88 Mazda 323 GTX

[loganm3]

I'm now the proud owner of 323 GTX....as well as my daily driver Mazda 3.

I'm wondering if anyone in this forum has a GTX or know's someone who does. Mine needs some work (well a lot actually) and I'm going to need some help tracking down parts. I'll keep everyone in the loop about the car, and hopefully bring it to a meet in the summer. It is going to be built as a streetable rally x and navagational rally car.

[RallyPlaya]

Would love to see some pics loganm3?

[loganm3]

I'll have some for tomorrow. I get to rip it apart monster garage style tonight!! But don't get your hopes up, it's ugly as stink. I have nick named it the POS GTX.

[FLIPDADY]

Plenty of potential for your GTX my friend. Give me a holla if you need some GTX parts.

416-642-1333

Joe

[midnightfxgt]

1.8BPT? Lots of potential for sure. Fun motors, and if the frame is good, do it up ;)

[loganm3]

So there is one pic as my signature....better ones to come.

For everyone out there here is what the car is:
1.6L Turbocharged stock engine (stock form 136hp)
Full time AWD with center diff. lock

This car was built so that the Mazda 323 GTX could race as a production class A car. Just over 1200 made it to North America between 1988 and 1989. The rally version went on to see Rod Millen win the rally Group A production car championships in 1989. The street version of the car has a great following, but since most were used as rally cars or by kids that knew how much fun a turbo AWD was they ended up either around a tree or around a lightpole.

History of my car:
All original Ontario car. I will be the 7th owner, first sold in Orilla by a leasing company. Then sold to a guy is Scarbrough, then the car ended up in the Niagara region and bounced around there for 13 years...until I bought it. It has never been wrecked, and from what I have seen of the floor pan has never been in an accident. The car is pretty rust free for a 88 Japanese car. My car has a JDM engine in it, as the old one blew up. It has a larger intercooler, and larger turbo plumbing. It also has a coffee can muffler, that WILL be swaped for something low key. I have stripped evertyhing out of the car except the dash, steering wheel and front seats.

Future plans:
New brakes and suspention, that's just a no brainer!
Patch all the rust, seal up the interior so that when I do rally it dust doesn't choke us inside
Skid plate that links into a lightbar in the front
ReinTech Racing in Kitchner has some performance parts, so I will do a ECU chip (allowing me to run 15 PSI of boost), as well as some other goodies all depending on how much money I have.
Lexan rear windows
Paint!!! I have a few different ideas, one going all flat black, another painting it as a herbie scheme, and the final one just painting it all balck or all white.
Depending on the budget I REALLy really want to put a cage in it....looking at the shell of the car there isn't much protecting me, and once I have a cage I will get FIA approved race seats and harness'.

If everything goes well I will be running about 180-200hp at 15-16PSI and on the road and racing in the dirt by July.

If you want to be a part of this project I'd love any help from people who can weld/do body work/know this car and like playing with turbos. My budget is low, so a "work for beer" policy will be in effect. For now I am doing all the work out of my houses garage in the Yonge and Lawerence area.

[midnightfxgt]

I think you mean 1.8L Turbo motor... I think that year was the 1.8L BPT Motor. :)

-John

[loganm3]

No, the 1.8 in the GTX didn't make it to North America. In 1989 they unveiled it but it was actually a 1990 production year. You may also be thinking of the 323 GT-R, thats the really kick ass balls out rally spec car.

My car has the 1.6, same block as the first Miata's.

[RallyPlaya]

That Sounds like a really interesting project and the car is quite rare indeed =)

[midnightfxgt]

No, the 1.8 in the GTX didn't make it to North America. In 1989 they unveiled it but it was actually a 1990 production year. You may also be thinking of the 323 GT-R, thats the really kick ass balls out rally spec car.

My car has the 1.6, same block as the first Miata's.

