Ehhwwww....thats why I waited till everything else was done except for my diff. I actually had no choice. Rust started getting at my car and was eating it alive.

yeah i just dont trust myself not to accidently put a dent or big scratch in it. At least if it is still in rough primer it wont be that big of a deal.

I am going to start on my interior tonight cleaning and painting parts.. pretty much just the dash needs some tlc everything else in excellent shape.

I will post pics tomorrow

be careful removing the windshield and rear glass. replacement is hard to find

yeah I have noticed... I cannot remove the front windshield as there is a small crack and I am sure it will spread if removed. It will have to be replaced soon but I am not going to worry until one comes up for sale

here are a couple pics of what I am going to start with.

Dash and guage cluster
I am not a big fan of the beige grey on the plastic pieces so I am going to paint them a lighter silver

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3092.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3093.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3094.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3095.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3096.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3097.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3098.jpg

OK so I went to clean up the interior parts but they were knicked up pretty good and had dirt ground into the plastic that would not come clean no matter what I used. So not being a fan of the brownish silver anyways I went and picked up some silver paint with about the same brightness as the original interior. I also picked up some vinal paint and some gloss and satin black.
I went to town on all the interior this weekend except for the center consol. It needs alot of cleaning and there are cigarette burns/melt marks in the tray under the ebrake handle I have to figure out how to fix.

Heres some pics.

This is the top pad from the center consol.. it use to have green nail polish all over it.
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3116.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3115.jpg

After painting the silver I had to mask off and paint in the holes this was very time consuming, and although the pics look good I may have to do this piece again
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3104.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3108.jpg

After completely taking the dash apart it and painting it here is how it looks altogether with freshly painted parts.
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3106.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3107.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3109.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3110.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3111.jpg

And here is everything
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3112.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3114.jpg

I need a new ashtray mine was broken:(

Hey John. How can you tell your from BC. Zigzags on the kitchen table with a bag of (oregeno) hehe. Looks good keep up the work.

Didn't notice that.....:)

yo if you need to get your dash right give just dashes a call they restore that kinda stuff for not to much money

do you have a link to there website?

yes i do actually
http://www.justdashes.com/
i whould also mention you will have to send them pics of your stuff cuz the car is so rare and unheard of to most people. ( they do mostly american classics seems thats what they get most any way)

Hmm, I'll have to keep that place in mind. My dash has a few cracks in it and some other bits are broken and what not. Not to mention if I ever get at my R100, the whole interior of that car is destroyed!

stopped by the body shop today, to see how things are comming along, and here are a couple pics I took with my phone.

All the front suspension has been removedand he is going to cut the frame rail out from the front to just under the drivers seat
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01008-1512.jpg

And here is the roof he has been working on all day.. it looks like a pin cushion
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01008-1511.jpg

low gloss black paint is much better to use than high gloss. You cant see the streak and it will blend in more.

OK stopped by the body shop again today to chat. Heres what I saw:

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1056.jpg

Underneath looking up through the battery tray and of course the main catalyst for this body work.. the rotton driver side frame rail.
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1108.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1057.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1107.jpg

The roof had so many dents in it I didnt think they could all be pulled out and repaired without lots of filler... I was wrong! Still a bit more to do up there but it is really comming along.. :nod:
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1101.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1101.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1107.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01012-1107.jpg

Epic.

wemt for another trip to the body shop on my way home from work with a better camara. He has cut out the outside of the frame rail.
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3191.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3188.jpg

Heres a couple pics of the roof again
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3189.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3190.jpg

Oh and heres a pic of the roof console I painted last night.... wierd thing was the platic part was already the exact same silver color I painted the rest of the dash.... I still painted it and then maticulously painted the raised letters black
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3192.jpg

It really is an amazing process watching a talented bodyperson at work. First, they find dents and divots that no mortal could see. Then, they know just where to pull and push to make it all better.

Did you count how many studs were in the roof?

Looks great so far though! Seems like a bit more rust then you bargained for, but that's always the case. I started repairing a dime sized hole in my Cosmo last night (one of two in the floor) and had to cut 4" square of metal out before I was happy.

No I didnt count the studs I should though.. I will count them when he is all done in a couple days, they have to heat the roof and stretch it so it gets its strength back.
No not more rust than I was thinking actually it is only the frame and battery tray that have been heavily effected by the rust. This frame rail is 90% of the rust on this car.. everything else is a little surface. Couple small holes like you were saying Aaron here and there too, havent found any body filler either except on the drivers front quarter panel.

