Video Log Of The Restomodding Of My '76 RX-5 Cosmo (New Vid Jan 5/2023)
02-23-12, 09:14 AM
#376
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I can't say exactly when the next video is coming out because I don't quite know for sure. I've been working hard since part 20, but this is also a busy time of year for me. There is an auto show nearly every weekend (the last one, AutoRama, is Saturday in Detroit) from mid January until the end of February. I was also in Jamaica for the 2nd week of February, the first vacation in about 8 years. 
My intention with part 21 is to have all the front end sheet metal finished, so that we can finally move on to something that doesn't suck. Because all that sheet metal is time consuming and tedious, it's going to take some time. Keep in mind that all the repairs I do on the passenger side have to be replicated on the driver side, so when you do see part 21, the work presented will actually be double what is on the video (I'm not going to cover the same work twice).
My intention with part 21 is to have all the front end sheet metal finished, so that we can finally move on to something that doesn't suck. Because all that sheet metal is time consuming and tedious, it's going to take some time. Keep in mind that all the repairs I do on the passenger side have to be replicated on the driver side, so when you do see part 21, the work presented will actually be double what is on the video (I'm not going to cover the same work twice).
03-14-12, 02:33 PM
#379
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I just can't wait to see when the engine goes in, and the first startup! I found out about your 20 build video series this week and watched all 20 within one day!!!
03-17-12, 10:47 AM
#380
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I promised no more sheet metal, and I mean, no more sheet metal. 
Part 21 will be the last sheet metal episode for a long time, which does mean that I need to complete a lot of sheet metal before part 21 is released. I'm working hard, and actually about to have a quick lunch then go to the shop to work on the passenger front area where the firewall meets the floor and inner fender. It's all cut out at the moment and I've started rebuilding it. There will be a wait for part 21, but it will be worth it because after 21, all the good stuff starts happening.
Part 21 will be the last sheet metal episode for a long time, which does mean that I need to complete a lot of sheet metal before part 21 is released. I'm working hard, and actually about to have a quick lunch then go to the shop to work on the passenger front area where the firewall meets the floor and inner fender. It's all cut out at the moment and I've started rebuilding it. There will be a wait for part 21, but it will be worth it because after 21, all the good stuff starts happening.
04-05-12, 07:22 PM
#382
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Part 21: Front Sheet Metal Extravaganza 1
Part 21 is finally here! It's been quite a while since the last episode, and a lot has been accomplished. Not quite as much as I would have expected due to a busy time of year. After a trip to Jamaica at the beginning of February kept me out of the shop for two weeks, we entered auto show season with an auto show every weekend until mid March. Now that's over with, I've been able to get back down to the oh-so-fun sheet metal work. This episode focuses on the mass amount of front end sheet metal repairs in the fender and passenger foot well/sill area. Episode 21 is actually only the first part to this set of repairs, which we will finish off in part 22. And after that, no more sheet metal for a while! I promise! Included in this episode: cutting out rusted metal, drilling spot welds, loads of patch panel fabrication, welding it all together, weld through primer, POR-15, grinding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUDVgOoj9UM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUDVgOoj9UM
04-05-12, 09:34 PM
#383
Good job Aaron. Glad your taking your time and making snug fits. weld punchers work wonders dont they . My eyes are very sensitive from welding without a mask (idiot) and this video actually hurt them a few times. Your doing a great job. I am finishing up my front subframe tomorrow, getting the car back on the ground and finishing the interior. I dont know wha tyour plans are for the interior of your car but i am going to spray the lizard skin sound control and ceramic product.
. My eyes are very sensitive from welding without a mask (idiot) and this video actually hurt them a few times. Your doing a great job. I am finishing up my front subframe tomorrow, getting the car back on the ground and finishing the interior. I dont know wha tyour plans are for the interior of your car but i am going to spray the lizard skin sound control and ceramic product.
04-05-12, 09:51 PM
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Aaron, what are you going to do in part 23? Any idea on when part 22 is coming out? This build is MAD, and I can't wait to see how the finished body turns out and when it's time for the engine to go in and first startup!
04-06-12, 10:30 AM
#385
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Good job Aaron. Glad your taking your time and making snug fits. weld punchers work wonders dont they . My eyes are very sensitive from welding without a mask (idiot) and this video actually hurt them a few times. Your doing a great job. I am finishing up my front subframe tomorrow, getting the car back on the ground and finishing the interior. I dont know wha tyour plans are for the interior of your car but i am going to spray the lizard skin sound control and ceramic product.
. My eyes are very sensitive from welding without a mask (idiot) and this video actually hurt them a few times. Your doing a great job. I am finishing up my front subframe tomorrow, getting the car back on the ground and finishing the interior. I dont know wha tyour plans are for the interior of your car but i am going to spray the lizard skin sound control and ceramic product.On the interior I'm debating between using the old fashioned Dynamat or whether to just spray in Lizard Skin. Ultimately the decision will likely depend on which one is easier to remove once installed, just in case I need to access part of the floor again.
I make no promises, but I really want part 23 to finally get into some engine related fabrication. Turbo manifold, setting up the intake manifold, cooling system and such. Then with the turbo in place I can build the rest of the exhaust. Oh, and I'm planning to put a 2nd gen front subframe under the car, so at some point I'll need to figure that out.