Learn something new everyday! I only knew about the BPT. Should be a fun project. My buddy had a 1991 323 and it was kitted, lowered, gutted, etc etc etc. Was a fun car

[FLIPDADY]

Check this link it has pretty much everything you need.

http://www.mazdamotorsports.com/pdfs/collgd/323_8889_cg.pdf

[HYPER GEAR]

I had a black one, rusted out really fast. keep it for 5 years...

[inks]

They rust quickly

[Fobio]

When I was young and got excited about illegal street racing, ppl alwys told me there are a guy, who works as "the weather station" or look-out man for others in a beat up 323 GTX...left all the rust on it on purpose...all motor. Apparently, he was also one of the quickest cars out there...the word "sleeper" has always been in the 3's gene...

[Swerny]

Tiwing from the Toronto Protege Club has one.

Congrats on the ride.

[loganm3]

Regarding the rust issue, yet this one is rusty...by the time I'm done the only original untouched sheetmetal that will be stock is the doors and roof.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll look for him at TOprotege.

If everything goes right the car will be ready for testing on Canada Day weekend, first race is July 28th.

[88gtx]

new to the page... anyways, I bought a 323 gtx with a bad transmission. I knew that so no worries. I need your help in finding either a trans for it, or the parts to rebuild the sucker. I think one of th parts is the differential lock actuator and the other one is what that connects to. anyways let me know.. I am so desperate that here s my number 316 390 3565 fj thanks have a great day

[Marsh]

I have a friend in my club with a GTX, and another that has owned a GTX and currently road races a GLC. Plus I know a guy in the GTA that has two GTX ice racers.

[loganm3]

So I figured since the car is in the begining stages of being built I'll give everyone a little niblle of what's happening to it in the next month. My first event will the the Rally X in Bancroft July 27th. All those Subies and Talons better watch out!!

Brakes:
I have the VR4 big brake upgrade that uses VR4 266 mm drilled rotors and the V6 MX3 calipers
SS brake lines, and all new brake lines routed inside the cabin of the car (so when I bottom and rip up everything down below I can still stop!)
Rears will get new rotors, caliper rebuild and pads

Suspention:
Ground control coil overs with Eibach springs and Koni red shocks fitted into a reinforced shock housing and new shock monts on the body
New suspention bushings

Engine:
It's going to remain pretty stock until I get some cash. Right now it has a probe intercooler, bigger exaust and a bigger intake. Battery in the trunk too. Upgraded ECU and turbo timer to be installed
Future engine plans:
I have new pistons and rods, a euro intake that will be ported and polished, bigger custom built exaust manifold, bigger turbo, BOV, BIG Greddy intercooler (this will be fun to install as it is just small enough to fit in the rad support without cutting) New injectors...basically everything I need to put about 220-250 HP out of the engine. I will also be installing a oil cooler and catch can to prevent massive failure, and get a few more liters of oil in there.

Transmission:
5th gear upgrade to get better miliage
AMS oil and a tranny cooler

Body:
Repair all rust
Stripped interior, custom center consule for CD player, CB radio, Cup holders, misc switches. Modified dash for big tach and terra trip rally computer.
APC race seats (yes I know they are garbage but I am building this on a budget and any seats are gonna get killed anyways)
Simpson race harness'
Caging the rear half of the car with a roll bar (gotta keep it semi legal, full cage voids insurance). Trunk will be customized to hold 2 full size spares, tool kit, battery and some other random stuff.
Custom foot rests for driver and passanger
Quick release Momo flat bottom steering wheel
2 zone fire supression system (for $300 its a cheap insurance policy)
2 fire extinguishers in the car
4 speakers so that I can have some tunes (Apline CD MP3 player)
And depending on how my fiberglass skills are (it's been 5 years) I may do a lighter and custom dash and door pannels.
I will also be painting the car using the "How to paint a car for $50" method. It is a roll on paint job, I am still thinking of paint schemes so it's going to be intresting to see what I come up with.