From Rxspeedfast: I had my black 84 GSL-SE up for sale in the fall of 2007. A RX7
member asked about the underside. So I went to my Service Station and was given a lift to take pics of the underside of the GSL-SE and sent my pics to the RX7member who then found my passenger-side tow-ring had been damaged. The gentleman also obtained a CarFax for my GSL-SE which indicated my GSL-SE had been in an accident two or three years before I purchased my GSL-SE. Upon receiving this information, I took my car off the market and began the process to repair the damage. First, I purchased a used grill, valance and bumper-cover from a member(~$80). Next, purchased used front tow-rings($25). Then took my GSL-SE to Carl's Body Shop in Dayton Ohio. At first Carl estimated it to be a simple weld repair. But afterwards, Carl thought it would be better to cut-out the passenger side frame-rail 12 inches from the front of the frame rail and cut the cross-member 3 inches from the frame-rail. A RX7 member suggested I go to a Affordable Car Parts here in Dayton. Affordable had a donar RX7 and I purchased the passenger-side frame-rail and cross-member for $54. Carl's Body Shop cut out the damaged frame-rail and welded-in the purchased part. My pics show: the damaged passenger side frame-rail, the used donar part, and the donar part welded-into place. In addition, pics are shown of the drivers-side tow-ring. Many RX7 members helped me with this job in many different ways. I thank them all.
My pics are located at http://www.picasaweb.google.com/pjs3pjs6pjs9

 

Paul, i'm glad everythig got fixed for you. the repair looks nice. any current pics of the car?

 

Wow, Paul, that repair looks great. Very good to see you've got it all fixed up.

 

dear mazdaverx713b, first, thank you for all your help. yes i plan to take pics of the black GSL-SE with the newer valance, bumper cover, and grill. My plan at this time: is to wash and wax, take pics and then put the car up on the market. Since I am so slow it may be a few months before I take pics especially considering the weather. However, I will alert you to the new pics. Once again, thank you for your kind help mazdzverx713b..................... Rxspeedfast.

dear Crit, first, thank you for your discovery of the damage to my car along with your CarFax. I do not like to sell damaged goods so your work was key in letting me know my black GSL-SE was damaged. That has all been corrected. Carl's Body Shop did not know exactly what caused the damage to the tow-ring and rail but they did a super job. So I am grateful to you for letting me know about your discovery and CarFax. In addition to your help Crit and mazdaverx713b's help, RX7 members from Florida, Kansas City, Indianapolis, and New Carlyle Ohio also helped. I cannot say enough good things about Affordable Car Parts here in Dayton Ohio. If you need help ask Affordable. Once again Crit, thank you much for your discovery and CarFax.................Rxspeedfast

 

Interesting repair. I need to do the same thing to the upper frame horn on the passenger side of my spare GSL. I cut the entire front frame from the shock towers forward from one of my parts cars in anticipation of this repair. So far I'm not looking forward to the job, but once I get started that will change.

Looks like the body shop did an excellent job. If you don't mind me asking, how much did that set you back?

 

Car looks beautiful. I had a black one and loved the look of black on the SE

 

dear trochoid, The work was performed by Carl's Body Shop, 1120 Wayne Avenue, Dayton Ohio 45410, At 937-253-5166. Invoice number RO #16599, dated
12/15/2008. The itemized bill: R&R FRT BUMPER GRILLE, R&R FRONT LOWER VALANCE, Repair R FRT FLOOR SIDEMEMBER EXT, PULL RT FRAME RAIL, R&R RT TOW HOOK, Refinish-RT TOW HOOK, R&R LT TOW HOOK, REFINISH LT TOW HOOK, Paint Materials, SHOP SUPPLIES, Repair CUT IN FRAME SECTION, PAINT FRT BUMPER & VALANCE. Total $1295.02.

This is not the total cost of the job. In the future, I will add-in the cost of the used parts purchased for the job. That number will better represent the total cost of the job..................................Rxspeedfast

dear 84stock, thank you for your kind remarks.......................Rxspeedfast

 

Just to add to the thread here i had to replace my my entire brace tube when both my tow points were torn off, and the tube was bent during towing.
I fabb'd up a new tube out of heaver steel and made a heavy duty tow point to replace the stock tow hooks.
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ght=oil+cooler

 

dear Slammed GSL, thank you for jumping-in and thank you for your helpful comments and thank you for your important links. i have had a chance to look at your pics. i believe the comments you have made here and in your link when put together with your link-pics is an excellent approach. if i understand your approach you have mounted your new tow rings on your new and heavier replacement cross member. i know there could be flexure in your new crossmember under a load as if you began towing your car using your new tow-rings to tow. the way i would estimate your possible flexure would be to put a jack under your crossmember and begin to look at the flexure in your crossmember as you start to lift the car at the point of attachment. this might give you an idea of what to expect if you towed your car again using your new tow rings and crossmember. (you do not want to bend your crossmember again). if the amount of flexure were negligible under a load i would say you have come up with an excellent approach. i believe some of the newer trucks lift the car using a cradle under the front wheels but i also know some tow-trucks use a cable to pull the car onto a flatbed. with regard to my new tow-rings, i want to put a load on the new tow rings in the way i described except lifting at the framerail at the point where the framerai meets the tow-rings and see how the weld points hold.