Cheers Buzz3n, I have been enjoying doing the yard. I do look forward to planting my Japanese maples I have in pots out back waiting for me to begin finishing the deck and garden area.

Old Japanese barn, they are mainly rusty old sheds over there. Even in the far north where I lived they actually resembled an aircraft hanger with rounded roof for the snow. I coud dig out some pics somewhere. For interest sake heres a pic of my house with the shed or garage. so so small, very hard to park in after a couple Sapporo classic's.


By beans161 at 2012-01-30

By beans161 at 2012-01-30

Onto my house now, I basically only wanted a shed but then to make that happen. I designed the yard around it so I guess its pretty incorporated. The decking actually leads straight out from the back of the house to the side door of the shed. that way I get to stroll through my garden on the way to the mazda dojo.

heres my original drawing


By beans161 at 2011-10-24

The vision was to sit out back under a pergola, look left see the grass, look straight and see japanese style plants and pond, decking etc then as you pan your eyes right hidden by trees you see the roller door of the shed. On good days I want to be able to open it, pull the cover back and see my car popping out, all in the one panorama.

Shed is happening next week so i'm holding out to do a decent update then.

Recently I have been reading allot of the old school 240z's & Skyline builds on this forum, man they are a nice cars! even the bluebird 510 stylers are doing some tuff cars.. and the aftermarket/ replacement part options are there too! Something I think the mazda world is only just catching onto.
Anyhow as for my car, I acquired the hard to find DELUXE badge for the tailgate trim bezel. This makes my badge collection now complete and allows me to focus on the next parts to collect, fuel systems. Also a picked up a couple sets of the stainless steel stone guards trims for the bottom of the rear doors as I had an incomplete set, I now have a couple spare as I had to get them in pairs. chat soon!

Wagon update: Today was another good day in my build projects. Plenty of good news, I went to visit the wagon and they had started working on it again finally. The front end steering and suspension is out ready for the last and final part of the body prep.
Nose cone still not done, was hoping on seeing it all straight but the Panel beater said again today how he dreads doing it. I took the front struts and everything home so I can give it an overhaul with new this, new that, lick of paint, as you do.

With the shed going up next week I really am juggling the two projects for the next month, it will be a bitch of a time but progress should be swift if all goes well. My biggest stress will be getting the fence done and cement slab down ready for the wagons arrival home. Home project planning at its finest ahhh hmm

As I was leaving the panel shop they confirmed the original paint code colour with me and said it will be done painted in 2 weeks.. I cannot wait to see my car blue again. While I like progress and work, the dull grey of primer is so so depressing.

ohhhhh boy now I gotta get crackin. heres some pics of where it currently is


By beans161 at 2012-02-02

By beans161 at 2012-02-02

By beans161 at 2012-02-02

By beans161 at 2012-02-02
they finally cleaned all the junk out of it..

By beans161 at 2012-02-02
I just love mazda rear quarter panels. thanks for looking.

As mentioned in my last update this week saw me battling through my 2 projects.
I had the builders here for the shed construction and the steering components I collected from the panel shop have now been dismantled ready for replacement.

When I had time, (while at work) I was online searching for part numbers and ordering tie rod ends, ball joints and bushes.
Much to my suprise these parts are still available from automotive part suppliers so the outlay was under $200 for basically complete new steering for the wags.

The first 2 photos sums up my "multitasking" of the 2 projects. Not willing to let one rest while I focus on the other I have Merbau decking for the yard and a gearbox for the wags. Wasnt planning on the gearbox but when a bargain comes up and its what you want, sometimes you gotta grab it. With the wags only a couple weeks away I got to keep slugging away.

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

There were a couple points in my backyard build that I was sweating on, apart from not being a landscaper, builder, actually I'm nothing to do with Backyards, except committed to making mine happen.
I organised a couple days off work as I have been waiting for this day since - well since forever! Trying to stay out of the builders way I snapped some pics...


By beans161 at 2012-02-09

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

The deck I have built to access the side door is coming together, I have the merbau and deck lights and basically all I need to finish it off. The questions were, will it line up with the door way of the shed, will it be the right height, basically if I'm going to have issues this is it. But all came out great with the side door! perfect fit!!!


By beans161 at 2012-02-09

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

The slope retaining wall for the driveway into the shed was my other worry. I have uploaded pics previously of this wall. I was worried. Will it line up with the shed corner, have I measured the shed site out correctly.
I do need to cut the sleeper shorter to fit the smaller gap. However with regard to measurements and lining things up, all went well here too! Now my confidence in my build projects is growing. I'm getting things done and they are working correctly - a good sign.


By beans161 at 2012-02-09

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

Then finally the finished product, minus the cement slab. I still have allot of work to do. But this story from the start was about building my dream car and somewhere to park it, today I ticked one big "to-do" box. I can almost imagine my car in there already!


