Who in the midwest wants to wrench on an "interesting" project?

Title tells all. End of March i'll be putting together the Escort for my fiancee to Autox this coming season. Yes, it late, but i want to make sure i get EVERY last part i need before i tear into it.

Work will be broken up into 2-3 weekends.

1st weekend: Suspension/brakes. New suspension hardware all around (nuts and bolts), new rear arms w/ poly bushings, sway bars, braces, front camber plates, new struts, rear strut mounts, the works. New calipers, stainless lines, pads, and rotors.

2nd weekend: Remove drivetrains from Escort and MX3, then start moving mounts and crossmembers from MX3 onto Escort, install MFactory diff in MX3 trans, drop in KLZE attached to MX3 trans if time allows.

3rd weekend: Finish KLZE install. (Get exhaust done?)

I can provide beer, food, space, conversation, gas money, and a reasonable monetary compensation if needed. None of the work should be hard, per se... there's just a lot to be done, and extra hands are always nice.

Anyone willing to help create the dumbest Escort ever made? I already have someone lined up who has done this swap into a Protege to help, but a 3rd (or more) set of hands would be very useful on the first two weekends particularly.

the best answer I can give is maybe. I may have some time available then, but if plans go the way I hope they will, that time may dry up. food and beer compensation only, no cash will be accepted. If either car ends up in some form of championship of one sort or another, I want my name (My forum name that is ) listed somewhere....inside a bumper would suffice

4cylndrfury wrote: the best answer I can give is maybe. I may have some time available then, but if plans go the way I hope they will, that time may dry up. food and beer compensation only, no cash will be accepted. If either car ends up in some form of championship of one sort or another, I want my name (My forum name that is ) listed somewhere....inside a bumper would suffice

Hell, i'll get vinyl cut and put on the side windows for any forum members that have their hands in this pig, whether it wins a championship or not. (It won't, definitely not with me driving) It's an SMS car for my fiancee to get her feet wet/have fun in. It's probably going to be too much car to be good to really learn on, but it's not in any shape right now to be raced in a more stock form.

Your forum name would be pretty funny on a V6-powered Escort, too!

Side note... is anyone else interested in the "formula" to put a KLDE/ZE/G4 in a BG chassis? (tracer, escort, protege)

If there's interest i can put it up here and make a nice detailed build sheet for everyone.

I'd like to read that, for sure.

mndsm wrote: I'd like to read that, for sure.

Alrighty then, one is enough for me!

I'll get the basic parts list up this week.

Basically, you're gonna need an MX3 GS V6 to molest.

The cool thing about this swap is that it's all legos. The only "custom" work should be the coolant hose routing.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Side note... is anyone else interested in the "formula" to put a KLDE/ZE/G4 in a BG chassis? (tracer, escort, protege) If there's interest i can put it up here and make a nice detailed build sheet for everyone.

^^^Abso-freakin-lutely!

As much as I'd like to drive across a couple states to help out, I probably shouldn't...but I might.

Clem

I'll definitely see if I can make it over for one or both of the first two Saturday sessions.

Are you planning to install the diff yourself? Keeping the shorter MX3 final drive? I have one (diff) waiting on the shelf in the garage for the ZX2. I'm on the fence about going to a shorter final drive at the same time.

At first I was like Good news: I have weekends off, I bring and use my own tools, I've done two ZE Mx3 swaps before.

And then I was like Where's he at? Midwest. Oh.

I'll be there in spirit good buddy

cghstang wrote: I'll definitely see if I can make it over for one or both of the first two Saturday sessions. Are you planning to install the diff yourself? Keeping the shorter MX3 final drive? I have one (diff) waiting on the shelf in the garage for the ZX2. I'm on the fence about going to a shorter final drive at the same time.

I'm using the MX3 trans as a whole. I was half-tempted to get the MFactory final drive for it as well, but i'm unsure if i want to take the chance of reducing 2nd gear top speed for autox use. It's not going to be a long distance driver, so the possibility of turning 5k on the highway doesn't bother me, but it would bother if me i could no longer hit 60mph in 2nd gear.

I'd like to install the diff myself, but transmissions scare me, and i'm convinced they work via magic. If it looks too scary, then i'll farm it out, pushing the KLZE install to the 3rd weekend.

Teqnyck wrote: At first I was like Good news: I have weekends off, I bring and use my own tools, I've done two ZE Mx3 swaps before. And then I was like Where's he at? Midwest. Oh. I'll be there in spirit good buddy

Midwest of course! This is where the absolutely stupid FWD Mazdas live.

ClemSparks wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Side note... is anyone else interested in the "formula" to put a KLDE/ZE/G4 in a BG chassis? (tracer, escort, protege) If there's interest i can put it up here and make a nice detailed build sheet for everyone.

^^^Abso-freakin-lutely! As much as I'd like to drive across a couple states to help out, I probably shouldn't...but I might. Clem

Alrighty, basic run down (This is assuming you already have a BP-powered car, i'll research differences for the 1.9 cars, but i think it's just wiring)

KLZE/DE/G4
MX3/Probe trans. (you can use MX6 trans, but it doesn't have a lower mount, and it's got longer gears)
MX3 axles
3rd gen Escort hubs
88-89 RX7 balljoints
MX3 crossmembers (direct bolt in to stock subframe)
MX3 mounts
MX3 wiring harness
ECU/VAF of your choice. We'll be using chipped MX3 stuff.
Dakota Digital tach signal converter if retaining stock gauge cluster
Civic Half-width radiator

That's really about it. There may be issues with the water temp in the stock cluster, will have to check my notes when i get home to remember what the solution was. We're using an aftermarket unit anyways.

