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1972 Rx-3 Build Up.

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Old 01-02-2004, 09:52 AM
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Here is my 72 RX-3. Aint she a beauty? She doesnt look healthy now, but Im hoping to take her all the way to glory. I figured some of you might be interested in the pictures, so here they are. Im hoping maybe you guys could help me out with some advice when I get into any ruts.

The wide eyed plan is to swap in a turbo 13b from an FC with the FC manual trans. This is intended to be as cost effective as possible. Im aiming at a 400 horse motor, and a fun little car.











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Old 01-02-2004, 09:59 AM
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Take a look at this interior. I found this car in a feild in the middle of no where. Bought it for dirt cheap. The gentleman said the car was running when he parked it. Last time it ran? 1980. It was sitting in this feild for over twenty years, with the damn windows down. The interior is a wreck. I started taking everything out as you can see in the next photo.

Also, someone at some point decided it would be a good idea to break out every light on the car. It has one good headlight. Thats it. So Ive been on the internet searching for good lights. Its rough, to say the least.









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Old 01-02-2004, 10:00 AM
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Poor little Rx3. You'll be fine with it, first get the boot lid rack off it, what was mazda thinking.
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Old 01-02-2004, 02:20 PM
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at least the body looks like its gonna be good
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Old 01-03-2004, 04:45 PM
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Well, heres the dual distributor 12a that this bad boy came with. Along with 20+ years of dirt.









And heres the engine bay now. I took the entire wiring harness out of the car. Im still in the air. But I think Im gonna ditch the stock wiring harness, and run a painless kit.







I've got the entire car empty. All the panels are off ( they are in decent shape too ). No I need to get it all cleaned up, and get it sanded down. The car has some rust. Im concerned about the areas around the front and rear windows. They have the most rust by far. To the point where there is corrosion and the rust goes all the way through the panel.









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Old 01-03-2004, 04:53 PM
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looks cool



good luck
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Old 01-03-2004, 04:58 PM
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Nice project
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Old 01-05-2004, 10:14 PM
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Question. I have located a turbo motor from a S5 but it came with an automatic. I am unedjucated in this area. Is this motor identical to the manual tranny s5? I realize that I will need to find a flywheel, but are the internals and turbo the same? Thanks for the help.



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Old 01-10-2004, 09:19 PM
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should look nice when its done...how much did you pay for it
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Old 01-10-2004, 11:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Stock Josh' date='Jan 5 2004, 08:14 PM
Question. I have located a turbo motor from a S5 but it came with an automatic. I am unedjucated in this area. Is this motor identical to the manual tranny s5? I realize that I will need to find a flywheel, but are the internals and turbo the same? Thanks for the help.



Josh
They are identical but you will need a S5 Flywheel and counterwieght.Or just run a aftermarket lightwieght flywheel that is already counterwieghted.Car looks alright just fix the rusty spots and get it to the paint shop before anything.Then worry about wiring and interior work.Are you planning on a full interior in it?Why not just run a full S5 car harness in the car and run the stocker EFI setup with a External high flow pump?Don't forget you will need some meaty wheels to put the turbo power down with too and those cars are 4x108mm stock like the 12a first gens were.
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