Nitroracer
Nitroracer Dork
7/19/10 10:26 p.m.

I may have come across a cheap Tracer LTS that would make a fun car to thrash around in. I do have a quick question for the ford/mazda people here though, are there any differences in the suspension between the hatch back escort gt and tracer lts/escort lxe? I know they have the all important mazda BP power plant but I am not sure what the other differences are. Is it basically a protege lx?

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/19/10 10:58 p.m.

Is that the mythical V6/AWD beast?

belteshazzar
belteshazzar SuperDork
7/19/10 11:00 p.m.

I didn't think the LX came with the BP, though I could be wrong.

The one I drove was geared really short. Seemed like almost 4000rpm at interstate speed. That's all I remember.

joey48442
joey48442 SuperDork
7/20/10 12:03 a.m.

Everything should interchange. As far as I know there was never a v6 awd escort/t-racer, at least not in the states. Maybe your thinking if the tempo, Maybe?

Joey

bamalama
bamalama HalfDork
7/20/10 12:14 a.m.
belteshazzar wrote: I didn't think the LX came with the BP, though I could be wrong. The one I drove was geared really short. Seemed like almost 4000rpm at interstate speed. That's all I remember.

The Protege LX does come with a BP. And yes the gearing is ridiculous.

belteshazzar
belteshazzar SuperDork
7/20/10 5:42 a.m.
joey48442 wrote: Everything should interchange. As far as I know there was never a v6 awd escort/t-racer, at least not in the states. Maybe your thinking if the tempo, Maybe? Joey

a girl I liked back in highschool had one of those

cghstang
cghstang Reader
7/20/10 6:36 a.m.

Just to reiterate, everything should be interchangeable. The only suspension difference I can think of that there might be is the rear sway bar. EGTs had 21mm, wagons had big ones too.

FYI, The BP in there is just as susceptible to the crank snout issue as the BPs in Miatas. This led to the demise of my beater EGT.

White_and_Nerdy
White_and_Nerdy Reader
7/20/10 7:19 a.m.
cghstang wrote: Just to reiterate, everything should be interchangeable. The only suspension difference I can think of that there might be is the rear sway bar. EGTs had 21mm, wagons had big ones too.

I can vouch for that. When I had my Tracer I remember a lot of guys raiding junkyards for the wagon's stiffer rear bar, which was the same as the GT's. It's possible that the LTS also got it, though I'm not positive.

Just make sure it's not an automatic. Those transmissions are made of glass. I went through 2 in my 95 Tracer, and it was just the basic 88hp version. If it's a stick, you'll be fine. The LTS is a good stealthy performer - the red, rather than chrome, stripe is the only hint that it's anything special.

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
7/20/10 7:30 a.m.
cghstang wrote: Just to reiterate, everything should be interchangeable. The only suspension difference I can think of that there might be is the rear sway bar. EGTs had 21mm, wagons had big ones too. FYI, The BP in there is just as susceptible to the crank snout issue as the BPs in Miatas. This led to the demise of my beater EGT.

Only the early early cars are. 91 and 92 only i believe. 93+ are fine.

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
7/20/10 7:32 a.m.
bamalama wrote:
belteshazzar wrote: I didn't think the LX came with the BP, though I could be wrong. The one I drove was geared really short. Seemed like almost 4000rpm at interstate speed. That's all I remember.
The Protege LX does come with a BP. And yes the gearing is ridiculous.

About 3400rpms at 70mph. It's tight, but it's not insane or anything.

You want truly ridiculous gearing? Drive an MX3 GS.

OP, i am jealous. I want one for ST/FSP duty just because it would be hilarious.

egnorant
egnorant Dork
7/20/10 8:01 a.m.

No difference in main suspension. Both have the rear discs. I have an LTS suspension under my 91 Pony Escort, except I used a 3rd gen front subframe as it was attached to the larger (25mm?) 3rd gen sway bar.

http://www.feoa.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=55277&highlight=4wd

4wd stuff can be found here!

Bruce

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt Dork
7/20/10 8:05 a.m.
P71 wrote: Is that the mythical V6/AWD beast?

There were V6 versions of that chassis (MX-3) and AWD versions (some very rare Protege variants) but none that paired the two together.

Nitroracer
Nitroracer Dork
7/20/10 8:30 a.m.
93celicaGT2 wrote:
cghstang wrote: Just to reiterate, everything should be interchangeable. The only suspension difference I can think of that there might be is the rear sway bar. EGTs had 21mm, wagons had big ones too. FYI, The BP in there is just as susceptible to the crank snout issue as the BPs in Miatas. This led to the demise of my beater EGT.
Only the early early cars are. 91 and 92 only i believe. 93+ are fine.

The one I found is a 91, so possible crank issues. Waiting to find out if it has the correct transmission.

bamalama
bamalama HalfDork
7/20/10 8:52 a.m.
93celicaGT2 wrote:
bamalama wrote:
belteshazzar wrote: I didn't think the LX came with the BP, though I could be wrong. The one I drove was geared really short. Seemed like almost 4000rpm at interstate speed. That's all I remember.
The Protege LX does come with a BP. And yes the gearing is ridiculous.
About 3400rpms at 70mph. It's tight, but it's not insane or anything.

