Arghhh, the addiction is taking hold again

In the old Land Rover world, this is called "shipfitter's disease". You go in to replace a fuse, then you see a couple of dodgy wires so you go to fix them, and it's just as easy to pull out a length of harness, and while the harness is out you decide it's a good time to fix that bad headlight bucket so you end up pulling the front wing and breakfast off (seriously, look it up) and since that's off you might as well fix the leaking steering arm doodad...and before you know it you're swapping in a new galvanized frame.

Lesley: It's here. The Kool-Aid has arrived. Drink up!!, There that feels better. Now left click on the "buy now" icon. Christmas is coming, it's a present for yourself! --Bob.

dj wrote: I was going to say this is probably the worst place to have that problem looking to be talked out of anything automotive...

Like trying to have an AA meeting in the middle of a Bavarian Octoberfest party...

93celicaGT2 wrote: The reason why you didn't notice it is because a VRIS-less KLZE still makes WAY more low end power than a K8 at pretty much any point. I wonder if your VRIS points were just screwy from some weird ECU/VAF combo you were using? I wouldn't personally recommend removing it in an n/a application, but you certainly aren't going to notice a loss in low end power compared to before.

You're probably right haha! Actually I was comparing my car to a friend of mine's DE Mx3. His may have had a touch more bottom end, but the party was over at 6500rpms with the VRIS installed.

I can't remember the designation on the VAF but it was from a Millenia, and I was using the JDM Mx6 ECU, so I don't know of (or DIDN'T know of) any weird ECU problems with that setup, but I could be wrong.

Keith wrote: In the old Land Rover world, this is called "shipfitter's disease".

I call it the snowball effect... but same thing... and how we turned a simple automatic to manual conversion into a full-on engine bay restoration...

Teqnyck wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: The reason why you didn't notice it is because a VRIS-less KLZE still makes WAY more low end power than a K8 at pretty much any point. I wonder if your VRIS points were just screwy from some weird ECU/VAF combo you were using? I wouldn't personally recommend removing it in an n/a application, but you certainly aren't going to notice a loss in low end power compared to before.

You're probably right haha! Actually I was comparing my car to a friend of mine's DE Mx3. His may have had a touch more bottom end, but the party was over at 6500rpms with the VRIS installed. I can't remember the designation on the VAF but it was from a Millenia, and I was using the JDM Mx6 ECU, so I don't know of (or DIDN'T know of) any weird ECU problems with that setup, but I could be wrong.

I believe the KLG4 points are a little different, but i don't know, i'm no expert. I haven't decided what i'm going to do with mine yet.

93celicaGT2 wrote:

EricM wrote: With all the new found power, you might as well upgrade the brakes as well. And while you are under the car, freshen up the suspension. Now would be a good time to do that Limited Slip in the rear end as well.... Well, what are you waiting for? Get started.

Well now that would just be silly....

Sure would... it's front wheel drive.

WTF is a VRIS???

Yeeehawww, Stage II Clutchmaster, steal at $140 off ebay ($240 elsewhere). Spring set is $190. RR-Racing has billet Clutchmaster flywheel for $310. Fark me, that's a bit of change. Brakes are a bit sucky, but they're new all around so they're going to have to wait.

Teqnyck wrote: They say you'll lose a ton of bottom end, I never noticed that, but I did gain a bunch of top end and the ability to spin my motor up to 8k.

got data?

Lesley wrote: WTF is a VRIS??? Yeeehawww, Stage II Clutchmaster, steal at $140 off ebay ($240 elsewhere). Spring set is $190. RR-Racing has billet Clutchmaster flywheel for $310. Fark me, that's a bit of change. Brakes are a bit sucky, but they're new all around so they're going to have to wait.

Variable Resonance Induction System

Based on the Helmholtz resonance principle, the intake manifold is equipped with 3 chambers tuned to a specific resonant frequency. The computer dynamically switches between each resonant chamber to achieve the appropriate resonant frequency for the engine's RPM. This effect optimizes volumetric efficiency over a given RPM range to provide maximum torque over the entire RPM range.

Stolen from Wikipedia.

"While I'm in there I might as well..." That phrase has cost me thousands of dollars over the years

Oh, looky looky... found this on the MX3 forum, this is like a twisted version of six degrees of separation...

