The 84' GSL-SE is almost completely sanded down for the color change from beige (actually cream) to a color to be disclosed. I am replacing the right front fender but ran into a snag. I took out the top bolts, the one inside the door area, and the ones in the front. That left 2, which are located under the car behind the front wheel well and in front of the door. Once loosened, they stopped and would not come out. It seems there must be a threaded nut clip behind the metal. But how to get to it? Not from under the car or door area as the fender is mostly off. Is there a trick I am missing? Do I have to remove the inner fender liner to get to those clips or whatever is holding it in place?
the front of the fender also attached to what looks like a cross between a dust pan and air scoop. I took it out to remove the rust and repaint it. I was curious as to the purpose of these "scoops". Thanks in advance.

 

The front "scoops" are to direct air towards the front brakes for cooling.

 

That's what I figured. Now if I can get the fender off...

 

mmmm...on my SA these lower/rear bolts ea. mount into a threaded nut welded to the inside of the lower frame. If these are spinning I am thinking they have rusted and failed ;P

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

7AULL

You are correct. I had to "pop" them through the hole and out came a bolt with a strange looking nut welded by rust to the bolt.

 

*sigh* - yeah. I was afraid of that. Sorry to be bearer of bad news...
damnable rust!

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

 

It appears the bolt and washers are one unit. But it also appears as if a tube (shaft) extends from the washer down part of the threads. Is that correct? Is the captured nut, then, inside that tube? I can't imagine how assemblers got either inside or what I'm going to do. I thought maybe using a large self-threading bolt. but don't know. The car is straight but I've found evidence of a crash up and down the right side of a car.

 

 

Not on my SA. Straight bolt, with flat and crush washers. no extension as shown. FB may be different??

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

 

 

when you go to put it back together, the spec for the gap is 4.5mm +/- 1mm. find a piece of something that is 4.5mm, and you can put it in there and it'll kind of line itself up.

i have a piece of a shingle, it tapers

 

And my apologies for such a tardy reply. I got tied up with something. Do you have an FD?
I had a red 79 GS (my first Rx7) I bought in 79, a gold 80 S, silver 79 GSL, black 83 GSL, blue 86 Sport, and this 84 GSL-SE

 

i have had one. i've had every year and model between 79-93, and 3 Rx8's at this point

the SA is a high point, GSL-SE also and then the FC vert...

 

I wish I still had my SA's, especially the red one. I never had a problem with any model. None ever ran hot, no problems at all.

I had a blue 86, as noted and really like it. It seems, in general, cars that start out as coupes and then become convertibles, don't always looks so good (Nissan 370Z, good as a coupe, looks ungainly as a convertible). But, I like the FC convertible. It looks good from every angle. I see them all the time for sale way cheaper than I would have expected. Is that because people don't like the drop top?

 

I wish I could figure out these bumpers. Lots of bolts and nuts that remove nothing because the part (turn indicator metal bracket) is held in place by conical flat top rivets. I did the best I could with the front trying to clean up the aluminum. I even was able to take out the horizontal brace and polish it up. But you need four hands to hold the bolts, washers, and so forth in place, plus slide an average sized hand between the plastic cover and brace to hold the bolt/screw head in place in order to tighten the nut. Once you've scraped all the skin off your knuckles. I managed to do it it with two hands and a butter knife. My right hand is still swollen from the many times going in and out under the plastic trying to put the bolt/screw in place, failing, trying again, dropping it (I have little feeling in any of my finger tips due to diabetes) and trying again. I succeeded. What did I accomplish taking out that brace, polishing it up, and putting it back? Nothing, really. Now I'm looking at the rear bumper. The difference between it and the front, besides the obvious, are the supports and brackets made of iron. All badly rusted. They should come out but I also see the rivets. Obviously one was not supposed to fix/restore these parts, simply replace with factory ones. But this is 2019 not 1984 so...

 

I agree completely. I think the Verts are the Only good looking FC's, with all the coupes looking like clones of every other late 80's sports car.

"What is that, a Porsche? No no, I think it's a Starion. Oh wait, there's flames coming out the tailpipe, must be a RX".

 

You noted right side of car showed accident damage A lot of production body shops don’t put original bolts back in exact places as you see here.
Not a concourse restoration,whatever is around-or my favorite/ left off another car,gets taken out of the box/can and if it matches the threads of the welded nut that retained that fender gets installed on that car.
Those particular bolts originally held up a plastic bellypan in more modern Japanese car.
A lot of these shops figure what you can’t see doesn’t matter.

 

That solves the mystery of the strange bolts. Now I have to figure out how to put bolts in those holes, and attach the to a nut which, will be a challenge considering its a close space with no way to get into that area.

By the way, I'm an expatriate Marylander (Born in Bethesda, went to high school in Hagerstown, and last lived in Bel Air) who got talked into moving to California many years ago, it didn't work out, and I've been trying to get back ever since. I'm about 2/3rds of the way back and still inching that way, Sports cars of any sort are uncommon in my current location.

 

a white FC convertible starred in the movie "Bad Influence". Great movie with Rob Lowe and James Spader. Movie was so twisted, that James Spader played the good guy.

 

the bolts for the top of the fender are the same as the bottom, 9079-60-612

its a 6 x 1.0 x 11 bolt with a built in washer. 10mm head with a 6 in it, or a 9, depending on how you turn it...

 

i need to watch that! Mr Spader and I have the same haircut, give or take

 

what does the bolt attach to? There is no nut?🤔

 

the rocker panel has threaded inserts