52 replies to this topic

[cityspeed]

Hey everyone,

Just started work on a new retro runaround

Mazda 323 lX 1986
1.3 carb, 5 speed box, at standard produced 64 bhp
5 door with LX (luxury trim package) which means lovely brown and cream seats / door cards/ dash etc....


Bad points:
Broken into and is missing a lock!
Car was involved in a little incident when the handbrake failed and it met a wall
Failed its MOT and filled up 2 pages but the work needed in my eyes is minor....

The Plan
Save it from the scap heap and turn it into something to be proud of!

MOT:

• Both rear arched are rotten and need extensive repairs (years of someone covering up rust with some hammerite did not save it.....)
• One rear spring was missing the bottom edge!
• The smack to the rear caused a rear number plate light to stop working
• 1 CV boot had a tear
• 1 ball joint is worn
• all the tires are perished
• Handbrake got 6% on test you can pull it to the top of its travel
• Rear anti roll bar bushings worn (advisory)

Edited by cityspeed, 16 February 2013 - 11:46 AM.

[Noah]

Awesome!

Handbrakes like that are awful! Though pulling them so far up is fun lol.

[ryan22_lgm]

my mate has the saloon version of this very very rare belived to be under 10 left
luckly he bought his from our college tutor who got it from an elderly chap who kept it garaged its totally rust free!

[cityspeed]

thanks! well progress started over a week ago now on the repairs so its starting to look a bit more straight!

• Hacked off most of the rust around the rear arches
• Repaired a section of inner sill affecting seat belt mounting
• Repaired a part of rotten rear valence
• Stripped interior
• Removed rear wiper / wiper jet/ wiper motor/ bottle and wiring
• Hammer'd out dent from wall impact,
• Used grips on bumper brackets and they are much more in line now
• used heat gun on rear bumper and have made it much straighter + made it go black again
• Used good old red oxide to cover up most of the bare stuff as I have been working In the snow and need it covered fast so its looking a bit more Rat look which isn't a bad thing,

This should give you a idea of the rims (14x6 Mazda RX7 GSL SE)

[cityspeed]

And your mates car is Coooooool! I hope to make mine look something along the lines of that!
I've never seen a saloon on the road!

[ryan22_lgm]

i really like these old mazdas ! keep up the good work saving a classic!

[ryan22_lgm]

And your mates car is Coooooool! I hope to make mine look something along the lines of that!
I've never seen a saloon on the road!

The wheels are slotmags from a morris minor. I have never seen another on the road! to lower it he has used parts from different cars i belive the coilovers on the from are polo/golf??? and rear springs from something different!

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

That is AWESOME mate, I love it

[Noah]

I love the chrome door handles and the beige paint.

Its from a glorious age of Japanese Motoring. ha!

[olds_kool_lews]

Saw this 1 at work yesterday!

[Badboytunes]

I sold my first Mini and bought a 323 from my nan in 89. I loved it. It was a 1981 W reg one of the first when they went from RWD to FWD. Had it for a few years, got banned twice, blew it up and then sold it in the early 90's.

Have fun with the project

[cityspeed]

The wheels are slotmags from a morris minor. I have never seen another on the road! to lower it he has used parts from different cars i belive the coilovers on the from are polo/golf??? and rear springs from something different!

Thats interesting about the coilovers,
I went the bargain route and got myself a set of 40mm lowering springs from ebay, there are some places in the US making specific coilovers with adjustable damping but its close to $1000 and I'm trying not to get carried away!

[jackskater]

The Jewish racing gold saloon is running mk2 golf front cookies which can be had for around 60quid second hand and cut down rear springs :)

[jackskater]

And the wheels are off a schimitar with the old jap fitment of 4x114.3

[cityspeed]

Thanks for all the info people it all helps, there really isn't much of a scene for these over here,
Progress has been good this week:

• Sanded + rust treated the front struts
• Removed front inner arch panel's for access to inner wings
• Removed side repeaters (not needed anymore! car has wrap around headlights with indicators + it was also first registered in Jan 86 so I don't legally have to have them), going to weld plates in holes in wings this weekend.
• Got 2 of my Alloys sent to my dads mate for some kerb marks to be ground down + welded up

Pics to follow, it should be looking a little lower at the front if all goes to plan this weekend.