My latest 1st gen series 3

[Ian65]

Thanks for the kind comments guys,
I am enjoying it, I must admit, trouble is other things keep getting in the way.... kids, family things, work etc etc...

The shell is now stripped and I now need to start dismantling the various assembles and refurbing them.
This is the rear axle as it came off the car...




and the rear springs...



This is one of the anti roll bar links off the back of the car... looks like it had some stick!




Cutting up the shell is a right pain. Even with the sthil saw, it\'s hard going trying to cut through the chassis rails and other box sections and reinforcement. Nearly done now though!

The split pins are a menace.
The front steering has quite a few as does the suspension. Keith changed the steering box for the better series 2 version a few years back so the split pins he replaced were still greased and were ok.
Some of the others, notably the front tension bars ones, have probably been in since the car left the factory and a quarter of a century of salted roads and rain have rusted them up a treat.

I suppose we should change and grease them more often but they\'re out of sight, out of mind.

I\'ve had a real result finding a donor 1st gen about 2 miles from my house and Keiths help and generosity since I\'ve met him has been top draw and it\'s very much appreciated.

Can\'t wait now to start putting the bits onto my shell.
Doing a rebuild like this is a  great way of learning about these cars, I\'ll be able to write a book when I\'ve finished!

[A7RXY]

Ian, have you decided if you will go for rubber or silicon bushes.

[Ian65]

I\'m going to go for polybushes but I need to suss them out a bit more 1st and I could do with some advice from others who have already fitted them to their cars.
There are plenty of different makes...
Superflex, superpro, energy etc etc...
I don\'t know which to go for. I don\'t want stiffer bushes as I like the factory ride as it is so I just want some that replicate the original rubber bushes.

The other thing is the Watts link.
Some people say polys bind up in the link and that you should only use rubber bushes in the Watts link. Others have fitted polys in there with no problems whatsoever.

I need to do a bit more research...

[syebba]

Ian what u doing about the exhaust on ur black rex,aftermarket?
It would be a waste putting standard exhaust/air pump/emmissions crap back on with maybe an engine swap.

[kiwi-mick]

can\'t wait to see that diff get the coating bet it\'ll look awesome!
please post the pics when done

[Ian65]

Ian what u doing about the exhaust on ur black rex,aftermarket?
It would be a waste putting standard exhaust/air pump/emmissions crap back on with maybe an engine swap.

It depends which engine I end up with. The donor car had a full stainless system on it, the air pump and emission junk has already gone.

This exhaust won\'t easily mate up to an engine other than a N/A 12A
My preferred choice is a 13B turbo 2 but most available need a rebuild
2nd choice is a full Elford setup to put on the 12A
3rd choice is a 13B EGI

If nothing comes up, I might fit the standard 12A out of the donor just to get the car MOT\'d then fit the other engine when I get hold of one

[captainbizzaro]

It depends which engine I end up with. The donor car had a full stainless system on it, the air pump and emission junk has already gone.

This exhaust won\'t easily mate up to an engine other than a N/A 12A
My preferred choice is a 13B turbo 2 but most available need a rebuild
2nd choice is a full Elford setup to put on the 12A
3rd choice is a 13B EGI

If nothing comes up, I might fit the standard 12A out of the donor just to get the car MOT\'d then fit the other engine when I get hold of one

Sod it Ian lets both go 13B-REW then we\'ll be in it together-I haven\'t the balls to go it alone:2Rolleyes

[shaunwil]

Or even a short block 20b :Giggle

Was also in the mindset if I ever upgrade my FD engine to something tasty I would put the current engine in the FB with its turbo, all on lpg !

Shaun

[captainbizzaro]

Sounds like a plan Shaun,there\'s still one day of the weekend left so chopchop!:god

Tim

[shaunwil]

I need the 13b PP with a GT4294 for the FD first ! Although the engines the only thing in the FD at the minute :Giggle

Shaun

[syebba]

Sounds like a plan Shaun,there\'s still one day of the weekend left so chopchop!:god
 
Tim

I,m more patient shaun,there\'s tomorrow,then next weekend!:Thumbsup!
ta stu

[shaunwil]

Old picture but must have been plenty of fun :

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35720&highlight=old+skool+meet

Shaun

[Ian65]

can\'t wait to see that diff get the coating bet it\'ll look awesome!
please post the pics when done

Here we are...





A lot of hard work that was. I used a wire brush on an angle grinder and a smaller wire brush in a cordless drive for the awkward bits and I must have removed about 2kg of rust.
I then acid etched the whole thing and then coated it with POR15, the one side 1 day and then the other side the next. Looks great now but I\'m glad it\'s over.
The rear suspension, with the exception of the missing lower trailing arm and the new bushes, is now ready to go back on the car.

[captainbizzaro]

Thats impressive Ian fair play.:god

[A7RXY]

Ian what bushes did you go for in the end ?