Hello,

So I have owned this RX-7 since high school and pulled it off the road a while ago to fix the body and do some custom work etc but with real life putting the stall on things it has really got bad. I have no garage to store it so it sits outside and the previous owner drove it in PA winters so it has a lot of rust. Basically I am at the point where I am thinking the amount of work and time that I would need to put into it would be better spent on a better shell.

This brings me to my question. Other than just out right scrapping things would it be worth pulling out the engine and trans plus some other bigger items that could come in handy some day (or even part it out if people would like to buy) or is a 1984 RX-7 GSL not really worth it? I am planning on buying another 1st gen perhaps as early as next year and I am always looking at performance/racing so maybe to have spares would be good.

I am asking the RX-7 community to give me your opinion what you would do with a car with a bad shell. I don't really want to sit on the car waiting for people to buy little parts so I rather just get some of the hard to find parts or parts worth saving then scrap it (or if anybody was really wanting it give it away) Feel free to ask questions about the car and I will get back to you. Its a sad day to give up on a project but I am really looking forward to being back in the 1st gen market soon!

 

America is still full of dead SA/FBs with solid bodies. So there is that. But am guessing none up in your neck of the woods, so are you willing to shop and SHIP a non-runner home. Done right, from the right part of the country would very well come in under the $$ of some sort of wallet-killing restoration/resurrection of a rusty Eastern car.

And, barring excellent, low mileage early RX7s, these are not anything approaching an "investment collectible" so figure any $ you spend has to result in personal pleasure and afore mentioned lighter wallet. Old advice about starting with the best car you can afford is still sound advice...

AND-
just What the H is that green car in the background???


Stu Aull
80GS
AK-AZ

 

Thanks for your advice. Yes the east coast is rough on cars sadly but if I could find a car that I fell in love with I sure would buy it. As you said start with the best car you can afford seems to be telling me mine is too far gone to be worth putting all the money into it. I only wonder is it worth keeping anything out of this car for spares or just let the whole thing go and start fresh?

Oh and the green car in the background is a Fiat 850 Spyder. My father has 2 of them and 2 MG's that he plans to work on as a retirement project

 

Based on the rot in the floor, I'd have to see the rest of the body. You do have some good parts (doors, rearend, structs).

 

I can work on getting some better pictures. The floor has some rot and some of the "frame" is bad too. Mostly the underside is just "soft" and it would be a lot of work to fix it all to stop the rust. Like you said though parts like doors, hood, rear end, engine/trans etc all can be used. There is a lot of work to be done to it and I am just worried that if I start in on it and keep throwing money into it that it will get out of control where as buying a better starting point could have been the better choice lol.

 

By the time you fix the rust, you could buy at least a good non-running one and have the same amount of money in it. Just think about how much you would have to spend on any non-running car to get it ti where you want it. Can you find one already put together for that price or a little more?

here are a couple of trains of thought. One is the person that just likes building their own regardless of price and enjoys the journey. The other person is one that just wants a car that fits their wants and needs.

 

That is a very good point. I enjoy the journey however if it is a huge headache and time could be spent doing other things to it or enjoying it I think I choose the lather lol.

 

partoutttt