Small update... Ive started cleaning up bits and pieces for reassembly. I've spoken to Cobra recently who reckons I'm better off fitting the spare 12a radiator I have instead of the 10a one. He gave an original unit a go and said the motor was running noticeably hotter, something to think about when the time comes to fire up the new engine. Undecided at this point, as long as it looks factory like I'm not too fussed about originality. I'm the type of person who likes to play around with things.
The bonnet ready for final blocking, in actual fact its ready for painting as are the front guards. Pic 2, small parts are blasted ready for primer mainly so doors can go together.

Pic 1, parts were given a quick coat of primer to seal them. Aside from the battery tray none of them will be seen. Pic 2, door mirror stalks disassembled so they can be sent away for plating. Different people do different types of plating, these require someone who specialises in cast alloy. Give them to someone who doesnt know what they are doing and they'll dissolve to nothing in the caustic tank. One mirror had a damaged mirror holder which I'll replace. Both stalks have pitted chrome.

Pic 1, left door mirror holes were pre drilled prior to painting. I'll make a metal base plate with captive nuts just like the drivers side. This will reinforce the door and prevent paint cracking and damaging the surrounding metal. Everyone seems to love fender mirrors except for me, they remind me of the old HQ's towing caravans ! I'll probably use panel adhesive to attach the bracket to the inside of the door. Pic 2, more bits blasted ready for primer. Also found a Rx3 cross member thanks to Rohan.

Thats it, not sure where to next... wouldnt mind firing up the new 10a \:D/
Update 19-11-2011
Not much happening lately. I've started going through some of the boxes of parts and sending things away for a make over. I think things are getting out of hand as I never intended to refresh everything. I'm not big of show cars, just useable classics that don't get you too upset when you get the stone chips or general wear and tear. Well, that was the initial goal, if only I stuck too the original plan, a 13B and a set of wheels I would have been driving it years ago #-o
While dropping some special stuff off in long term warehouse storage some 900km's away, I was pondering whether the next car will actually be another Rx3 coupe. I'm pretty sure there will be another however its a tough decision between taking on a 13B Rx4 coupe or a 12a Rx3 coupe. If I had to rank my personal preference the Rx4 coupe follows a very close second to Rx3 coupes, then the Rx2 coupe, Rx3 sedan and then probably an R100. The Rx4 to me is the closest thing Mazda made to a muscle car, cockpit dash, large wheel arches, agressive front end, how could you go wrong ! If the Rx4 didnt exist I'd be looking at Australian Chargers at some point to relive my wogboy days ! The Rx4 is a mans car if you ask me, the smaller they get the girlier they are too me. 8-[
....enough of my dribble
I got my mirrors back the other day, much better now, no more chrome pits. Next I need to polish the stainless housings and then reassemble them. I'll probably make some new base rubber gaskets as well.

Spent a bit of time test fitting some new weather strips and window regulator so I can find all the required parts for reassembly. The car is a bit dusty

More parts came back from the platers, I think I have one more final run to do and then Im done. I basically send everything off now, whether it needs to be plated or not. Its a great cheap way of having someone else clean up all your dirty rusty parts.... I do absolutely nothing to them apart from putting them in a box and dropping them off. Pic 1, starter motor rear housing and all the nuts and bolts. I'll also check the commutator, soleniod and brushes before it goes back together basically making it as new. Oh yeah there's also some water housing studs there as well ! Pic 2 we have brake fluid brackets, horn components which came up really well considering it looked like oxided junk, and the horn nuts and bolts. I havent decided whether to prime and paint the horn parts that were painted from factory or leave them in the gold finish.

Pic 1, ashtray bracket, factory hose clamps, fuel filter bracket, McPherson strut nuts, bolts and washers, and finally brake hose clips. Pic 2,rear bar brackets, more suspension nuts and bolts, door catch and front tow hook bolts, front bar bracket bolts.

Glass and regulator fitted so I can locate all the necessary parts from my boxes of parts. All this stuff is coming apart again once I locate everything. The regulators have already been replated as seen in a previous update.

Guards ready for wet blocking and gave the rear a quick coat of paint. If the guards were'nt rust free I would have tossed them....... I bet none of you knew Mazda pumped the flares at the factory

Pic 1, Stone guard, primer and and another quick coat of paint. Pic 2, finally in colour


A few more shots of the painted guards. For a pair of guards that were truely f***## in order to fit large wide wheels by the previous owner, they now look amazing especially when you look at the before shots. Still not sure how i pulled that one off, but I'm happy with them ! Look forward to fitting them and taking some better photos with the car sitting on a proper set of wheels. No reason it cant happen as all the nuts, bolts, washers and bushes are there ready to go. Bushes is something I dont need to worry about as the previous owner of the car refreshed them all.

Final shot for now, boot hinges have been painted.... It'll be fun working out how the springs go back together, something that was originally not fitted as one of the hooks in the boot was broken when I bought the car which is now repaired.

So where too from here ? Well the bonnet is pretty much ready for colour which just leaves the nosecone. The nose should be in a sealer shortly. Im just finishing off any remaining minor repairs before doing so. Im also working on putting small stuff together like horns and organising parts to go back together in the near future.