FD engine reliability... truth vs myth?
I mean, if you can get it on the road and be driving it around for $10K, and you aren't buying to sell it then it may be a good deal. Just beware that these things will $100-$300 you to death with little things that are needed as you drive it.
My guess was that between what I could get it for and what I *think* it needs, it would cost me about $12-14k total. The goal isn’t to restore and flip. I want a fun and hopefully reliable fun 3rd car for nice weather, weekends, and maybe the occasional track day.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
so i check EVERYTHING (all the sensors, solenoids, valves, even the vacuum rack, i SHOULD have checked the wiring harness too), and it takes forever (the T2 i'm just finished with took 6 months), but it also started right up and aside from the normal adjustments (TPS, idle speed and mixture) has been without issue.
cost wasn't too bad either, i bought a lot of weird stuff, but Mazda had it all, and i didn't need any one thing that was too expensive.
at this point i tend to buy cars like this and just go through everything. most of the problems are something previous owner did, and its surprising how far apart people will take a car, and then put it back together wrong.
so i check EVERYTHING (all the sensors, solenoids, valves, even the vacuum rack, i SHOULD have checked the wiring harness too), and it takes forever (the T2 i'm just finished with took 6 months), but it also started right up and aside from the normal adjustments (TPS, idle speed and mixture) has been without issue.
cost wasn't too bad either, i bought a lot of weird stuff, but Mazda had it all, and i didn't need any one thing that was too expensive.
so i check EVERYTHING (all the sensors, solenoids, valves, even the vacuum rack, i SHOULD have checked the wiring harness too), and it takes forever (the T2 i'm just finished with took 6 months), but it also started right up and aside from the normal adjustments (TPS, idle speed and mixture) has been without issue.
cost wasn't too bad either, i bought a lot of weird stuff, but Mazda had it all, and i didn't need any one thing that was too expensive.
After watching Fastest Cars on Netflix, I'm half contemplating an LS swap but as others have said, that will be more costly. With all the HP these things *can* make, I haven't see any info on what kind of torque these can make. I know the LS is great at low-mid range torque.
If it were reliable it wouldn’t be sitting in a field. If that car is free it might be worth your time. If you even need to pay to tow it I’d leave it there. So many better cars to buy as projects that won’t need going thru like that car. Parts for these cars are not cheap. Critters have probably chewed up a lot of the wiring, that will costs you thousands and a lot of time alone. The $20k dollar estimate isn’t extraordinary at all. If you want a nice reliable car. Just get it running and hope for the best? Ok maybe 7-10k.
There are people who spend well over $20k on these projects. ive spent 2x that and I started with a nice running car.
There are people who spend well over $20k on these projects. ive spent 2x that and I started with a nice running car.
The reason it's sitting is because the owner fell on some hard times and didn't have the money to fix the transmission when he blew 3rd gear. After that, it became an afterthought compared to taking care of his family.
It's interesting to see the varying opinions I've heard from people on this forum and people who are just plain gearheads. Some people say it's a steal given it's relatively good interior condition, some say I'm insane, and others just think I should buy, part it out, and use that money for something else.
I find myself so conflicted. Some days I can't wait and then I read/hear something that says I'm going to pull my hair out.
In order to check wiring, where should I be checking? Do I need to pull a part the dash, get underneath it? When I looked briefly at the engine, things appeared pretty decent all things considered.
It's interesting to see the varying opinions I've heard from people on this forum and people who are just plain gearheads. Some people say it's a steal given it's relatively good interior condition, some say I'm insane, and others just think I should buy, part it out, and use that money for something else.
I find myself so conflicted. Some days I can't wait and then I read/hear something that says I'm going to pull my hair out.
In order to check wiring, where should I be checking? Do I need to pull a part the dash, get underneath it? When I looked briefly at the engine, things appeared pretty decent all things considered.
Everyone is basing their statements from a few pictures you have taken. The actual reality is probably somewhere in the middle.
Personally I believe EVERY FD needs to be kept on the road. This looks like a nice car that was loved and needs to be brought back to former glory. It could be "I spent $200 and now it starts runs and drives great" or "the entire car is eaten up with rust and all the wiring was eaten by a possum". The reality most likely is in the middle.
Get it, start small, go through things step by step, and go from there. There's some great rotary shops near you that can help with any heavy lifting or troubleshooting. If the project gets too expensive for your budget you can always sell it and probably break even.
