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Thread: Whoa doggies, What is that I see........
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nwaco
Redlining
Posts: 407
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posted September 11, 2003 04:47 PM |
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Whoa doggies, What is that I see........
It can't be....It is...It is....Damn if it isn't... Another truck.
As I was late for work today, I hit a major traffic jam so I took an alternative route to work, but that route was also jammed, so I took an experimental winding route accross some farm fields and as I was driving by an old farm. I spotted a REPU buried in blackberry bushes. I hit the binders, turned around and confirmed a REPU with a very faded "for sale" sign in the window.
I haven't yet checked on the condition or the price, but it is a genuine artifact, and it looks to be complete.
Stay tuned....It is meant to be. We may have number eight on the hook.....
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Klaus43
Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
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posted September 11, 2003 05:29 PM |
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Buried in berries...
...generally equates to free or cheap! Don't show up in one of your running ones when you go to look, though! Best of success!
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Lasse
Revvin Up
Posts: 97
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posted September 12, 2003 02:52 AM |
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Nice , Nwaco ....
I would like to find a Repu like that here in sweden , but that´s inposseble... I hope to hear about the rest of the story when you have visit the owner...
If this Repu is to bad in condition to restore it , i might want to buy parts from it if you buy it Nwaco...
The swed...
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Rotation is my life !!! Said the rotor to the housing...
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nwaco
Redlining
Posts: 407
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posted September 12, 2003 06:02 PM |
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Well, I checked it out.......
And its powered by a Ford 2.8l v6 and a 5 speed tranny. It has a rusted through floor panel and the PO cut a new shifter hole in the floor.
The good news is its got a great hood, fenders, grill, chrome, box, tailgate, doors, and bumper. It is a great parts machine, and the frame is probably in great shape as well. The PO welded a lumber rack to the bed, and removed the valance to add a tow bar brackets. The interior will yeild few great parts as the dash is cracked, the heater surround broken, and both the inst. guage panel and the glove box have holes drilled in them. Seat is gone as well.
Here is the interesting part. The land owner said that the truck was not his, and he didn't know how to find the owner. He left it there about a year earlier. He told me the for sale sign had a phone numer. The number was disconnected. The truck is currently licensed. I found an old registration in the glove box. It had a lady's name and address. I looked up her name in the phone book, and that number was disconnected as well. I looked her name up on the internet, and found a story in the local paper about how she was being evicted from some slum house for not paying her rent. The place was the same as the place on the registration and in the phone book.
I went to the address (which was a rundown part of town where the down and out hang) and inquired about the person. I got a lead from guy. I went to the second address where I was told they might know of where I could find her, and they told me they see her every week or so and would have her call me. I told them I wanted to buy her truck, and they knew of the truck as they let me know it didn't have a rotary engine in it anymore.
So, the saga will continue.
I might snag it for a small sum, especially if she is down on her luck and hasn't seen it in a year. But it is definately a parts machine.
Stay tuned.........
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Jeff20B
Moderator
Posts: 661
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posted September 13, 2003 12:10 AM |
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Wow, it's getting very interesting.
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'74 REPU
'76 Cosmo
'77 MG Midget 13B
'81 RX-7
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mini_trucker
Revvin Up
Posts: 53
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posted September 13, 2003 01:40 PM |
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what a good series
I cant wait to see the next episode...im on the corner of my seat waiting to see what happens....but best of luck to yah ...i wish i could just find a REPU around my neck of the woods.
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nwaco
Redlining
Posts: 407
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posted September 14, 2003 10:39 PM |
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Chapter three............
So I get a call today from Bill. He is the guy who dropped the truck off at the yard where I saw it. It is not his truck. The truck is owned by a woman who has way lots of problems according to Bill. I never did get the gist of the relationship.
Apparantly "Roxy" got my message and called Bill who was to talk with me. Bill owns the other 50 or so vehicles in the yard, but he doesn't own the yard? He says she (Roxy) wants and NEEDS $800.00 for the truck, but said she would take a bit less.
I explain to Bill that I only want a few parts off of it and not the engine. He says it runs good and has a Mazda Tranny, but I tell him, I still only want it for parts, and remind him that it is rusted through to the dirt. After explaining that I wanted to it to restore one and need it to be in decent condition he tells me that he has a better truck for restoration, he has another 1975 that he has been storing in a garage he owns for 10 years and was to give it to his kid. But, his kid is in jail and he doesn't want him to have it any more. He figured that his kid wasn't deserving any more and he would rather sell it to me so that it gets a chance. He said it runs but smokes, but not to worry, he also has another engine to go with it. He said he would sell the truck and spare engine and parts for at least about $500. He said he'd call me within a week.
