1992 Mazda Navajo Collision repair

My dad was involved in a accident last month in his 1992 Mazda Navajo. He walked away from the accident with out a scratch, though his poor Navajo did not fair as well.. Keep in mind this Navajo would be totaled. The value a body shop would charge to do this repair would be in the $1000s. I've estimated this to be about $800-$900 for me to repair.

So my good friend Justin, towed the Navajo to me in Austin, tx where I will do all the body work and put this Navajo back to like new condition.

There was steering damage, and core support damage/passenger side inner fender damage.

Lucky for me I found this at the local wrench a part.

came home with all this...

And here we are as of now.

Based on my other projects and my own full time job I plan to have the Navajo completed in June. Only part I am lacking now is a passenger fender. I will also paint the hood both fenders and both doors.

 

[Stic-o]

great work

Can I just say...It's so odd seeing another JP Explorer in the background however

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Yeah my poor JPX hes down with a bad trans.... the M5R1 locked up in 4 gear and now wont do any thing, just kinda grinds when the motor is running. Ill be doing the a 5.0 swap on it soon.

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Yesterday I decided to test fit a few parts to see how she looks. Since I will hopefully be painting the parts on Weds and Thursday. I have to get the Navajo done by May 5th and the Navajo has to be out of the Garage by May1st. I am remodeling the kitchen to my house and I need the garage for the cabinets to arrive. Yes I am a projects *****.


Here are some photos of the test fit nothing is bolted on.

 

[College Student]

Are you gonna clean up the driver side headlight as well

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

The passenger lens is new. I cannot locate new driverside ones due to them not being available I plan to restore it the best I can before final assembly.

 

[MONMIX]

looks like a winner to me

 

[College Student]

Ah ok, would it be possible to somehow manufacture ur own?

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

There are after market companies that will manufacture after market headlights but you have to buy the tooling and large number of lenses to get them produced. Last time I checked it was roughly $10,000 to get one composite headlight produced aftermarket. Then you have to be able to sell the inventory you have.

 

[College Student]

Damn that sucks it there no way to just moddify an x one to work. Im not saying to do a full front clip conversion just somehow make the x one work in its place since its the same platform I feel lile little moddification would be needed

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

No the explorer one is not only different but wayyyyy different I would be better modding a 97 Mazda b series truck head lamp. It's better to just clean up a good old headlamp

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

So The painting went ok. Not real pleased with the fact that the truck is majorly faded and the new paint points that out badly. I will buff the rest of the truck but one day I am sure I will paint the whole thing. Just not today. My dad needs his truck back. Yes I could have blended the doors but again. I need more time and need to get the truck back to my Dad. The poor truck is 20 years old and really just needs all new paint.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

I a surprised it faded that much. Really nice work though, are you still under budget too?

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

yep current repair cost including the gaskets for the motor put me at $790.00 Still need an alignment and the wheel changed out. The new wheel is sitting in the back of the truck.

 

[College Student]

Do you have a professional paint booth you used to paint the truck/Parts?

 

[Rick]

The front clip is just teasing you It really looks slick! Can't wait to see it after the rest is painted

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

No I do not have a paint booth. I convert my garage to a tempory booth. I plan to locate a booth before I paint a whole car. I'd like more space to move around while painting

 

[College Student]

i was just wondering because i have this very ambitious project of painting my entire car a new color and was wondering how you set up, and got such good results

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

Yeah if painting a whole car I would find a booth that you can rent. but practice first, and a good finish is in the prep work.

 

[Turdle]

The front clip is just teasing you It really looks slick! Can't wait to see it after the rest is painted

I thought the same thing. Looks great Kris.

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

So the Navajo is assembled now. Its only lacking a good buffing on the rest of the truck, and putting the fender molding on.