'78 Mazda 323 wagon - Sold

[timmy201]

Hey peoples, this is my 1978 Mazda 323 wagon

I got this car at the end of last year from the place where I used to work. It had been there for about 10 years since the rego expired along with the engine or the gearbox. Had it towed to my mates house and we tried unsuccessfully to get it running well. He got sick of it taking up room at his house so it got towed to mine and I did an engine swap. Bought a complete engine set up radiator to driveshaft which solved heaps of problems.

Thought I'd be a bit different to the usual polished simmons and candy paint with a white interior that most old mazdas have..

Specs:
Rebuilt 1.4L UC
Rebuilt auto (I know..)
14" Momo meshies
Vintage Smiths gauges
Pick-a-part custom chin spoiler
Nolathene all through
New Brake pads/shoes/seals

Plans:
Rego
Low
Stereo (currently rocking mono AM)
5-speed conversion
Fender mirrors
Epic wheels

When I got it

Removed the black plastic strips

Momo meshies with the huge tyres that came with them

Stripped the old engine..

Hoisted it out

I hate ATF lots and lots. I spilled it everywhere.

It lives! Had the engine running and moved under it's own power for the first time in 10 years


Had the tyres stripped ready to be repainted and to polish the lips

Did a coat of etch primer and really like the white

And this is where it is up to now


At the moment I've got to bleed the brakes and get an exhaust made up. So keen to actually drive this thing!

[jimjams]

come on man keen to see some progress haha. ps huge props for doing the engine work your self.

[timmy201]

Cheers, doing the engine work isnt really too difficult.. I just had the service manual and the help of some mates. Got this car to learn how to fix up a car so the next one will be better and wont make so many silly mistakes

Got the heater hoses hooked up today.. Looks nice out in the sun


And started on a good rust free door I picked up a couple of months ago. Had the cans custom mixed, but they arent a very good match for the faded old paint on the car. Ran out of paint just before I finshed unfortunately


Had some issues with the brakes.. had a leak from between the master cylinder and brake booster. Replaced the seals and it still leaked, so a complete master cylinder assembly is on order.

[timmy201]

Finally made some progress worth posting..

Got in new master cylinder seals and it turned out there was some wear inside the bore, so it still leaked. Got in a brand new complete master cylinder. Always buy a complete cylinder instead of just the seals. Just the seals cost $40 but the complete cylinder was $109 and it wont have any problems.

New one on the left..


And installed



Had some dramas after that..
-couldnt get any fluid through to the bleed valve on the back so I bled the master cylinder.
-Still couldnt get any fluid through so I got a plastic syringe to try pump/suck it through.
-Still wasnt working so I bled the rear brakes at the proportioning valve and tried to pump it through but that didnt work either.
-Last resort I disconnected the brake line into the rear drum and bled it with my finger and fluid finally came through. Turned out the ball bearing in the bleed valve had seized which promptly shot out in a wave of fluid in my face next time I pumped the brakes.
-Bled the front brakes after that and they are still a bit spongy, but I need to adjust the drums

Next thing on the list is that the engine will stall when the brakes are applied, I think it's the one way valve on the vacuum line from the inlet manifold. Dont know where it is but I'm pretty sure it aint working

[mitch_f1]

I like where this is going *subscribed*

[spranga]

Realises it is an auto, slashes wrists and dies in a pool of blood on garage floor))

Like this one too. Can't remember when I last saw one of these. Does it have the cone shaped speedo cover? Thats classic man!

[spranga]

I don't know why but I love this shot. balance of old and new perhaps. Period plates, NRMA badge and nanna colour with a hint of what is to come with blue lens, mesh and lip in an authentic DIY workshop. Nice arrangement.

[timmy201]

Realises it is an auto, slashes wrists and dies in a pool of blood on garage floor))


Like this one too. Can't remember when I last saw one of these. Does it have the cone shaped speedo cover? Thats classic man!

I didnt want an auto, but it was auto when I got it and another came with the rebuilt engine. Least I know it all works to get it registered and drive it for a while and then I'll try do a 5 speed swap.

Its got the weird curved speedo and accessory covers, makes alot of distortion when trying to take a photo. I'll need to get up some photos of the interior at the moment

Yeah there isnt many around these days, since I got it I've seen less than 10 on the road and theres one at the wreckers near me

I don't know why but I love this shot. balance of old and new perhaps. Period plates, NRMA badge and nanna colour with a hint of what is to come with blue lens, mesh and lip in an authentic DIY workshop. Nice arrangement.

I was pretty close to going nanna spec with this car, I got a sunvisor for it. Nrma badge will be replaced with a Jaf badge hopefully and I'm not sure if the Rta will let me keep that plate as the rego ran out 10 years ago.

[spranga]

I didnt want an auto, but it was auto when I got it and another came with the rebuilt engine. Least I know it all works to get it registered and drive it for a while and then I'll try do a 5 speed swap.

I think with cars this old you just take what you can get auto or otherwise. Often the autos have had a bette life anyway.

Its got the weird curved speedo and accessory covers, makes alot of distortion when trying to take a photo. I'll need to get up some photos of the interior at the moment

I think these were 1980s anti reflection designs of questionable function

Yeah there isnt many around these days, since I got it I've seen less than 10 on the road and theres one at the wreckers near me

I there was also a panel van version, prob even harder to find.

I was pretty close to going nanna spec with this car, I got a sunvisor for it. Nrma badge will be replaced with a Jaf badge hopefully and I'm not sure if the Rta will let me keep that plate as the rego ran out 10 years ago.

I reckon you should insist on keeping the plate as it really adds to the car IMO

Good luck with the build.

[timmy201]

Ok so this is the interior as of today. Since I got the car I've removed the tapeplayer and broken AC, and got newer doorcards with no speaker holes. Got 2" tacho, oil pressure and battery gauges and JDM spec "super custom" manual console. Most of the dash tops are split, so I've got to find a good one. Love a wooden Nardi or similar

And the aforementioned trippy speedo..


One of these would be good

[timmy201]

+1 Internets point?

[timmy201]

Got them all stripped. They dont look too bad with a machined style finish in the photos, but it would take heaps of work to make them look good close up.

On my 1.4L lathe for some lip polishing. Hoping to get them all finished this week ready for the drive to the exhaust shop

[timmy201]

Random $50 e-bay purchase. Because you can never have enough wheels

These are Rx7 series 2 wheels, I had a pair already but I wanted a set for rego. Two have pretty decent gutter rash, so there will be a good set of four. They are 13x5.5+25 and 4x110 stud pattern.


Started off a bit gross


Bit of paint stripper and some steel wool and they cleaned up ok. Might go either red/orange/yellow centres with the polished lip.

[timmy201]

Tyres gone. Rims have more dish than I remembered


Maybe going orange centres for a bit of fun? I'll have the spare painted tomorrow for opinions..

[timmy201]

Ummm? Not sure how the colour goes.

Tyre looks pretty crap but the orange goes ok with the car colour? Paint was too wet to bolt them on


Think I liked them better black