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Escort Moonroof Swap on a BF.

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    Escort Moonroof Swap on a BF.

    This is a HowTo Write up I did at Mazda 323 Performance, Thought it would come in handy here. Hope it helps some of you fellow 323'ers This is When I installed my MoonRoof to my car.




    "Well, i figured enough was enough, and theres just so much sun to be had this summer. So i headed to the local j/y to scout for a new sunroof.

    I scored better then i thought. Found a 95' escort lx w/ the glass panel powered moonroof. So i snagged that and the controls out of an mx-6 gt, since i knew the escort controls didnt fit right.

    Heres the install. (Sorry for the lack of photos, no cam right now)

    For those who dont know how these are instaled, you need to remove both A pillars, seatbelt brackets, both B pillars, headliner retainer trim all around, sun visors and brackets, old roof crank and base, rear veiw mirror and bracket, passenger jesus bars, and center mounted light. Your headliner should fall out completly.

    Gently pull headliner out of car, and set on flat, SAFE surface. This is a very breakable peace.

    Now grab your 1/4 ratchet with a 10mm socket, and loosen all 8 nuts and bolts (6 bolts and 2 nuts). Be sure to unclip your center light harness, as well as the front harness and drain hoses.

    Your old rusty broken panel sunroof should drop right out. There are 2 mounting tabs on the old sunroof that need to be moved over to the new roof. Reverse order for new moon roof install. The escort moon roof, even thought Identical in mounting and frame, will be a slightly tighter fit. Persuasion came in handy at this point.

    This was the slightly tricky part of this whole thing. The escort controls/harness doesnt just clip in. Know this ahead of time so you dont get discouraged when it doesnt work at this point. The harness for the old roof just was set for lights. on it, you have a black ground wire that bolts to the body. It needs to be switched over to the main clip that plugs into the body harness. This wire needs to plug into the green wire. Now the sunroof will work.

    After installing the headliner and such again, found the mx-6 gt control panel does not fit either. But this problem can be fixed with using a BG protege control panel. It plugs directly into the harness's, and screws right in, as well as covering the rear veiw mirror base, for that factory look and finish. Install complete. Play with it a few times, lock up the car and go enjoy a beer. "
    Mazda
    1988 Black 323 GT
    DOHC 16 VALVE TURBO

    2013 Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed3

    #2
    There's still a little gap with the protege panel but it's the best fit i think, and matches the interior color the best.

    1988 White GTX - #1 parts
    1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
    1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
    1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
    1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

    Comment


      #3
      Yes, there is a very minor gap, but you have to be looking for it to notice. It is a great fit.
      Mazda
      1988 Black 323 GT
      DOHC 16 VALVE TURBO

      2013 Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed3

      Comment


        #4
        does it leak after doing this?
        I live my life a quarter pounder at a time. And for those 500 calories or more, I'm free. I need FRIES! Two of them. The big ones. Oh, and I need them tonight. You're lucky the double shot of BBQ sauce didn't blow the seam on your nugget box. There she is, 2 pounds of pure beef. My dad ate it in 9.0 seconds flat. Check it out, it's like this. If I lose, winner takes my happy meal. But if I win, I take the burger and the toy. To some people, that's more important.

        ._________________________
        |.....Overnight....................| ||
        |.....Japan Parts.................| |'|";,___.
        |_..._...____________======||_|_|...,]
        "(@)'(@)""'''''''''''''"'''"**|(@)(@)*****"(@)
        Oh and by the way that shot in your banner with Vin Diesel's car getting shot, thats a civic not an altezza.

        Comment


          #5
          it's just the control panel that has a gap... not the roof itself. I've had mine in for about a year now. I live in the NW driving through Seattle and Portland.

          1988 White GTX - #1 parts
          1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
          1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
          1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
          1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

          Comment


            #6
            No, they seal up just fine, but like what Matt said, its just the control panel gap. Its a perfect swap if your tired of hand cranking, or in mine and matts case, the whole crank system failing. Not much modification required, and its 10 times better.
            Mazda
            1988 Black 323 GT
            DOHC 16 VALVE TURBO

            2013 Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed3

            Comment


              #7
              good info, i never even thought of doing this
              "See that car, in the 80's that car was deadly." Random man to his son while passing the GTX in a parking lot

              Originally posted by neuspeedescort
              the proper spelling would be "Launchabilitiness" i do believe.
              -88' Mazda 323 GTX, 1.8t, Modified Magazine May 2012
              -88' Mazda 323 GTX, caged and ready for dirt
              -93' Mazda Miata, half caged
              -09' Mercedes C63 AMG
              -87' Toyota Land Cruiser, 33's with slight lift, safari style!

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by trailrider098 View Post
                good info, i never even thought of doing this
                That means you're probably not tired of hand-cranking.....

                Comment


                  #9
                  His right arm is probably huge from cranking.
                  Mazda
                  1988 Black 323 GT
                  DOHC 16 VALVE TURBO

                  2013 Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed3

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by FamiliaGT View Post
                    His right arm is probably huge from cranking.
                    ya, the chicks love it
                    "See that car, in the 80's that car was deadly." Random man to his son while passing the GTX in a parking lot

                    Originally posted by neuspeedescort
                    the proper spelling would be "Launchabilitiness" i do believe.
                    -88' Mazda 323 GTX, 1.8t, Modified Magazine May 2012
                    -88' Mazda 323 GTX, caged and ready for dirt
                    -93' Mazda Miata, half caged
                    -09' Mercedes C63 AMG
                    -87' Toyota Land Cruiser, 33's with slight lift, safari style!

                    Comment


                      #11
                      ...

                      What about a list of cars, where this part is interchangable? Or is it only the escort that is capable?

                      thanks

                      Comment


                        #12
                        BG Protege's also work. Control panels from BG Pro's Escort's and mx-6 (so i'd imagine 626 and probe control panels) all work.

                        1988 White GTX - #1 parts
                        1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
                        1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
                        1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
                        1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

                        Comment


                          #13
                          The controls for the probe, 626 and mx6 are not good fitments. They dont attach the way they should to our frames.
                          Last edited by FamiliaGT; 06-26-2008, 09:26 PM.
                          Mazda
                          1988 Black 323 GT
                          DOHC 16 VALVE TURBO

                          2013 Velocity Red Mica Mazdaspeed3

                          Comment


                            #14
                            I thought that's what you told me....

                            1988 White GTX - #1 parts
                            1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
                            1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
                            1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
                            1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

                            Comment


                              #15
                              ..

                              Anybody have a motor lying around I can buy?

                              Comment

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