hell do we still like you for......?....................:leaving:

[jerd_hambone]

We like TT?

[project86]

OH BURRRRN!:smilielol5:

[TitaniumTT]

Don't make me angry.........

[jerd_hambone]

I kid I kid. Personally I love ya TT. Haha

[project86]

oh yes... he has admin powers now.. haha. na man i suppose we'll keep ya around. besides i need to stay on your good side since ill be movin closer soon :)

[jerd_hambone]

No joke man. I may ride down all the time. Haha

[project86]

yes no joke haha. ill be moving.. by next summer at the latest. and you better not be riding.. you should be driving :)

[jerd_hambone]

Ghost ride the whip. Where will you be movin to?

[jerd_hambone]

Looks like this car will be mine this weekend, hopefully. The only thing really stopping me is if he sells it.

[NoDOHC]

Cool! I hate body work (it shows) but I admire those who have the patience for it.

[TitaniumTT]

Seriously?!?!?! I LOVE it. There's nothing like spending a day behind a mask with a board covered in sweat with dust filling your pores as you work something to perfection. There's no better feeling than pulling up in a car that hasn't been waxed in a year and people drooling over the paint job.... well maybe people jizzing themselves again when the hood pops :rofl: I love body work.... love it.





Did I mention I love body work?

[jerd_hambone]

I personally love the smell of Bondo. No clue why.

[tweiss3]

If you love it so much you are very welcome to come here and make mine prestine. I have a fender to pull, a door dent to pull, a few smaller dent to pull, and fresh paint to coat the whole car.

[jerd_hambone]

Snap, guy took the ad down. I hope he didn't sell it. If he did, I'm not going to be very happy.

[TitaniumTT]

I personally love the smell of Bondo. No clue why.

mmmm.... I hear ya.... Glaze is pretty good too...

If you love it so much you are very welcome to come here and make mine prestine. I have a fender to pull, a door dent to pull, a few smaller dent to pull, and fresh paint to coat the whole car.

I was told that if you're good at something, never do it for free. if you're serious about a full restoration... hit me up. I won't be able to take on any new jobs till after the new year at the earliest but I'd be down for a complete re-spray and undercoating rotisserie style

[jerd_hambone]

If this deal doesn't work out, I found a few other possible candidates.

Found an 84 Celica. Perfect for a 7MGTE swap. A S12 Silvia/200SX. We all know the possibilities for Nissans. And an 86 300ZX. All in far better shape than the FC and all around the same price.

But none are an FC. =/ 7's elude me.

[jerd_hambone]

Yep. He sold it.

[project86]

Seriously?!?!?! I LOVE it. There's nothing like spending a day behind a mask with a board covered in sweat with dust filling your pores as you work something to perfection. There's no better feeling than pulling up in a car that hasn't been waxed in a year and people drooling over the paint job.... well maybe people jizzing themselves again when the hood pops :rofl: I love body work.... love it.





Did I mention I love body work?

Its great isnt it.. ill be doing some this weekend trying to get haukbeebs car ready for paint finally. Brian.. what state do you live in? Maybe when i move south we can combine our skills and start a business :rofl:

I personally love the smell of Bondo. No clue why.

body filler smells fantasic.. if i could have that as a car freshener i would haha

Yep. He sold it.

DAMN~!!!!

[jerd_hambone]

Yeah. Not very happy about someone saying "It's not going anywhere." Then I get everything arranged to come get it, only to be told "It's gone." It sucks bribing people to miss work for nothing. Just glad I "talked" to him before I rented a dollie.

[project86]

what a toolbox

[Max777]

]dude, that shit aint nothing! Look at what I got myself into! and This was a HARD front end hit! Your pictures look like nothing important even got damaged, I vote for buying and fixing this up. Besides, it would be a shame to part out such a rare FC!

Look at this shit!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400071&l=510eefd02c&id=635678480

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5422135&l=926ab5f3e6&id=635678480

AND!!!!

All fixed except a new hood:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5422132&l=4ed3805302&id=635678480