My silly MX5 projects...
Discussion
I bought this ages ago:
as a donor for this: (keeping it all Mazda of course!)
Original plan was just to replace the running gear, but I got a bit carried away (as usual), and am now knee deep into the angle grinder stage of basically stuffing the whole MX5 floor pan under the 323 (or effectively rebodying the MX5). It will be an interesting SVA/IVA challenge!
Suffice to say, it's turned into a bit of a long-term project. I've never even driven an MX5, but have obviously heard fantastic things about them, so I've been on the lookout for a nice up-together MOT'd, taxed example to use as a daily, but also as a test bed as I start to develop the 'MX323'. So of course, I've bought another project!
Grrr.
A '92 1.6 Eunos non-runner. At £450 I couldn't say no. Actually, I could have said no, but I didn't. It's got a perfect roof, leather, a/c, Bilsteins, almost new Pirelli rubber yada yada, so I'll be quids in even if I have to break it. Faults are broken screen, dented wing, one slightly rusty sill and a broken engine. Glass, dents and welding I can do easily, just got to get the engine sorted.
It starts on the button and runs for a couple of seconds, then cuts out and dies abruptly. I haven't had much of a chance to play with it yet, but the fuel pump doesn't stop, so I don't think its the common fuel/air flow meter problem. I'll pull the fault codes soon, but suspect an ignition problem somewhere. Hopefully nothing too serious as I'm looking forward to some roof-down sideways fun soon!
It does look pretty on the drive though
as a donor for this: (keeping it all Mazda of course!)
Original plan was just to replace the running gear, but I got a bit carried away (as usual), and am now knee deep into the angle grinder stage of basically stuffing the whole MX5 floor pan under the 323 (or effectively rebodying the MX5). It will be an interesting SVA/IVA challenge!
Suffice to say, it's turned into a bit of a long-term project. I've never even driven an MX5, but have obviously heard fantastic things about them, so I've been on the lookout for a nice up-together MOT'd, taxed example to use as a daily, but also as a test bed as I start to develop the 'MX323'. So of course, I've bought another project!
Grrr.A '92 1.6 Eunos non-runner. At £450 I couldn't say no. Actually, I could have said no, but I didn't. It's got a perfect roof, leather, a/c, Bilsteins, almost new Pirelli rubber yada yada, so I'll be quids in even if I have to break it. Faults are broken screen, dented wing, one slightly rusty sill and a broken engine. Glass, dents and welding I can do easily, just got to get the engine sorted.
It starts on the button and runs for a couple of seconds, then cuts out and dies abruptly. I haven't had much of a chance to play with it yet, but the fuel pump doesn't stop, so I don't think its the common fuel/air flow meter problem. I'll pull the fault codes soon, but suspect an ignition problem somewhere. Hopefully nothing too serious as I'm looking forward to some roof-down sideways fun soon!
It does look pretty on the drive though
MX-5 Lazza said:
Could it be a dodgy immobiliser? Some of them allow the car to start before killing the ignition...
Possibly. It has some cobra cat1 or cat2 thingy on it. That could be fun to unstitch! On saying that, when the immobiliser is armed, it doesn't allow the starter to turn...zac510 said:
Most people just plonk a rotary into those 323s. I think there's a crossmember you can nab from the rotary car and bolt it in and away you go
Yeah, I've seen a few done on OzRotary. It's pretty much a bolt in-job using a series 1 RX7 engine. But then the suspension is rubbish, the brakes are... well, 70's, it has a vague steering box etc. And besides, projects like this keep me out of the pub!Edited by Utterpiffle on Monday 24th August 13:43
Correct me if I'm wrong but the MX5/Roadster engine was donered straight out of the later 1988 323 GTX Turbo......minus the turbo of course....well except for the le mans anyway.
Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
Interesting project!
Although heres my tip - get the Green one running first. Drive it for a week. Fall in love.
Then I'm quite sure you will throw that red hatchback back on the heap, split the white one for any nice/worthwhile bits, and wonder what on earth you were thinking of.
Spend your money on the Roadster!
Although heres my tip - get the Green one running first. Drive it for a week. Fall in love.
Then I'm quite sure you will throw that red hatchback back on the heap, split the white one for any nice/worthwhile bits, and wonder what on earth you were thinking of.
Spend your money on the Roadster!
Quick silver said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but the MX5/Roadster engine was donered straight out of the later 1988 323 GTX Turbo......minus the turbo of course....well except for the le mans anyway.
Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
That 323 pictured above is a completely different chassis to the 323/Familia GTX. They are 323 in name only. Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
Quick silver said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but the MX5/Roadster engine was donered straight out of the later 1988 323 GTX Turbo......minus the turbo of course....well except for the le mans anyway.
Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
As said above, they are two completely different generations of car. 1st gen (FA4) 323 is RWD unlike all later 323's, but this one had a wheezy old 1.3 auto. The biggest engine the FA4 got was a 1500 sohc.Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
There can't be many GTX turbo's left anyway, but surely no project is mute where you are turning the engine around the right way?
snotrag said:
Interesting project!
Although heres my tip - get the Green one running first. Drive it for a week. Fall in love.
Then I'm quite sure you will throw that red hatchback back on the heap, split the white one for any nice/worthwhile bits, and wonder what on earth you were thinking of.
Spend your money on the Roadster!
I fully intend to. Although heres my tip - get the Green one running first. Drive it for a week. Fall in love.
Then I'm quite sure you will throw that red hatchback back on the heap, split the white one for any nice/worthwhile bits, and wonder what on earth you were thinking of.
Spend your money on the Roadster!
But I am also amused by the concept of a crappy 70's orange thing going, handling and stopping like an MX5...It's a bit late now anyway. The white MX5 is stripped to its chassis and the 323 has no floor
Quick silver said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but the MX5/Roadster engine was donered straight out of the later 1988 323 GTX Turbo......minus the turbo of course....well except for the le mans anyway.
Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
Not quite.Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
The MX5 engine is based on the 323 Turbo engine but it isn't just transplanted. The 323 was fwd transverse for a start. It was modified quite a bit before being used in the MX5 - luckily they kept it just as strong which is why it's great for FI.
The Le Mans turbo was the same as the BBR turbo i.e. it was imported as a standard 1.6 and had a turbo fitted by BBR in UK. Nothing to do with the 323 Turbo at all.
MX-5 Lazza said:
Quick silver said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but the MX5/Roadster engine was donered straight out of the later 1988 323 GTX Turbo......minus the turbo of course....well except for the le mans anyway.
Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
Not quite.Your project would seem a tad mute considering that both marques share the same engine anyway....don't you think?
The MX5 engine is based on the 323 Turbo engine but it isn't just transplanted. The 323 was fwd transverse for a start. It was modified quite a bit before being used in the MX5 - luckily they kept it just as strong which is why it's great for FI.
The Le Mans turbo was the same as the BBR turbo i.e. it was imported as a standard 1.6 and had a turbo fitted by BBR in UK. Nothing to do with the 323 Turbo at all.
Quick silver said:
What was the factory fitted turbo on the 323?........could it be retro-fitted to the MX5?.....would it be worth it? There must be a shed load of parts kicking around for it.
Not a clue. I know a few mostly useless facts about MX5s but almost nothing about 323s 
I doubt the turbo bits from an 80s 323 would be a match for a modern turbo though, even a cheap basic Greddy kit.
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