Dale
Personally I believe EVERY FD needs to be kept on the road. This looks like a nice car that was loved and needs to be brought back to former glory. It could be "I spent $200 and now it starts runs and drives great" or "the entire car is eaten up with rust and all the wiring was eaten by a possum". The reality most likely is in the middle.
Get it, start small, go through things step by step, and go from there. There's some great rotary shops near you that can help with any heavy lifting or troubleshooting. If the project gets too expensive for your budget you can always sell it and probably break even.
Dale
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
I def. plan to swap the clutch out and move to a street port engine. The owner claims it ran great as weekend car. Also going to remove water/meth system too. I think my issue will be not going nuts to replace everything and doing it a little at a time and replacing what needs to be replaced vs what I think or want to replace for aesthetics. Brakes for example. The brakes on it may still be good even though they've been sitting for 5 years. I should probably resist putting all new brakes on until I know these ones are no good.
I def. plan to swap the clutch out and move to a street port engine. The owner claims it ran great as weekend car. Also going to remove water/meth system too. I think my issue will be not going nuts to replace everything and doing it a little at a time and replacing what needs to be replaced vs what I think or want to replace for aesthetics. Brakes for example. The brakes on it may still be good even though they've been sitting for 5 years. I should probably resist putting all new brakes on until I know these ones are no good.
Personally I believe EVERY FD needs to be kept on the road. This looks like a nice car that was loved and needs to be brought back to former glory. It could be "I spent $200 and now it starts runs and drives great" or "the entire car is eaten up with rust and all the wiring was eaten by a possum". The reality most likely is in the middle.
Get it, start small, go through things step by step, and go from there. There's some great rotary shops near you that can help with any heavy lifting or troubleshooting. If the project gets too expensive for your budget you can always sell it and probably break even.
Dale
I started to tell you to run FAR away from this car bc of the salvaged title. It is often not a good idea to mess with salvaged cars bc eventually, you'll want/need to sell it and it'll be impossible.
However, after reading thru this thread, it brought me back to a conversation I had with a few friends. " I wish that all the FD's rotting away in a field or junk yard, would get discovered by someone who had the passion to bring it back to life and put it on the road. If I see another FD part out, I'm going to LOSE MY MIND!!"
For 7 years I waited and waited until the opportunity presented itself to by an FD. The opportunity came, and I didn't hesitate. The car isn't perfect, but I love it like it has a beating heart. Get it. Fix it. Drive it. Love it.
.
I started to tell you to run FAR away from this car bc of the salvaged title. It is often not a good idea to mess with salvaged cars bc eventually, you'll want/need to sell it and it'll be impossible.
However, after reading thru this thread, it brought me back to a conversation I had with a few friends. " I wish that all the FD's rotting away in a field or junk yard, would get discovered by someone who had the passion to bring it back to life and put it on the road. If I see another FD part out, I'm going to LOSE MY MIND!!"
For 7 years I waited and waited until the opportunity presented itself to by an FD. The opportunity came, and I didn't hesitate. The car isn't perfect, but I love it like it has a beating heart. Get it. Fix it. Drive it. Love it.
.
However, after reading thru this thread, it brought me back to a conversation I had with a few friends. " I wish that all the FD's rotting away in a field or junk yard, would get discovered by someone who had the passion to bring it back to life and put it on the road. If I see another FD part out, I'm going to LOSE MY MIND!!"
For 7 years I waited and waited until the opportunity presented itself to by an FD. The opportunity came, and I didn't hesitate. The car isn't perfect, but I love it like it has a beating heart. Get it. Fix it. Drive it. Love it.
.
It definitely will need time, money, and patience. Thankfully, I’ve got 2 of the 3. With a 4 month old, I think time is going to get tougher, but I’m currently medically restricted from my usual physical activities for about 6 months so this is going to keep me busy. It’s been “an adventure” already. Your FD looks great BTW. Love that yellow.
As for the part outs, I’m not gonna lie, those threads may be my friend for a while as I go through this FD but I don’t have any real plan to sell this car. My goal is to fix her up and keep her for life. Maybe even turn it into a fun teaching experience for my son some day. When I was a kid, my late godfather bought a 69 Mustang Mach 1 Fastback that he was restoring to give to me. Stupid me didn’t know about cars and didn’t want it because I didn’t appreciate what a classic car it was. Dumbest mistake of my life. I’m hoping this FD is my way to right that wrong for me and to perhaps have something to pass onto my son someday.
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