Konnichiwa fellow rotary enthusiasts. While I did make an earlier introduction here on rx7club.com https://www.rx7club.com/old-school-other-rotary-63/restomod-rx3-989511/ I am starting a new thread for the video blog and photo shoots of my project.

Some interesting history about my two cars on this opening video. Some of you may have seen the 1st vid I posted of just the 1976 RX3. This 1st installment below actually includes about 1.5 minutes of that shoot pared down a bit. The version on YouTube is HighDef 1080P for those of you who appreciate resolution.

I try to keep things interesting so check back for more videos and photos as I get the work done

Cheers Mates!!

http://youtu.be/0XO43m2jsgo

 

looks like you will have a pretty good time restoring one.
if you want to sell the other though, let me know.

 

AWESOME!!! keep it up and get that thing back on the road!!! If you need anything give me a shout... I have a few spares hidden away... good luck on the restoration. Stick with it and you will get it done... Mine looked like yours not too long ago

 

Here's what the engine bay looked like before I did anything. 25 years worth of dirt, grime, tree debris, etc...




Vacuuming the rat turds...




First wash (of many) of the engine bay...

 

It's pretty cool that you still have your first RX3, that shift *** is pretty cool, is that a dealer add on or were they all like that? when you're done with the silver one you should make the Green one into a drag car if you're into drag racing

 

No, I think the stock shift know was an ugly brown thing with the 1,2,3,4,R shift pattern on it. I got that *** you see there from a place called Kingsborne. The threads are damaged though, I'm gonna have to do CPR on it I think

 

Actually, the green one wasn't my first RX3. My first was a 1974 RX3 Wagon (lost my virginity in that one, oh the memories). Bought it for $1000, wrecked it, then sold it for $1900 (these are 1980 dollars) after the body & paint work made her pretty again. All in a matter of months. I did have the coupe prior to selling the wagon. Somewhere in a box I've got a photo of both sitting together.

As far as turning the green one into a drag racer goes, I'll leave that to someone with that passion.

 

That video I posted (at top) is way too boring. Sorry guys. This one ROCKS! (and is way shorter) ...


Seriously though, I've got the silver car mostly stripped and almost ready to deliver to the body shop. Just gotta remove the glass and conquer a couple stubborn screws holding the metal flashing that goes between the crash pad and the windshield.

A HUGE thanks goes to tom0261 who has helped me wrench over the last couple sessions. Tom provides elbow grease, wisdom, & experience that is greatly appreciated.

Ozzyincali has also been golden in sourcing knowledge and tool loaning. He's great people if I ever knew one

And the project continues...

 

Day 1 of stripping the 1976...


The deeper I dig I realize its not in as good a shape as I thought at the start.
Rust really SLOWS the process. I should have gotten much more work done.

 

Hey you started that's a good sign

 

Nice project mate, keep those vids coming. You might find when removing the front guards (or fenders as you guys call 'em) the bolts holding the lower section to the underside of the body, are prone to snapping like that relay bolt did, the little bastard!

The rear 1/4 panel rust didn't look too bad, mine was much worse than that. Oh, be carefull taking the stainless trim strip off the nosecone too, they're expensive.

Good luck with the progress.


Keith

 

Any updates mate? Very keen to see progress vids.


Keith

 

Indeed!

There IS an update. Thanks for asking Keith...

 

You called it Keith. Both sides snapped even though I was babying them by going back and forth little by little. Didn't matter. Water pools in that trough and rust happens. Weakens them up quite a bit.

 

Oh nice, good stuff, I timed it well. Yep, I've snapped a few of those bolts over the years. I see you've got the front windscreen out too but not the back one, did the front come out OK? The front screens you can buy from anywhere that sell car windows (over here anyway) but the back will take a bit of looking for if it happened to brake on you. I used a device called a "pull knife" on mine, 5-10 minutes work and it came out very easy with no damge whatsoever.

Actually, "gypsy" on ausrotary.com (not sure if you're a member there or not) is supposed to be getting a limited run of rear screens made if you end up needing one, not real cheap though.

That plate behind the back seat is interesting too, I don't think we got them in the Aussie spec cars.

So what's the plans for it, colour, engine-drive line etc. keeping it original or going for some upgrades?

Oh, and keep those vids coming too!! Longer is better!



Keith

 

The glass is still in, hard to see in the video but still there. As a matter of fact, I just cracked the front screen even with a special tool. "Rookie mistake" cries Ozzy but that's the best I could do without veteran oversight LOL.

Haven't touched the rear glass yet. I'm probably going to search for someone that knows how before ruining the rear. I'll check out ausrotary.com and look for gypsy - see what he's got up his sleeve.

So far I'm thinking stock 12A NA. I've got 82 GS and 84 GSL engines lying around. 82 is blown, the 84 supposedly runs - got it cheap - even if it won't start I've got parts.

Been traveling a lot lately so haven't done much. I've got another VLog coming in a few minutes

 

A closer look at the doors.
Pulling the weatherstrip.
Dash dis-assembly.

 

Yea definitely check out John's (gypsy) RX-3 build thread in members rides, assuming you're a member on AR and you've got a spare 8 hours to read it all.

I was unsure of how to get my back window without damaging it, so I asked in the tech section and was told about the pull knife, best 22 bucks I ever spent.


Keith

 

Ok, after watching the vid, the front guards from Phils, are they the new ones you're getting or good used ones? The first of his new guards weren't very good, someone on AR (possibly jypsy) bought a pair and they were shaped wrong, maybe they've improved since then though.

Regarding the bumper bar spacer section on the nose cone that you took off, I was always curious about them, I thought they might've been spot welded on.

With your crash pad, you could probably get it reskinned to original specs again rather than getting one custom made. Most people here get them reskinned.


Keith

 

Hows the progress going, any updates?


Keith

 

Right before going to the body shop...

 

My heart bleeds for you after seeing that cracked windscreen. A couple of expensive calls to AUS will replace it however. Can't wait to see it after the body work.

 

Still no luck with getting the windscreens out huh? If the front screen just has those two small cracks it might be repairable.


Keith

 

I visited the car today at the body shop.
He says the fenders from Phil's Rotary were very difficult to install. It required much tweaking and enlarging of a couple bolt holes.

Also, my body guy was successful at removing the rear glass without cracking or breaking it. I am SO grateful for that. Of course, now that the rear glass is finally out without damage I find a source for brand new screens (front & rear) at a reasonable price.

As for the screws under the center dash tin piece between the firewall and the crash pad...he got those out too. No idea how. God bless him.

 

I suppose sometimes it's better to leave things to the experts. Great to hear he got it out damage free though!

Someone on AR was saying the Phil's guards are being fixed up so they actually fit properly, must've had a lot of complaints about em. I hear they'll be doing all panels soon too, bootlids, bonnets, doors, rear quarters, beaver panels, the lot.


Keith