While the engine project is taking a little break, I started to work on a 626 GT hatch (I have a wagon too but wouldn't it be too much if all the cars on the forum were wagons :D). Anyway, I like to keep the wagon a GT in the true sense of the word; that is, a great touring car. The somewhat lighter and stiffer hatch would be a better starting point for a more supercar-like creation.
I had re-acquired my very first 626, the white GT hatch. It was in a sorry condition; the floor pan was almost completely rusted off, the rear frames were in really bad shape, the rear suspension arms were eaten away by the salt. Top side of the car was in a decent condition however. I think these photos will tell the tale:
In a word, the car was a mess. I really didn't know what to do with it, I was planning to install the new engine into the wagon and wasn't really keen on having two projects going on at the same time. However, the engine grew out of original specs and got a bit too extreme for what I'd consider an easygoing GT. Also, it became a bit too much for FWD in general.
By chance, I came across an AWD 626 and purchased it before she was sent to the cube factory (crusher). The car was also a white hatch, but the facelift model and lower spec (like all AWD's around here were).
It would seem more logical to install the engine in the newer AWD, rather than converting the old FWD with all the constructional and legal problems, BUT there are a few certain factors at play. First, I had the FWD restoration began already, and I certainly didn't want three concurrent car projects going on! Also, the AWD was in almost as bad shape as the FWD, so it would've been a pretty massive undertaking in either case. Finally, because the facelift cars were registered as low emission models, they cannot be turboed without a very expensive re-certification, which would be required any time something with the engine was changed. So I decided it's better to try and stick with the old FWD body.
After I made the decision, which had taken a good part of a year, I took the old girl for one last drive and then started taking out the parts.
The mighty powerhouse of the AWD! This is in fact the only F2 engine I've ever had.
And here's the transmission, stripped and ready to be cleaned. The mazda AWD transmission is very fragile and I'm quite sure it's not going to be a very long lasting. I am going to strengthen the heck out of it though and see how far I'll get with it. Even the prop shaft flange doesn't look too strong, just four tiny screws holding the power, it doesn't even have dowels. Clearly there's a lot to do with the transmission to get it even close to looking like a performance part.
And here's the rear subframe, heavy as hell. It was a nice discovery to find out the subframes are the same width on both cars, even though almost everything else differs.
Back to the project car; It's reinforced to take the stresses of being hanged on a rotisserie, which I'm building myself. Here's the beginnings of the reinforcing...
Because the frame rails need to be rebuilt, the body cannot be hanged by the extremes without major temporary reinforcing.
I had re-acquired my very first 626, the white GT hatch. It was in a sorry condition; the floor pan was almost completely rusted off, the rear frames were in really bad shape, the rear suspension arms were eaten away by the salt. Top side of the car was in a decent condition however. I think these photos will tell the tale:
In a word, the car was a mess. I really didn't know what to do with it, I was planning to install the new engine into the wagon and wasn't really keen on having two projects going on at the same time. However, the engine grew out of original specs and got a bit too extreme for what I'd consider an easygoing GT. Also, it became a bit too much for FWD in general.
By chance, I came across an AWD 626 and purchased it before she was sent to the cube factory (crusher). The car was also a white hatch, but the facelift model and lower spec (like all AWD's around here were).
It would seem more logical to install the engine in the newer AWD, rather than converting the old FWD with all the constructional and legal problems, BUT there are a few certain factors at play. First, I had the FWD restoration began already, and I certainly didn't want three concurrent car projects going on! Also, the AWD was in almost as bad shape as the FWD, so it would've been a pretty massive undertaking in either case. Finally, because the facelift cars were registered as low emission models, they cannot be turboed without a very expensive re-certification, which would be required any time something with the engine was changed. So I decided it's better to try and stick with the old FWD body.
After I made the decision, which had taken a good part of a year, I took the old girl for one last drive and then started taking out the parts.
The mighty powerhouse of the AWD! This is in fact the only F2 engine I've ever had.
And here's the transmission, stripped and ready to be cleaned. The mazda AWD transmission is very fragile and I'm quite sure it's not going to be a very long lasting. I am going to strengthen the heck out of it though and see how far I'll get with it. Even the prop shaft flange doesn't look too strong, just four tiny screws holding the power, it doesn't even have dowels. Clearly there's a lot to do with the transmission to get it even close to looking like a performance part.
And here's the rear subframe, heavy as hell. It was a nice discovery to find out the subframes are the same width on both cars, even though almost everything else differs.
Back to the project car; It's reinforced to take the stresses of being hanged on a rotisserie, which I'm building myself. Here's the beginnings of the reinforcing...
Because the frame rails need to be rebuilt, the body cannot be hanged by the extremes without major temporary reinforcing.
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