MX-3.com

So here's the painted hatch. I think it looks good, but once I "seasoned" it with chalk it just never quite came clean. I may just go to black primer like Mooneggs...


Went out and helped Anke find some parts in the junkyard. might as well take pictures while I'm parked here.


Not many shots under the hood? I thought there was another really good one of the engine from this meet...


Aaron: Here's the extent of my "build" for the engine.
viewtopic.php?p=611803#p611803
I bought a JY BP from a 94 Escort GT, full gasket set, and started rebuilding the upper half. I got the valves lapped just before needing to put it back in. I had planned to port/polish, get adjustable cams, ex-intake mod, and possibly solid lifters/supertech valvesprings.
My Escort LX died, so I never got to do anything to the bottom end. Still running the F25MR transmission. Still looking for a BP bottom end to build. Planned for 85mm forged pistons at 10.5:1 and H-beam rods. New bearings and such, since rebuild should include all that stuff.

Found a pic from another post I did


Right now it's just a stock BP with a rebuilt top end.

Aaron:
I couldn't find many pictures of the engine bay..
I found a video but it appears to be upside down.
This is from right after I'd put the engine in and was dealing with the timing and still apparently on the B6 ECU.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gr602zp4rktvh ... .11.00.mp4

Here's this one, nothing special.

Still the same old car...

I'm trying to find seat rails to lower the seats a bit. I might have to just cut/weld the stock sets and work that out. I really want to get some nicer seats though.

Working on hood struts. Sniped some from a Kia.

I have to redo my drivers window switch soon. I'll take pictures and make a how-to for it. My only problem sine the rebuild has been my crappy solder joints. I used more reliable mazda switches without the plastic pins that break.
Does anyone want to donate broken drivers assemblies for my write up?

I'm trying to figure out a way to fix the brackets on these Spyderco headlights I bought. Anyone have info?

I think I'm going to have to put another transmission in soon. The 2nd F-series is starting to make noises. Maybe I'll go to the G-series while I'm at it. I recently sold my spare F tranny to a guy in Portland.
Might as well fill the motor mounts while I'm in there.

Oh, and she's black now.



Chalkboard black.

Not much to report lately.
Engine is still running strong.
I fixed the broken mounting brackets on the Spyderco headlights.

I'm talking to a guy about a permanent paintjob.

My dad bought me KYB GR2s for christmas.
I just bought B&G springs from amazon (stupid taxes)
I'm getting all the bushings ready to be replaced with Energy suspension setup.
I picked up ZX2 Tubular trailing arms.
I'll be pulling the ZX2 LCA rear bushing receivers on monday.
Already have MOOG ball joints installed.
MOOG front swaybar endlinks installed.
Got a larger rear swaybar from a 95 RS. Not sure what the diameter is... (24?)

Picked up some black interior bits to help make my car look not-so-bad

I put together a list for Energy Suspension bushings to go on my car... Cheapest place came out to be Autozone @ $113 after taxes and shipping.
I'm sad that the swaybar I picked up at PnP turned out to only be 1mm bigger than my current one. So I'll be hunting a GS swaybar set (front/rear)
Gathered all my Ford bits... Spent a chunk of today smashing out old bushings.
I'll be installing it all when I put on my KYB GR2s and B&G springs.
And still no forced air bits.

Nice build! looks like you have overcome alot, and stuck right on it. Nice to see that. And besides, you can take out a bp like it was on zippers now!
I strangly liked the mercury wheels you were running. Maybe because they were something different.
Oh- BTW. I'm running a N/A bp as well! Hopefully that will change next summer though.

I've been through too many engines. I really hope this is going to be my last one for a long time.

I still have the mercury rims hanging out. I can't seem to find reason to sell them. Still have the stock snowflake rims, and the escort GT rims, and a set of 15" GS 5-stars... I have more rims than cars.

Scary note. My engine has been acting funny for the past week or so. When I go out to start it in the morning, it never activates the IAC and revs high until it warms up. Start it up and the RPMs immediately go to ~750. Sometimes it'll die and be a butt about starting, but a bit of gas and it runs fine afterwards.
Not sure.

THX Caleb, I've stuck with it cause I love it. Too bad it don't love me.

I guess I haven't updated this thing in a while.
These are probably going to be out of order. But here's a bunch of pics with some upgrade listing below. (And probably already seen them if you're on facebook)
This is right after I lowered it, next to a beast. The springs hadn't settled yet.

Chalkboard paint never grows old.

Sitting low, with a GS lip. I like this picture a lot.

Who needs a truck? (returning a core trans for my dad)

After failed hood struts, I went topless for a while.

Josh gave me the hood off his AWD MX-3

How the car sits right now...


=========================================================================
Parts install pics
=========================================================================
Rear KYB GR2s with B&G springs

Front KYB GR2s with B&G springs

Energy Suspension bushings all the way around (Front LCAs, rear trailing arms, rear lateral links)

Brand new Whiteline rear swaybar Solid 22mm

Ford ZX2 tubular trailing arms

More bushings, Moog strut bellows/bumpstops, Moog strut tophats, Moog inner/outer tie rod ends, Moog ball joints, Moog spring seats

Complete GS rear subframe. I'm waiting on new pads and rotors. I'm currently installing the Energy Suspension TTL bushings and swapping over the Whiteline sway bar.

String line alignment after I installed the wider RX7 ball joints to alleviate some axle issues


=====================================================================
Parts that I've installed
=====================================================================

Okay, I hope I remember it all

I went through the entire suspension and underside of the car.
B&G springs
KYB GR2 struts
Moog:
Strut tophats K8995
Bellows K90464
Bump Stops (same part # above)
RX7 Ball joints K9427 (Stock Moog MX-3 Balljoints part #K9967)
Spring seats K8995
Swaybar endlinks (front and rear)
Energy Suspension bushings:
ZX2 trailing arm bushings 4.7123G
LCA bushings (Need ZX2 rear carrier) 4.3152G
TTL bushings 9.9108G

94+ knuckles (to fit the RX7 ball joints)
GS rear subframe
Slotted rear rotors
Ceramic brake pads (front/rear)
Whiteline 22mm swaybar (bushings too)
GS Rear lower tie bar
OBX Upper rear strut tie bar
Ebay Upper front strut tie bar
Inner and outer tie rod ends

Still rocking a NA BP05, with an F5M-R tranmission.
I think I need to work on the engine now...



And my GS, waiting for a new crank...

So, I replaced most of my interior bits with black. Replaced my seats (93 blue-black) and didn't even have to skin a passenger. Got the carpet done too. Few little bits to finish off the look.

Last weekend (US Thanksgiving) I blew a wheel cylinder in my passenger drum. I decided to install the majority of my disk brake swap. It took longer than expected because the bolt was rusted through the knuckle. I ended up grabbing temp parts from the KLZE and putting it up on blocks. New rotors and pads and a pain in the a-- bleeding procedure... and now I have fancy GS rear disks.

I think I need to empty the garage and then start projects...

Good to see the dedication