If you want to increase the track of the car (don't bother doing this if you have an EGT unless you want to hack up the rear quarters), you can use MX3 control arms and subframes, front and rear. Gives you 80mm (or 40mm, can't remember if it was 40mm per side or overall) increase in track.

If you need any parts there's an untouched V6 MX3 in a U-Pull yard down here in Evansville.

16vCorey wrote: If you need any parts there's an untouched V6 MX3 in a U-Pull yard down here in Evansville.

I may want the seats out of it, depending on color, condition, and year....

Otherwise, i have a perfectly running and driving V6 MX3 for this very purpose already.

But let me know on the seats! Been trying to find a nice set for a long time now.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Midwest of course! This is where the absolutely stupid FWD Mazdas live.

Oh. Which explains why my absolutely stupid AWD Mazda isn't there

Teqnyck wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Midwest of course! This is where the absolutely stupid FWD Mazdas live.

Oh. Which explains why my absolutely stupid AWD Mazda isn't there

Hey, at least you can put power to the ground, instead of watching it go up in smoke.

Where in the midwest?

88 to 89 RX7 balljoints doesn't quite make sense to me. 86-88 was the S4 cars. 89-91 (or 92) was the S5 cars.

The S4 cars have replaceable lower front ball joints (there are only lower ball joints on the front). The S5 cars had to have the entire front arm replaced to replace teh ball joints.

Just to clarify, I think you are looking for the 86-88 ball joints.

Like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/product_images/thumbs_100/mevotech/MK9427.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/shop_parts/ball_joint/mazda/rx7.html&usg=__cMKjabPUcANyOHxM6u1U8dw_7w4=&h=100&w=100&sz=2&hl=en&start=22&zoom=1&tbnid=m1dXqVgfrTI40M:&tbnh=80&tbnw=80&ei=ELlRTZfjKsXZgQea1sCICA&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1987%2Bmazda%2Brx7%2Bball%2Bjoint%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D988%26bih%3D650%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=167&vpy=235&dur=3214&hovh=82&hovw=82&tx=88&ty=53&oei=3bhRTcObAYH78AbT3OjTCA&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:22

I hope that worked

wvumtnbkr wrote: 88 to 89 RX7 balljoints doesn't quite make sense to me. 86-88 was the S4 cars. 89-91 (or 92) was the S5 cars. The S4 cars have replaceable lower front ball joints (there are only lower ball joints on the front). The S5 cars had to have the entire front arm replaced to replace teh ball joints. Just to clarify, I think you are looking for the 86-88 ball joints. Like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/product_images/thumbs_100/mevotech/MK9427.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/shop_parts/ball_joint/mazda/rx7.html&usg=__cMKjabPUcANyOHxM6u1U8dw_7w4=&h=100&w=100&sz=2&hl=en&start=22&zoom=1&tbnid=m1dXqVgfrTI40M:&tbnh=80&tbnw=80&ei=ELlRTZfjKsXZgQea1sCICA&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1987%2Bmazda%2Brx7%2Bball%2Bjoint%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D988%26bih%3D650%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=167&vpy=235&dur=3214&hovh=82&hovw=82&tx=88&ty=53&oei=3bhRTcObAYH78AbT3OjTCA&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:22 I hope that worked

I have a pair of those ball joints sitting on my shelf in the warehouse right now actually. Special ordered them for a customer and then he flaked out :(

Put, me down for a maybe too. Sometime towards the end of March I have to be in Detroit for the weekend, so that one's out. Also, I normally work weekends so time off could be iffy. Time off permitting this does sound like a fun project.

I'll help. I go to Iowa State, I don't know how far that is from you, but if it's fairly close I'll grab a friend with a car and we'll gladly help for alcoholic beverages.

Steven

wvumtnbkr wrote: 88 to 89 RX7 balljoints doesn't quite make sense to me. 86-88 was the S4 cars. 89-91 (or 92) was the S5 cars. The S4 cars have replaceable lower front ball joints (there are only lower ball joints on the front). The S5 cars had to have the entire front arm replaced to replace teh ball joints. Just to clarify, I think you are looking for the 86-88 ball joints. Like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/images/product_images/thumbs_100/mevotech/MK9427.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/shop_parts/ball_joint/mazda/rx7.html&usg=__cMKjabPUcANyOHxM6u1U8dw_7w4=&h=100&w=100&sz=2&hl=en&start=22&zoom=1&tbnid=m1dXqVgfrTI40M:&tbnh=80&tbnw=80&ei=ELlRTZfjKsXZgQea1sCICA&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1987%2Bmazda%2Brx7%2Bball%2Bjoint%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D988%26bih%3D650%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=167&vpy=235&dur=3214&hovh=82&hovw=82&tx=88&ty=53&oei=3bhRTcObAYH78AbT3OjTCA&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:22 I hope that worked

From what i was told, it had to do with the hole size in the spindle?

My info may be wrong, i don't anticipate everything going exactly right the entire way through. I'll check around and clarify.

For clarification, "Midwest" is Indianapolis, but the work will likely be done in Bloomington, Indiana, which is about an hour South.

I wasn't expecting this kind of response, so let's just say that i don't want anyone traveling REAL far for this.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

The ball "stud" itself may be a different size, but it is NOT replaceable on S5 cars. Therefore if you have one like the picture, it IS an S4 ball joint.