Considering MX-3 for New Project Car
Posted: June 18th, 2002, 1:15 am
After loosing my '95 Neon to the city impound and later in an auction, I'm looking for another project car. I work as a courier and put alot of miles on my new car, '01 Dodge Neon R/T. To give this car a break, I'm looking for another project. I would consider yet another Neon, but I'm on Neon number 4 currently and feel like any unfinished business I have with the cars will be taken care of with the current new car.<P> So that leaves my options open for another project that will in phase one, serve duty as a full time work-load car and moonlight as my "other" race car.<P> The cars I have considered currently are -<P> '89 Isuzu I-Mark RS sedan<P> '91-'93 Isuzu Sylus XS<P> Mazda MX-3 GS<P> So the Mazda is what brings me to your site. If I were to get an MX-3 it would be a GS model because I want the V6 to allow the 2.5L engine swap to be easier. Plus I like having all options... Plus the swap is 100% smog legal in California as long as I use the Probe GT or Mazda 626 engine of the same year or newer and get it certified before I make any changes.<P> So here's my questions -<P> 1) About how much does the swap run? Could get a decent exchange for the 1.8L V6 in return?<P> 2) Are there any MX-3 2.5L in the 13's all motor? From what I can take, seems most people have gotten it down to low 14's with bolt-ons and maybe some minor headwork. I'm not sure anybody has used slicks, because from what I can tell, the car's with the swap will run a trap speed high enough for high 13's<P> 3) Is anybody running a 2.5L with nitrous? This would be my first option, along with a better exhaust system and a good CAI. 13's maybe even 12's should be a problem then.<P> 4) Is anybody using programable engine management? What makes the Isuzu so attractive is the fact that the Haltech E6GM can be had for less than $600 and that Isuzu imported the turbo chared RS model which is a very basic and easy swap for any model with the 16V engine. With the MX, I would do the V6 and not the BP turbo because it's different and a challenge. But I've never been too fond of "chips" and like to have FULL control when possible. I heard the LINK system unit might work with a simple motherboard upgrade is that true?<P> 5) How much do most MX-3's weigh?<P> Thanks for your input...