How much expirence did you have before modding your car?

General Mazda MX-3 Discussions
Juans_93_MX3
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How much expirence did you have before modding your car?

Post by Juans_93_MX3 »

Havent modded my MX3 yet
However, I have worked on putting a CAI, Intake Manifold, 70mm TB and full exhaust on a 95 Mustang GT

How much expirence on cars did you have before modding your car?
What have you done so far to your car?
2008 Mazda 3
1993 MX3 GS
KLZE, Fidanza flywheel, KL31 CAMs, South Bend Stage I Clutch, Pacesetter STS, SS AutoChromes, Magnaflow muffler, 2.25' Exhaust, CAI, Blaster Coil HEI, KLDE Valvetrain, 5 Speed Swap
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Hoodzy
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Post by Hoodzy »

exp with cars, oil change, painting a few interior pieces

what have i done CAI pretty easy just gotta follow my guide ahha

strut bar meh thats nothing, indiglo gaauges also just follow how to haha

good luck
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1995 Creek Mica Blue GS
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Nd4SpdSe
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Post by Nd4SpdSe »

Before the Mx-3, the only work I did was install an amp/subs in the 626, I had the deck and speakers all profesionally installed. Although I had no prior experience to cars, I was always interested in them, the Mx-3 was exactly what I needed to learn....it's been over 3 years since I've had her and you wanna know what I've done to her, it would actually be easier to say what I haven't done....
1992 Mazda Mx-3 GSR - 2.5L KLZE : Award Winning Show Car & Race Car ['02-'09] (Retired)
2004 Mazda RX-8 GT - Renesis Wankel : LS3 Coils, BHR Mid-Pipe + Falken RT-615K 245/40r18
2011 Mazda Mazda2 GS - 1.5L Manual : Yozora Edition (1 of 500)
2003 Nissan Xterra SE - 4x4 Supercharged : 2" Body Lift, 4" Suspension Lift & 33" MTR Kevlar
2001 Nissan Frontier SE - The Frontrailer : Expedition/Off-Road Trailer Project
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babyblueMX3
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Post by babyblueMX3 »

Before the mx-3..I never worked on a car before!
RIP 400whp ZE-T MX-3
Current car : Golf 01 GTI 1.8T (15 psi)
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2fazed
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Post by 2fazed »

Before I got a computer in 2002, and discovered Mx-3.com, I didn't know about some of the aftermarket parts and mods to the Mx-3. I've had no experience with anything, so I basically taught myself everything.

I know how to install car audio systems, make fiberglass enclosures. I've done civic lights swap, cai install, rear drum-disc conversion and other various Mx-3 repairs. Strut/lowering springs install. Painting some of the interior with vinyl paint, and alot of other misc stuff too.

Everything I basically just tried to do, I learned on the way. Most of the time, I couldn't afford to have done, so I had to do it, if I wanted it.
16 Hyundai Elantra Value Edition
06 Mazdaspeed6 2.3T
93 626 ES 2.5
92 Mx-3 RS 1.6
93 Mx-3 GS 2.5
93 Mx-3 RS 1.6
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Yoda
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Re: How much expirence did you have before modding your car?

Post by Yoda »

Before the MX-3. In the past 25 plus years, my past projects include several cars and trucks as well as building up a few engines for the ground up and several engine swaps including a 455cid in a Ford Feista. I have done sheetmetal fabrication and hammerformed body mods and restoration work on car and aircraft, GRP fabrication, custom exhaust fabrication, wired a car from scratch and making my own billeted parts. I also have experience operating machine tools and with electro mechanical controls. I do about 90% of my own mechanical work well as mount and balance my own tires. Through my connections in the aftermarket I still advise on product development, do T&E's and occasionally design the odd part even thought I have never been employed in the automotive industry.

Juans_93_MX3 wrote:Havent modded my MX3 yet
However, I have worked on putting a CAI, Intake Manifold, 70mm TB and full exhaust on a 95 Mustang GT

How much expirence on cars did you have before modding your car?
What have you done so far to your car?
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Cpl_Bryant
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Post by Cpl_Bryant »

My only previous experience was with aviation ground support equipment for the U.S. Marine Corps. Basically diesel engine driven stuff, like generators and power plants like that. That laid the foundation and theory of opperation and whatnot. I did some major jobs like an engine swap in a 60kw mobile motor generator. Applying that experience to cars, on the other hand (in particular my MX-3), was a bit more complicated as most of the gear I dealt with in the Marines was designed to be much more easily maintained.
Since then, however, I've done the Civic projector project and the BPT engine swap. Most of my knowledge now comes from my favorite method: trial and error. This site has been a monumental tool in all my work. Thanks to all. Good thread idea. :2thumbsup:
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fieromx3
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Post by fieromx3 »

b4 my mx-3 i had worked on my bro car and my stanza had to be fixed about everyday cuz it always broke down. i had fixed on my stanza water pump, alternator about 6 times, brakes, rad hoses, egr, wired up fog lights, done oil changes, fuel system and a whole bunch of other stuff but without my stanza i wouldnt have had much experience.
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mitmaks
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Post by mitmaks »

lots of body work, basic mechanical maintenance and wear/tear part replacement, ie brakes.
Magnum s/s lines, strut bars, carbon fiber bezel, indiglow gauge, Sony Xplod, inverted c/f hood, SRD lower tie bar '93 GS SE '95 Cobra SVT #2722 '68 Charger R/T 440
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MX-3 Money
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Post by MX-3 Money »

