323Permin's 323 SE transformation into a GT

[deadly_sleeper]

Is that an aluminum radiator off of ebay?

[323Permin]

Yup the radiator is off Ebay ... its built not bad for out of China .. and the price is good too.

The bolt holes for the fan all line up and threaded correctly . Trial fitted the fan with not one issue . Fits just like stock .

[89BG 323]

nice, thats actually rather surprising.

[323Permin]

Finally the Darn engine and tranny are in the car !!!

And it didnt want to go in at first ... Had the F'n tranny on and off the block 5 - 6 times .

The input shaft just didn't want to line up with the pilot bearing. Even with having an alignmet tool .

Cracked all of the bolts loose on the pressure plate twice to check alignment and finally got it to line up and bolt it together.

Tomorrow the axles will get put in , finish hooking up the power steering pump and belt, fill the tranny with oil,
fill the engine with oil, and start hooking up all the electrical. I will get alot done tomorrow , but still there is lots
of little things to button up before the 1st start .


Here she sits at the end of the day

[crazycanadian]

wow... about time man... looking sexy...

[89BG 323]

DOOOOOODDDDDDD!!!!!!
im gad to finally see it in place, it looks very at home.
where'd ya get your header from?

[labeo]

Sweet engine and hood space!
Especially I like high accuracy of install - cloth on the fenders and rear cap of gearbox!

[Mazda_Powered]

wow! looks friggen awesome man! You're building a car you're going to be scared to drive in the rain lol, thing is so clean!

[Turpro]

Very nice progress

[323Permin]

Got quite abit done over the weekend and today...

Engine and tranny installed , axles in too.
Wiring harness all hooked up , all fuel and coolant lines done too.
Shifter linkage hooked up , but still need to fill the center up with JB weld and hold it in with 4 set screws. The factory rubber is shot and the shifter falls thru the floor . :0)

But It sure feels tight with the new bronze oilite bushings and the B&M Short throw shifter.

Now whats left on the to do list :
- change out fuel pump for BP05 unit.
- hook up clutch slave and bleed
- figure out the wiring for the clutch pedal seeing that it was an auto changed to standard.
- wire up a kill switch
- wire up new headlights and turn signals
- mock up new end to end 2.25 s.steel exhaust

Hopefully once all the above is done it will be 1 st start time ....

Then spend some time adjusting everything.. and breaker her in ... :0) Wooooo !!

Here is a teaser of what the front end will look like when together, Trial fitted all the lights and center grill while I was waiting for painted parts to dry

[Mazda_Powered]

awesome progress! I'm still not sure about those headlights/corners... it feels like something is missing. Like the headlight backing should be black to match the corner trim or something...not the inside, I mean the outside grey/tan plastic. I did it to my Proteges stock headlights, and it made a nice difference with the hood popped.

[323Permin]

@ Mazda_Powered ..

When the hood is closed you don't really see the top of the headlight ... but I know what you are getting at ... I dont see it when I am driving .... LoL

[Mazda_Powered]

haha good call. Ya I'm a real stickler for detail sometimes, as you are as well I can see lol, but ya still looks absolutely amazing. Love this car!!!

I'm pretty sure any Canadian (hell even the US folks) would scoop either one of your cars in a heart beat lol.

Speaking of either one, hows the Protege GT doing?

[323Permin]

The Daily Driver GT is doing alright ... humming along .. made it through the winter alright .

Here it is as it stands today .

[Mazda_Powered]

awesome I really love those wheels on it too. What brand are they?