So, let me see....I find a complete rust bucket owned by a missing homeless woman, track down her general whereabouts, she hands it off to Bill, he informs me she wants more than reasonable, but find a he is willing to sell me a nicer restoration candidate and extra parts and engine for about 1/2 the price?
I can't wait for chapter 4........
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rotormunky
Redlining
Orlando, Florida
Posts: 424
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posted September 14, 2003 11:12 PM |
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quote:
I can't wait for chapter 4........
Yeah well don't rush it... its going to take me a good couple days to sit down and really figure out what transpired in chapter three.
Strange fruit.
In any event, grab the other deal if its worth it but offer Roxy $250 for her truck (if its worth that) and she can take or leave it. Chances are she'll take it. Its not like she's using it for transportation. You can pretty much guarantee no one's going to offer her more.
Good luck.
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-Martin
Orlando, Florida
http://www.themonkeyhouse.org/REPU
'77 REPU (Some assembly required :)
'91 Cabrio (Battered and bruised, but she's still my baby.)
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Klaus43
Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
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posted September 15, 2003 09:13 AM |
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Those completely out-of-touch with 'reality'
can be difficult, if not impossible, to bargain with... If I had the wherewithall to do some wheeling and dealing, and were in your situation, Nwaco, I might try to make a 'package deal' for all of the above...IF the price is 'right'! ...sounds like the title(s) could be tough, though... Oh yeah: If it supposedly runs and drives, and that's supposed to be why it's worth something, have 'em fire it up so you can test-drive it! (Sounds like it'll never happen...) Good luck!
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nwaco
Redlining
Posts: 407
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posted September 15, 2003 01:13 PM |
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I guess I could try for both, but..
although I have the means to possibly make the deal for the lot, I have too many already and I hardly have the time to process the ones I have. I am very interested in the rust free complete model is dangling before me, but if that pans out, I would only snag the rust bucket as well to get the parts and have to dump the frame. Not that I need or really want it, its just opportunity I hate to pass up. I need to quit finding them. They just seem to find me.
I am to the point of decision on a few chassis/frames already. I have a 74 chassis/frame that I am keeping to swap cabs and beds, and the rest is basically to be sold or given off. The problem I am running into is we all have a frame or two and need body parts. I have several extra frames I keep for parts. But I hardly ever need frame or suspension parts. I am running out of room. I need to inventory my stock and make a decision on what I keep and what I let go and get on with it.
I am finding the cabs are rusting up in excess of the frames and leaving too many good frames without good cabs. I just keep them together to aid in moving them. I think its about time to take a week and start swapping big parts to get as many complete rolling chassis as I can and loose the extra frames.
Gotta make room for more you know.....
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Mazdarx605
Redlining
Posts: 314
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posted September 15, 2003 02:25 PM |
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Don't send them away to the junkyard.They are just too rare.Send them up here to the "great" north east I could always use parts even though my truck doesn't need much,there is no REPU's up here.For good reason I guess.Salt,the fact that this is about as far away from where they came into the country as you can get and still be on the soil.Seriously I could use some stuff for mine and would be willing to have acomplete parst truck shipped or even picked up if the price was right.Heck I got my REPU from down in Georgia.
Chris
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Klaus43
Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
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posted September 16, 2003 12:33 AM |
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I hear ya, but...
I haven't been 'clearing' anything--I've rather become my very own, miniature oldschool junkyard... (no 3-foot rust holes, though!) So, in reference to what, if any, potentially salvegeable parts was that 'haven't got the time'? (And yes, suspension parts are one thing, but whole frames another...)
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Kick
Hauling
Posts: 149
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posted September 16, 2003 01:27 AM |
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I could use a good 74 frame, if someone is giving it away. Mine has been welded on in the front. I should take some photos of it and show you all what I am talking about. Also if anyone is willing to give away a roof off a 74 REPU, that they are just going to scrap, let me know I would be willing to come out and get it, if it isn’t to far. That way I wouldn’t have to cut off the roof off the 77 I have also, even though that is just parts.
____________
1972 Rx2 - no enigne or trans
1974 Repu - runs and drives
1976 Rx4 - no engine or trans (klaus42 old 4)
1977 Repu - Parts
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Klaus43
Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
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posted September 16, 2003 02:42 AM |
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You could always
chop up a Courier for that roof...
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nwaco
Redlining
Posts: 407
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posted September 16, 2003 10:46 AM |
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I too have a mini-junkyard in works, but..
I must be practical with the utilization and disposition of the space and assets. As much as I want to keep most all of them, it gets to the point that one must face the fact that in order to preserve most, some must be sacrificed. My interest in assemling as many running trucks as I can does will not wane any time soon, so the undesireable trucks I picked up for cheap become boxes of parts for later use.