NONE!
1993 MX-3 GS 5 spd, KL-ZE swap, kl31 ecu, 110 amp alternator, Unorthodox Underdrive Pulley, SSautocrome headers, High flow cat, Pacesetter high flow cat-back, B&M shortshifter, Clear Sigs/Sides.
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neutral
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Post by neutral »

In those dark days before the Internet and motivated by needing to constantly save $$, started with a few year period around age 17, of learning from Chilton's, then factory manuals combined with more experienced friend's advice, how to complete basic maintenance/repair procedures like tuneups, exhaust, brakes, ignition sys, fuel sys. That led to minor modding in some of those areas along the way.

Then blew a head gasket, took a deep breath and plunged into a solo DIY head teardown that grew into a complete engine rebuild. That experience resulted in enough confidence to try all kinds of mods. Have def been hooked on it ever since. Still into DIY maintenance and modding to save $$ but also now for the sheer pleasure as a hobby 'cause... it feels good to improve something with your own two hands.

Sometimes spend more modding $$ now than I should, or at least than is needed to simply keep cars in good repair. On the other hand, it's still less $$ overall than would be spent at the mech's for just standard maint & repair. Sometimes consider myself knowledgeable, which may be accurate when compared to the avg. person-on-the-street that runs to a mech for everything. Am humbled tho by seeing so many others on the Net with more knowledge and experience - MX-3.com included. For me, what a great way to keep learning!

Today, the Internet allows such a rapid and visual knowledge-transfer that anyone willing to do a little investigating can learn from others all over the world and can easily jump into the DIY realm of modding. my .02 fwiw. :shrug:
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bmwm3guy
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Post by bmwm3guy »

I had never even changed oil before I bought my MX3, now theres little I cant do on this car.
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vozaday2000
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Post by vozaday2000 »

before i started working on my mx-3 all i knew was how to change oil. the mx-3 was my first car. And i still love working on it. actually i think i am kinda addicted to working on it. :twisted:
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'94 MX-3 GS KLZE, KL01 Cams, Fidanza Flywheel, Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch, WeaponR Ram Air, 2 1/4 exhaust, Nichi Neptune Rims, Toyo Proxy 45 Rubber.

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Gro Harlem
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Post by Gro Harlem »

Did a couple of Festiva engine swaps...that car was my learning tool.

My protege was my learning tool for brake jobs / suspension & lowering related stuff since I basically redid its entire suspension but left the engine pretty much stock.

Stereo equipment installs I learned on my old 86' Nova mainly & some on my protege. Wiring s--- halfassed proved to be a waste of time then just doing it right the first time.

By the time I got my MX with blown trans/motor, I swapped in the KL-ZE, 6 speaker system with sub & amp, replaced a few parts of the interior & lowered it w/struts & springs and some nicer rims. All of that crap was done before i even registered the car.

Just recently I got the LSD in, new motor mounts, interior completely converted to the SE leather one (in mint shape too), painted the car TWICE (still not to my satisfaction but meh), and most recently did a proper brake overhaul of ever component in the braking system
Noble Green Metallic 93' GS Hybrid, 91' 1.8 323
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hgallegos915
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Post by hgallegos915 »

Before the mx3 I was doing auto to manual conmversions, tons of body work, regunal tune uo..i had an old nissan..those brake down alot.. ALso worked on an escort gt alot of times, changed out the head (bent valves) change engine mounts, Chopped a car up completelly for scrap, also worked on buicks, engine replacements, head rebuilding (old style head) Ans I played sanfransico rush alot if that counts. The mx3 I immediatelly found this site when I bought the car for 1000, before the swap only invested around 400- 500 regular maintenance and minor mode, after swap its been around 1500. Still have a LONG way to go.. its easy to kods cars here in el paso tx, we ot the border city of juarez mexico where shops can do anything for a low price without reducing quality.
-hec

MX-3 w/ curved neck millenia klde, boosted @ 5 psi. /bov and wastegate are good!/ nitto drag radial/ gutted interior/ millenia red top injectors, vortech fmu/aem wideband/ all bolts ons/ Car put together 100% by me. Mechanic? who needs a mechanic? ew.. real men work on their own cars!
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