RotorExperiment7

Hi folks, I am new to this site, and I am hoping to find some good help and honest opinions. My friend has a 1993 RX-7 that I want to buy. He only wants 2k for it but it is wrecked. It needs a whole new front end. The engine is missing a few parts but the tranny and everything else is good to go. I am wondering if any of you know of place or maybe even a wrecked rx, that will sell me just the "frame" front end of the car. The actual that is messed up is where everything bolts on to. I am hoping that I can find the right parts and fix her up and have a really nice RX. (the interior is in mint conditon) I can provide pics, but not right this moment. Thanks for all of ya'lls help. (if i get any, lol), sorry i just over read this and realized it sounds like the frame is bent. the frame of the car is perfect. like, where the head lights and the radiator and all that stuff is gone the heck and back.

bajaman

This doesn't SOUND impossible, but you ARE talking about quite a project, all in all. Browse around the 'For Sale' section of this forum under the 3rd gen part of it and you'll see there are always several cars being parted out. There are several big-time parts guys there constantly, as well as the unfortunate few that have totalled one out.
So it shouldn't be that hard to find the parts you need, i.e. bumper and substructure, fenders, etc. to get the car cosmetically sound again.
And there are many, many engine replacement options....heck there are several complete engines for sale right now, reasonably priced.
So...let's say you buy this car for $2K, you WILL put at least $4K more into it just to get it up and running. Then to make it look right you'll need to get it repainted...figure another $2K - $3K. So....you'll end up spending around $8K - $10K and a HELLUVA lot of time (months, in reality) getting it on the road. But...she ought to serve you well then....and be all ready for you to sink another $5K in mods into....lol!

This is not an impossible job, impractical yes, but not impossible. You aren't ******* around with some damned Cavalier here....this is a sophisticated high performance sports car that demands dedication and premium components.

RotorExperiment7

well, thats what i like to hear. someone that admits its gonna be tough job, but worth it. My friend is a very good mechanic, and he knows alot about these cars and said that ill spend about 6k (other than the cost of what he is charging) and it will be back to normal. from the front of the doors back, is perfect, (exept for a dent, but it an easy puller. and they tranny is perfect. when you said substructure, is that what i am talking about? like, the pieces of metal that is put together that everything is bolted to? and yeah, i plan on doing alot of engine work. they only thing im worried about is getting the main part(s) i need, which is all that front end stuff. im not eveing gonna be putting the stock fenders and stuff on. i'll put on some nice racing ones or something. or unless its just a body kit.
well, thanks for you input man, i appreciate it. anyone else who reads this, if any you know of any donor rx7, semi local to GA please let me know.

Rocking Rotary

iTrader: (14)

I would part it out. You would make your money back and then some.

RotorExperiment7

yeah, you are probably right, but i want an rx7 too. and i dont feel like paying 10,000 for a car that i wont really have any pride (as far as building) in it.

dradon03

iTrader: (2)

Just look at the rollers that sell on here. i remember Fritz sole just a chassis for 500$ i think or maybe 1000$ with the windows or 1500$ with the dash. i sincerily can't remember.

It will be a hard job but it all depends on how much money you want to sink into the money pot. If you want to build it yourself I would personally look at a roller.

Why? Because then you can choose every single component you want and at the end have your ideal car (for a little while). You choose LS route, 20b, 13brew with a single, v mount front mount, everything..........

Good luck have fun and welcome to the magic of disappearing dollar bills,

Alex

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

If the whole front end is wrecked, it's safe to say your project will easily exceed $10k to get it back into shape. The stock parts are that expensive and numerous.

I suggest you find a car with just a blown motor, or something less extreme. It takes some experience with these cars to not leave yourself up s**t creek with an empty wallet.

Dave

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

I agree. Something THAT major is INCREDIBLY difficult if you're new to these cars. You'd be shocked at how many little nickel-dime things there are in the front end of a car. All that stuff has to come out for a proper repair, too.

It is nice to build a car yourself, but only if you have the skill, experience, and expertise to do so. Not to mention driving will - you HAVE to keep working on it. I can't tell you how many friends of mine start in on "project cars", tear the whole thing apart, buy some shiny parts, then end up parting off the whole mess because they a) have NO idea how to put everything back together, b) lose interest in the project, c) finally get it halfway in one piece and have no idea why it won't run, leaks everything, and has no working electronics.

If you really want an FD, save up and get a nice, clean, running car to start with. An FD is NOT a car to see how cheap you can get, or how cheap you can build. It will bite you in the *** HARD if you cheap out on this car.

