My MX3 Project Dream Idea. (not gunna happen anytime soon)

[onlytrueromeo]

Basically I want to build a rally mx3 with lots of modifications that will go very fast but still maintain good gas mileage and change some things that I think should have been done to the car stock.

First obstacle - AWD! I would do the AWD swap and strengthen the chassis at the same time.
The tricky part about this is that I want to use a KLZE to power the beast...I am still trying to figure out if this is possible and what I would have to do to make it work.

Car will be able to attain at least 180MPH. I will accomplish this by either changing the gear ratios dramatically or by swapping to a different 6 speed AWD tranny, and custom fitting it. I would have to make custom adapter plates and mounts, etc, but I am confident anything is possible!
-Straight cut gears! Cryo treating and micro polish!

Full adjustable suspension controlled from inside the car. If thats not possible, then some sort of coilover system will be used thats not too harsh for a daily driver.

Poly bushings everywhere!

Car-computer connected to ECU so that I can monitor all engine stuff and log it!

T-Top mx3 conversion if I could make it look really good.

Projector headlights.

Either Eurospec front bumper or MSP front bumper with fog lights, RSX rear lip on the back and some good looking sides that match the car. Red painted tails, either stock or altezzas but I would modify them so they did not get water in them.

Either a custom spoiler so its not more than 2-3" above the hatch, or mold the Eclipse spoiler.

CF Hood w/ vents like Yence's but with the angry eye mod, and painted to match the car.

Custom made fuel tank to fit under the car even with AWD setup.

Suede headliner and door inserts. Racing seats w/ 4 point harness. Chrome miata handles, 5.1 Surround stereo, touch display where deck normally is. Audi TT vent mod on 94+ dash, and flocked dash to prevent awful sunglare.

Tint on all windows, with Jesse's slim visors on the doors.

Heated, power folding mirrors.

Full soundproofing in car, rear seats removed and back built flat to use as an oversized trunk (with amps underneath the built up floor).

Remote mount turbo because the engine bay is cramped on a v6. If a ZE can't be used, I'll just do a normal turbo setup w/ a 4Banger. 300 AWHP, daily driven on pump gas.

Full standalone, with different fuel maps for gas mileage or racing/fast driving. Launch control, two-step, the works.

Relocated battery.

Full engine bay wire tuck.

Spray the entire interior/exterior/frame so its in nice perfect condition.

I want to have water/meth injection built into the car so I can run lean. I want a digital controller hooked up so I can monitor the system inside the car and want at l east a 3 gallon tank that looks like it belongs where it is.

I want to upgrade the A/C and heater systems to perform better than stock so the car will be the best Daily Driver ever.

Custom gauges so that the colors can be changed and needles light up.

A pillar 3 gauge pod w/ Boost, Wideband, Oil Pressure.

Lightweight 15-16" Rims w/ best tires for the season. Really wide for summer, nice and skinny for winter.

Full Rustproofing and underbody spray, fill in where mazda engineers left off - fix the door jam problem, and fill in the empty space in the metal under the doorsills.

Rebuilt motor from ground up, bored as much as feasible - resleeve if necessary.
10:1 CR pistons and forged rods, titanium valve train. I want to rev up to 9k safely.

COP's used from whatever Honda motorcycle fits the ZE.

External Oil pump and relocated Oil filter, w/ Oil Cooler. S/S Reusable oil filter.

Powder coated engine pieces and suspension pieces - most of them black, but engine bay will look nice w/ some blues or silver.

Car color: Thinking Daytona Blue from a 350Z
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/1635/side99ul.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I think w/ everything I can keep the car under 3000 pounds w/o me in it and with all the suspension upgrades and power I will be making it won't feel that much heavier than stock.

Any suggestions? Comments? LOL If I ever get the chance to do this it's going to be at least 3 years before I start it. Cost estimate: $18000-25,000, depending on how much of the skilled stuff I do myself, and probably not counting the adjustable suspension stuff. For an electronically controlled suspension, I'd imagine at least $10,000 more!

[lowflyinmx3]

Sounds like big plans. Good luck. I'm thinking of going with a blue saphire metal flake when I finally hit the lottery and start modifying my car. Good luck

[fowljesse]

My Humble opinions:

Basically I want to build a rally mx3 with lots of modifications that will go very fast but still maintain good gas mileage and change some things that I think should have been done to the car stock.

First obstacle - AWD! I would do the AWD swap and strengthen the chassis at the same time.
The tricky part about this is that I want to use a KLZE to power the beast...I am still trying to figure out if this is possible and what I would have to do to make it work.

A rotary would be possible.

Car will be able to attain at least 180MPH. I will accomplish this by either changing the gear ratios dramatically or by swapping to a different 6 speed AWD tranny, and custom fitting it. I would have to make custom adapter plates and mounts, etc, but I am confident anything is possible! (Without T-tops)
-Straight cut gears! Cryo treating and micro polish!

Full adjustable suspension controlled from inside the car. Airbags If thats not possible, then some sort of coilover system will be used thats not too harsh for a daily driver.

Poly bushings everywhere!

Car-computer connected to ECU so that I can monitor all engine stuff and log it! MegaSquirt

T-Top mx3 conversion if I could make it look really good.

Projector headlights.

Either Eurospec front bumper or MSP front bumper with fog lights, RSX rear lip on the back and some good looking sides that match the car. Red painted tails, either stock or altezzas but I would modify them so they did not get water in them.

Either a custom spoiler so its not more than 2-3" above the hatch, or mold the Eclipse spoiler.

CF Hood w/ vents like Yence's but with the angry eye mod, and painted to match the car.

Custom made fuel tank to fit under the car even with AWD setup.

