I need new floor pans but mazda only sells 86 and up would the 86 fit or should I just custom build them

 

the FC floor is NLA, go custom. or find something sorta close and buy that

 

the '86 -up floor wil NOT fit. It's a totally different car. You need to buy a new shell (a new stripped -out car) and build off of that chassis.

Sadly, most people strip the drive-trains and suspensions off these cars and scrap the bodies. It's a real shame.

 

Would you recommend just buying a new shell and swaping the parts?

 

Yes, that's what I'm saying. If you had a Chevelle, or Mustang, or '71 Chevy pick up, you could buy a new floor pan.

But for a 1st gen RX-7, you need to buy a whole new body. A "Shell". Look on epay and the classifieds. Lots of people stripping-out old cars.

 

What I mean is, if you had a Camaro or a Mustang, you could buy a new floor pan. Or trunk floor. Or rocker panel. Or left rear quarter. Or roof.

But you bought a RX-7. So you're fucked. Ha, not so bad really, but ,...... yeah. If your car is all rotted out then you need to buy a whole new shell (body) because nobody makes large sections of the body "after market".

 

Would it be better to custom fab or just get a shell

 

That's a tough one. Depends on the damage/rot.

You have a few different threads going about replacing original parts. It would help if you got more specific about just what you need to replace.

Some "OE parts" are really easy to replace. Others need custum fabbing. You ask about " OE Parts" but don't get specific.

There ars lots of RX-7 geeks and Mazda-certified Mechanics on the 1-st Gen forum(s). Be more specific about what you want, and you'll get better answers.

 

Show us some pics of said rust, and then we can help you. It might be an easy fix, it might not, there is no way to tell without pics.

 

Pics.
pics.
Pics, or it didn't happen.
Pics.

 

Good news it's better than I thought the only really bad spot is here

 

I am very familiar with rhe FB chassis but I don't know what your pic is. It kinda looks liks this...

 

Just kidding.. is that the driver's side inside-the-smugglers -box, where the rear suspension link (upper link) mounts to the body? Well, you're pretty rotten. But it can be fixed, if the rest of the body is worth saving. And you have skills/and-or money.

 

Nope that's the passanger side footwell luckily all that stuff is perfect.

 

What sheet metal would you recommend

 

A new body. I don't wanna be Debby Downer, but, ... your car seems pretty fucked (rust-wise).

 

Over the years there have been many threads on rust repair with progress photos. Flip through those and see if that's something you want to do.

 

Without seeing the car in person it is hard to give a complete answer. If the rust in the photo given is what you are concerned about than I see no reason why the car cannot be saved. As long as the subframe, and any other structural part is not seriously effected. Infact it might be one of the easiest areas to fix. It would be easier to say with a few more pics.

 

I don't see how the rust in that area could be so severe but the rest of the chassis is ok?

What does it look like underneath? I would be very concerned with major structural issues.

 

If this is inside the bin area, I'd guess the trailing arm mounts are toast.

 

The bottom is completely clear of rust just there and those circular holes in the footwell/seat mount area

 

but you still gotta see how bad it is under that rubber. and the rust ir right at a structural area. It can be fixed, but it's pretty fucked. I'd put alert's on every junkyard near you and be ready for with a sawz all.

that, or clean it out.....mark exactly the section you need and find a junk yard that will cut that are and ship it to you. That would probably cost about the same as fab work, although ypu'd still need to weld it in.

at least then it would be back to stock.

 

it'll be a lot worse when you start grinding into it.