MX-3.com

SuperK's '92 MX-3 GS
"Clanky"



I picked up this car from forum member ukrman around Feb 2012.
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=66481

He sold it fairly affordable and was very honest with the condition it was in. Most of the "valuables" were already removed and sold individually before the car was sold to me.

The car was returned to mostly stock, except for Pacesetter muffler, slim visors, aftermarket head unit/front speakers, short throw shifter, rear tails, whiteline sway bar, aftermarket alarm/remote entry and some cosmetics on the gauge cluster.

There were a couple mechanical and cosmetic issues (which he did point out what he saw/knew, really great guy)

Front bumper paint was peeling
Side fender is dented
recently replaced CV axle was a bum axle (had the bad SHAKES)

Some other parts I noticed that needed attention:
downpipe was rusted through and through (LOUD!)
No resonator (LOUD LOUD)
The mazdaspeed stickers had to go (Sorry guy, I couldn't take it!)
Caution lights don't work
Leaky AC Compressor
Burns some oil, like any true, mighty, high mileage K8 does


No good 'ol SuperK story is complete without a good dose of misfortune.
I flew up to New Jersey, and ukrman picked me up in his delightful RX8. We had breakfast and talked a bit, then went on a of a drive.
It drove great. A few of the flaws were personal preference (noise volume, cosmetic choices) and others... a twenty year old car in New Jersey, what would anyone expect?
Two hours in my journey, on a multi-lane, empty interstate, a lone semi on the far right lane kicks up a three-foot, around three inch in diameter section of curved exhaust pipe, throws it two lanes to the left... RIGHT in front of this car I just purchased. It gets stuck on the front bumper and the road, scraping along while I scurry three lanes to the shoulder.
Well, there went the front lip. THAT didn't last long. Thankfully it didn't do any other damage.

The rest of the trip was thankfully uneventful, and I was able to make it home just as THE SHAKES began. The Bum Axle.
A couple hours in the afternoon, changed both axles with some used ones I had in the garage. Better.

The next year was fairly uneventful. I parked the car for a while, while I enjoyed my Mazdaspeed Miata, which was the summer car of choice, since the compressor blew shortly after I charged the MX-3.
I did get an unfortunate scrape on the side of the car. Not a huge noticeable dent, but I was really bummed. car lightly "bumped" into the rear quarter panel which gave it some scratches near the door.

During the end of this summer, the clutch started to go... quickly.

I was able to source a KLG4 engine fairly cheaply on Probetalk. 400 dollars shipped.




I then drove down to Atlanta in the MX-3. The clutch was terrible. I couldn't accelerate without the RPMs jumping sky high. it was about a 250 mile round trip. Pulled a transmission from an MX-6. calculated the cost to be around 200-250 including gas and all. I gave a guy at the yard 40 bucks because I was running out of time and needed the transmission that evening, before the pull a part closed.
I ran out of time and when we got the transmission out, they refused to sell it to me. Even the sheriff was involved.
So I had to go BACK down to Atlanta the next day to pay for the transmission.
Somehow down the road the exhaust hangers decided it didn't want to be part of the pacesetter's piping before the axle. Huge hole before the muffler made it a pleasant trip. Atlanta traffic... Southern August weather... stop and go with a lovely clutch... it was a fantastic time.

The engine was sold as "turn-key ready" with a guesstimated 75-100k miles on it. New rear oil seal, I decided that it was worth the gamble to just "drop it in".

What could go wrong?

Famous last words.

Got the car ready for disassembling My%20Car/


Last K8 Pic:



Little Helper:


KLG4 going in:


Broke off the frustrating rust. Just had the headers connected to the downpipe. I filled her up with fluids and went to crank her up! I was stoked!
IT STARTED!

Wait... it started...

It started but...

*VIDEO*



Wuts that noise? aww chucks.

SO!

