Is this fixable?

jerd_hambone · 10-19-2010, 07:44 AM

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.

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 · 10-19-2010, 07:59 AM

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

Buggy · 10-19-2010, 09:00 AM

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 · 10-19-2010, 09:07 AM

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 · 10-19-2010, 09:23 AM

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 · 10-19-2010, 09:37 AM

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 · 10-19-2010, 09:40 AM

Definately fixable

jerd_hambone · 10-19-2010, 09:45 AM

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 · 10-19-2010, 10:29 AM

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

jerd_hambone · 10-19-2010, 10:41 AM

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 · 10-19-2010, 10:46 AM

Supposedly on the colors that is.

rx7 FC TII · 10-19-2010, 12:25 PM

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 · 10-19-2010, 12:40 PM

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 · 10-19-2010, 12:50 PM

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 · 10-19-2010, 12:59 PM

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.

10-19-2010, 09:00 AM	#3
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	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. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

10-19-2010, 09:23 AM	#5
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 19	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. __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

10-19-2010, 09:40 AM	#7
tweiss3 Mazda Lover Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio iTrader: (0) Posts: 319 Rep Power: 15	Definately fixable __________________ 2004 Mazda6 V6 5-spd - still waiting on money for a motor 1991 Mazda RX7 NA 5-spd - my new DD with 145,000 miles

10-19-2010, 10:29 AM	#9
RotorDad Big Ugly Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, Va iTrader: (1) Posts: 591 Rep Power: 16	Grab it up cheap man, not too sure about that red interior. Mine came with grey/black interior. __________________ *Boosted Big Body On 335's* PS3 ID: Rotordad 1986 Mazda RX7 GXL - Street ported 13BT, Haltech, 62mm, ect. 2006 MazdaSpeed 6 - Eagle, Wiseco, Cobb, ect.