Just got her last night and loving it already! Still undecided with what I want to do with it though.

Oh yeah, I have a few questions. How much do you think it will cost to fix that rust part on the rear hatch? (still haven't check the storage bin area for rust)

One more question. My stupid self was reaching down under the dash to get something and I had my hand on the steering wheel. So I turned it accidentally and now the wheel is locked. I tried lightly moving back and forth and jiggly the key but it won't get out of "Lock." Then tried forcing the steering wheel in both directions. Still nothing.... Anything else I can do? This simple thing is pissing me off.

 

Only rust part so far...

 

Get the water out of there already

As to how much it will cost: it depends on how badly blistered the metal is. You may be able to grind/scrape off the rust and then just toss some paint on it. Worse case is that you have to cut it out and weld in a new piece of metal.

How much do you know about body? If I were you, I would pull the weather stripping and try to sand it out myself, then just toss some primer on it and let it be. After all, not many people are going to see it, especially with the hatch down.

As for the locked wheel: I have no clue. Play with it some more or something

 

Yeah, got the water out already. Looks like its been eaten up pretty bad from the rust and will probably have to cut and weld in a new piece. Just curious how much it costs though. Eventually I'll decide when I want to do a full repaint if I were to keep this car for a long time.

 

keep jiggling the key.

Your key might be worn out, but it has to be in properly to lift the steering lock. After that, get a new key cut at a Mazda dealer with your VIN number.

 

The steering lock will give up if you turn the wheel hard in the direction you turned it to lock it and then jiggle the key, this will relieve the pressure to the locking mechanism and free it up.

Nice looking car. Good to see that factory sunroof, a nice touch to the attractive early sev styling.

 

nice SA you got there.. i just got mine too, yesterday!.. mine's pretty nice.. no rust spot anywhere. i got mine for dirty cheap.. body and everything is still great. drive it all the way home too.. with no problems.. the SA has a nice fun feeling to them when your driving them for some reason, they just seems/feels fun'Er!...

 

Yeah, I've driven my friend's FB and they are more fun to drive than an FC.

Anyways, thanks for the tips guys but still having a hell of a time breaking the steering wheel free. Really think a new key would do the job?

 

when my wheel got stuck sometimes i would put turning pressure on the key and turn the wheel back and forth, that always did the trick

 

if you want.......bring your key to me and ill cut you one... but if you dont trust me, its fine with me. how much did you pick that up for?

 

Cool. Around where in SJ are you and how much? Do you think a new "cut" key from my old worn one will still do the trick? I heard its better to just get a new key based on the VIN from the stealership but not too sure about that.

Edit: I should mention the car and I are in SJ at the moment.

 

try pulling the wheel to one side and turning the key. sometimes the lock cylander becoms worn and one thinks its the key. as for the rust, i would sandblast. looks like a pretty nice car though.

 

im actually in frisco.and yes getting a key cut would be better, but it also cost money. maybe you have a stuck tumbler inside the lock try so graphit spray and work the key in and out as well as yanking the steering wheel side to side.

 

I just got it out!!

I found out that only one of my keys, on one side, will work and if I applied enough pressure on the steering wheel. So I was flipping both keys on both sides and trying it out until it finally did it on the right key and on the right side.

Thanks again for the help everyone.

 

i am glad you got it out!!!! hope everything goes smoothly from here on out!

 

By looking closely at your picture of your rear hatch rust, I noticed that you have a lot of water in there. There are two holes where your water accumulates, which is supposed to drain down to the ground through two pipes. Obviously yours are clogged! You need to clean out those two pipes before even more rust develops. Just lift up your rear carpet in the back of the car ( where the jack is) and you'll see those two clear plastic pipes.

Nice car!

 

Yup, already done!

I had the drain holes clogged on my '88 TII too (even up to the point of water getting into the interior of my car) but thankfully, rust had not developed yet.

 

have you considered sandblasting? that rust is very common, especially when the drain holes are plugged or have been plugged.

 

I might give it a try. I'll hand sand it later on and see how much I can take off. I think its only a temporary fix though because the rust will most likely come back but we'll see. This SA will have some serious work done to it after I'm done with my FC.

 

what are your plans for it??

 

5 speed swap, black interior conversion, GSL rear end LSD/rear disc brakes, new paint, maybe some new wheels/tires, electronic ignition, new carb setup, exhaust, and a big streetport with rebuild. Maybe a bridgeport later on but I need to drive one first.

 

You didnt mention the fact that its an auto! Oh man I feel for you.

 

Yeah, haha. That'll be the first thing to go!! No big deal though. The swap isn't too hard and I'll just look for a banged up SA/FB for sale with 5 speed which are pretty common in my area. Not to mention I practically got this car for roughly $100 and the body is in better shape than my '88 TII.