Mazda 929 Serenia

[The Petcan]

Has anyone ever done anything to a 1993 Mazda 929 Serenia?

Its a strong engine, the JE48 3L DOHC v6.

Im doing a little catchup maintenance (dont even ask what a water pump, timing bearings, hydraulic tensioner, and belt kit, with cam and crank seals, and valve cover gaskets is worth, its almost more than the car.)

Once thats taken care of and a few tasks are done.. me and some people are considering a rebuild to reinforce the engine, and putting in Parallel Twin Turbos. T4's or something...

THen someone suggested i put in a swap for a 20b rotary.

ANyways, the car is a pain to work on sometimes because of the rarity of parts, and the total impossibility of any mazda dealer in canada being helpful or knowledgeable on this rare model.

Anyone got any experience on these or maybe some suggestions?

 

[The Petcan]

Pics of whats done already

I started with new brakes and custom exhaust...
doing some interior/stereo work too its almost done.

 

[TheMAN]

there's nothing rare about this car
they're everywhere

 

[The Petcan]

this car was made for 2 years and only imported to canada in extremely limited numbers.
theres amillion people in the edmonton area and no mazda dealer or parts supplier has heard or seen of any 929 serenias for repair,service, or parts, other than MY vin, in 10 years or so.
also on many parts stores and supply shops, the car doesnt even show in the computers/books.

That = rare.
Theres a few more in america, they were brought there more heavily than canada,...
but NOBODY has pimped one or tuned one to the nuts. not even overseas, i found some car shows but nothing.

Rare.. and not overly special or popular for any reason in particular.

 

[xelderx]

Most of the "tuned" 929's were the 1st Gen model as these were available with a manual transmission. Japan even got a 13B option. None of the 2nd Gen series were available with manual transmissions which kept them from being popular with any performance oriented tuners.

 

[Velocifero]

I've only seen a handful of that body 929s since I started paying attention to cars, but probably more of the first gens, so I can kinda see the rarity. Good luck with the build and keep posting updates up.

 

[The Petcan]

thanks.
yeah there was a japanese 20b option, a cosmos or something...
i dont know if i wanna drop in a 20b or twin turbo this v6.
iunno but will keep updated.

and yeah its automatic only that would kill the performance nuts. but, its got a hold feature on every gear that you can thumb-engage so you can shift it like a standard, only without the need for a clutch. you just gotta have grown up playing video games... (quick thumb)

 

[The Petcan]

thanks.
yeah there was a japanese 20b option, a cosmos or something...
i dont know if i wanna drop in a 20b or twin turbo this v6.
iunno but will keep updated.

and yeah its automatic only that would kill the performance nuts. but, its got a hold feature on every gear that you can thumb-engage so you can shift it like a standard, only without the need for a clutch. you just gotta have grown up playing video games... (quick thumb)

the 1st gen was also a total ugly piece of garbage.
lol.. up till 92 the 929 was a crap car. i dunno about tuning orperformance but it looked like utter cheeze.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

swap in a 20B and a manual transmission

 

[TheMAN]

they were made for 3 years and there was NEVER a rotary option on the 93-95 bodystyle

there were mazdaspeed parts for this car at one point in time, but that's all I know

 

[randyscycle]

Hmmmmm, tuned 929......how about a tuned MPV van?

But seriously though, parts wil be a bit tough to come by, if they are available at all. I'd use another platform if it were me, but to each their own.

 

[xelderx]

there were mazdaspeed parts for this car at one point in time, but that's all I know

A Mazda TheMAN knows little about!

(omg)


Seriously though, my neighbor has a 1st Gen 929 and I've been eyeing it for a while now. It's not the prettiest car, but I just love the idea that it's a very impractical, hardly noticed RWD sedan. It's just begging for someone to show it some love and start embarrasing other more prominent large cars.

 

[xelderx]

 

[Velocifero]

Justin's my hero!

 

[Captain KRM P5]

look at that brick

 

[Antoine]

I'd rock that

 

[xelderx]

That model is a little different than the US version. It has a different front clip (headlights, fenders, hood) than the US model and the rear door glass is all one intead of being seperated like on the US version. In Japan it was called the Luce. I guess it's Mazda being different about stuff just like the 3rd Gen Protege has a different front clip in Japan as opposed to our model.

 

[The Petcan]

hmm you mean that old one is the Luce or mine is the Luce?

 

[TheMAN]

yours is a sentia

 

[MazKid]

The US 929 ran '89-'91 and '92-'94. '90-'91 the S (DOHC) model was added. Manual 929s were limited to 1st gen cars with the SOHC 3L. That means no S model with a 5 speed...however they are easy to swap. 5 speed 929s are rare...a 2nd gen 929/Sentia is not rare. I will say that these days I see more in the junkyards than on the street...they were nice looking cars, but they're heavier and bigger(interior seems smaller, probably due to the swoopy exterior...poor design) and not desireable.

Japan/Australia/other places got the Luce model which had the 13B option. I believe some of these Luces had the 3L turbo engine that CorkSport sells.

The first 2 pics that xelderx posted are of the previous generation 929/luce, '84?-'88. Coupe version of that car with the 13B is the JB? chassis Cosmo(as in the generation before the Eunos Cosmo.

For what it's worth, the Sentia model went on up until '00 or '02 or something. Can't remember off the top of my head.

The '89-'98 MPV is based on the same platform. I've heard stories of people swapping the DOHC heads into thier MPVs but have yet to see one personally...I haven't been able to talk my dad into doing it to our '92 MPV.
While on the subject of the 1st generation MPV...the US had the G6 2.6L 4 cylinder and the JE 3L...the G6 was availible with a 5 speed manual in base model MPVs(stripped models are called "vans" while models with full interiors are called "wagons") in the US but V6s could only be had with 4 speed autos. However, for some odd reason, in Canada you could get a MPV V6 5 speed...my dad has worked on atleast 2 at the dealership. Unfortunately these cars are '89-'94 MPVs and not the awsome MPV All-Sport. Some day, when I have kids to haul around, I'm finding a nice green/brown All-Sport, 929S heads swap, and 5 speed swap...maybe supercharged.