By beans161 at 2012-02-09

By beans161 at 2012-02-09

Thats all for the yard and car this week. Back in a week or 2 with a cracker Wagon update. Thanks for reading!

Nice work!! Coming along very well. Yard is looking great mate, well done!!

Can't wait to see some wags updates

_________________
Rockin' the 7 in a street near you.....

Never heard of putting the shed up before the concrete, why was it done like that? Would be hard to level out and to dry wouldnt it?

Great update again beans, really enjoy reading them

Got a mate that lives round the corner from you and every time I drive past your place to go there I always think to myself "I bet he wishes he lived 1 street over"

Look forward to the wagon update.

_________________
1971 N360 - restoration project

I think its because the concrete will be finished and this avoids any damage done whilst erecting it!

Great progress

_________________
REgards, Mo Melville

Cheers for the kind words guys!

Eggbath, I'm not sure how they are done over your way, for a steel shed here the structural column is cemented in a minimum of 400 to 600mm as a solid footing then a minimum of 100mm slab poured around it to further improve integrity.
If the slab was poured first then the structure would be built on top on the slab and bolted down, I assume this is what you mean? that would be ok for a garden shed but for something of size, this is how its done as far as i'm aware. I can also have all electrical and plumbing etc come up through the slab into the wall cavity nice and neat if set before the slab.

Now that the shed is up when the cement is poured the levels will be easy to do and the slab will meet all edges of the shed creating a sealed bottom rather than a gap if built ontop of a pre poured slab. It also enables me to get the nice flowing slope from the driveway into the shed all correct with strip drain etc.

Thankyou to Gypsy for the inner rubber strips, looking forward to the day i'm actually installing things like that!

Ok i'm off to continue my wrinkle painted suspension parts fetish. pics soon.

Ok so I had a little free time today, update time.

I have decided to have a weekend off working on my projects, need a break from doin stuff.

Recently my works have included laying of the merbau decking, installation of decking uplights and garden spot lights, oil and stain of timber deck. The yard is looking a treat but work has slowed while I wait for my neighbour to get this fence done. Then I get the shed slab down!

Because yard work slowed, The wagon has received some love recently. I have been back onto ebay hitting the auctions for mazda rarities or any bits I am missing.

I also picked up some of the inner weather strips from "Gypsy". For those of you considering the purchase.. do it. its money well spent.

Itching for a delivery from mazda circa 1973, ok, no really its my parts from restoremaz but its the closest thing to getting parts brand new from japan I think! cheers Dave I am excited to see the results! pics will be loaded when I am drooling over them.

I mentioned in a previous update I was painting suspension parts, the wrinkle paint didnt come up as good as I hoped so all parts I didnt like the finish of have been sent of to the powder coaters.

Recent new parts list for the wagon as follows:

By beans161 at 2012-02-22

New inner tie rod ends, new outer tie rod ends, new lower ball joints, new pitman arm, new idler arm bushes, new control arm bushes, new sway bar to control arm bushes, new sway bar to chassis bushes, all painted wrinkle finish or powder coated and ready for install.

New heavy duty front sway bar to be ordered in coming days as there was significant rust under the bushes.


By beans161 at 2012-02-22

Yes I know some of you are thinking I'm lazy or cheap because I opted not to zinc coat or chrome the tie rod end threads nuts bolts and washers etc etc etc, I like it all black, i'm not after bling and I dont like the look of oxidized zinc coat after a couple years of sitting around in your garage, others may not like my choices, but hey each to their own huh.

Also picked up for basically nothing a used lightened flywheel, heavy duty clutch and pressure plate when I got the gearbox. It should be fine for initial useage and if its worn too badly I will replace later.

When time permits I have been tinkering with that custom centre console facia, I broke the first one being a little confident with my heating and bending so I'm in the process of round 2 console facia.

By beans161 at 2012-02-22

By beans161 at 2012-02-22

By beans161 at 2012-02-22

The wagon has edged even closer to final color, no progress shots for now as they dont really look any different to the last ones I posted. Will be visiting the panel shop today or tomorrow.

Some pics of parts back from Restoremaz. wow

While I do have a nearly full set of original badges in factory plastic, I do have a couple replica badges made from metal, I have had all of them painted to look factory.

One of my fav badges on any mazda
before

By beans161 at 2011-11-13
After

By beans161 at 2012-02-26

By beans161 at 2012-02-26

The only badge I am yet to get in plastic is the rotary engine console badge.


By beans161 at 2012-02-26

By beans161 at 2012-02-26

By beans161 at 2012-02-26

Can you pick which Rotary wagon badge is authentic?

By beans161 at 2012-02-26

no need to restore these they are original and brand new,

By beans161 at 2012-02-26

Will try get some better pics of parts etc in future. sorry!

