Project Jay-Spec MX-326GS
My beloved Lincoln Mark VII had covered a staggering 980000KM. The original engine’s head gasket sprung a leak. It was leaking out, not in, so I would fill it with water every morning before my hour long commute. I decided not to fix it. The poor Lincoln was just plain warn out.
I was recently separated and pretty poor. As far a Lincoln replacement I knew what I wanted……..kinda.
Criteria:
-Recently separated cheap!
-Small and nimble
-Easy to see out of
-Reliable and cheap to fix
-Fit me, a passenger and a baby seat
-Quick and fun to drive
-Stealth (I get a lot of tickets)
I wanted a Mini Cooper S, but I could not afford one, or the BMW priced up-keep.
Then I thought Pulsar GTI-R! But, right hand drive is a heat score, and with AWD and a Turbo easy and cheap to maintain was not very realistic.
Then I found a car that fit all my Criteria! A Suzuki Swift GTI!
I scoured the earth and by a fluke came up with a mint conditioned 80000KM Swift GTI Locally! I took the car for a test drive and I was in love. The Poor mark VII was almost dead. I had to carry a trunk full of water jugs just to get to work! I decided to buy the Swift. With $5000 in hand I went to the used car lot to pick up my prize. As I pulled up two kids were driving away in my car! (they bought it). In a panic I asked the used car dealer what he had that was 4cyl and cheap. He pointed me to a 1993 Mazda 323 for $500.00. I took it for a drive and it drove well and needed little for the safety check. I decided hell, I will buy it and drive it until I find a suitable replacement.
I actually didn’t mind the 323. Five years latter I am still driving my “temporary car”. One day on my way home from work I thought to myself you know this would be a great little car if it had about about 100 more horsepower and some good brakes. When I got home I Googled 323 engine swap. Holly crap! A KLZE will fit in one! My friend had a KLZE powered MX-6 back in the day. It was very reliable and pretty fast. The search for a swap candidate 323 begun immediately! Found this one for $800 on Kijiji. It had a blown head gasket, but appeared to be in pretty good shape. I talked the gurl down to $500, filled it full of water and drove it home.
Photo from the Canadian Tire service center parking lot from the Kijiji
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Car was ubber gross. It was covered with gooey under coat and looked like it may never have been washed. So the project started at the car wash!
I removed most of the interior and bolted the drivers seat back in. Drove it to the car wash and to the horror of those around the car wash, I power washed the interior! Guys at the body shop across the parking lot were laughing and one of them said “it will never start.” That had crossed my mind, but I figured it was only a block from my garage so the tow would be cheap. To on-lookers and my own amazement it stated right up after its bath.
I used "Revive" engine degreaser. It is the best degreaser I have ever used.
Before:
After:
Drove the old 323 home 1.6L powered for the last time. First I pulled out the engine.
When I was done pulling the drive train, I pulled the dash, heater box and interior wiring harness out.
That was day one! Somehow I think the project will slow down a little from this point on. Well at least until I buy a MX-3 parts car. Next round I am going to knock the rear sub frame out and paint the top and bottom of the floor and the engine compartment. I have to fix a little rust in the passenger rear inner fender also. I screwed-up the sub frame to rad support nut serts, so I got to somehow fix those too. There was some kinda metal splash shield inner fender type deals under the air box that must of been retaining water because they are dust?! Cold air via a rust hole?! I will have to have a closer look.
My beloved Lincoln Mark VII had covered a staggering 980000KM. The original engine’s head gasket sprung a leak. It was leaking out, not in, so I would fill it with water every morning before my hour long commute. I decided not to fix it. The poor Lincoln was just plain warn out.
I was recently separated and pretty poor. As far a Lincoln replacement I knew what I wanted……..kinda.
Criteria:
-Recently separated cheap!
-Small and nimble
-Easy to see out of
-Reliable and cheap to fix
-Fit me, a passenger and a baby seat
-Quick and fun to drive
-Stealth (I get a lot of tickets)
I wanted a Mini Cooper S, but I could not afford one, or the BMW priced up-keep.
Then I thought Pulsar GTI-R! But, right hand drive is a heat score, and with AWD and a Turbo easy and cheap to maintain was not very realistic.
Then I found a car that fit all my Criteria! A Suzuki Swift GTI!
I scoured the earth and by a fluke came up with a mint conditioned 80000KM Swift GTI Locally! I took the car for a test drive and I was in love. The Poor mark VII was almost dead. I had to carry a trunk full of water jugs just to get to work! I decided to buy the Swift. With $5000 in hand I went to the used car lot to pick up my prize. As I pulled up two kids were driving away in my car! (they bought it). In a panic I asked the used car dealer what he had that was 4cyl and cheap. He pointed me to a 1993 Mazda 323 for $500.00. I took it for a drive and it drove well and needed little for the safety check. I decided hell, I will buy it and drive it until I find a suitable replacement.
I actually didn’t mind the 323. Five years latter I am still driving my “temporary car”. One day on my way home from work I thought to myself you know this would be a great little car if it had about about 100 more horsepower and some good brakes. When I got home I Googled 323 engine swap. Holly crap! A KLZE will fit in one! My friend had a KLZE powered MX-6 back in the day. It was very reliable and pretty fast. The search for a swap candidate 323 begun immediately! Found this one for $800 on Kijiji. It had a blown head gasket, but appeared to be in pretty good shape. I talked the gurl down to $500, filled it full of water and drove it home.
Photo from the Canadian Tire service center parking lot from the Kijiji
ad.
Car was ubber gross. It was covered with gooey under coat and looked like it may never have been washed. So the project started at the car wash!
I removed most of the interior and bolted the drivers seat back in. Drove it to the car wash and to the horror of those around the car wash, I power washed the interior! Guys at the body shop across the parking lot were laughing and one of them said “it will never start.” That had crossed my mind, but I figured it was only a block from my garage so the tow would be cheap. To on-lookers and my own amazement it stated right up after its bath.
I used "Revive" engine degreaser. It is the best degreaser I have ever used.
Before:
After:
Drove the old 323 home 1.6L powered for the last time. First I pulled out the engine.
When I was done pulling the drive train, I pulled the dash, heater box and interior wiring harness out.
That was day one! Somehow I think the project will slow down a little from this point on. Well at least until I buy a MX-3 parts car. Next round I am going to knock the rear sub frame out and paint the top and bottom of the floor and the engine compartment. I have to fix a little rust in the passenger rear inner fender also. I screwed-up the sub frame to rad support nut serts, so I got to somehow fix those too. There was some kinda metal splash shield inner fender type deals under the air box that must of been retaining water because they are dust?! Cold air via a rust hole?! I will have to have a closer look.
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