87 323 DXi HB 5spd My Present Totaled Car Ac/ps/pb
87 323 Wagon Automatic 300.00 for sale in OK. ac/ps/pb Moonroof, cruise, power windows and locks.

My beloved 323 was totaled in the rear a few weeks ago. Spent 8,000 on the car since 96.
Engine has 80k on it. New CV's, Struts and the list goes on. Car drove and handled as good as the day I bought it in
April of 1988. Got almost 40mpg if I feathered the petal.

Safeco, who sucks by the way, only gave me 600.00 for the car. NEVER BUY SAFECO INSURANCE. THEY SUCK.
They lied to me about considering reciepts to up the value. Had to sit at my pc for 18 hours scanning receipts
in terrible pain (whiplash injury) and they did not add one penny to thier original value of the car.

Here is the big question.

It appears to me that the wagon is a HB that they just stretched roofline and rear unibody and put in a couple
of doors and the rest of the car is the same.

I plan to swap out the engine, tranny, CV's, Struts, Brakes, Radiator, and Exhaust from my HB to the Wagon.

I will be converting the Wagon from an automatic to a std 5 speed.

If anyone has any certainty about the swapping of these parts I would love to hear from you. I am most concerned
about the auto to manual tranny and the struts.

I need to build a 323.

One other note: Does anyone know how to ENHANCE ones brakelights? Getting hit in the rear at 40mph
sucks. She knocked me at least 100 feet. I would like to know how to make the center
lamp flash on and off while braking....that would be cool and to make it brighter.

go to my 323 site to see the car that was totaled
at home.swbell.net/kloyless

please contact me directly at
kloyless@swbell.net

Thank you.

Ken

 

I did the reverse of what you want to do. I had a 87 323 wagon that was totalled. I found a 87 323 Sedan that had a good body and nothing else to offer. I swapped out the engine, 5 spd trans, struts inc the brake rotors and both CV axles. I had just replaced the ball joints, so I swapped them too. On the interior, I swapped the carpet, seats and dash from the wagon. I also had to swap the gas tank which were identical. The only thing that was different on the interior was the rear seat.

I'm sure the 5 spd can be installed easily in place of the auto, just takes swapping the clutch cable, shift tube, and pedals are the biggest items.

It would be easy to make the center brake lamp flash. Just locate the "hot" wire when lamp is on. Next get a 2 prong flasher from an auto parts store and wire it in series. Then it will flash!

 

I forgot about the pedal. I would guess that there would be a way
to move it over....need to go out and look at mine.

I found out the lower motor mount in the rear may be different.
The wagon (automatic) has a terrible vibration in the steering
wheel and the seller has been told it is a transmission/motor mount.

I am convinced there are 3 mounts on either car but I suspect
the lower mount (rear drivers side) is different on the AT.

The seller say's the car should not be driven as the vibration
is really bad. I just wonder if it just needs to be tightened
so I can at least get it home. I guess that depends on
if there is any rubber left at all. I feel tempted to just
go get the car and somehow cram some rubber in there
if it is gone and wrap some wire around it to patch
it up well enough to get the car home.

I have a good mount on my 323 but it appears it may be different.
It is a 2 peice mount and perhaps only one side of it is different.

I would hate to get up there and not be able to drive the car
back home. I would tow it but I have no way to do that either.

I know how to replace the mount it's just finding one on Christmas Day
would be impossible. It is likely a dealer ordered part and I do not
plan on keeping the AT anyway.

This car is descibed to me as having a terrific body and interior.

These 323's are really hard to find down here in a truck infestated
state of Texas.

Thanks for you help!

 

I don't have to much to add as I can't give to much addvice. I have a 92 323 Hatchback. I love the car and I have done some research and I have noticed that Mazda hasn't changed the 323 to much over the years so I would figure that most of the set up would be the same but of course I don't know to much on this because I haven't attemted this befor.

But I also live in Texas and I have been also having a hard time trying to find some 323's in a junk yard some where around me. I need to find one or at least a 626, or some thing similar to swap out some parts.

But I love my little 323 I have run it to hell and back and it still purs like a kitten.


later.

 

As far as the pedals, you would have to switch both brake and clutch over to the donor car. Holes should already be in the firewall to run the cable through. They usually have rubber plugs to pop out.

As for th auto vs. standard trans mounts, I'm sure they are different. Once you remove the engine and trans from both cars and have an open engine bay, the different mount brackets will look different but mounting holes should interchange. Remove the standard trans brackets and swap over also.

How far are you from the wagon? It might be a good idea to go check it out first. Most vibration problems are usually very bad in the steering wheel when the motor mount you say is broke. This is because it is right next to the rack and pinion. The vibration might only be bad at idle, and can possibly drive ok at highway speed. If you have a truck, go to uhaul and rent a tow dolly to get the car back home safely if you like it.

 

I have been told by the dealer that 86-89 323's are 100% the same car.
I suspect that there are many parts that interchange up into the 90's
but do not know what they are.

The Sedan, Wagon, and HB are all the same but I get a different part
number for the rear struts for the wagon from one parts house
to another. I do know the Wagon is 100 lbs heavier than the HB but I doubt
the struts would be different. All Mazda did was put a different rear end's
on the 3 models and the rest is the same except for interior panels, etc.

The seller mentioned to me the vibration occurs only in nuetral or park.
A test of the engine when engaging and dis-engaging the tranny
shows plenty of movement on the engine so that lower mount
has got to the source of the vibration.

He stated the tranny slips but that is a result of someone putting too much
fluid in the tansmission, which of course would lead to foaming and lack
of pressure. Just needs to be drained.

The car is in Oklahoma and I am in Houston and my truck
would use about 400.00 worth of gas to get there and back and
that is if I don't get the car. Also this truck is not safe to drive
and especially not towing a vehicle. It sounds to me like the car
can be driven though. I am still wary of a AT to manual switchover.
The dealer warned me about the wiring being different but could no
specify. I know the computer chip under the dash is the same however.

I would prefer another HB but they are so hard to find. I just don't
know where to look. I have searched the net for hours and hours
and no luck at all.

I just need to find a good HB body. I have the rest.

My goal is to wind up with something better than I had.
I have 600.00 to work with and my 323 has so many new
lifetime warranty parts the list goes on and on. Almost
every major part.

It would be fantastic If I could find a really pristine body and
interior with a blown engine for 100.00 or so. That is my best
case scenario. And find it within 100 miles of Houston so can
tow it home. Any further would be risky for my old truck.

A tall order.

I am now spending 30.00 per week in gas to and from work where I
was spending about 7.00 per week. This along with all the missed
work due to the accident is about to sink our ship. This is why I valued
this little car so much and spent so much time keeping it in top
condition. You can sleep in your car but you can't drive your'e
house to work.

 

Sounds like it would be best to keep an eye out for what you are really looking for. A good place to look is at your local police impound auctions. I bought a 87 323 sedan for $30 from the San Antonio PD auction about 2 years ago. I'm sure Houston's is just as big or bigger.

 

You can if you drive an RV.

[sm=happybounce.gif]

 

Hey that's not a bad idea. Perhaps I could live in the parking lot
and bill my employer for security as well. What a deal!!!