I'm going to say the top Rotary Wagon badge is the authentic one ? Do you mean which is a repro ?

What is the console Rotary Engine blank panel made from ?

_________________
Mazda Rx3 / 808 inner weather strips for sale here.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=17421

Actually the bottom one is authentic but has a little knick in the "R" a slight imperfection as it was a 2nd hand badge to begin with. Finding a 100% perfect 2nd hand badge is almost impossible, unfortunate but hence the reason for having two.

Well a month goes by in a flash sometimes... and I must say waiting can be very frustrating. Glad there are guys like Mo and Gypsy to keep us entertained with updates with real progress.

I now have a better understanding of the logic of do it yourself as then when its not done, you have only yourself to blame.
In my case, waiting for a panel beater is my current pickle. Its a fine balance of - I dont want them to rush the job but 4 weeks ago they told me it would be done in 2 weeks...... so I'm excited for the prospects of things to come and regularly make my way down to the shop but everytime I pull up to see the car and it hasnt moved toward the spray booth I get a bit deflated. I feel like me coming down all the time must be annoying and I dont want a rush just to get it out of the way. But I trust this wont happen as they have had the car for over a year already.

Anyhow not to dwell on that for too long as I have many a job to be done! My parts came back from the powder coaters so I wrapped a few for later on and sat the rest on the bench ready to go back in when I get the call.

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

Recently I picked up some tailgate area trims from a well known ebay seller and mazda man, there is a few differences from the plain 808 stuff so its a good feeling to make the effort to get everything correct. I know the day I look in the rear view mirror and see the emblem in the trim will be a personally satisfying day.

Another good thing about this is its one for the "picky" enthusiast that will look over the car trying to spot "the 808 in it" rather than appreciating the fact I wanted to build something different. This is a gripe of mine but helps me feel comfortable in that some 808/rx3's arent even half done, a nose cone is a long long long way from being rx3. Also I want to do a real rx3 wagon justice too, by not having a half done mock up. Remember all my parts came from original cars and I want my car to be worthy of the parts I attach.

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

My yard is still coming along, that too is a frustrating battle, we plant trees and shrubs then the dog digs them up! here is a couple recent shots, very happy with progress.

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26
The last shot shows the fence line retaining wall that I am currently working on.

Finally I will end this update with a couple questions for the mazda heads as I recently pulled my headlights out for a clean up etc and found I had stored a pair that were not matching.. and do not have the hight beam clear glass globes. A rookie mistake made many years ago not getting a good set. I am now deciding if I hunt down a complete set or piece together a set from what I have and a few parts sourced online. I did some research but they give mixed reports on what to look for, such as stamp hole shape (round or square) or the actual stamping moulds ridges and markings on the backing plate
My questions are: What is the correct rx3 headlight backing any way to tell?
Is there a difference in series 1 and series 2 or 10a and 12a fronts?
Are they they same as capella and rx4 etc?
What do I have? and does anyone have a set to compare too?


By beans161 at 2012-03-26
Chrome trims are still all good.

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

By beans161 at 2012-03-26

Thanks in advance for your help!

Its one or the other, 12a lights slightly wider apart than the 10a ones. If I put them back to back one set of backings has the lights sit slightly wider apart, approx 6 -7mm. Bare in mind if you talk a USA person that their 10a fronted cars had 12a engines as well. Rx2/4 I suspect would have a bracket for the grill on headlight backing. I'm not the best person to answer your question. Have a look on Ausrotary, there is a Rx3 resto thread and the topic is covered there.

When it comes to certain things you can't go past original items. Trims too me are one of those items. I saw some repro ones fitted to a Rx3 coupe very recently and they looked pretty decent. I wouldn't use them for many reasons but they would be fine too most people.

You do know that tear / nic in the vinyl trim can be repaired to near perfect ? They would weld it up and I suspect air brush over the repair. Whatever you do if you decide to fix them leave it too a professional. The business that fixed my consoles specialises in these repairs as well. I have a really bad white set of Rx3 door trims that I will eventually send away for some magic resto work and they are really bad with missing vinyl sections. I was quoted (a few years back now, maybe 3) around 95 - 100 each to have the vinyl repaired. The only complication I see with your ones is that the vinyl isnt a straight colour and they'd need an airbush to get the same effect. I'll try and find the card.

_________________
Mazda Rx3 / 808 inner weather strips for sale here.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=17421

The sweet smell of progress... well sorta.

So it came to my attention, thanks to jdmrx2, that I hadnt updated for a while.
Its not that I'm so busy that I cant get on here as I do spend time reading others great build stories, its more that I felt I had nothing decent to report on.. I wanted decent progress shots not "oh heres a bit I bought off ebay again.." no fun in that! so here goes.

I cleaned up my gearbox ready for possible paint, not sure yet. If I do it will be silver to look new.

