bulaian - 1993 Mx-3 GS

[bulaian]

Hey guys, I pretty much just started this project a little while ago, so there aren't too many changes as of yet.

I've had the car since about November of 2004 from a friend of mine. He ended up buying an Impreza 2.5 RS, so I bought his mx-3. After about a month of driving it, I noticed that when I would rev past 3000 RPM, then the engine would cut out. I later found out it was the distributor was shot(just like many of you guys hahaha) anyways, $450 later I had a new distributor in and the car was running fine.

During the month of december though, my car just would not want to start during those -25C days we have up here in Calgary, so I was out of a car for about a week. From then on, the car has always been a b---- to crank and get started, I'd always have to push in the gas pedal to fire her up...

When spring hit and I realized the hardstarts, combined with the burning oil(engine had about 220 000kms on it) and the little power the car seemed to have left, I decided to look into an engine swap. The obvious choice, after lurking around on these boards for months was the KLZE. So, in May of 2005, I decided to head over to JDM Source and see about getting in the new engine. Fast forward to December 2005(I know 7 months is a loooooooooong time to wait for the engine but I'm a patient person) the engine came...

Along with the engine, I decided on taking the advice of you guys on here and swap out the water pump, and timing belt but I also decided to go with the entire timing belt kit, which included tensioner and idle bearings as well. I went with the OEM exedy clutch and resurfaced flywheel.

Pics coming soon...

P.S. KL36 ECU is in the mail and my CAI just arrived today!

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Not really an update but these are some pictures I took a while back of my stock GS:





Anyone know a good product to get the "Precidia" wording off the back? It's really starting to peel off now.


Old shifter and shift knob:


My old engine and stock intake:


My Newish rims - Gram Lights 57c 17 inch, too bad it's winter here now so I've got the old black steelies on:

[Shades]

Yeah I woulda suggested highly on changing all belts and seals if you can while the engine is out of your car. If you can change any seals do them too... crank seal, front and back, cam seals, etc.

Without taking it all apart, you know the old trick of punching a hole in the seal and screwing a wood screw in and pulling the seal out?

Goodluck with your swap!

[bulaian]

Nope, never knew that trick...

I did have some bad luck with one of the gaskets on the oil filter adapter though. My engine was leaking quite a bit of oil after i got it all in... replaced that gasket and the o-ring inside the adapter as well.

The car runs like 100 times better now with the new ECU installed... fuel economy is back up to 400+ KMs per tank, unlike the barely 300 KMs I got with the stock K8 ECU.

The CAI took a lot more modifying than I thought I would need... I'll post new pics with that done also... I had a question about a metal pipe or line running around from the front around the side and to the back, all around the frame that kind of blocked the way for the pipe and air filter to fit in the fender.

[ovendenk]

Anyone know a good product to get the "Precidia" wording off the back? It's really starting to peel off now.

hey man... i used a razor blade. works really well. car's coming along good.

[fieromx3]

u lucky SOB i want those rims!!!!!!!!!!! anyway nice car!

[bulaian]

hey man... i used a razor blade. works really well. car's coming along good.

Thanks... hmmm now where to find a razor blade? hahaha

In the process of shopping for a new exhaust system now since I've got a little bit of extra money, thanks to Ralph Klein. Also looking into new paint this year as well... don't know if I want to stay with the stock red... or go darker... maybe even a candy apple red hmm..