Project Jay-Spec Mazda 323 KLZE

[IMACHU2]

Nice build- but I might suggest considering buying or building what I would say are the third and fourth most used large tools in my garage- a press and sand blasting cabinet. 1 is the jack and 2 is the engine hoist. The hoist is over 3 and 4 only because I have taught or helped so many with Mazda swapage.
The blast cabinet can be built for about 100 bucks or less if you have the tools to do wood working. PM me if you are interested in the details and I'll give you some direction. Just tell me what you have questions about so I do not go overboard with details. The press was less than 100 on sale at Harbor Freight and is nearly invaluable when you need it (like on bushings).
Anyway, loving your build and please keep the pics and all coming. I started at page 20, but whatever nice work

I broke down and bought an engine hoist when the guy at the rental place said I could have bought his 3 times over, for the number of times I rented his I bought myself a "real" jack too. (I Have a stack of broken cheapo ones). I have considered buying a press. I have all the air tools, but no compressor, (used to dismantle cars for a living) The only air tools I miss are the air drill and the air chisel, electric drills and hand held hammers suck in comparison. I have a rechargable impact gun, that I am in love with my next tool purchase will likely be a press, air compressor or torches........or a bigger garage

[IMACHU2]

My MX-326GS parts stash got a little bigger.

I picked up:
-Front & Rear brake hardware kits.
-New MX-3 trailing arms
-Gas tank straps
-Stabilizer end lnks

My brakes came in today too. KVR "J" hooked black cad plated front rotors and KVR house brand pads.

I took pictures (with a film camera). I will post some new photos soon

[Savin]

Car is coming along nicely. And for your next tool purchase....Maybe a digital camera?

[IMACHU2]

Car is coming along nicely. And for your next tool purchase....Maybe a digital camera?

Thanks, I can't afford a camera, I spent all my money on MaZda 326 parts

Finally the mechanical restoration of the Mx-326 begins!
Bought a mountain of parts!

-Tie rods

-Ball joints

-Strut mounts

-Trailing arms

-Sway bar links

-Brake pad hardware kits

-Rear strut bar

-"J"hooked black cad plated KVR rotors

-KVR carbon fiber pads

-KVR SS brake line kit

-All star brake proportioning valve

-Gas tank straps

-Energy Suspension sway bar mount bushings

[IMACHU2]

Yeah new parts mound pictures!:)

Porn Star brakes! KVR "J" hooked black cad plated front brake rotors and front and rear KVR Carbon Fiber Pads.


Strut Mounts, Sway bar bushings, Ball Joints, Brake hardware kits, Stabilizer end links (MX-3), Trailing arms, Gas tank straps


New MX-3 Lateral links from the MaZda Stealership


Good old #13's from My parents old 97 Escort. I need these to use the Escort Energy suspension bushing kit while rebuilding the 1994 MX-3 front control arms.




I need to buy new wheel bearings and then it is go time! (for the suspension rebuild anyway).

[solo_ryder]

Epic

[IMACHU2]

Epic

Ya add that to my previous parts mountain.



After all the hard work, taking parts instead of vacation (past two years), skrimpin' and savin', it is going to be fun to finnaly put all the new parts on the freshened shell of a cleaned-up MX-326GS.

[solo_ryder]

This car is gonna come out awesome. I like the wheel choice as well, rota slips ftw

[IMACHU2]

This car is gonna come out awesome. I like the wheel choice as well, rota slips ftw

Gawd I hope so The wheels are Konig Maxxim Air's. Fake slip streams LOL. I have them on my other stock 323 right now with the Falken Azenis RT-615 Tires. They are sticky some-bitches. As an experiment I took an on-ramp at like 80MPH and they would not come un-glued, the car leaned so hard on the stock suspension it starved the fuel pump.
Results: A stock 323 does not have the force required to overcome the Falken's. I usually like to see where the "limits" are.

[solo_ryder]

Yea, Azenis are def a sticky tire. The Rota is a ripoff also, they stole the idea from the spoon sw388 rim the konig is probably of better quality though compared to the Rota.

[PATDIESEL]

Man what a build. I would love to strip a Mazda BG chasis car down to the bones and start fresh...
Anyway, reguarding the Stealership... get a MazdaSpeed sponsorship. All they require is that you say you are building a race car and send in pics of the build process to prove it. You are plenty far enough to convince them of a build and it will save you a TONNNNNN of money in stock parts. If you need help with the sponsorship app PM me. It really is easy and really is alot cheaper.
I bought a fender, rear lateral links (MS version) new window seals, door seals, inner and outer belt trims for both doors and the cost was under 400 and the shipping was only 17 bucks. That was my most recent purchase.
Now alot of items can be had at RockAuto for cheaper than MazdaSpeed, but some things only Mazda sells and some things they are actually cheaper than RockAuto on...

[IMACHU2]

Do you know what percentage off retail the Mazda sponsership gets you?? I am the manger of a speed shop and the local Mazda Dealership usually gives me 20% off. I use Rock auto's website all the time. It is a great look-up. My parts look-up at work blows goat. I usually look it up on Rock Auto and punch it into my stupid work computer. I can get most stock replacement parts though my work and what I can't get my local jobber hooks a brother up. My performance parts are cost +10%, but we don't have access to a lot of sport compact car parts. (just really mainstream stuff like: Eibach, Vibrant, K&N, Ractive, ACT ect) . We carry a similar line as Summit or Jegs does. (All the mainstream stuff, but no superpro, Mazda Speed or Cork Sport) I have managed to get creative and get most of my parts through work though. So don't be surprised to see muscle car and stock car brand name products on my MaZda. I was looking at a Mallory fuel pressure regulator today (Musclecar) and I bought an AllStar brake proportioning valve (Go fast turn left parts)

[IMACHU2]

PATDIESEL:

I bought a press today!

12 ton on sale for $129.99 at Princess Auto



I have a brake up-grade planed for my daily 323 and I am going to push new bearings into Project MX-326GS too.

Note: it came in two boxes which ended up fitting in the back seat of a 323, Bonus! I brought the bungee cords and a red flag, but did not need them.

[ozkanb]

Hello.
Cool project.

I have a question.
where did you get the Trailing arms?
I have big trouble finding them, and my mazda supplier (I live in Norway) wanted about 450USD.
What I need is actually the bushings, but if not, I`ll but the whole thing.

[wytbishop]

Hello.
Cool project.

I have a question.
where did you get the Trailing arms?
I have big trouble finding them, and my mazda supplier (I live in Norway) wanted about 450USD.
What I need is actually the bushings, but if not, I`ll but the whole thing.

YOu can get them at Corksport.com with Mazdaspeed bushings, but with shipping to Norway they will be almost as expensive. If you have a friend in North America, they can be purchased from a dealership for a reasonable price and shipping would not be as bad as with an internet company.