04-07-12, 09:50 AM
#387
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My projects don't stall or die. Once I've started something, it is carried through to the end.
Just that the time from January to the end of February is a very busy time with all the holidays, auto shows, and this year, the first real vacation I've taken since sometime around 2004.
Now, if only I was done the sheet metal...
Just that the time from January to the end of February is a very busy time with all the holidays, auto shows, and this year, the first real vacation I've taken since sometime around 2004.
Now, if only I was done the sheet metal...
04-17-12, 02:18 PM
#389
Great Video .. I cant wait to finish another of my honda project is my last one then off to my RX8 engine rebuilt make it my daily and get back on my RX3 project , Im not buying no more cars or any cars for a quick money making well unless I can make good money on it to put more money on my RX3 but that would only delay my project..
Thanks for video I have great ideas from it thanks .
Thanks for video I have great ideas from it thanks .
04-23-12, 10:21 AM
#390
Haha! I remember getting a knock on my door early in the AM.
Me: Uh, yeah?
Brian, Wayne, or Ryan (can't remember which): We just got kicked out of the hotel, we'll be here in the morning to pick you up.
Me: Uh, ok?
But back on topic, I think this will be a really cool build. There's not too many Cosmos around, but to see one done up like this will be really awesome.
Me: Uh, yeah?
Brian, Wayne, or Ryan (can't remember which): We just got kicked out of the hotel, we'll be here in the morning to pick you up.
Me: Uh, ok?
But back on topic, I think this will be a really cool build. There's not too many Cosmos around, but to see one done up like this will be really awesome.
04-23-12, 10:31 PM
#391
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Nice work, keep it up!
04-24-12, 08:35 AM
#392
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Yes, indeed it was. Rotary Revolution 2005 was the last Revolution as well. Very good times. Too bad the weather was not exactly cooperating. Still had fun, and it was sad to learn that no more Revolutions would take place. It could become a hell of an event, if moved to a bit later in the year.
Very nice. The previous year at Revolution a group of us Canadians went out on the town for a night at the bar(s). We left via cab, but were brought back to the hotel by Indiana's finest. Not quite sure what happened that night, though apparently we had fun.
Very nice. The previous year at Revolution a group of us Canadians went out on the town for a night at the bar(s). We left via cab, but were brought back to the hotel by Indiana's finest. Not quite sure what happened that night, though apparently we had fun.
06-04-12, 10:11 AM
#393
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Part 22 - Front Sheet Metal Extravaganza 2 - My 76 Mazda RX-5 Cosmo Restoration
Part 22 of my '76 Mazda RX-7 Cosmo restoration finishes up the passenger side front sheet metal. In this episode I reconstruct the passenger front inner and outer sill, floor and kick panel. And the great thing is that as promised, this is the last sheet metal episode for a long, long time! While I have the same set of repairs to do on the driver side, that will all be done off camera so that the next episode gets to the good stuff. Included in this episode: making templates, fabricating patch panels, POR-15, cutting, grinding, welding, floor pan repair.
06-10-12, 12:46 PM
#394
Great video man, my rx3 must be a twin of your Cosmo it rusted in same area very very similar , thanks for video now makes my guess work easy now. I haven't touch my car since I've been working on my rx8 . Check my progress on my 8 .
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=231171
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=231171
06-14-12, 08:51 AM
#395
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That's a really common area for most cars to rust because debris gets trapped on all the horizontal surfaced, and there aren't many drain holes from the factory. As soon as I have the fender reinstalled I'm going to cut a nice drain slot on the bottom of that nose piece to keep the water from pooling.
08-01-12, 09:28 AM
#398
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It's still going to be a while before a new video. Turns out that a situation came up in June (I'll explain it on video) that kept me away from working on the Cosmo for the majority of the month. And it just so happens that July has been a busy month for other reasons. One of which is that black FD sometimes seen in the background at my shop is on the road, so the last few weekends have been tuning on that thing. Steam cleaned the Insight, had a few late weeknights at work, taking care of stuff around the house, etc. It's all sucked up time.
However I have been able to complete the repair around the driver side shock tower area, and will soon be moving on to the wheel well/foot well area as well as the floor. As soon as that is done, I'll be running the camera again as I start the more interesting work in the engine bay.
However I have been able to complete the repair around the driver side shock tower area, and will soon be moving on to the wheel well/foot well area as well as the floor. As soon as that is done, I'll be running the camera again as I start the more interesting work in the engine bay.
08-01-12, 09:34 PM
#399
It's still going to be a while before a new video. Turns out that a situation came up in June (I'll explain it on video) that kept me away from working on the Cosmo for the majority of the month. And it just so happens that July has been a busy month for other reasons. One of which is that black FD sometimes seen in the background at my shop is on the road, so the last few weekends have been tuning on that thing. Steam cleaned the Insight, had a few late weeknights at work, taking care of stuff around the house, etc. It's all sucked up time.
However I have been able to complete the repair around the driver side shock tower area, and will soon be moving on to the wheel well/foot well area as well as the floor. As soon as that is done, I'll be running the camera again as I start the more interesting work in the engine bay.
However I have been able to complete the repair around the driver side shock tower area, and will soon be moving on to the wheel well/foot well area as well as the floor. As soon as that is done, I'll be running the camera again as I start the more interesting work in the engine bay.
