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Saved Mazda 323


DoctorRetro

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As you may have read in the 'Can we save this?' thread, the answer was 'Yes we can!'

Someone on this forum who wishes to remain nameless, fronted the cash to rescue this little Mazda from certain doom at the hands of a banger racer. I've taken custody of the car, but will make sure they get their money back as soon as is physically possible.

Perhaps once it's running right, I'll look at some sort of roffle to find it a new home and pay back what it owes me and them.

 

Although it had been sitting 5 years or so, it went through an MOT, so that's a good start.

 

Known faults.

- Alternator is kaput. Shouldn't be too hard to find a refurbished one. Presume battery knackered too.

- Wheel bearing grumbling. 

- Running like crap. Will replace fuel and vacuum pipes and add fuel filter. Then perhaps a carb strip down and rebuild. Aisan 980 carb as far as i know, same as the Toyota was,

- Flat tyre. 

 

It's currently sitting outside with a flat battery and no fuel, so that's not a good start! :D

 

 

As I have very little talent, time or money, and suggestions / help greatly appreciated.

 

These are the pictures I have so far - looks good but it's a lot more dull in real life...

 

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We’re  going thru something similar with this

E9F501DC-81A2-4385-B37B-02C866CCA0D0.thumb.jpeg.67a0f290546105bf846d58636a53dde0.jpeg

A Sao Penza - basically the same car. Laid up since the 90’s, it’s still running like poo, although it’s gently easing back to life.

straight after its MOT it shat it’s cam belt, but it is non interference, so other than a nuisance- no harm done.

despite a full tank flush, it still needs new fuel squirting into the carb for a cold start, and it’s power is quite low. I’m guessing varnish etc, which will clear with proper use. 

Good luck with yours, be interested to hear.

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This thread is likely to be hijacked by the Penza!! 

Is there a separate Penza thread? Have I missed it? That car is truly the holy grail of Autoshite! 

The doctor, well saved. I’m in for a few random tickets when the inevitable happens. 

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15 minutes ago, brownnova said:

This thread is likely to be hijacked by the Penza!! 

Is there a separate Penza thread? Have I missed it? That car is truly the holy grail of Autoshite! 

The doctor, well saved. I’m in for a few random tickets when the inevitable happens. 

I know, it appears it has been overshadowed by the Penza.

 

I'll hold you to that roffle commitment, although the price of tickets is dependent on what I have to spend on it...

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Yeesh, bit of a rollercoaster ride with this one, TheDoctor! That was a close one - glad to see your persistence was rewarded.

Here's hoping the recommissioning process is fairly painless; looks like you've a few pointers anyway to get it running properly again.

I understand Mazdas of this era are nice enough little things to live with, so with a little luck a sympathetic home can be found for this one. Just weird that they still generate zero interest and rock-bottom prices, still.

 

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Brought some fresh fuel back with me, and positioned the Rover ready for jump starting duties. 

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Once there was some juice flowing, it fired right up. 

Runs like a bag of crap, but more like a misfire than fuel related. Pulling the leads off one by one found a culprit, as pulling off cylinder 3 lead made no difference - except the electric shock I got off it. When I dropped it, it was arcing out of the side of the lead and I found a split. 

It sat there idling roughly for a while, until I disconnected the Rover, and it died. 

Engine looks very oily, suspect rocker gasket. 

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Left the car looking sorry for itself with its flat tyre,but spare is both flat and bald. 

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Will upload a video of it running soon, if it worked. 

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47 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

If the running issue is fixed by a new set of leads that’s a major win all round.

Good to see it saved - is the body as rust free as it looks? Current Mazda could learn some lessons about rust-proofing from 1988 Mazda if it is!! 

Rust free? Let me elaborate with pictures. It was raining, sorry, so I was in a rush. 

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