RX323 Project - Chassis Brackets

MikeLMR · May 21, 2005, 04:43:45 PM

yes lots of questions

(I\'ve split the thread from the other one if anyone is confused BTW)

Thanks very much for the answers ... I\'m having a bit of scrounge round my mates now to see what wheels I can dig up + I have made enquiries about a brand new rx3 X-member (not genuine .. made in aus)

MikeLMR · June 10, 2005, 08:41:00 PM

Right progress is being made

Got a set of 13x6 4x110 wheels from Kiwimazda in the post soon

Sent a money order off to Aus the other day for a brand new RX3 type X member

and have a nice strut brace, sump guard and stiffer front ARB from the mazda parts guru ... Richard :cool

Still hunting down the rx7 struts and other bits n bobs for the suspension though. They are prooving more difficult to track down than really odd bits :confused:

MikeLMR · June 10, 2005, 08:44:40 PM

Wheels

Richard · June 10, 2005, 09:15:33 PM

Coolio alloys there Mike:cool

Do they have a choice of styles, for future reference?

One option that may have been of interest before you ordered the xmember is that of running a Ford front end.

I forgot to mention this at RS:( . I looked into it some years ago and it seemed pretty feasible.

Capri crossmember would have fitted in with about 5mm to spare either side. Admittedly you\'d need to make engine mounts, but you\'d have the luxury of a choice of front strut/brake (6R4 big enough?) set up, and also a quick rack.

Out of interest ,what sort of money do the \'7\' strut/brake set ups go for?

Keep up the good work:D

Rich;)

MikeLMR · June 10, 2005, 09:21:39 PM

Kiwimazda is a user on here

(another UK mazda rally nut) ... I think the alloys are orginally from Aus and are called globes or somthing similar ?

The X-member is just for the engine mounts, the suspension x member is still left in place as in the rx3.

No idea how much a set of 7 struts are worth as I\'ve not found any for sale yet. Whole cars don\'t fetch much Â£Â£\'s so I doubt they are majorly expensive.

Only trouble is you need to change the strut tops or make them adjustable as the KPI is significantly different in the rx7.

MikeLMR · June 11, 2005, 10:51:53 PM

started taking some measurements today and trying things to see how they fit.

more piccies.

sump guard + strut brace

Strut top plate in position

Front strut out for measurements

This is what the front end looks like on a 323 minus a strut

and the strut tower itself

the strut top attached to the front strut - the centre bolt is M12 fine and the PCD of the bolts is approx 130mm with the hole in the strut tower being just under 100mm in diameter

Mike

MikeLMR · June 11, 2005, 10:55:53 PM

strut dimensions (measured with a ruler by my eye so not super accurate but close enough)

Richard · June 13, 2005, 05:57:18 PM

Some series 2 \'7\' hubs and 4 pots up for sale on Ebay there Mike.

Maybe the hubs will fit the 323 strut and make up a bracket for the calipers?

If so mod the strut body to go 2 1/4" - just a thought

Nice inner wing ther by the way:D

Rich;)

MikeLMR · June 13, 2005, 05:59:36 PM

I have some 4 pots already on the \'usefull spares\' shelf in the garage, unfortunately there is no way they would fit under 13\'s

Cheers for the tip off on the struts ... will take a look see.

MikeLMR · June 14, 2005, 06:14:39 PM

got the wheels in the post today and they fit

(only just with the std. front struts!)

I have to decide whether to get them refurbed or not now. I\'m tempted to just clean them myself and run them as is for now. They have a couple of dings in the outer rim but the seat for the bead looks straight enough.

hmmm more decissions. (camera batteries are dead too so no pics

)

I\'ve had to remove the little screws in the rear drums to fit the rims though. I presum these are just to hold the drum to the axle while messing around with the bearings ?

flectron · June 14, 2005, 07:02:24 PM

great thread mike:cool
wish more people would blog their projects so diligently, it\'s very educational.
keep up the good work - soon you & Rich will be able to publish a guide to old-skool mazda modification:)

MikeLMR · June 17, 2005, 12:56:06 PM

sanded down and painted the wheels last night ( I remember now, why I hate painting things) hopefully they will last more than 5 minutes before the paint comes off :p

I might get some photos tonight (camera on charge now!) before I make an attempt for a second coat of paint.

noticed a slight problem with the alloys too ... one of them is a different offset to the other 3 ... well the numbers on the rim suggest it is, I havn\'t checked yet. I have 3 that say 13x6JJx19P and one that says 13x6JJx23P. If it measures out by 4mm I\'ll just have to make a spacer.

Does anyone else know if its safe to remove the small screws on the rear drums ? I can\'t see them doing a great deal appart from aiding assembly

Richard · June 17, 2005, 05:40:39 PM

:yes Mike - its fine to remove those screws.

What I would say tho is to keep them for when you adjust the brakes - they\'ll hold the drum square and central onto the half shaft, while you adjust each shoe individually.

Once you\'ve done the brakes remove the screws, bolt on the wheels and these will clamp the drums in position.

Rich

MikeLMR · June 17, 2005, 06:29:09 PM

I think the wheels are just about ready for some tyres now ! These photos are about as close as I want to post of my \'handy\' work with a paint can

Ordered some wheel studs and nuts as well + A single 5mm spacer ... will machine 1mm off it. I\'ll probably pin it to the wheel as well to stop it going adrift or being forgotten

I doubt 4mm would make much difference on the rear axle anyway ... the panhard rod would allow that much lateral movement over a short travel

MikeLMR · June 17, 2005, 08:19:58 PM

oh and is anyone else missing ausrotary

... been reading it a lot lately