Crash Damage Repair
 

Had an "incident" in my IT7 car at the last race of the season and looking for some advice on how to return it to raceable condition, not looking for a show repair, just looking to make it meet the SCCA's neat and clean rule (after all, I did paint it with a roller.)

here are pics of the damage


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...2414e9824e.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...823497f641.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...a8c01af1b2.jpg


really would like to do this myself without cutting the rear quarter out and I am confident the door and front fender can be banged out...

I am leaning toward drilling a few holes in the smashed in quarter, bolting a couple I-hooks through the holes, through a couple pieces of wood with large washers on the other side, yanking the i-bolts with ratchet straps to pull it away and then smoothing it out from the inside if possible.

I'd love to hear other racers input on how they'd handle this one.

A combination of beating it out and using a stud welder with the appropriate puller. Something like this:
Stud Welder Dent Repair Kit

I had a similar impact on my rear corner but not as bad. Actually both sides had damage. I pulled out as much as I could then cut off the bad wrinkles. Then cut up a parts car and tack welded the good panels right over the old ones. Then a bit of bondo.

Sorry to see that Jason. Great looking FB though; not a bad roller paint job :icon_tup:

Good luck getting it sorted in the offseason!


How was your season prior to the last race?

I'm thinking this might work after I get it back into shape a decent amount, a slide hammer wont do much with how it sits currently

I am thinking I may end up having to go this route though I'd hate to have to cut it up and weld (I don't weld......yet.)

My Peter IS quite pretty thanks!
We'll have it ready for April....and the season was OK, my home built motor is running well with no issues and that was really all I was hoping for!

practise on the front fender, worst case Mazda will sell you a new one for $100...

the rear will come out, but you'll want some experience

Use the aforementioned stud welder to spot weld multiple puller hooks on the same spot and take a big-ass slide hammer to it. That's what the body guy I know does. You might have to use a BUNCH of those little hooks on the same spot. They're reusable, though.

Did that happen on day 1 or two? I was only there for day 2 but it seemed like alot of cars went home with new dents.. some larger than others

day 2 just as it started to rain....and yeah, last race weekend of the year makes for some bone head moves but I have no one to blame other than myself :)

little update...

took the BFH to it to start and found out that part of the car is stronger than it looks, about an hour of beating resulted in popping off the bondo'd gas fill lid....not much else


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...8c2e9494b5.jpg

then we got serious and introduced our friend the portapower.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...2132294524.jpg

it's still not pretty but I think the portapower has cut down on the area that'll need to be cut and patched.

with race season upon us I figured I'd finish up the thread.

we first yanked on it with the truck


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...558d61ebe4.jpg

found out that didn't work, so we started cutting


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e0ee299d2e.jpg

then cut some more...


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...072b9f87d5.jpg


welded the new piece on (poorly)


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...0abebf902f.jpg



slathered it in bondo


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...32c79d64a2.jpg


hit it with the old roller and called it done...off to the track in 2 more days!


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...cf19e58f03.jpg

Came out looking good!