Back out it goes:


Pull off the oil pan:


Give it a good yank:


I guess I won't use the crank or bearings after all:


Block scored up a bit:


Random KL31 crank in the garage. It was actually useful, go figure:


ZE pistons thrown in:



I now have the car running, albeit poorly.
The heads aren't in good condition either.
I'll be able to swap those out once I have all the right pieces.
looks like the VRIS were tied open and not functioning. I set up all the vacuum lines and chambers and still nothing.
The KLG4 intake manifold I'm unhappy with. It sets too close to the brake booster reservoir.


So I'll be swapping to some KL31 heads with the Millenia intake manifold. I have almost the complete set.

Although it's super annoying, I'll be able to do the head job with the engine still in the car. Tired of pulling them axles out and all. Grumble Grumble.

But it got me to work today on it's maiden voyage. (drives like a crack whore though) Hopefully it will get me back home.

Glad to see you haven't given up on it despite the hardships! And high mileage K8's burn oil? 190k on mine and doesn't burn/smoke any.

Good news Savin! I can get to the post office now!

Yes! That is very good news! But are you sure you can make it back from the post office? Just kidding!

Do you think calling the people who sold you the motor and showing them the damage would help at all. After all you should get a least half your money back.

Nope. He said it's my problem. Which... it definitely is.

Looks a little less embarrassing now:



Cleaned up the engine bay and sanded/finished the headlights clear.

I'll convert to a millenia IM and KL31 heads when it warms up again I think.
Not happy with the G4 heads. For one, screw the SLAs. freaking noisy, always have to adjust the lash... Ain't nobody got time for that!
And screw the G4 intake manifold. It (at least in stock form) is rubbish. grump, grump, grump, grump... grump.

From what I understand you have to port it to really see the gains. But it makes me wonder if compared to ported straight or curve necks if it would truly be any better.

that's my opinion. Oh yeah, sure you can see gains if you port and polish and modify the KLG4 intake, but do people think that spending the same amount of man hours on a different intake isn't going to net the same % gains? Maybe, but I highly doubt it! it's like saying a 150lbs person is lighter than a 140lbs person if he lost 20lbs... well, what if the 140lbs person lost 20lbs too?!

Instead of swapping the heads, I picked up a Millenia engine for cheap from Knoxville. The engine sat for a while in the weather unfortunately, so alternator was locked and power steering pump trashed. I went ahead and replaced the timing belt and pulleys, all the pulleys' bearings were toast.
So it's a stock KL with KL01 heads and Millenia heads from the factory.

Here is the old K8 and KL sitting next to each other:



The Milly KL dropped in:


drilled/tapped the 2nd coolant sensor:


Engine set in, running some ghetto lines to wash the coolant neck out from any extra shavings/debris



Video of the car running and the first test drive. HLAs just clacking away:



Now the clack is gone and I drove it to work yesterday. Didn't skip a beat. I'll clean up the car and take a few pics once it's a little more... presentable.

I cleaned up the front bumper a bit... looks much more presentable.

That front bumper looks really good now

replaced the front lip:


Cleaned the interior:







I passed the HC and CO2 emissions, but failed the CO barely. Limit 1.20, actual 1.43
Turns out I hadn't connected the charcoal canister's solenoid, so there was a slight vacuum leak as well as... the charcoal canister's vacuum solenoid wasn't functioning.
Also had a bunch of B12 in the gas tank to clean out the injectors, I bet it's kicking up my CO emissions.
Once I fill up the tank with just gas, back to emissions. should pass no problem.

You can try adding acetone (100z or so) to your fuel as well just make sure it's ethanol blended fuel right for the acetone to work. Co is usually a pooched cat but having no EGR can contribute to the problem as well. Good luck on the next test.

Here's a "full car shot" as it sets right now:



I already considered acetone but I would like the car to pass without any additives. EGR generally lowers the NOx emissions but they don't regulate that here in TN. Just HC CO and CO2. I was fairly below the HC limit so looks like the cat is doing it's job. I'm quite interested to see the difference in emissions here when I go for another test.