'88 Mazda 323 Turbo sedan?

http://salem.craigslist.org/cto/846417100.html

Can anyone tell me anything about these?

Fwd version of a 323 GTX. In the old autox test, I think they liked it better than the gtx for an autocross car, they have almost all been parted out for spares for 323 gtx rally cars now. Id say buy it. :)

IF, if, it really has a 2.2 turbo motor, it was transplanted from an '88-'92 MX-6 or Probe GT. The 323 was also available with it's own turbo engine of 1.6 liters. Horsepower difference? You are talking 145 for the 2.2 versus 130 for the 1.6.

The 323 turbo in "stock" form was available for '88 and '89 in the GT sedan (hard to tell from the pix if that's a GT, looks like an SE or LX) and the GTX hatchback.

I don't know Mazda engines that well, but the 1.6 turbo is a twin cam design and the 2.2 is a single cam design. If you can see the cam gears, assuming it's a legit turbo, the number of gears tells you which engine this car has.

Yeah buy it, great rally cars, as my friend does his! but those turbos, make sure you take care of it!

It is interesting to see 5 guys try and figure out parts from different vehicles and other parts to build a "CUSTOM" turbo

After running the picture of the engine through photo software, it appears that the badges on the top of the cam cover say DOHC and 16 VALVE....if that is the case, this is a 1.6 GT sedan.

Should you buy it? For 300 bucks, you get a POSSIBLY easy to get running, rare, Mazda turbo sedan. If you aren't too mechanically inclined, and/or don't know someone who is....it may be a waste of $300.

The engine in the pic is a twin cam. If they didn't make a 2.2 twin cam, perhaps the seller is confused.

I'll try and get a VIN. I am not too mechanically inclined. My father is, and I wouldn't mind paying up to $500 or so for any expert work we'd end up needing for it...

Lots of parts in junkyards or parts hard to source for these things?

Engine pares are uncommon in the junkyard, the rest probably not too bad. Someone here should by/fix it rather than it getting scrapped, its a really really rare car.

Some engine parts will be difficult to nearly impossible to find, but with a bit of searching on the internet.....who knows? The engine/drivetrain may be very similar to that found in the Australian Capri XR2 (both are/were 1.6 DOHC engine designs). I don't want to say EXACTLY the same, as someone always manages to point out how wrong I can be on here. Engines from turbo Capris will most likely run more than $500...if it comes to that, and be in slightly better shape than the current engine. I'd do a look on E-Bay to see what they are running for price and availability.

I have seen turbo capri engines in the junkyard for under $200 4 or 5 times.

For $300 it doesn't look too bad, most things of that price are rusty shells of nothingness.

Figure out what you want to do with the car and if you have the money to do so. Pricing what parts you need to make it a daily, beater, rally crosser, etc will tell you what is still available and what will be a pita to get a hold of.

The engine's basically the one from the Miata and Mercury Capri, with a turbo stuck on. The bottom end and the head are interchangeable. Actually, a Miata bottom end is a nice upgrade as the higher compression ratio makes that turbo spool up well.

The weak point on the engine - in my relatively limited experience - is the manifold. There's an O2 sensor stuck right in the middle of it and they like to crack. There was also a problem with the crankshaft noses which probably sent a lot of them to the junkyard. However, you can get replacement bottom ends, you have a hard time finding a new manifold.

$300 is probably the value of the manifold and turbo alone. I'd go for it.

Hell, this is all your fault. OK, I called the guy and left a message and told him I wanted. My wife is going to freak.

Anyone have any idea where I can go online to find people who are into these things? I'm going to need a Haynes or something, and as much help as I can get. I'm attempting to search with Google and am getting alot of fun-sounding AWD GTX stuff, which isn't exactly what I'm looking for though I'm jealous of the AWD...

The Mazda 2.2 turbo engine was the same unit provided in the Aussie Ford Telstar TX5 turbo and the Mazda 626 GT which were badge sharing vehicles and were factory 2.2 turbo engines.

From autospeed.com's - Engine Epic Part 7 - Mazda and Honda

The late 80s saw Mazda adopt multi-valve and twin cam technology to further increase power of both their turbo and naturally aspirated products. One engine to go half way was the F2 2.2 litre transverse turbo engine, an optional fitment to the MX-6/Capella/626 (it was also re-badged as a Ford Telstar in Australia). Using a SOHC but 3 valves per cylinder, the air-to-air intercooled turbo engine could push out up to 108kW at 6000 rpm - so long as high octane fuel was being used. A variation of this engine was the 2.0 litre FE twin cam, which was the standard fitment engine to Japanese market MX-6/Capellas. Released only in naturally aspirated form, it could still muster nearly as much power as the 2.2 litre turbo, with 104kW on tap at 6000 revs. Torque was listed at 19.0kg/m, at a fairly high 4000 revs. It's twin cam, four valve per cylinder design (along with a 10.0:1 static compression ratio) helped it to rival its turbocharged F2 cousin.

It is the same motor that is in the 323 GTX and the early 90's Mercury Capri made in Australia. Both of those cars are rare now. I think the sedan was even rarer than both those models but, as always, could be wrong.

$300? Assuming the crank snout is good that could be a really fun commuter. I had an NA Capri in college and routinely got high 20's in the city and mid 30's on the interstate. The turbo will be less efficient but will have tons more fun. If I remember right the NA ran 0-60 in 10 secs while the turbo cut that down to 8. I can't recall the stock boost pressure. If I had to guess I would say 8lbs or so. Course, that's adjustable. A Miata at the challenge was running 15 lbs.

For info on GTX's (and GT's by association), check out the 323 GTX Yahoogroup. About 2000 members and lots of great info. Great group of folks, many of them having owned GTX's since they were new.

As for upgrades, a simple boost controller will get you to about 11psi where the fuel cut will kick in. If you add fuel you can take the stock turbo on up higher. Should be good to around 180hp or so. Check out RoadRace Engineering's site as well as they used to have some good info on GTX's.

Oh and looking at the pics, I'd say it's a great deal for $300. Definitely check the exhaust manifold for cracks. The seats are some of the best in any car I've owned and these look to be in good shape. And that sure looks like the 1.6 turbo engine. If it was local I'd be on it.

Duende wrote: I am not too mechanically inclined.

Either learn, or run away.

This is not the type car for the non mechanically inclined type of person, or forum for that matter to be frank.

Well, I wouldn't be here if I didn't plan on learning.