MX-3.com

hey all just made a profile the other day and decided its time to make a work log. It is too late in the evening tonight to take pic of the car so first thing in the morning i will post some pic of the car and the various mods i have done to it.

Here is a brief history of the car. I bought the car almost 2 years ago now, it had about 180k on it. Since i bought it Ive replace almost every sensor and ignition parts on it. Ive also done a caat back exhaust system out of neccesity because the pre silencer on it had rotted almost completly out. I used 2 1/4 pipe with just some cheap "DC" fart can on the end for a temporary fix.

Ive also replaced the very cheap and cracked rims that were on the car with some black 15s that i had on my 91 geo storm (thats right i said geo). Ive also replaced the driver side drive axle, painted various engine parts, made a strut tower bar for the front of the car, and cut the shift lever down.

As i had a hard time registering ive been reading up on a lot of diy mods that many of you fine folks have posted over time. Ive done the homemade altezzas for my tails, but didnt like it and went a different direction... actually the cops giving me tickets made me change directions about three times. First they were solid black (ticket), then altezzas (didnt care for them), and now my onw style. I have also painted my headlights, and put mazda in my spoiler taillight.

Like i previously said i will first thing in the morning post up pics of most of what i have mentioned and some that i havent. I appreciate any and all feedback (naughty and nice) just try to be as gracious as you can about your oppinions and i will gladly return the favor. Also i foyu see a mod that you came up with and i didnt get your blessings for it i appologize, but you should take as a compliment because I liked it enough to do it to my car. Thanks to all

Sounds good so far, I'll be checking back for the pictures

Alright here are some pic of the car now just bear with me i had to take these pics with my cell so theyre not the best quality... and on with the show.

Exterior


no my lil glass isnt broken its just the woods in the background





exhuast. Mind you i did do the exhaust myself, lemme know what ya think.





here is my taillight mod. The cops gave me a ticket for full balck and i didnt care for the diy altezzas so this is what i cam up with. If you want a pic of them lit up just say so in a reply and ill post it up.



did the same to turn signals and side markers





my silver door handles



my painted headlight (i appologize if its a little had to see)





my painted throttle body (i had to replace almost everything on it and decided to give it some paint... im not crazy for the high temp metallic blue)



my under dash glow and my black widow pedals





shifter and its hieght





this is my junk cubby under the cd player



the start of my cruise control project



My spoiler brake light mod



my aftermarket foglights are getting a new home









not quite done yet but itll be done by tonight. I figured hell i wanna different bumper lateron anyhow why not make this on a bit more to my liking. (looks like s--- right now though).



Pic of my homemade 3/4 rigid silver strut tower bar



valve cover although i think im gonna paint it red tonight and go with a black widow theme... thoughts?



and finally engine bay



Well there is most of what ive done to the car. Once i put the bumper back on ill pull the car out of the garage and take more pics. thanks for all input good and bad, but if you dont like it dont be mean i cry easy

just kidding

Lots a work. I have no issue with people customizing things but I have to ask. Did you cut those fog light holes with a chain saw? A dremel tool may of been a more prudent selection.

roflmao... no it wasnt a chain saw, close though i had to use an angle grinder becuase all my tools are still in South Carolina .

Also i havent finished them as of yet. I will even the openings out with some fiberglass ( as soon as i get the rest of the jug... from sc) to make it look a tad prettier. I did this basically just to find a better spot for those fogs (i didnt care for them to be in the bumpers opening).

Also im planning on swapping that bumper out for one with the fog light holes in it from the factory. I just have to be a penny pincher until after my third child is born.

You know its simple and you enjoy it so I think thats all that matters. Personally Im not a fan of the taillight mod but in contrast I actually really like what you did with the sidemarkers. I think it adds a nice border. I do like the metro wheels tho they look kinda sharp!

what shifter is that? that thing is low, did you just cut the stock one?

oh and good luck with the fog light bumper. those are edm/jdm and are very expensive/hard to find in north america. you might like the mazda speed reproduction bumper. its cheaper and can be bought in the states. http://www.corksport.com/corksport-mazd ... umper.html

interesting stuff going on with this project... the rectangle slits in the taillights remind me of how some of the NL guys mod their cars.

The front strut bar almost looks like part of the OEM variant...

I'm going to be using a similar cruise control button from a miata (horizontal instead of vertical though) - cool!

mikeinaus

that bumper actually doesnt look bad at all, thanks for the link ill have to watch that.

sleeper6

Thanks like i sadi i did this becuase of cops writing me a ticket or warning every few days and saying they couldnt see light through any thing but my headlights

As for the shifter yes i have cut it down and just got an aftermarket knob for it. I did the same thing for my 91 GSI here are some pics of that

top



shifter cable



and the side that had to be ground for cable access



Here is a pic of the car i paid 200 for and the rims that are now gloss black and on the mx3

moooneggs

That cruise control on/off came from a junkyard protege and the cruise componenets will be coming from my wifes 97 626, along with her engine, struts, 5 stud hubs, and various other parts i can use as spares or what not. Pretty much any thing i can swap or keep as a back up ill be taking from it.

Just sucks now that im pa i have to get something 4wd fro her and me (thats why her car is now parts).

as for the strut tower bar ive made about 12 of these so it wasnt hard at all. Couple that with being in the electrical field for 5 yrs means i can bend pipe.
I bent these out of 3/4 rigid, then pinched the ends with a clamp dilled out holes for the blots and ground down the rough edges and gave it a clean silver paint job. All in all it costs me around $12 for ront and rear bars because i buy the ten foot stick of it. They work like a charm to. Used to make them for friends.

Are you on the western or eastern pa? I'm in Pittsburgh. Car is great!!! Love the cruise control button. I was looking to do the same sometime

well according to google maps im about 3 1/2 hours from pa, not sure otherwise. Im from Worchester county Mass (bout 1 1/2 hrs from boston), and ive spent the last 8 yrs in SC so im not familiar with the area at all yet. If youve heard of a natural gas company called Nabors drilling thats who i work for now.

As for the cruise control ive only got the on/off switch for now. Once i pull my wifes 626 up here i can take the componants from her car, if it comes down to it ill take her steering wheel to get everything wired up right, but i dont think ill need to.

Does anyone know exactly what parts are compatable from a 1997 mazda 626 2.0L DOHC, engine code FSD (according to the chilton); to a 1993 mazda mx-3 1.6L SOHC, engine code B6E.

Like i previously stated i would like to transfer or keep as a spare the cruise control, the 5 stud hubs, push button type hvac controls, engine, tranny, the maf (if there is a way to convert mine from a vaf to maf), and whatever else i can think of.

finished the grey primer today, yay. Now when i get back from texas i can resand the car and do it in a black primer. Then after new years i can sand it again and give the car a paint job!

i'd like to see pictures of your lights lit up at night if i could =D

not a problem ill post them up for ya tomaro evening