MX-3.com

I've been away a lot but finally got around to picking my car up this week. Drove it all around the wonderful winding roads near Mosport today... I've come to the conclusion that this is the engine this car was meant to have. It's exactly right for the size and handling aspects of this car - now it's as zippy as it looks. Really nice not to wear my clutch foot out constantly shifting...was experimenting a bit and it's perfectly happy to take hills in 4th and even 5th.
Should have it lapping soon, it was good last year but more of a "momentum car", now it will have a bit more oomph to get it up that long Andretti Straight.

Awesome and grats. Take some vids on the track and post em up. I've been track deprived for the last year and need to see an MX on a real track...

More info please

Pat, will do, and many thanks for your help!

I blew my engine last fall, it was my own damn fault. I knew it had a tendency to lose oil – I hadn't topped it up and the oil light was flickering intermittently. So , couple that with skipping a shift and dropping to 2nd from 5th when an old guy in an STS drifted in front of me... and the result was a busted rod. Great excuse to finally get a KLZE.
Happened to be on a stopover flight with 2 hours to kill and nothing to do but waste time on ebay... where I picked up one for $600 from Tiger Japan in Mississauga. $700 shipped to my mechanics, where it compression tested perfectly. Upgraded the springs to Interprep to avoid any valve float at high rpm, and bought a Centreforce Stage II clutch. Unfortunately, the Fidanza flywheel I bought from another MX3 guy turned out to be... for a Mazda 323 GTX, doh. Ended up getting the 1.8 L flywheel machined.

Plans are to upgrade the suspension with better springs and shocks. I've got a really great sounding exhaust that I pulled off my old MX - it was originally for a Shelby CSX, but it fit perfectly. Sounds really great and blatty on downshift.

I took the car to a Solo Sprint on the big track last year, it was really nice but underpowered – I got used to immediately getting out of the way after turns 5 to let the big guys go by. Now I won't have to get out of the way quite as quickly... With some nice Pirelli sticky tires, it should be a nice little toy for me to stay out of trouble in.

Lesley wrote:Tiger Japan

Yeah, I've heard stuff about them too, but have also talked to several people who had good dealings with them. My engine was nice and clean.

Lesley wrote:I blew my engine last fall, it was my own damn fault. I knew it had a tendency to lose oil – I hadn't topped it up and the oil light was flickering intermittently. So , couple that with skipping a shift and dropping to 2nd from 5th when an old guy in an STS drifted in front of me... and the result was a busted rod.

Very irresponsible of you.

Lesley wrote: I blew my engine last fall, it was my own damn fault. I knew it had a tendency to lose oil – I hadn't topped it up and the oil light was flickering intermittently. So , couple that with skipping a shift and dropping to 2nd from 5th when an old guy in an STS drifted in front of me... and the result was a busted rod.

Those damn old guys, he probably was wearing a hat too wasn't he.

Hmmm...surprised you blew a rod and not the tranny.

I think sending a rod through the oil pan is a GREAT excuse to get a KL! I almost came close to doing the same thing till I realized I was two quarts low just recently

Yes, that's exactly what I thought!
Although it was sad to ruin that nice little engine.

Lesley wrote:Yes, that's exactly what I thought!
Although it was sad to ruin that nice little engine.

Not a complete waste. Ever seen the K-offee table? Makes a very stylish piece of furniture.

That's a great idea... but unfortunately I sent it for scrap