Today that bracket in the rear wheel well completely fell off (or rusted out) the link is still connected but the whole mount looks like it is rusted as well and stress cracked. I know this is a stupid question but can I still drive this thing? What is the worst case scenario? Thanks!

 

If I read this right your suspension fell off the car,and you are asking if you should drive it or not?I think that is a pretty simple NO,DO NOT DRIVE IT!

 

No ..I do not believe the suspension has fallen off. But the bracket that is part of the support system has rotted off and the wheel well has considerable rust as well. but the upper link is still attached to its bracket but it seems to be cracking (that is the bracket to the wheel well) at its contact point as well. I was curious if this link were to fail what would happen, or better yet how and what kind of failure would occur. I just need to know the severity of this condition. And if there is a way I can fix this. I would hate to have to junk my 7

 

Reengineer it, gosh. Get a welder and some new metal and go to town, baby!

 

Anything is repairable,but it just come down to how much time,patience,and money you have.It sounds to me like you have major trouble,and it probably isn't worth trying to repair.I would say the rust belt has claimed another victim,but without pics it is hard to tell.Good luck,and don't drive it.

Chris

 

Park the car. WIth one control arm off, the other one is stressed even more. If both fail on the same side, the rear will ****, move side to side and rotate around the centerline of the axles. If this happens while driving, the driveshaft could fall out, the brake hose stressed to the point of breaking. Not a fun scenario.

While that may be the extreme case, it's not worth chancing it. You need to ether fix all the rust, or start looking for a clean shell.

 

I am going to try and post pics.

 

Heres one shot.

 

I have to do this in baby steps!

 

Holy freaking rust batman!
Weld it with lots of metal and reinforce everyting as I am sure that is not the only place where the rust is. Alot of welding and time for this car. Probally not worth it, but that is up to you.
I would find you a shell to put your motor in and trash that body.

 

One more.

 

wow thank wisconsin for that one!

 

I've fixed much much worse than that, finding a clean shell isn't the easiest thing in the world, at least not on the east coast, much easier for me to just repair the rust on my existing cars. I would imagine the same holds true for wisconsin, get some metal and a welder and go at it, thats the only real solution, all other fixes are temporary at best....

 

I have a feeling that welding metal over a highly compromised shell would probably be a waste of time?! Unless I had the time to strip this thing apart and form new wheel wells. That would be the right way. But I would rather find a rust free (or little rust as possible) shell. Do most of you guys think this thing should head to the boneyard? Remember all answers will break my heart! But I can take it!

 

I like a guy who is positive! Never say die! Is there a tutorial on fixing this particular problem?

 

danger, danger, do not drive!

 

I need to start making room in the garage so I can take the engine and tranny out. I have another 85, maybe I can fortify that one before the cancer goes to far?!

 

Rust is the #1 killer of our 1st gens. Unless you have extensive body work and welding skills, I would write this one off. The rust/snow/salt belt kills many 1st gens. It might be worth the effort if the rest of the body is in great shape, but if you have rust in the rockers, wheel wells and floor pan, I would be looking for a new shell.

There is a nice one for sale in the for sale section for 300, but it's in California. I have found one in KC, but atm it is potentially spoken for. If it falls through, I will PM you.

Keep an eye on the for sale section, they come up occasionally. You will need to find one outside of the snow/salt belt. Even then they will have some rust.

 

The outer bracket that fell off isn't needed... so don't worry about putting it back.

Get yourself a welding machine and a means to cut metal. It looks bad but if you had all the equipment you'd fix that in about a day.

My car was alot worse and I had to re-do about 85% of each wheel well. That mount on mine had to be removed and new metal in behind.

Cracks can be welded easily. So if you got a crack put in a nice thick bead of weld.

Also maybe a forum member near you could help you out! Or take it into a bodyshop.

Here are some pictures of mine, sorry that I only have pictures of the passenger side. For some reason my driver side was worse aswell.

 

Jimmy,

You fixed one , but is that also the one that you had to scrap in the end due to rust problems??? Point being, one must be careful in selecting the foundation for a project. As others said, there are good shells available. If I had a recommendation to offer, it would be to start with a clean shell.

Capt Murph

 

Thanks for all help your guys! But I do not have any welding skills to speak of ,although I have some fellas I know who are excellent welders. I just think that this car is a "compromised platform". I want to be able to really drive my car with confidence and I think I would always be leary of such a structural repair. So I will start salvaging want I can and put those parts in my other 85.
Thanks again!

 

what a nightmare!

 

Take trochoid's advice on this and dont drive this car, at least not before you fix it. he's dead right about what WILL happen. Whether it can be fixed or not will depend on you and your skill with metal. Also on the extent of damage on the surronding areas. Good luck, I hope it all works out.

 

Thats basically what I had to fix as well Jimmy, and as for a compromised shell, if you fix it right, and go the extra step and brace the area up with some tubing reinforcments etc the car will as strong as stock. It's your call, but if I owned that car I'd be out there welding and sandblasting as we speak!

 

Actually my blue car was worst than "formulaonefans" car, and I would have fixed it if I didn't already have a spare shell.

Even my spare shell was just as rusty, (as you can see from the patch work) it was just easier to sandblast a body that was already stripped than having to dismantle (and remember how everything goes back together) and find room to store and rx7 in pieces. I wanted a 100% rust free car to put all my parts on. If I didn't have the shell sitting around I would have just fixed the blue car , and it would have been less expensive and less time consuming.

I've had to re-paint the new shell which was alot of money saved had I repaired my other car.

I still own the blue car which is probably going to get a tube frame, and become a track car. So the rust on it will be cut out do do the mods, anyway. I work at shop that specializes in superstreet dragcars. A tube frame rx7 has always been something in the back of my head.