buying an mx3

[projectmx]

I'm buying an mx3 finally and i found one for $500... been told it has the probe 2.5L engine in it... but there are quite a few dents (4 or 5 i think) and one really bad rust spot (about 3" x 6") i have to get the front axles replaced / all 4 rotors and the pads replaces want to know if this was a pretty good deal.. here are some pics on my geocities page http://www.geocities.com/pipeline/9892/mx3.html

[Talon_66]

That is one dirty, rusty engine

[projectmx]

a dirty engine can be cleaned up usually... the valve cover i'd replace with one that said mazda not ford anyway hoses and resivoirs i'd replace also.... but does the car look worth it and does the engine bay area look salvegable or will it cost a grand or more just to clean up the engine bay?

[mitmaks]

yes dirty engine bay, but for $500 you cant complain, if you need some body work let me know i can hook you up, i can do bodywork

[projectmx]

the engine bay and the under body are the only spots i worry about.. but i haven't seen the underbody... where do you live?

[lakersfan1]

Holy crap! There's rust everywhere under that hood! Engine mounts, valve cover bolts, shock towers.

Then duct take on the intake?

Wires running like crazy for the alarm horn.

Looks like the part of the intake that runs under the lip of the hood is completely missing.

This thing was severely neglected.

[mitmaks]

Originally posted by lakersfan1:
Holy crap! There's rust everywhere under that hood! Engine mounts, valve cover bolts, shock towers.

Then duct take on the intake?

Wires running like crazy for the alarm horn.

Looks like the part of the intake that runs under the lip of the hood is completely missing.

This thing was severely neglected.

it was $500 though, cant complain.

[projectmx]

the duct tape is cause he sold the aftermarket intake seperately and didn't have all the parts for the stock intake still .... the wires are all over the place probably from swapping a different engine in there

... oh and its really going to be around 800 - 1000 cause i need to replace the front axles and all for rotors are warped and too thin to turn to i have to replace the rotors and pads

<small>[ March 15, 2004, 08:00 AM: Message edited by: mazda78 ]</small>

[lakersfan1]

I understand it's only $500, but with all that rust, something catasrophic is bound to happen....

Although, maybe I'm looking at it from a keeper point of view. If you're just lokking for a beater, I guess you can't go wrong, and I guess if that 2.5 engine runs OK, you could always transplant it to a nicer MX3 later on.

[projectmx]

mitmaks since you are in the body repair industry what is your opinion on the engine bay and engine... is this something that can be repaired? or are we talking major overhaul to save the engine bay?

[mitmaks]

Originally posted by mazda78:
mitmaks since you are in the body repair industry what is your opinion on the engine bay and engine... is this something that can be repaired? or are we talking major overhaul to save the engine bay?

is that only car you have? are you planning on driving it, ive got charger and i my daily driver is mx3 since i wouldnt drive charger as it is since it needs mechanical repairs done.
but anyways, replace most of mechanical stuff as needed, as you already have (brakes, axles, etc) and look on upgrading not just replacing parts, is that rusted engine mount? go with new one if you can afford it, but if not drive it till you save up for some.
First do all mechanical work to make it safe to drive, then id take that engine out and repaint whole car, again when you get budget. Let me know if you got more questions. Is that rust hole in lower quarter panel on left side rusted through or just surface rust? try fixing that fast, put something behind it and fiberglass or bondo over it (just temporary) or if you can afford it or have tools, cut all of the rust out and weld in some good sheetmetal and prime and you can drive it like that till whole car is ready for paint.
just wondering was car ever been under water? kinda looks like its been sitting (engine bay) in water or has been exposed to weather without hood.

[projectmx]

that rust on the drivers side is all the way through... and yeah i want to have someone cut it out and weld a piece in... i have no idea if the car has been under water but the interior is in good shape so i doubt it... its from new hampshire so i'm guessing the engine bay was just not kept clean and the heavy salting from the roads is what got into the engine bay. The car has been sitting for a while but I don't think the hood was removed... is the only way to clean up the engine bay going to be dropping the engine? if so what kind of cost are we talking for just that part? cause i figured to repaint the exterior black / fix the rust hole / and fix the dent was going to be around 2 grand easy not including the engine bay

<small>[ March 16, 2004, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: mazda78 ]</small>

[jhew84]

dude if you wanna clean that thing and make it "nice" looking, you are talking a COMPLETE overhaul, removing the engine, grinding/blasting all the rust off, repainting it, doing a LOT of fab work, cleaning the engine up, replacing numerous parts...

if your buying the car to drive as a daily and don't care what it looks like, 500 dollars is a good deal as it sits, but if your actually gonna try and turn that into something, don't even bother, that is like 50 headaches lined up in a row just waiting for you to start tearing it apart lol... but for 500 bucks you'd have a nice beater for sure :tup:

[SE-Man]

Dude, I bought mine for $1000 after ti was trashed and dumped in a river, it took alot af work but its alot better after $4K of work put in it.

[projectmx]

i'm beginning to have second thoughts about this cause its has at least 5 to 6 bad dents that have to be fixed on top of the rust hole and the rust in the engine bay... i'm probably looking at over 3 grand to make it look close to new/stock but not quite that good...