My RX8 Restoration Thread
06-27-2016, 07:17 AM
#1
Pug 205 & RX8 Lover
Thread Starter
My RX8 Restoration Thread
Had my current RX8 for nearly 4 years and loved every minute of it (she's a 2006 limited edition 1/400 made). She blew a bearing last year which totaled engine... so we slapped new one in, been perfect ever since. Then over the last few months been toying with a new car... however, I just can't get rid of her and there's just nothing out there at the moment that really flicks my switch. So decided to start getting her A1 and pristine instead.
So, based on lots of stone chips, tiny dings and usual stuff, she's getting some love in the form of:
Even though in the picture below she looks perfect, obviously as the owner you know all the little bits and bobs that just annoy you... and rather than touch bits up... I'm not like that as I like my cards mechanically and body wise perfect.
So, rather than do outside, it's the underneath that has been done first.
This was alot of work and I've split the picture up into Before, During and After Pictures. Hope you like.
However it's disgusting how a car that has covered 72k miles can rot so badly because the factory doesn't underseal the cars correctly! The underneath if left for another 4-5 years would be welding territory, which is a disgrace... just zero sealent, where sheet metal joins no sealent inbetween... basically between engines blowing and rot from below, I predict around 50% of all RX8's off the road within 5 years.
Anyhow, enjoy below pictures... to give you a clue just how much has been done. As stuff gets done I'll post more and more over the next year.
BEFORE
DURING
So, based on lots of stone chips, tiny dings and usual stuff, she's getting some love in the form of:
- Phase 1 -Whole underbody rust removed, treated with various goodies then sealed. Remove front and rear subframe, engine, gearbox, front and rear body work etc, anything I can, treat and some of it powder coat or paint metallic purple and silver for details. Bear in mind in UK, our roads are covered in salt for 4 months of the year. K Sport 8pot calipers and 356mm discs to arrive soon and will be put on.
- Phase 2 - Get complete respray
- Phase 3 - RX7 340bhp Conversion
Even though in the picture below she looks perfect, obviously as the owner you know all the little bits and bobs that just annoy you... and rather than touch bits up... I'm not like that as I like my cards mechanically and body wise perfect.
So, rather than do outside, it's the underneath that has been done first.
This was alot of work and I've split the picture up into Before, During and After Pictures. Hope you like.
However it's disgusting how a car that has covered 72k miles can rot so badly because the factory doesn't underseal the cars correctly! The underneath if left for another 4-5 years would be welding territory, which is a disgrace... just zero sealent, where sheet metal joins no sealent inbetween... basically between engines blowing and rot from below, I predict around 50% of all RX8's off the road within 5 years.
Anyhow, enjoy below pictures... to give you a clue just how much has been done. As stuff gets done I'll post more and more over the next year.
BEFORE
DURING
Last edited by Pugheaven; 06-27-2016 at 10:24 AM.
06-27-2016, 07:20 AM
#3
Pug 205 & RX8 Lover
Thread Starter
AFTER
So there we have it, the first phase complete.
- Everything removed, rubbed down and wire brushed
- Everything rust treated
- Everything sealed with Shutz and waxoil
- Everything coated where applicable with stone chip
- ALL hole, caveties anything water could've got into sealed
- Brand new stainless steel braided oil cooler hoses
- Brand new rear EBC discs and yellow stuff pads
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EarlyS2 (09-20-2020)
06-27-2016, 10:23 AM
#6
Pug 205 & RX8 Lover
Thread Starter
Cheers guys much appreciated, it's been one hell of a lot of work, the underneath on this thing after 10 years was so rusty... UK just kills cars off... now it'll last forever with what we've done. Now for the rest of her to get her perfect... new front discs and calipers come, will keep posting updates.
06-27-2016, 03:08 PM
#7
That is so inspiring! And it makes one consider that, rather than go out and buy an expensive new sports car, perhaps the best thing is to restore a rare car you love to better-than-new condition. Mike and Edd would be proud. Kudos to you, sir!
