323 Gtr

[B.Martin]

Anyone know much about these? Found a nice looking one in Cyprus, thinking it might be as fun as an fd but in a different way. There are loads of dirt tracks etc over in Cyprus! And a fair bit of amateur rallying, I\'m a bit nervous about the rats nest on the fd in a country I hardly know.

[m1tch]

Are these the BG shaped ones with the popups?

[SiH]

Nope, they\'re a traditional hatch shape, same basic engine as the mx5, but turbo\'d.

[Marcrs]

No pop ups, these are the 3 door hatch.
 
1.8 BP engine - although the GTR had tougher internals than the GTX on which the MX5 was based.
 
They are very fast round the tight twisty bits, very strong engine...watch for rust, and the brake calipers are a bit of a weak point, they tend to seize - easily sorted and the parts are all available though
Fairly simple if they do go wrong - even I can work on them

[SiH]

Is is these that the boxes can be a bit squiffy on?

[re japi]

Older one had 1.6L engine. And smaller body. Dont know whas there Gtr model in those.

What i have heard, gearbox is useless. You cant get much power cause box wont take it.

[B.Martin]

Yeah but I\'m looking at GTR supposedly, just checking it is and not a gtx. The GTR has a much stronger box.

[m1tch]

Ah ok, I know what you mean, I had a GT engine in my 323F, which is the non turbo GTX/GTR engine

[turbotoaster]

when i was looking at them about 5yrs ago these were the details i found out.

very strong engine, forged rods and pistons from factory with ball bearing turbo.

heavily restricted from stock, restrictions added into exhaust and into the airbox, i can only assume they did it this way so that it would be in a low insurance group in japan to target a certain audience but have the ability to easily convert back to race spec for competitors

ie stick an evo intercooler on it, filter and exhaust and expect to go up to close to 300bhp from 187bhp

Boxes are resonably strong, but can break so sourcing them isnt easy.

[B.Martin]

Thanks a lot Turbotoaster, you\'ve been more help than the 323GTX forum!!!

[Will66]

Rotaries may not be the most environmentally friendly of motors but Rotary Owners are very friendly and helpful.  Buy a rotary, it makes you a nicer person!

[B.Martin]

Ideally i\'d like a FD, but i\'m scared of the engine braking. After shelling out what will be close to £6k for the car, if the engine happens to bust a seal i\'m broke and wont know anyone in Cyprus who might even have the slightest clue how to fix one properly.

I\'m trying to think with the brain.

And just about 10 mins ago from where i live there are these dirt tracks that go up into the mountains - I\'m just thinking the fun you could have up there in a 323 GT-R.

[SiH]

If you want something cheap, reliable, fastish, and with a bunch of tuning potential and dirt cheap parts, check out S14/a 200sx\'s

[B.Martin]

They are not cheap in Cyprus, it\'s a shame I always had a soft spot for the s13!