My new RX3 and restoration

steve garbutt · March 14, 2011, 10:03:14 PM

10a was a pile of scrap Grant.
Not only had it blown but it had also seized, the corrosion has taken the plating off of the housings and rotors were pitted.

steve garbutt · March 16, 2011, 10:30:41 PM

Well today i decided that come 6:30 id had enough of work and wasnt in the mood for welding, so i decided to have a go at the RX3 underbody and start stripping the engine bay.
1st was out with the engine and g/box id rested in to take measurement with, then i started stripping the engine bay down ready to start prepping for primer.
It started off with all this lot in it.
Crappy pictures i know but they were taken for pipe placement reference to get a little closer to original.

steve garbutt · March 16, 2011, 10:32:33 PM

And ended up looking like this, ready to be cleaned up for primer.

steve garbutt · March 16, 2011, 10:33:26 PM

Still lots to remove but almost there.

steve garbutt · March 16, 2011, 10:39:02 PM

Also decided to finish cleaning the underbody so i could get a nice coat of Dinitrol RC800 Rust Covertor.
After wire brushing its brush coated on and left for 24hrs to neutralize the rust.
This was some i did yesterday in comparison to the unbrushed half.
Its hard to see with the camera flash but where the surface rust was its turned it black and very hard.

steve garbutt · March 16, 2011, 10:41:46 PM

I did managed to finish brushing and treating the underbody by about 8:30pm :2Confused so tomorrow im hoping to start on the next step of covering the rust converter with some smooth black hammerite, then waxoil on top of that.
3 layers of protection should give it a fighting chance.

steve garbutt · March 16, 2011, 10:46:46 PM

my only dilemma is in engine choice to put in it.
I have 3 engine sat waiting to be installed into something, one is a new street port 13b with a t61 tubby on and the other 2 are these two little gems

Grant Monkhouse · March 17, 2011, 06:53:47 AM

Put the 12a in the fd and put the 20b in the rx3. Oh hang on, I think I got that the wrong way around?! Or did I? Hmmm.

If you can\'t make your mind up steve then I will have the 20B in my rx4?? Would definately need a 9" diff then, but that\'s something to do in the future!

steve garbutt · March 17, 2011, 09:03:40 PM

Well today sore me one again laid on my back

Painting the underneath of the car in smooth hammerite.
1st coat even though put on rather thick ended up looking like this.

steve garbutt · March 17, 2011, 09:08:32 PM

About an hour later it was dry enough to pop on a second layer.
Next to do underneath is the new fuel and brake lines, then the new bushings should have arrived by then ready for me to mount the undercarriage back onto the car.
Cant wait to get the old girl back on her wheels

Ada7 · March 17, 2011, 09:14:06 PM

Drop the 3 rotor in this

Not got one of them over here as far as i know (3 rotor rx3 i mean) and it would go like stick me thinks

Adam

steve garbutt · March 17, 2011, 09:24:44 PM

Quote from: Ada7;749648Drop the 3 rotor in this
Not got one of them over here as far as i know (3 rotor rx3 i mean) and it would go like stick me thinks

Adam

I would love to :InLove but im going with the elford turbo 12a :Thumbs-up
The engine needs rebuilding but should give good power for the stock RX3 setup.
Think i i went 20b id have to change shocks brakes power plant etc :2Confused

Grant Monkhouse · March 17, 2011, 09:42:20 PM

Is the 12a fubar\'d steve? 20b In this would take at least another 2 grand just on suspension diff and brakes. And that\'s doing it as cheaply as possible. Just looked at 9inch 4.8-1 race diff and disk brakes, 3000 dollars! That\'s without a 4/5 link setup, strut towers springs etc.

If you fancy a different diff I can get you a contact email for the guy in oz that I got my diff from but I\'m sure the standard one will be more than adequate for the elford.

steve garbutt · March 17, 2011, 10:14:09 PM

Engine is has virtually no compression on one face but everything looks good with a little camera stuck down the spark plug hole, so it will be fine for a rebuild Grant :Thumbsup!
I also have the other 12a for any donor parts so all good

Not a problem, i wanted to have a rebuilt engine in it anyway mate

Will just mean ill have a chance to paint my plates the same colour as the car and polish the housings

steve garbutt · March 20, 2011, 10:32:02 PM

Saturday i decided to take a look at the bottom of the front wing as it looked as bad as the boor bottom.
I put a plate on the outer skin but didnt take any pictures as it was a simple cut and weld.
The inner section was a little more complicated.
After treating with dinotro rust treatment it looked like this.