With that said, one must also be practical on what one can do with the leftovers. Moving a decent frame with trashed cab/bed with no smaller parts is no cost-effective feat for the long-hauler. These become local birds just out of economics.
Like Rotor said, any truck worth shipping is worth rebuilding. I have no trouble removing and caching the entire truck less the damaged beds, cabs and frames. I have two or more tucks worth of spares in boxes alone squirreled away for future units. It is the large parts that have me perplexed. I want to let them go, but if I aquire a damaged unit or have an accident, I think, there are my parts. What we need is a bulk storage yard for the deceased trucks.
On another note, I have a 74 frame with the crossmember under the tranny cut through that will become available as soon as I get the bed and cab switched over. I keep it as mobile storage platforms until final disposition. I just need the time to do it. Then I want it gone.
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lasse
Revvin Up
Posts: 97
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posted September 21, 2003 10:32 PM |
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I would be glad if i had parts !!!
Well if i had that problem , to not have any space to storage Repu parts... I have a bigger problem... Can you guys imagine how it is to not find and get parts at all...
Try to share the parts before you goes to the wrecking yard with the left overs...
I can make a long list with needed parts to my Repu... I would come to the US if i had the time and the money and hunt down all needed parts that my Repu needs...
But if i can get the help from you guys to help me with parts that will be the best way...
PLEASE HELP A REPU FRIEND IN NEED !!!!
____________
Rotation is my life !!! Said the rotor to the housing...
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Klaus43
Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
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posted September 22, 2003 09:15 AM |
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Lasse, do you know...
...what is your most cost-effective shipping method to get heavy parts from the U.S. to you in Sweden? What about customs? Would making a deal to send you a small shipping container full of parts be too crazy? Just curious, since I know nothing about shipping parts overseas... :)
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nwaco
Redlining
Posts: 407
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posted September 22, 2003 10:49 AM |
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And exactly what parts are you actually in need of?
Most of the truck parts we are talking about here are large heavy and probably trashed items like cabs, beds and frames. I do not know of anybody including myself who is talking about tossing great parts an pieces that can be unbolted and saved. It is the bulk storage of big parts that is the dilema. They are the ones taking up the space and producing an eyesore for little to no value or potential
Other than a drive shaft, what are the parts you expect to recieve if you were to buy a REPU to ship home for parts? I think most of the junk REPU's are scavenged to the bones for everything from wire bundles to brake pedals and whats left becomes a test of loyalty to the breed more than rational thought.
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lasse
Revvin Up
Posts: 97
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posted September 22, 2003 03:58 PM |
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Crystal clear !!!
Yes , nwaco...
I get your point there...
There is a swedish firm in Los angeles that shipps cars and parts to sweden one to two times a month... So get bigger parts is not inposseble and for a good price as well...
I have not contacted them yet, but if i need bigger parts i just can make a call...
I need following parts:
1.One Fusebox for the engine bay.
2.A complet Battery box.
3.A radiator.
4.One hood holder.
5.The "Mazda Rotary engine" Badge for the front.
6.A drive shaft "complet set".
7.A battery door.
8.A exhaust system.
There is more , but i don´t remember more for the time.
Klaus the customs do charge me if the value is written on the box... I usally ask the sender to wright a low value and send without no insurence...It´s a risk i take , but it´s the cheapest way to go... If i will get heavy parts i think i call the Swedish shipping company in Los angeles... Straightrepu alias Mazdapartsman named Craig have a long experiance shipping parts to me... I have buyed many parts from him , but it have been at E-bay most the times...
I also need a complet gasket kit to the rebuilt of the 13B engine...
I might need the apex and corner seals and oilrings and also the housings if they look bad...
I have´nt disamble the engine yet , but i will do it soon...
You guys might know were to buy these kits and for a good price as well???
Thanks for now !!!
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Rotation is my life !!! Said the rotor to the housing...
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brad
Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
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posted September 22, 2003 04:12 PM |
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Hi Lasse
You can buy engine parts etc.. from Mazdatrix. And they know how to ship!
http://mazdatrix.com/index.htm#Home@new
As for the fuse box in the engine compartment, I'd just go to an electronic store and buy a brand new one. Or a shop that sells custom stereos - they'll have 12 volt fuse panels in better shape than anything used.
Personaly I cleaned up my fuse box and it worked well. Wire wheel on the end of a drill made all the copper contacts nice and shiny. Spray liberally with BRAKE CLEANER, it's the same stuff the pro's use to clean TV's and other electronics. Seriously!
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-brad-
74 REPU Lawn Green
81 Rx-7 racecar. 12a J-
Bridge
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