Lesley
SuperDork
5/1/10 4:29 p.m.
Hey, I wish I'd seen this thread earlier. I'm on my second MX3, big, big fan of these little cars. My first one sounded just like the one you've bought - I eventually scrapped it after deciding it would take too much money to restore it. It was also a 1996, which is an odd duck for some of the parts, and OBD II, which made it a pain in the ass for puter stuff.
If you have patience and don't mind looking, it's absolutely possible to find a good solid MX3 for a good price. I bought my 1992 last year for $900 with 126,000 kms. on it.
A lot of them have issues with the distributor, which contains the crank & cam sensors, as well as the ignition. They're ungodly expensive at the dealerships ($600!!) but can be had on the forums for around $60. Better still, mx3.com has a fix for the problem if you have wiring skills
http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=64723.
A lot of them suffer from the rotting door sill problem, if you open the door and look towards the front fender -- you'll see why. It's a repository for wet leaves.
I plan on doing the KLZE swap on mine eventually - this car is so much fun on a track day, the only thing that could make it any better is a bit more power.
I am not worried about the cost.I am worried that we cannot make the car structurally sound. Parts anyone?
Not to be a vulture, but send me an email if it ends up not being saveable. That car has every swap part i need short of one axle to swap a KLZE into my Escort.
That said... i bet you'll be able to make it structurally sound. 
I will let you know but it is bad. One frame rail is shot and the rear sheet metal is so thin it won't stand even light grinding
If the car is that bad I think it is time to cut your losses and find a better platform to start with. You could still reuse the drivetrain in another ford/mazda if desired.
It just sounds like you could have something nicer for the same overall cost and probably for less effort.
That is my feeling. I am only going this far because my son loves it and it is a GS. He did mention that he would love a 1980s three series. Trades are accepted.
I've been wanting one of those for a while to swap in a Festiva 1.3 for a high mpg car.
Now you could use the parts to go the other way around, right? I happen to have a Festiva I'd part with....
What what? 1.8 V6 Capri swap donor? 323 V6?
It sounds like you have some great building blocks in front of you, trapped in the rusty shell of an MX-3.
No time nor knowledgeable help to engage in such an undertaking
Could the V6 be swapped into a Miata?
You've no time or "knowledgeable help" to do those swaps but then you want to drop it into a Miata (the answer is 'yes', by the way)? This is very curious logic good sir! And it rings of sass!
I have a Miata person on which too call. I have very few FWD resources other than myself. I.E. I would pay this person to install the engine.
Checked it out. won't work.
The MX3 was supposed to be a project car for my soon to be 16 year old son. It was not supposed to be a fabrication swap project. My Neon, Shelby Dakota and Charger 2.2 (not to mention my soon to be 17-year old son's 85 RX7) keep me busy enough.
I wanted a sanding, light metal repair, bolt-on, clean up project.
Moparman wrote:
No time nor knowledgeable help to engage in such an undertaking
It's no undertaking at all. It's the same chassis for the most part. Take it out, plop it in. 
Moparman wrote:
Could the V6 be swapped into a Miata?
It can be done with quite a bit of work.
http://majica.net/JNR/major.htm
Not worth the work for the gain. Maybe the 2.5 Probe V6 could be worth it.
Opinion of the body shop is that the car is for salvage only. I would like to sell the car intact, but for parts. Make an offer. I am located in the Poconos.
Does it run and drive? Transmission shifts well?
Runs, drives well. Needs 02 sensor and PS line. Left side frame and rear shock tower are HEAVILY rusted as is the rear sheet metal. Good for engine, transmission and some interior parts and that is about it. 86,000 miles on engine / trans. According to a sticker under hood, the timing belt was replaced at 55,000 miles. Wheels are in good shape.