06-27-2016, 04:01 PM
#8
Very nice job. How hard was it to remove the subframes? Seems like excessive rust for a 2006. I live in New England (Massachusetts) and my old 2004 is in worse shape. My 2005 with 30k miles doesn't see salt, so only a few suspension components have very minor surface rust. Not sure what's with maze's rust prevention, but our old Saabs (2000 9-5 sedan, 2003 9-3 convertible, 2006 9-5 sedan) driven year round and rarely washed have less rust than the Mazdas do. Heck the 2000 9-5 only had minor paint chips and rust starting to form on the rear dog leg section of the wheel arch, something I easily fixed when we decided to sell it. Even some old Porsches that I know people drive year round look better than the Mazda. BMW seem to hold up okay, the older Mercedes (late 90s to mid 2003 or so) seem to rust like mad. Especially the W210 E Class.
06-27-2016, 07:54 PM
#9
Registered
It is impressive work. They literally went through everything.
Last edited by pistonhater; 06-27-2016 at 07:58 PM.
06-28-2016, 07:04 AM
#10
Pug 205 & RX8 Lover
Thread Starter
Yeah I'll be honest by the time I've done all this work, it'll cost an arm and a leg but in the grand scheme of things, I bought her cheap 4 years ago £3,300 GBP and the only bill was last year when the bearing went and took the engine with it lol.
The thing is, I love the car, it looks great, drives amazing, sound good... it's got everything APART from 300+ bhp... and rather than waste time on turbo's and super chargers which IMHO on the renesis simply don't work well, I want to keep rotary and for that RX7 engine is perfect, more power and still a wankel. I'll be honest it's a big ask, but now I've got the whole underneath done now, and wheels, and I know everything is A1 chassis wise then I'll start on the top. As the old saying goes... no point having a nice house without a roof!
Very nice job. How hard was it to remove the subframes? Seems like excessive rust for a 2006. I live in New England (Massachusetts) and my old 2004 is in worse shape. My 2005 with 30k miles doesn't see salt, so only a few suspension components have very minor surface rust. Not sure what's with maze's rust prevention, but our old Saabs (2000 9-5 sedan, 2003 9-3 convertible, 2006 9-5 sedan) driven year round and rarely washed have less rust than the Mazdas do. Heck the 2000 9-5 only had minor paint chips and rust starting to form on the rear dog leg section of the wheel arch, something I easily fixed when we decided to sell it. Even some old Porsches that I know people drive year round look better than the Mazda. BMW seem to hold up okay, the older Mercedes (late 90s to mid 2003 or so) seem to rust like mad. Especially the W210 E Class.
Yep, I've got a Mazda Xedos 9 Miller Supercharged, once of only around 20 left in the UK (Millenia S in teh states I think you guys call it)... and underneath it's a 2000 model and it perfect not a single spec of rust on chassis or body work... as it was done properly... same with my old Saab 93 Aero... superb and not a single rust spot anywhre.
Mazda nowadays are poor... the paint is poor quality, no protective sealent on underside panels or joins of steel, even in the engine bay, take the rotary out and it's a pathetic spray in there... what they did was spray on ly the bits that you can see.... AWFUL.
However, once this one is done, quite frankly it will be nicer than the factory and more solid... the car the RX8 should've been.
Cheers for the support guys much appreciated. Will update when new big discs are on the fronts hopefully next week.
EDIT: Forgot, yeah subframes, no was ok actually... bolts etc were zeized but didn't break a single one thankfully... which I'm amazed at. Thing is to do it properly, they have to come off as did front and rear buympers (loads of rust under rear) and engine came out... everything to do it properly.
07-19-2016, 06:57 PM
#11
Pug 205 & RX8 Lover
Thread Starter
Right guys, update, new discs and calipers arrived... and due to go on Wednesday 21st... but here's a sneaky peak...
Quality feels fantastic, and the calipers are enormous however lighter than I thought. Kit comes with everything you need even nice new braided hoses... will post pictures once they're on!!!
