I have an 82 GSL 5 speed that has rear corner damage. I have had her for about 3-4 years now and I have worked on her here and there, but I have had several people tell me that it would be easier to replace the quarter panel than to fix her. I have scraped the bondo off (from someone's misquided attempt to fix it) and have sanded it to the metal, but she still needs a lot of work. Now, I know that the bluebook value for her is under $300, and I have put a lot of money into her already. Would it be worth fixing....should I just replace the quarter panel or bondo it again, or should I just scrap her. I know that most of you are diehard Rx7 fans, Id appreciate any advice.

Thanks

Manda

 

Quite the quandry, eh? Could you provide more detail....That is regards to the overall condition of the car. Is there rust in the rear wheel wells? How many miles on the engine? Are the brakes in good shape, the suspension/steering, and the clutch?

If the car is in rather decent runable shape I wouldn't worry about the rear panel. A banged up rear panel certainly doesn't affect performance, and I'd get it done when I really felt the need to. On the other hand if the damage is "one more thing" on a long list of "have to do" just to keep the car runable....Shoot, I need brakes, rotors, new shocks and struts, engine needs rebuilt, rearend whines, tires are shot, stereo won't work, seats are shot, etc. Well, you know what to do.

Denny, from the 'ol corncrib...

 

Hmm....let's see....*smile*. It has extensive rust along the bottom edges as well as underneath....the person I bought it from let it sit in his yard for about a year. The heat shielding has been torn away over time along the ehaust pipe, so along with the exhaust being rusty it has small holes (thats why it needs to be replaced). I dont have to worry about emissions here and I can get just liability (cant see paying 100 every six months on a car that will only get totaled anyways). Relatively new tires, new UV Joints (but the drive shaft needs balancing), new water pump, has about 190000 miles on it. It runs really good....I can go about 400 miles without filling the tank and all that jazz....she just isnt looking really pretty right now. From what I can tell, someone wrecked the back corner, bondoed it, then wrecked it again.

I have her jacked up in my workshop now, have the corner sanded to the metal and the bumpers off (I have sanded them to the original black) I just would like someones opinion on whether or not Im wasting money here.

Sounds like you and me are in the same boat. I have been told to get another 7 from a junkyard and move everything under the hood over....but I dunno....

thanks for your time!!

Manda

 

How much rust could ou get in Alabama, not like they would use much road aslt there. if the rust isn't through then you could repair it easily.

Vic

 

First of all, I wasnt born in Alabama, I have just recently moved here....and it isnt rust from road salt.....as my post says its rusted because someone parked it in their yard (ie...grass....grass gets wet) for almost a year. The rust has pretty much eaten through the underside of the car, heck when I bought it and replaced the tires it took hours to get the wheels off, they were rusted to the car....so you see....*wink*

 

Alot of it depends how bad you want to keep the car. 1st gens are notorious for rust inside the rear fender wells and the area just underneath it. I have an 83 and had to replace the metal in both sides. It seems like the only real mechanical problem is the exhaust, besides the little things. Honestly, I have lost track of how much I've spent on my car. It's been rebuilt 3 times from wrecks.
You said that you like to work on your own stuff, I would say hang onto it. Check the junkyards for the parts and fix it.
What part of AL are you in? I live in Smiths, near Phenix City. I have a friend here who is a rotary guru.
Good luck.

 

I live outside Birmingham, and I know where a few parts cars are if you want to replace the quarter panel.