Lookin forward to seeing more progress later this week.

O.O those Frame rails are scary, good luck with your build, can't wait to see it done.

Looks like your spending alot of money on that body work. He is doing a great job.

Yeah I am willing to spend whatever to get the body straight. Everything else can be done slowly. In total all rust and dents removed should come in at around $2500

I agree well worth it. Nothing beats a striaght body. You sure you dont want to paint it while your thier?? You should talk to your body guy and see what he says.

looks like this will be a great project car... I am quite jealous, it needs some work, but what 36 year old car does not...

Good luck with the build


J.

Yeah I have been thinking about it but I cant go blow another 2-3G's on this car before xmas... but it will come. I would paint it if I had deeper pockets but I have a jeep I cant stop modding as well
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...DSCF3154-1.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...2/DSCF3167.jpg

Damn.....one project at a time was all I could handel.

Yeah my wallet takes some serious hits between Jeepin' and Rotary cars....

thats it? try owning total of 7 cars, of which 4 are rotaries (3 RX-3s and 1 FB). if I touch one, I have to touch them all.

I hear ya wacky I have so many ongoing projects I finally downgraded and sold a bunch now I just have the Jeep Rx-4 and a FB for autocross

Wow i know the feeling john..im getting rid of some of my projects myself, so i can concentrate on one...my track car...

well at least one is easy to find parts for lol

well not alot to report from the body shop. Still slowly pulling the frame rail apart. They started on the front lower valance and front bumper getting it straight and ready to fill in the bumperette mounting holes. I will try and get some more pics this week.

I am looking for some ash trays to finish off the interior..... anyone?

Well I have been sick for a couple days so I took the day off work today and went to the body shop to see how things are progressing.:icon_tup:

I got there just in time to check out the piece Ray had made to start replacing the rotten frame rail. Held the piece up to the old one and the otherside and it is identical. Perfect placing of the strength rolls.
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01019-1043.jpg

Got to help him fit it in and watch him tack it up:nod:

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01019-1050.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01019-1050.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...01019-1053.jpg

Went back last night with my camara instead of just a phone.

by this time he had the inner frame rail cut out and was beginning to gut the inside of the rail.

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3204.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3196.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3197.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3198.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3199.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3203.jpg

The old inner frame rail with the front bar attached
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3202.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3201.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...4/DSCF3200.jpg

damn that is some crazy restoration!! Must be putting you back a few..

I think I would of just gone out and bought a better roller lol

double post.

$2-3K not that bad

And as for a better roller.... I cant find another Rx-4 more complete or anywhere close to me and the car I am putting together has 70,000 miles and is 99.9% complete

The frame rail is the worst part of the car due to the years of being exposed to brake fluid

Its more about the build than the money...

Is he going to weld a new front bar? Your front end might flex a bit without it.

Yes a new bar will be put in the original was used to pull the car at some point and was damaged so it is easiest to replace it.

Wow that's some bad rust you got there.:eek:

Impressed with the work that going into your old girl.

I will be keeping an eye on this thread, keen to see progress.:icon_tup:

It's amazing how good something can look untill you start to tear it down. Rust just seems to multiply as you try and fix it.

Thanks.. too bad I dont have the funds to throw a 20B in there. I am looking into a full bridge 13b though

I like my half bridge. Still get the sound and power of the full bridge, but it isn't a handfull to drive around. It will idle just fine at 1k and it has pretty good bottom end torque and power. All depends on what you want to do with the car though. I drive mine a fair bit and for some pretty good distances. If you just want a weekend machine to rip up the streets with you probably wouldn't mind the full bridge.

I am sure Iwill drive it more than I think I will but mostly it will be just a weekend toy..

So another local BC rotary enthusiest has posted a pic of my car from 2004 when he was interested in buying it. Figured I'd share..... now I know where all the dents came from on the roof and hood.
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...0017853601.jpg

Lucky me, I'm from sunny Southern CA. Never bought any old school with rust.

yes lucky you, damn rust

That's why a poking screwdriver is an important tool in any vehicle purchase! ;)

Maybe I'm sick, but that snowmobile picture just makes me laugh.

I laughed this morning too