Category Archives: 1984 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE

Front End Nearly Complete

The front end is all back together except the bumper and under tray. The hood and cowl are all adjusted. As soon as the front bumper is installed, we can finish up the install of body parts.

IMG_0007

I worked on the car for about five hours on Saturday.
I cleaned and painted the salvage yard under tray.  There was a lot of grease on the under tray but is was dent free.

After the cleaning was finished:

IMG_0008

The under tray painted cast iron gray:

IMG_0013

I will install the under tray after the bumper.

Hood Installed

We installed the hood and cowl.  The hood still needs it final adjustment.  The right headlight lid is also installed and just needs a slight adjustment.  The cowl was then removed for some extra buffing.

IMG_1405

IMG_1403

The bumper is primed and nearly ready to paint.  There is one small spot that needs some more filling and sanding.

IMG_1407

The lower valance is textured, primed and sealed.  The color and clear will go on later today. The valance will be ready to installed tomorrow.

IMG_1406

Got a Bath

I washed the car on Friday and finally got some good outside pictures.

later on the weekend the hood and cowl were done and installed. I also installed the headlights and passenger side lid. The driver’s side lids had a small nick in the paint so it
needs to be touched up.

IMG_1402

IMG_1401

IMG_1400

IMG_1399

Paint Progressing

The hood and front cowl are painted.  The hood and cowl both had excessive rock chipping that needed to be worked.  There was also a slight wrinkle on the rear left side of the hood where it looked like something might have been set years before.  The cowl was overall in great shape. There was a slight ridge that looked to be a tool mark when the cowl was built.

The hood in the process of wet sanding:

IMG_1317

The cowl after paint (needs wet sanding and buffing):

IMG_1318

The front bumper is ready for first primer.  The bumper needed to be straightened with heat before the paint was laid.

IMG_1319

Brake Ducts and Undercoat

I installed the brake ducts yesterday. I had to really work them back in shape before I painted them.  They were severely bent. Overall they finished better than I would have thought.  The lower fender brackets that were installed on the car when it was painted were off a 1983 and were different. The 1984-85 cars have brake ducts but the 1979-83 cars do not.  The brackets are just slightly different than the older ones, they have an extra tab with welded nut to accommodate the duct.

IMG_2125_zpsf88a443b

IMG_2126_zpsee97934c

I finished up most of the undercoating.  I cleaned and degreased the underside of the car so the undercoat would stick. I used DUPLI-COLOR™ Professional Undercoat and Sound Eliminator.

IMG_2127_zpsb933a27c

Rear of the car is Nearly Done

Earlier in the month the black painted area around the rear hatch was painted.

IMG_09711 (2)

On Friday I was able to start getting the rear of the car back together.  The rear hatch was installed with a new seal and the wiper. We also installed the washer and the lock.

IMG_2078_zps824e1c47

Saturday all the masking was removed and the tail lights installed.  I also installed the door handles and the locks.

IMG_2085_zpsfaf00c10

IMG_2084_zpsca636ef7

IMG_2079_zps382ea69f

 

We repaired the left tail light (it was cracked). We made a good one out of two. The tail lights and center panel are now in for good. The license plate brackets are also painted.
The rear bumper, head light buckets, head light lids, hood hinges, and hood latch were ready for color when I left.