now this may just open a can of worms, but what are peoples opinions of the best FB series?
I plan to pull off a captainbizarro and swap a 13B into one, and I wouls just like to know, what series is the best for doing the swap, best for creature comforts, best for parts etc.
I do like having some mod cons, but its no big deal, most of all, I may be doing this on a rather limited budget, or waiting until I can afford to do it.
so... pros and cons of each series... shoot!
in terms of looks they\'re all just as nice... for a conversion a s3 is maybe the best base as it comes with the bigger brakes as standard and parts seem easier to come by for s3\'s as there are more s3 parts cars about.
Nothing in it really though!
S3 are the best equipped & most numerous.
S3 more parts avliable has the stronger axle and some s4 parts are interchangeable like gearbox brakes etc
As someone looking to do mods I\'ll say another vote for s3. Something no-one else has mentioned is that the s3 have 4x114.3mm PCD for the wheels, same as lots of classic Jap stuff so plenty of wheels about. The s1 and s2 have 4x110mm which is practically unheard of outside of old mazdas and the odd really old nissan!
Series 1, all the way. The car that sold in such numbers to save Mazda and the rotary engine from extinction. They are Lighter, less electrical junk to break and simplier. Steel bumpers. Only prob was the drums on the back. Rare over here, but back in NZ / US, there are more than S2 & S3.
If you\'re doing the 13B conversion, I have the bits you need to front mount it into the car - a 12A front cover and brace.
I\'d say the S3 also - plusher interior with better colour schemes, mechanically upgraded bits as already stated together with limited interchangeability, additional toys for the boys and as much as it hurts me to say this - slightly better looks :)
Its s1 for looks for me.....
Looks wise,still have a soft spot for S1,s,S2\'s & s3\'s are identical externally,only difference is the wheels.
You will open up a can of worms if u ask best colour!
:Hammer:Hammer As a man who\'s putting loads of effort into restoring a gold one.... I really like the s1 dark red!
Quote from: syebba;740439Looks wise,still have a soft spot for S1,s,S2\'s & s3\'s are identical externally,only difference is the wheels.
Well actually there is also a slight difference in the front bumper moulding, the S3 has vents in it wereas the S2 doesn\'t but yes the alloy wheels on the S3 are very nice but as much as I like them I\'m not putting them on either of my S2\'s.
Here we go with the colours again lads !!!:rollin
Quote from: CHC;740447Well actually there is also a slight difference in the front bumper moulding, the S3 has vents in it wereas the S2 doesn\'t but yes the alloy wheels on the S3 are very nice but as much as I like them I\'m not putting them on either of my S2\'s.
Ah yes the vents on the front valence/spoiler.
So wheels & vents,any other differences?
Quote from: Rotaryguru;740420Series 1, all the way. The car that sold in such numbers to save Mazda and the rotary engine from extinction. They are Lighter, less electrical junk to break and simplier. Steel bumpers. Only prob was the drums on the back. Rare over here, but back in NZ / US, there are more than S2 & S3.
If you\'re doing the 13B conversion, I have the bits you need to front mount it into the car - a 12A front cover and brace.
That\'s a problem for me, never been a fan of rear drums... Would your bits work if I did a conversion on an S3?
Quote from: syebba;740450Ah yes the vents on the front valence/spoiler.
So wheels & vents,any other differences?
Yeh the front screen washer jet went to two seperates on the S3 rather than the single unit on the S2 (only a minor mod).The S3 interior had a very minor mod to the hand-brake surround which made it difficult to swap over on the S2.
Quote from: syebba;740450Ah yes the vents on the front valence/spoiler.
So wheels & vents,any other differences?
I was lying abed the other night, thinking \'what parts would interchange from S2 to S3\'? I came up with only engine and body panels for the most part. The Wheels/Tyres are different diameter as said.
But also there are differences in:-
Rear Axle, Diff has different spline number.
Gearbox, Certainly Speedo ratio is different (so gearbox speedo drive has to be changed) - maybe gear ratios different also?
Clutch - different diameter.
Oil Cooling is different, hence Rads are different.
Brake pads different due to difference in wheel diameter. Brake pipe flexes - Cliff knows about this.
Fuel tanks - different method of top connections, also drain plug on S3.
Dash slightly different, electrics possibly some differences, steering wheel different. Steering box (But S2 can fit we think)
Upholstery and colour schemes different.
And other things.....so S2 doesn\'t seem to be a universal donor for S3.
Oh and Skiffle, my vote for best is deffinately S3....I think the body protection was better ex works.
I think you\'ll find that if you put most of the rwd coupes of the time, they\'d look similar, supra, starion, RX7, so on so forth.
Quote from: Skifledanabit;740453That\'s a problem for me, never been a fan of rear drums... Would your bits work if I did a conversion on an S3?
Of course. The 12A front cover is to put on the 13B and front mount the motor, rather than side mount (13B\'s). Bolt on the brace and bolt onto the engine mounts. Done!
Hmm, ok, well, getting slightly ahead of ourselves lol, haven\'t got a car let alone an engine lol, I will keep it in mind though, may have to wait until next year
Quote from: Rotaryguru;740480Of course. The 12A front cover is to put on the 13B and front mount the motor, rather than side mount (13B\'s). Bolt on the brace and bolt onto the engine mounts. Done!
The 13b will most likely be the EGi 6 port variety, so you will also need a matching sump of course :cool
Go with a 4 port TII engine. They are better if you go initially NA then you can go turbo more easily. One thing I half regret with my 13b setup. Would love to go turbo at some point, Although welding some engine mounts in and dropping the 13b REW in did spring to mind.
Shaun
Quote from: David Nock;740468Steering box (But S2 can fit we think)
S2 steering box definitely fits an s3, ive done two.
Quicker steering but heavier steering.
Quote from: CHC;740457Yeh the front screen washer jet went to two seperates on the S3 rather than the single unit on the S2 (only a minor mod).
The S3 interior had a very minor mod to the hand-brake surround which made it difficult to swap over on the S2.
Cliff you are becoming the wikipedia of Fb\'s!:wiggle
Quote from: RamoNZ;740568The 13b will most likely be the EGi 6 port variety, so you will also need a matching sump of course :cool
Quite right! I forgot about that bit. old school 13B sump, or US GLSE right?
Stick to 12A\'s man. 12A\'s. :D
Series 2\'s for life. In gold preferably.
series 1 all the way look loads better with steel bumpers and smaller tail lights
Quote from: syebba;740621Cliff you are becoming the wikipedia of Fb\'s!:wiggle
Didn\'t mean to Stu, it\'s just that I knew the subtle differences from when I was negotiating buying an S3 - however the deal fell through. I then bought a few external parts from it before it was stripped and the empty shell was scrapped. It was a real shame because it was too good to scrap but there was something dodgy about the car as there was a mystery to where the v5 was and the po didn\'t want me to contact the dvla to acquire a new one.