UPDATES!
(06/29/2009) The last work weekend fell through. I have made it up a few times to do some clean up and try and get a better idea of what I need to do in order to finish this project. I am still waiting on shifter cables, plates for the coolant and IAC bypass on the intake manifold, and plates to install the aftermarket radiator. Once these parts arrive I can get more work done. I have also discovered that i need to locate a 1994 GS push button hvac dash harness to complete that part of the swap.
(04/20/2009) This weekend I will be having a few good friends over and we are going to knock out a portion of work the car needs done. I thought I'd compile a list and show how little is left. It has been a long 3 years working on this car driving 5 hours each way just to spend a day maybe two working on it but once it is done it will be worth it.
redoing the miata harness so that it can go into the mx-3engine bay
Install 1994 wiring behind the 1994 dash *i'm trying to make this work on a 1993 car*
Install and "hide" or tuck the engine wire harness that Ryan Bpt323 made for me
Install fuel / brake / vacuum / coolant hosing in engine bay
Install the shifter and shifter cables properly *i have a bf GTX shifter and cable set which supposedly should work*
Installing dash *this is the 94 push button dash, car was a 93 slider dash*
Installing the carputer system in the car
Install the external gas pump and properly secure the fuel cell
Install the intake and exhaust manifolds
Install the axels
Install the radiator
Install the driveshaft
Complete the front engine mount
(04/14/2009) Ryan will be done in the next day or two with the engine harness, once I have that with help I can have the engine and car wiring done in a day or two. All that will be left is: Installing the dash, bolting accessories onto the engine, running fuel / coolant lines, installing the radiator / fuel cell / battery, installing the driveshaft, then just minor details to make it run :)
(03/15/2009) Things are back on the move, I have the rear endlinks installed and the alternator. Ryan (bpt323) from
www.clubprotege.com is working on the custom engine harness for me
(02/02/2009) Due to my fathers illness things are on hold still. I am currently looking for help with the cars wiring but aside from that I am unable to do any work for now.
(12/19/2008) Well It has been a very slow year but I do have some progress. We Have finished The Rear engine mount and the engine support member, The side mounts work perfectly although filling them might have caused the engine to sit a little higher than anticipated. The front engine mount is filled and needs to be slightly modified. The car has been moved to MI finally. All that is left to get the car running is: Wiring the dash and engine bay, front engine mount, installing the radiator, installing the fuel cell, running lines for fuel/coolant/brakes, lengthening the driveshaft, tuning. Most of which can all be completed in a weekend with a few friends we are just looking for a time to do this. Once the car is up and running I can start with the finishing touches.
(06/02/2008) Things are still progressing much more slowly than I'd like. Gas prices are killing me and since i'll be in mexico for most of july it is hard to get work done on the car and get everything else done I need to do before I leave. I have figured out the axle issue and will be mailing back the axles to get the right ones, I should be ordering the ARP bolts and nuts i've been wanting, and the list is getting much shorter to get the car ready: drill two holes in the box for the fuel cell, buy and run the hoses for coolant and fuel, make two brackets for radiator, cut last bit off front subframe, modify engine support member and front engine mount for better fit, make rear mount, locate custom length spark plug wires, fit in miata wire harnes, finish swapping dash and install new seats. I am hoping towards the end of the month to get a good long weekend to do this.
(03/31/2008) Well It has been a while but i finally got to do some work. A few friends from
http://www.clubprotege.com came over this weekend to help, Andy and David were a huge help. We stripped my old MX-3, pulled over a few of the 4 cylinder parts to use on the new car, finally got the engine and trans into the car and it fits perfectly, and finished modifying and painting the front subframe. We still have a decent amount to do but the car is much closer now to running. Also some changes have been made as to what will be controlling the car. I sold the Greddy E-manage Ultimate and picked up an AEM EMS full stand alone system.
(10/28/2007) Had a huge slow period due to being in the hospital several times for kidney stones. So after 3 surgueries, 4 emergency room visits and 2 hospital stay overs I am well enough to get more work done. We had our first sucessful engine test fit and I will have pictures up soon of that. I found front endlinks to use for now (not sure if these will continue to be used more than 6 months but we'll see). We have a slight issue with the left left side (standing in front of the car looking at engine) engine mount and i'm looking into the cause. Aside from that I have a full miata wire harness and I maybe completely rewire the car with that. Well that is all for now. Since I moved to detroit I will only be able to work on the car once a month maybe twice so I have no solid date on completion. I just hope it's soon.
(06/11/2007) The engine is done! The engine is completely together and timing is even done on the exhintake (or exintake ) mod. I'll probably through on the header and crank pulley before dropping the engine in since it will be easier. Also The sway bar is in (Will be making custom end links for it soon) and the custom manual steering rack is in (a depowered GS steering rack)
(05/28/2007) The engine is only waiting on two bolts! It is completely together however and looks great. I am cleaning the trans up and prepping it for installation. My girlfriend came over this weekend and helped with some of the work and even scrubbed the engine bay for me (she great) to prep that for installation also... we discovered after she cleaned that mazda didn't completely pain the engine bay some some areas are still in primer green underneath the road grime so I may have to paint the engine bay before the engine goes in.
(03/15/2007) The last engine parts are on order! Pics as soon as they arrive and new information has been added to the Engine "Heart of the Machince" Page
(01/29/2007) Pictures are up of the finished head and nearly complete engine as well as the custom frame rails and AWD rear end
(01/16/2007) The Engine is nearing completion and pics can be seen on the engine page!
(10/06/2006) Dropped off Cylinder head to have it finished
(10/16/2006) Just recieved several new parts for the car and will be posting pictures this weekend
(01/21/2006) Bought this Black 1993 Mazda MX-3 GS with the intentions of stripping and and completely rebuilding and turning it into a GTR version of the MX-3 (well if Mazda had made the mx-3 a GTR rather than a 323)