That was an original guess of mine. Is something like that easy to fix, realign? I have to travel tomorrow now, so I won't be taking my car in yet, but it will go in this week for its diagnosis.

 

I have a few more questions if someone can help me a little more... still tackling this project...

The one oil cooler does look like it is either pushed back and/or the bracket is bent. After taking a look, is the bracket that goes down the back of the oil cooler supposed to be bent into a slight squiggle if you are looking at it. It kind of hangs down and then bends to one side and conitnues down to the bottom. Sorry, I can't describe it anyway else... Take a look at the pictures in the first post also to look at the top bracket on the front. It almost looks like those are the brackets that are bent b/c you can more of the screw then you should..,

Also, the bumper cushion, is this a piece that can be hand made and cut from styrofoam. The piece is about $50 from Mazda, but I feel like it could be so much easier!

** And if anyone has their front bumpers off their 8's, if you could take a few pictures of the front bumper. I want to see what a flawless front should look like under their bumper so I can figure some things out. Thanks guys!!

 

I think the undertray and the wheel well guards are both still usable. Save some coin and maybe glue them. Or, there was someone around here who made a patch for his undertray with a rubbermaid container lid. To be honest with you, my undertray looks worse than that from when my foot slipped off the clutch in the garage as the car was turning off (but still revving down) and got real acquainted with the lawnmower.

 

And that's what I keep trying to tell myself with some of these parts as I am adding up how much new parts will be.... Like the one bracket below my headlight cracked off a tiny of the palstic piece. It got yanked out of where it screwed in to the headlight, but I really think with a washer and nut on the back end I can reattach it and the parts that broke off may still be managable.

Anyone else on the bumper cushion, oil cooler brackets, or anything else they see or have done to save some money?

 

Also... if anyone is interested... I have been looking to get a RX-8 owner who knows quite a bit about the vehicle to somehow stop by if they had time and take a look at my car. I can't drive it anywhere because of the radiator is broken and will overheat as soon as the temp needle starts rising, but I will somehow pay someone back for gas or take them out to dinner or drinks, etc. if you are willing to come by and know your ****... Ive seen a few 8's around the area... but it's worth a try. I'm pretty much available all this week.