MX-3.com

Josh wrote:No the AWD rear sub frame is not bolt it at all... The only one that is is a custom tubular rear frame that was being produced for a short time on club protege. Which does not increase the rail strength in any way. I had 3 rear ends from diff models and none were bolt in.

I remember seeing someone posting that they bolted the AWD subframe on top of the Mx-3 subframe because the Mx-3 one wasn't strong enough. Vague memory, so don't remember the exact details, but that is exactly what I remember.

Josh wrote:you also have to modify the front sub frame to even get the trans to sit where it needs to. Plus the sub frame is in the way and has to be modified to make way for the drive shaft. Also its a custom drive shaft is needed. It also takes so much room that you dont have room for your exhaust. so in all reality the tunnel needs to be taller and wider. I got around this cause I was in a hurry and ran it just below the shaft off to the side. but 2.5" was as big as I could go. Axles are custom as well. the AWD trans uses a different spline, so I had to use the AWD trans side stubs on MX3 axles as MX3 has a wider foot print, for proper alignment.

Interesting to know those details.

Josh wrote:From all the research I have done and the swaps that I have done I can quite honestly say that without a doubt the AWD swap in an MX3 is far more complex than a FWD converted 13b would be. an adapter plate and a couple of motor mounts being the biggest obstacles is not that much. besides you can buy adapter plates for this from the miata. Either way there is plenty of fabrication involved.

I would tend to agree, specifying a FWD rotary, which would pretty much fall in line with any non-conventional Mx3 swap. Miata and B-Series trans are incompatible (I've already looked) so the adapter plate would still have to be custom made, but still doable, but as typical, custom parts aren't cheap, especially when they need to be engineered from scratch. A RWD swap would be the most complex and costly of them all.

Typically, if one has to ask if a swap is possible, they don't posess the means and/or ability to make it possible. Not being pestismistic, just being realistic in terms of of setting expectations. One way or another it's by no means impossible, but people tend to dream a bit too big. I don't want to squander those dreams, just bring them back down to reality.

I know, that was me BTW I cut the sub frame rails out of the AWD pro and notched the rails in the MX and welded them to the chassis.

The AWD swap would be way easier in an escort, FWD protege, or mx6 than it was in the MX3. I originally wanted to go RWD with it but after much debating I decided to go with awd. It would be way cooler to do an AWD 13btt swap than a fwd 13b swap

Josh wrote:It would be way cooler to do an AWD 13btt swap

There were a few AWD Rally FC's made back many years ago.



Any apparently the auto from an MPV is the same as an auto FD...

Yes that is true!

If I owned a wrecking yard the things I would do... MPV AWD system. That MPV 3.0 v6 will also swap into a FC or B2600. They are tourqy little motors. I was trying to get my little brother to quit replacing the 2600 engine and swap in the 3.0. it is a bolt up affair.

The other thing I wonder about is the AWD system from the MX6. They were only Autos but still cool.

There were two MX3's that I can remember that had rotary engines. One was a drag car that was completely fiberglass. The other was a combo of an FC chassis and MX body, where the guy cut off the body of the FC and welded on the MX3 body to the FC chassis and floor pan.

Josh wrote:Yes that is true!

If I owned a wrecking yard the things I would do... MPV AWD system. That MPV 3.0 v6 will also swap into a FC or B2600. They are tourqy little motors. I was trying to get my little brother to quit replacing the 2600 engine and swap in the 3.0. it is a bolt up affair.

The other thing I wonder about is the AWD system from the MX6. They were only Autos but still cool.

There were two MX3's that I can remember that had rotary engines. One was a drag car that was completely fiberglass. The other was a combo of an FC chassis and MX body, where the guy cut off the body of the FC and welded on the MX3 body to the FC chassis and floor pan.

You mean the V6 will swap into an FC, bolt up to the chassis, trans, and you're ready to go with a non-rotary FC?

Igor has a B2600, curious on that for him if he could swap it out and keep his 5spd and 4x4 transfer case, and gain some mpg.

AWD from the 626/Capella, no? I didn't think or knew that the Mx-6 has the AWD option. They did have the AWS system tho...

I know of the two. The first same tube chassis that looks 80% like an Mx-3 (with an FD shapped hatch) totally fiberglass body tho. Really, nothing Mx-3 or even Rx about it for the chassis or probably suspension either. It's no closer to a Mazda than a Nascar car is to it's resembled mass produced counterpart

The second one that shows up on eBay every few years, was a custom job that cut up the whole interior and looked like he used scrap metal and pieces of an old engine house for the chassis reinforcements.

Yeah the MX6 only had the 4WS option. But a RWD or even AWD MX6 would of been very mint!!

Im sure there is some ``josh´´ out in japan....we will call him ``joshaki-san´´ has done an AWD MX6.

There is a guy on mazdas247.com that has made an adapter type plate to put a 13B into a FWD...http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthre ... conversion

There was a PT member who made an AWD MX6, if I'm not mistaken... I don't remember seeing much info on it, but I do believe there was a dyno video.

Nd4SpdSe wrote: You mean the V6 will swap into an FC, bolt up to the chassis, trans, and you're ready to go with a non-rotary FC? Igor has a B2600, curious on that for him if he could swap it out and keep his 5spd and 4x4 transfer case, and gain some mpg.

I dont think the V6 into an FC would be as cool as the V6 into a B2600. As far as the chassis mounts I am unsure of, but they may be direct bolt up, but front to rear mounting is pretty easy to fab up. the 13b def bolts up to the B2600 as well as the MPV AWD. I was trying to get my little brother to quit wasting his time on replacing the heads on the 2.6 and just swap in the MPV 3.0 more tq and hp and should get better fuel economy.

Nd4SpdSe wrote: AWD from the 626/Capella, no? I didn't think or knew that the Mx-6 has the AWD option. They did have the AWS system tho...

Yep, they did come AWD with a 2.5L KL, BUT they were very rare and only in ATX. How I am redoing my drive shaft in the RS is I am utilizing the front end trans side mount from an ATX AWD car.

Nd4SpdSe wrote: The second one that shows up on eBay every few years, was a custom job that cut up the whole interior and looked like he used scrap metal and pieces of an old engine house for the chassis reinforcements.

I actually forgot about this one, because I really hate the way he designed it. But in the early 00's there was another street driven with a complete FC chassis under it.

There is a CP member out of the UK doing an AWD swap on his wagon which will be awesome once finished.