1988 323 Station Wagon KLG4 swap

[sketchman]

Sweet!

[Damkid]

Isn't the sticker weight just GVWR? I can't imagine those cars being over 3000 lbs empty.

Yes which is why I want to get each one on a scale to get some real numbers to compare with, I was just surprised by the numbers though lol

[SiliconSoul]

Looks beautiful man!

[Damkid]

Did a little photoshoot with my GT, which also made for a great signature pic lol





I'm hoping after Christmas to get the last things done on the wagon, which includes replacing every component of the brake system

[Damkid]

Winter sucks

[Damkid]

I'm finally back into this project and I've decided that the body on my 323 GT is no longer roadworthy so I decided to upgrade the wagon more by switching the GT interior and the power windows into the wagon

As you can see there's parts everywhere



Nothing left of the doors/interior



But the windows are working in the wagon!!

https://youtu.be/ssch7-GDfeQ

Next up is the passenger doors and to get the rest of the interior back in

[Damkid]

The complete GT interior is now in the wagon which includes all the grey pieces to get rid of any signs of the old blue interior

Time delayed interior lights
Tilt steering
Power mirrors
And my favourite, power windows!!!

[azgtx]

Truly something that Mazda should have offered. Whoooda thunk that wagons would be cool. Hell when I was young the only cool wagons were on the drag strip...and at the drive in movies of course. Hell even just a nice 323 still on the road is cool.

[Damkid]

So I finished stripping the GT down and ready for the scrapyard, it's a very sad sight but here's the final pictures of my GT



Since the wagon needs a windshield, I kept the one from the GT, we just cut the roof and under the cowl



R.I.P.



But now the wagon is back inside the garage, first time in months



First order of business is the much needed brake job, 3 out 4 calipers were sticking, wheels bearing were making a hell of a lot of noise so it was easier to just change the entire front knuckles since the GT got a complete front brake job only a few months before I stopped driving it

And the also good rear calipers and brand new ebrake cables



When installing the rear calipers I inspected the rear wheel bearings and found metal shavings throughout the grease, so next up is to install new bearings



In the meantime I've also installed the OBD2 port

[Damkid]

I got the new wheel bearings installed and the next step is to fix an oil leak on the engine

Turned out to be a cam seal and once I pulled the valve cover, I wasn't happy with what I found.... milky oil....



So instead of replacing head gaskets, it'll be less work to replace the engine which I'm picking up another engine later today

But I did get the battery fitted into the rear panel, just needs a tray to fasten it into place now

[m715]

Progress being made for certain.... Looks like what I had to do with our 03 Matrix when I got it with the total gut. Still have to do a JDM engine swap due to an engine that was overheated by the PO ruining the engine. Been using it with 3 cylinders for 25,000 miles, but it has just about had it.

[Dragonhealer]

That's gota be tough, letting one go....

[m715]

It's not like i am letting it go to me. I started the Toyota thing 7 yrs ago and other than the occasional couple of mile runs just to keep things loose was just sitting there not doing ANYONE any good. Chris is a stellar individual that my Daughter is very blessed to have as a boyfriend, He is a hard working college student working his way through school, and had a bad break with his last car dying as it did on the side of I68 in Pennsylvania with a snapped rod through the block. I have multiple normal replacement parts still laying around in storage, and the Curmudgeon still taunts me every time I pass by him in the driveway sitting quietly passed a dead Rasta. Between the Festivas, and the M715 by the log barn, I just don't have any time/money or money/time to do what I need to along with keeping up with an 03 corolla,03 matrix, 10 corolla, and 12 tacoma, Plus the immediate family 15 avalon, and 04 taurus that are driven daily. Need a mini me.
Also, when Chris finds that next land yacht sized car when he can afford it, Shtinky will came back home. His shell has just about had it, and I will do something else with him when he comes back home to stay. Main thing is he is happier rolling down the road..... where all good Festivas belong

[Damkid]

Picked up the new engine last night, now to get it installed

[Damkid]

To hell with photobucket!!

I got the new engine installed, tweaked a few of the small things to do on the car, got the ECU mounted

Only thing left is a battery tray and windshield and this car is ready for the road

Here's a YouTube video of the car now

https://youtu.be/5yVkL4ZvcHk