Suede headliner and door inserts. Racing seats w/ 4 point harness. Chrome miata handles, 5.1 Surround stereo, touch display where deck normally is. Audi TT vent mod on 94+ dash, and flocked dash to prevent awful sunglare.

Tint on all windows, with Jesse's slim visors on the doors.

Heated, power folding mirrors.

Full soundproofing in car, rear seats removed and back built flat to use as an oversized trunk (with amps underneath the built up floor).

Remote mount turbo because the engine bay is cramped on a v6. If a ZE can't be used, I'll just do a normal turbo setup w/ a 4Banger. 300 AWHP, daily driven on pump gas.

Full standalone, with different fuel maps for gas mileage or racing/fast driving. Launch control, two-step, the works. MegaSquirt. You only need 1 fuel map for both. I can explain better, if you like.

Relocated battery.

Full engine bay wire tuck.

Spray the entire interior/exterior/frame so its in nice perfect condition. You should seam weld, while you're at it, to support everyhting mentioned!!
I want to have water/meth injection built into the car so I can run lean. I want a digital controller hooked up so I can monitor the system inside the car and want at l east a 3 gallon tank that looks like it belongs where it is.

I want to upgrade the A/C and heater systems to perform better than stock so the car will be the best Daily Driver ever.

Custom gauges so that the colors can be changed and needles light up.

A pillar 3 gauge pod w/ Boost, Wideband, Oil Pressure.

Lightweight 15-16" Rims w/ best tires for the season. Really wide for summer, nice and skinny for winter.

Full Rustproofing and underbody spray, fill in where mazda engineers left off - fix the door jam problem, and fill in the empty space in the metal under the doorsills.

Rebuilt motor from ground up, bored as much as feasible - resleeve if necessary.
10:1 CR pistons and forged rods, titanium valve train. I want to rev up to 9k safely.

COP's used from whatever Honda motorcycle fits the ZE. CBR 900

External Oil pump and relocated Oil filter, w/ Oil Cooler. S/S Reusable oil filter.

Powder coated engine pieces and suspension pieces - most of them black, but engine bay will look nice w/ some blues or silver.

Car color: Thinking Daytona Blue from a 350Z
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/1635/side99ul.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I think w/ everything I can keep the car under 3000 pounds w/o me in it and with all the suspension upgrades and power I will be making it won't feel that much heavier than stock.

Any suggestions? Comments? LOL If I ever get the chance to do this it's going to be at least 3 years before I start it. Cost estimate: $18000-25,000, depending on how much of the skilled stuff I do myself, and probably not counting the adjustable suspension stuff. For an electronically controlled suspension, I'd imagine at least $10,000 more!

It would be awesome! however, I'm not into the T-top idea.

[onlytrueromeo]

No? Why not? I think the mx3 would look good w/ a removable hard top, and a T-top is the easiest way to maintain rigidity. I will have to try some photoshop to see if I like how it comes out. Might look funny w/ the hatch.

[fowljesse]

I think it could look really cool, and would be great to cruise that way!

It just would be really hard to make them seal with the windows, not depreciate the structural integrity of the body to the point that you'd have to add a ridiculous amount of weight to compensate, and stay in place when you're doing 180!
Maybe you could build them to still be a structural part of the body, just drive REALLY nicely when they're off, and have them bolt in securely with cam bolts.

[onlytrueromeo]

Well I was thinking of using a "flip lock" design to hold them in place because it allows for a nice seal and tight enough holding power.

I agree, structural integrity is one of my concerns. I believe it will be possible by adding a rollcage behind the A and B pillar trim and above the headliner where the T would be and above the windshield. I have not yet decided if its possible/feasible to mold them so that they meet the doors, or if the doors need to be reworked too. LOL I know it would be alot of work either way!

[s1zzl3]

here i did a ps of a t-top mx3 a while ago as well as a soft top convertible
this will give u an idea

[fowljesse]

Would be cool. For the center of the "T" you'd need rigidity against twisting. You could weld an oval connecting the middles of the pillar bars. The ceiling would dip a little like the "Pagoda" roof on a convertible SL series Mercedes.
Then, you could have removable hinges for the rear hatch...

[Daninski]

here i did a ps of a t-top mx3 a while ago as well as a soft top convertible
this will give u an idea

Oh I like that, have to wait for Pimp my Ride to come to Canada. lol

[robert davis]

why does a rally car need to go 180mph? just go get a ford ranger 4wd and get a new driveshaft and shorten the axles and beef up the engine a bit. btw good luck.

[onlytrueromeo]

I hate rangers...except the one I drove into the ground at the boy scout camp I worked at...that truck was cool.

Rally cars go fast...I'm not saying I'm going to USE the car as a rally car, but I want it to perform like one...suspension able to handle most of everything, crisp response, and a sturdy platform that can take some abuse.

Our cars are capable of going more than 150mph if the right parts are added...I want to see this as a reality (and a safe one). I chose 180Mph because it's a good fast speed that many cars are capable of. To get a car over 200mph is a challenge, and not something I want to push a car that hasn't been designed for it. Physics change quickly!

I would not want to destroy the mx3 body or the mx3's basic structure...I don't plan on making a supercar w/ an mx3 shell...rather I want to turn the mx3 into a better car by modifying as little as possible! Replacing the rear drivetrain w/ one from another mazda on the same platform, and only adding a few aftermarket external "body modifications". I don't want the car to look rice, but I also don't plan on developing my own widebody kit..I like the way the mx3 looks, but I think an AWD t-top mx3 would be the cream of the crop! If I can manage to get a better weight distribution from it and have a nicely tuned suspension and motor, just imagine what the car would be capable of!

If only I could get active 4 wheel steering in there as well!