Looking for some advice/experience on body repair
 

Hey all,

So I picked up my dream project car, a black 1994 RX-7. The plan is to do a restoration and get it back on the road. After taking the front end and fenders off I noticed that the headlight attachment is pushed inboard on the drivers side (see picture below). The suspension points have not shifted, and the underhood measurements are good. I want to carry on with the mechanical restoration but I have some burning questions about this level of body repair.

Has anyone dealt with this damage before? Any advice/ experience on the cost to have this buttoned up? All of my experience lays in powertrain and suspension and this is new territory for me. I already have new fenders and other bits on the way

I'm excited for this project and look forward to bringing one of the most beautiful cars ever made back onto the road :)

Thanks!
Nick

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...0c6f9d3b80.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...1dced657cd.jpg

You will probably want to work with a body shop on this. Hard to tell from the pictures, sometimes that metal can be massaged back into place so everything fits and lines up properly. If not, some of that metal is still available new from Mazda, a body shop can drill out the spot welds, weld in the new metal, and it will be like new. Or, get a good used part off a donor car.

I would think about getting this taken care of before you start putting the motor in and doing other work. Might be a good excuse to not only get that repaired and straight but to have the engine bay sprayed with fresh paint. If the car itself is getting repainted, it's best to wait until all the mechanical work is done so you aren't scratching up fresh fenders and such.

Good luck! Looks to be a good project! Consider starting a build thread if you haven't done so.

Dale

I'm hoping I can find someone that bought a JDM front clip and get the section of metal I need from them if worst comes to worst.