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08


Not allot has happened in my garage for the car lately apart from a new set of headlights to solve my 10a nose or series 1 front issues. stoked to tick that box.

After getting the rear trims recently, here is a shot of an original rx3 wags interior I found while searching. Gt dash is still on my mind. The price kills me.

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

Next I was down near the panel shop and thought I'd swing by for a nosey, I nearly locked up the brakes when I saw it, so I pulled over, peering into the workshop from the street I see my wagon nose in the air with guards and nose cone on and work being done! hell yes.. they are back on the job!

When I got out of my ute they seem as excited as me as they yelled to me, "it didnt look like this, this morning! oh and where'd you get this nose cone its fucked!" cheers fellas.. morning to you too I thought.. I now see its not joy but frustration getting at them while they battle to align the panels on my car.

But glad they are working on it I said nothing, so I stopped the progress for 10 mins to take some quick pics, then got outta there! they hope to have it all in primer and sorted soon.

Anyhow pics tell the story better, yeah the nose is rusty and holey but hey thats why i'm happy to be at a panel shop that file finishes, welds and lead fills.. not bash n bog. I love rx3 fronts I could look at them all day, sorry if its 10 nose overload but I have waited months to see this on my car, I'm stoked.


By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08


Now it kinda looks like a real car again.

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

By beans161 at 2012-05-08

Thats about all for today but great to be back on track. I'm still working on the shed for the day it comes home.. Thanks for reading!

Looking good. wagons are really growing on me.

_________________
http://www.ausrotary.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=152986

My Videos
http://www.youtube.com/restoremaz

In all my years of reading build stories in car mags and forums I always wonder why they regularly feature this photo below:

sorry its all sideways


By beans161 at 2012-05-11

Well today it hit me!
Today I realised why most car builders/owners have that very photo in one form or another.
I wondered why a photo of wet paint in a can makes it in magazines..forums and all over the place. WHY?

It is a MASSIVE mile stone, a significant day in the build of your car, because today was the day the actual colour for your car was mixed....

and there it is, for me.. blue as f#ck! (mazda paint code AT)


By beans161 at 2012-05-11

pictured upside down next to the original paint covered cowl for color check.

I cant beleive it really. My little wagon, me, my car, after being burnt on my first rx3 sedan build attempt, then for this wagon after 29 years of road service to a few owners before coming into my ownership, 7 years of storage and 16 months in a panel shop, yup after all this time its getting painted.. I am so excited. its just so cool to see the thick blue paint sitting there in the can all thick like runny plastic. its freakin awesome.. ok i'll take a breath.

So many years of dreaming and waiting, anticipating and procrastinating!

Anyhow things are going well they painted the underside of my bonnet today I couldnt hang around to snap a pic due to work, but it was being hung in the booth as I was leaving. I will try get down next week to check in.

From last update: The 10a nose came up a treat they were quite proud of it when I walked in, it had only just dried but dam the difference was amazing. They were happy to talk about it now its done, aparently took 2 days from my last lot of pics to lead fill, file etc etc.. here it is. quite motivational for me to see this progress.


By beans161 at 2012-05-11





Cheers for the info earlier John! I went out and sourced a matching set of lights. Yes the trimfix fella has already been contacted regarding my door trims. I agree I prefer original, I plan to fix the knicks in the trims replace the backing boards, vinyl paint them to match the interior.

Yes paint them, but as bad as that is its still better than repo to me.

I am torn on interior color, the bone look or black... seats and trims mainly and i'll always have a light roof lining.


thanks Dave! chat soon, I have my next lot of parts to get over to you

Bit late to add my piece, but I will anyway. This bracket is 10A (square light mount that takes an easily removed plastic bushing)


And this bracket is 12A (round light mount that takes a pressed in, and near impossible to remove, plastic bushing)


10A lights can be changed from left to right easily by putting the bushings in the opposite holes at the bottom. 12A lights I've never been able to successfully remove a bushing and have it reusable, and not been able to find a useable replacement either.

Did you get the stainless trim yet? Car is looking good!

Cheers Dom, good information is always useful. Better late than never. I actually found the info I wanted in one of your posts somewhere, so thanks again!

I kinda thought I had one of each, bugger of a thing really. I was a bit worried at first, that the rarer 10a ones would be hard to find at a decent price. All good now.

Yep the stainless strip came last week thanks for sending it on your travels!

Thanks for the kind words guys!

To follow the last update here are some more pics


By beans161 at 2012-05-15

By beans161 at 2012-05-15

By beans161 at 2012-05-15

By beans161 at 2012-05-15

Happy is an understatement!

Next is steering back in and a final check of the front rims and guards before the final paint.

So i'm off to do some tire shopping.. To get me in the mood I went googling pics and here is a tuff 510 that has the look I want!


By beans161 at 2012-05-15