The Ohio Random Thread... aka We Should Probably Be Working

[Lewis7789]

Josh, like Ivan said, Conrads has done a great job on my P5 and Ivans MS3. Not so much on the Milly last week. They forgot to tighten the camber adjustment bolts and I was getting a lot of noises and creaking so Thursday I took a looksie and tightened them then got another appointment for this past saturday and they adjusted them better for me and apologized. But usually they are great guys and have no problems doing lowered cars.

And those P5's on Craigslist makes me want to snatch one up and swap everything over to a rust free car.

 

[hat1018]

Yea, I was surprised at how well the red one shines still! And hey, I've got a spare 5sp in the garage. LOL

I doubt I'd even mess with anything on that motor (black one). I'd just replace it all together and call it a day. Junk yard motor, and probably some routine maintenance items, and it would be a $3,000 car.

Good thought on the junk yard motor but I want something I can drive now. My guess is it would take me 2 maybe 3 weekends to swap engines. I am confident that I have the skill to do it. Hell I don't know, too much thinking!

edit: What kind of crap is involved in a trans swap? Anyone?

 

[Josue6WGN]

Josh, like Ivan said, Conrads has done a great job on my P5 and Ivans MS3. Not so much on the Milly last week. They forgot to tighten the camber adjustment bolts and I was getting a lot of noises and creaking so Thursday I took a looksie and tightened them then got another appointment for this past saturday and they adjusted them better for me and apologized. But usually they are great guys and have no problems doing lowered cars.

And those P5's on Craigslist makes me want to snatch one up and swap everything over to a rust free car.

Pictures are usually deceiving, but I can't get over how nice that red one looks! Off the milly, rock this one for the winter, then swap everything over in the spring!

And as long as I don't have any tire wear, I'll be happy. It's so hard to find a good alignment shop.

Good thought on the junk yard motor but I want something I can drive now. My guess is it would take me 2 maybe 3 weekends to swap engines. I am confident that I have the skill to do it. Hell I don't know, too much thinking!

Well, you know how many of us have experience swapping P5 motors! haha

I get ya though, about needing something now. You were probably looking to finance because you don't have a lump of cash laying around to buy something outright. And you'd have to worry about selling the van privately instead of simply trading it in. Luckily, I had the Cavalier to drive while I got my P5 in order.

Any word on the blue one?

 

[Josue6WGN]

edit: What kind of crap is involved in a trans swap? Anyone?

Obviously the mechanics of it; clutch pedal, shifter/boot, linkage, etc. Not sure if there's some kind of electrical stuff to deal with? Different plugs, harnesses?

With all the part outs on here, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to acquire everything you'd need.

 

[Josue6WGN]

This place isn't far from you, I'm sure you could snag everything off this one!

http://www.wreckcarsonline.com/2003_mazda_protege_5_2.0_2312.htm

 

[hat1018]

As far as the blue one goes I should get an answer on the financial part on Monday. I plan to offer the car lot $4500 + our van and they cover tax and title. Kelly BB says that our van is still worth ~$2,000 which is twice as much as I thought so the lot should be able to work with me a little. They dropped the price from $6935, to $5999, and again to $5745 so by the time I get with them tomorrow they could be at $5500.

 

[Lewis7789]

Larry, I can push my P5 out of the garage if you get a P5 you want to swap motors with. We can have it done in a weekend, no worries. I just work super slowly on my projects.

As far as the manual tranny swap, that would tak emore than one weekend. I don't know how all the shift linkages, clutch pedal, trans mount, clutch line/fluid, shifter and wiring would would...

 

[PrinceValorum]

I don't know what color I should paint my interior peices.

What kind of paint do you use on that, and how long does it last?

The black one, has bad valve stem seals? I have no idea where to even start.

I know with the older FS's like mine and the other motors before that had the same oil-burning problem, it's the piston rings. As the motor warms up, they expand, and less oil gets past them, so you don't see the smoke anymore. I'm not sure if Mazda ever revised the newer ones, or if they decided it should just be a bad motor for the entire production life.

As far as the manual tranny swap, that would take more than one weekend. I don't know how all the shift linkages, clutch pedal, trans mount, clutch line/fluid, shifter and wiring would would...

Get some practice and do the Milly first If you really want to start over with a clean P5, I'd do it before you get more permanent things in yours, like a cage welded in, ya know?

 

[o0n8]

wonder if anything is wrong with that red one...

 

[Josue6WGN]

We were down in Canton yesterday doing some shopping, so we stopped by and looked at it. Pretty much, it was in "a $3500 car" shape.

The body - driver side fender dented, probably needs replaced (cheapest/best option), couple random dents here and there (hood, roof, a side body panel or 2) both bumpers had small areas where the clear coat was peeling, rims were corroding (typical), mirrors were faded (mine are too) and of course there was some rust, but it really wasn't too bad. No where near as bad as Evan's or Phen's P5's. (no offense guys, tee HE!). They did their typical dealership-juicing up with cleaning products, but like I said, I was really surprised at how shiny the paint was still.

The interior was very clean, and it appeared to have decent tires on it, so you wouldn't have to run out and put new tires on ASAP or anything. It's got close to 150K, but you KNOW they didn't give the person s*** on trade in, and anything they get for it would be more than if they sent it off to auction, so I'm sure they'd work with you if you low balled them. $3000 OTD or something, and you'd be set, as long as it ran and drove alright. I wouldn't have a problem having it as a DD for that price.

 

[THE Phen]

There are several people on here who have done automatic to manual swaps. As much as I'd hate to say it, I think DJ Dub is one of them. While being a slammed dipshit, I'm sure if you PM him with a legit question, he's typically a good guy about things.

Another one is naoto. I'm pretty sure you only need to source the pedal assembly, necessary hydraulic lines for the clutch, shift linkage from a manual car, and the shifter. The ECU is different, but I'm not sure off hand if you can get by with the same ECU with all of the automatic stuff unplugged.

 

[aMaff]

I'm pretty sure you only need to source the pedal assembly, necessary hydraulic lines for the clutch, shift linkage from a manual car, and the shifter.

And the clutch master & slave cylinders.

And, you know, the transmission

 

[hat1018]

That red one is tempting. That is a bunch of miles though. I didn't think a trans swap would be a huge deal, like you said Phen a pedal assy, clutch cylinder & parts, and I would think an ecu just for good measure. From the description Josh gave it is in about the same condition as the one I am looking at. Todays test drive will help make my decision though.

 

[KZL_99ES]

that seems like far too much work...i'd think that there are enough manuals out there...if you want a manual, buy a manual...just my opinion.

 

[aMaff]

that seems like far too much work...i'd think that there are enough manuals out there...if you want a manual, buy a manual...just my opinion.

Bingo. It's not like they're rare cars.

 

[hat1018]

That is what I am thinking too. But if if a super sweet auto came along the swap is worth talking about.
BTW while I was looking around I found a P5 for sale for $9900 that has like 45000 1 owner miles and all service records. I was like are you kidding that is almost 3x trade in value and it's an 03 for crying out loud.

 

[Josue6WGN]

Have you been checking craigslist, Larry? There are a few, seemingly clean ones at car lots around here and Cleveland, for under $6000.

 

[hat1018]

Yes I have to a degree, not lately though.

 

[o0n8]

in 12 hours I'll be done with school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


for this year.

 

[KZL_99ES]

in 12 hours I'll be done with school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


for this year.

yyeaaahhh! ...boooo!