But you can't drive 70 where I live without fearing for your life. So I'm usually buzzing along at about 4 grand to run 80.

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
7/20/10 9:07 a.m.
Nitroracer wrote:
93celicaGT2 wrote:
cghstang wrote: Just to reiterate, everything should be interchangeable. The only suspension difference I can think of that there might be is the rear sway bar. EGTs had 21mm, wagons had big ones too. FYI, The BP in there is just as susceptible to the crank snout issue as the BPs in Miatas. This led to the demise of my beater EGT.
Only the early early cars are. 91 and 92 only i believe. 93+ are fine.
The one I found is a 91, so possible crank issues. Waiting to find out if it has the correct transmission.

It's not horribly common or anything. That said, i will have a spare BP in the next couple months that i'd let go for cheap. It's a 93. It smokes some, but i'm pretty sure that's because the head that's on there has no valve seals anymore. Makes great power, so i would imagine the bottom end is fine. I have a spare head that came off of CGHstang's car as well that should be in better shape.

poopshovel
poopshovel SuperDork
7/20/10 9:37 a.m.
93celicaGT2 wrote:
Nitroracer wrote:
93celicaGT2 wrote:
cghstang wrote: Just to reiterate, everything should be interchangeable. The only suspension difference I can think of that there might be is the rear sway bar. EGTs had 21mm, wagons had big ones too. FYI, The BP in there is just as susceptible to the crank snout issue as the BPs in Miatas. This led to the demise of my beater EGT.
Only the early early cars are. 91 and 92 only i believe. 93+ are fine.
The one I found is a 91, so possible crank issues. Waiting to find out if it has the correct transmission.
It's not horribly common or anything. That said, i will have a spare BP in the next couple months that i'd let go for cheap. It's a 93. It smokes some, but i'm pretty sure that's because the head that's on there has no valve seals anymore. Makes great power, so i would imagine the bottom end is fine. I have a spare head that came off of CGHstang's car as well that should be in better shape.

Hmm. Seems as though we're destined to have a long-haul swap meet in the near future. Would be a good excuse to see some friends in/around Evansville....

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
7/20/10 10:10 a.m.
MadScientistMatt wrote:
P71 wrote: Is that the mythical V6/AWD beast?
There were V6 versions of that chassis (MX-3) and AWD versions (some very rare Protege variants) but none that paired the two together.

I think I'm thinking of the Topaz LTS / Tempo ???

iceracer
iceracer Dork
7/20/10 10:48 a.m.

Later model ZX2's and Escort sedans had better gearing and on some the 5th gear is interchangable without removing the transaxle. Cuts the rpm to 3K at 70.

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
7/20/10 11:39 a.m.
poopshovel wrote:
93celicaGT2 wrote:
Nitroracer wrote:
93celicaGT2 wrote:
cghstang wrote: Just to reiterate, everything should be interchangeable. The only suspension difference I can think of that there might be is the rear sway bar. EGTs had 21mm, wagons had big ones too. FYI, The BP in there is just as susceptible to the crank snout issue as the BPs in Miatas. This led to the demise of my beater EGT.
Only the early early cars are. 91 and 92 only i believe. 93+ are fine.
The one I found is a 91, so possible crank issues. Waiting to find out if it has the correct transmission.
It's not horribly common or anything. That said, i will have a spare BP in the next couple months that i'd let go for cheap. It's a 93. It smokes some, but i'm pretty sure that's because the head that's on there has no valve seals anymore. Makes great power, so i would imagine the bottom end is fine. I have a spare head that came off of CGHstang's car as well that should be in better shape.
Hmm. Seems as though we're destined to have a long-haul swap meet in the near future. Would be a good excuse to see some friends in/around Evansville....

Do it! Bring me lots of cool stuff for the KLZE 'Scort and the MX6.

psteav
psteav GRM+ Memberand Reader
7/20/10 1:03 p.m.
P71 wrote:
MadScientistMatt wrote:
P71 wrote: Is that the mythical V6/AWD beast?
There were V6 versions of that chassis (MX-3) and AWD versions (some very rare Protege variants) but none that paired the two together.
I think I'm thinking of the Topaz LTS / Tempo ???

yeah, that was nothing special and all ford. 3.0 Vulcan with a five speed...I found one once, for cheap, in nice shape. The general consensus was "it's not even really worth it for a beater".

Nitroracer
Nitroracer Dork
7/20/10 4:01 p.m.
iceracer wrote: Later model ZX2's and Escort sedans had better gearing and on some the 5th gear is interchangable without removing the transaxle. Cuts the rpm to 3K at 70.

I remember this was possible with the 2ng gen ford probe /mx6 too. Another variant of the same trans I suppose.

No reply on the car yet.

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
7/20/10 5:26 p.m.

Yeah, they're all Mazda G-series trash transmissions.

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