Dale

Corusco

I agree that finding a roller with a sound frame is a much more realistic approach, and won't set you back by a whole lot more. The problem is finding one. I picked my rolling chassis with two trannies, a motor with one broken seal and practically everything needed to get the car rolling again in stock condition for 5 grand, and I have seen other clean rolling chassis since then going for as little as 3. The difference in price to me is worth a sound mind that nothing is skewed at all, and I don't have to put any effort or worry getting the frame straight.

That said, there are several retailers online and on this board that sell front clips (the front rails and everything in between), just do a search for "rx7 front clip" on here or google.

Whatever you decide, good luck and have fun! It's a long, arduous road bringing these bad boys back to life, but it will be awesome!

RotorExperiment7

Well, from about where the headlights are mounted and maybe just a little bit behind that, from there up, is useless. I guess I'll look around for some parts and front end clips. My buddy told me that since I am an experienced weldor, and cutter. I could cut the front end clip off, and buy onther one, and weld it back on. From what I seen of his RX, all that is there is 1"-1¼" welds. And that isn't nothing to me. Reguardless of the type of metal, I can do it all.

RotorExperiment7

Oh yeah, and the frame is not bent at all. Its perfect. The car doesn't have that much milage, someone had it for a collectors item, and coming home one night while it was raining, got cut off and lost it. Ran into a wall. Interior is mint condition.

FJDRX7

iTrader: (32)

Bad idea, dont buy it and give me your friends phone number and i buy the car,its a joke, buy the car and rebuild the 7 back, it will pay off at the end

RotorExperiment7

I think I am. Even If it costs some good penny's I will still do it. Now knowing that I can buy a donor car, It should be more easy (more easy, meaning it is still as hard as a 13 year old constipated turd)lol. Well, when I buy the car, I will have a buy a few engine parts. And then work on the front end. Im hoping to put an extremely sweet *** body kit on it. But I'm not even totally sure If im gonna buy. My friend said, buying the motor parts, and all the other parts needed. 6k makbe $500.00 more would get it back to stock running perfect. And is about like ya'll. He knows his stuff.

DGblk93

Finding a front clip might be harder than finding a whole roller. When people wreck these it's usually in the front.
Depending on the damage - I think $6000 is a really low estimate. Like everyone else said - the little parts that help put it all back together are what kills you. A 15 dollar clip here, $40 hose there adds up very fast. I have recently done this and, while the end result is satisfying, the cost was painful. If I ever sell the car I'll never get my money back. Not even close.
Example - the 'c' clip that is critical for holding the oil cooler on is $40 from any dealer. It's literally a wire clip that hooks the oil cooler to the oil lines. It's stupid little crap like that which will end up putting you over budget if you estimate $6000. I don't want to be a 'wet blanket' but if you are hearing 6K for an estimate, plan on 8K.

DriftTrix

I've seen RHD front clips for FD's in the 3000's range. It comes with a low milage motor/ usually a good hood and a sound body. I would be considering a RHD conversion if i was you. Ive had friends that did it and it didnt take long at all. They cut the subframe on their car and just welded it together (not quite that easy but close) took less then a week and didnt have to buy any accessory pieces

FJDRX7

iTrader: (32)

good buy it, is plenty of stock parts in peoples garages, if need parts post it here in the for sale /wb forum, it will take some time to get all the parts and im moving to GA in May and we need more FD's running arround

RotorExperiment7

alright, im tired of seeing it and not knowing what it means, call me retarded if you want, but what does "FD" mean? I just talked to the guy today, and he said my best bet would be to buy a "half cut" from Japan. He said it would cost 5k the max, shipped. And thats from the dash, up. Im willing to put some money in this car, I'm not rich, and I'm not poor. But if I get a feeling that Im gonna be spending ALOT of money on it. I'm out like a fat kid in dodge ball. I expect to spend about 2k on the car and the max about 8k, but that guy still tells me that there is no way that i will spend that much. He must know about all of those parts ya'll are talking about, and have them too. Cause he says after i find a front clip, and get it put on, there wont be that many parts to buy.

RotorExperiment7

also, all these parts ya'll are mentioning, i think they will be easier to find, maybe not a perfect rolling chassis, but some other parts will be semi easy, but cheaper. But this is exactly why i posted a thread, to see what other's had to say, and see what i was in for. lol. to some, its worth it, some its not. It seems like most people are all about making one faster, from stock or minor problems, but not bringing one back to life.

FJDRX7

iTrader: (32)

You now what, after 4 years with my car, i dont know what FD means ? thats a good question.

DriftTrix

FD is what japanese manufacuters came up with as a vin code for the third generation RX-7. FC is the second generation, FB is the first generation, and FA as i understand it was a prototype car that never got produced

RotorExperiment7

lol, thats funny. well, i guess i know now. do any one of ya'll know anything about a Half cut? its supposedly an rx-7 cut in half, and the half i need is sent to me. lol. My friend mentioned it, but i dont know where to even start to look for them.