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=75590&p=567008#p567008

Lesley wrote: Oh, looky looky... found this on the MX3 forum, this is like a twisted version of six degrees of separation... http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=75590&p=567008#p567008

Mmmmmmm Mazdaspeed front bumper.

Hey! While you're replacing motors.....

http://www.mx6.com/forums/fs-engine-mechanical/241218-2-7l-klde-ze-stroker-forged-internals-colt-cams-interprep-h-beams-etc.html

STOP THAT!!!

Just whatever you do, DON'T go on Probetalk or MX6.com and look at the cars being parted out right now.

But yeah, that one i just linked you, i've been having a hard time resisting. That thing would SCREAM in the Escort.

There are a few being parted out on MX3.com. There's a guy who has a KLZE but he seems more interested in talking about selling it than actually selling it. Bought my ECU from there, just missed out on a Fidanza flywheel for $150 and some suspension goodies. This is like crack to me, I'm too afraid to add up what I spent on the Mighty Dak, but I bet it's more than a new kitchen.

Ian F wrote:

dj wrote: I was going to say this is probably the worst place to have that problem looking to be talked out of anything automotive...

Like trying to have an AA meeting in the middle of a Bavarian Octoberfest party...

Yeah, and you guys are all 13-steppers!

AngryCorvair wrote:

Teqnyck wrote: They say you'll lose a ton of bottom end, I never noticed that, but I did gain a bunch of top end and the ability to spin my motor up to 8k.

got data?

Nope, butt dyno. I know it's unreliable, but somethings you can just feel, you know?

You guys will be proud of me... when I fall off my bike I go all the way. Got the Clutchmaster Stage II, the Interprep Springs and stronger axles. Just need to find a flywheel. I'm notorious for finding a bargain and there ain't no way I'm paying $300-$400.

Lesley wrote: You guys will be proud of me... when I fall off my bike I go all the way. Got the Clutchmaster Stage II, the Interprep Springs and stronger axles. Just need to find a flywheel. I'm notorious for finding a bargain and there ain't no way I'm paying $300-$400.

srsly, nowadays if you buy a reman flywheel for the MX3 V6 you get a KLDE flywheel that's cut down to the weight of the MX3 part, as they start with the same core. it's a lot lighter than the DE/ZE part, at a fraction of the cost of the aluminium part.

Really, you'd recommend going with that over an aluminum piece? I've heard the lightweight ones are a bit of a pain since the revs drop so quickly too, so I'm not averse to going with a reman if it's the more logical (and cheaper!) choice. Such as...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-95-Mazda-MX-3-1-8-1-8L-Resurfaced-Clutch-Flywheel-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e5efc3686QQitemZ130442606214QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Lesley wrote: Really, you'd recommend going with that over an aluminum piece? I've heard the lightweight ones are a bit of a pain since the revs drop so quickly too, so I'm not averse to going with a reman if it's the more logical (and cheaper!) choice.

I had an eight-year Challenge streak going, so you know i'm down with the cheap alternative whenever possible. i will confess that i haven't gone this route with my '96 PGT, but only because it hasn't needed a clutch replacement in the 7 years and 83k miles i've been driving it.

note on the eBay piece you linked, it has KL01 cast into it. that's the prefix for the KLDE part number. actually, there's some benefit to having the KL01 flywheel cut to the 1.8L weight, as it is machined for the larger-diameter clutch disc used on the 2.5L cars. if you get an actual 1.8L flywheel, you may have to use the 1.8L clutch disc which I think is 205 mm dia instead of 215 mm. possibly not a big deal but certainly worth looking into.

i thought they were much cheaper than the $129 that guy's asking. perhaps calling your local advanpepzone might yield a better price.

Orrrr.... you could just use your old MX3 flywheel. That's probably what i'll be doing on the Escort. It's pretty light. The only lighter factory one in the K-series motors was on the KF-ZE.

Anyways.... progress on this endeavor?

It's currently sitting while I search for some KLDE or K8 heads to extract the valve springs from. The KLZE springs are notoriously wimpy and can cause valve float. Haaaate dealing with people on the internet... after assuring me that I could come pick up the set, I show up at one seller's place only to find engine (and heads) still in the car. Another guy wanted $250... the entire engine could be had for that much. If we have to, the heads in the car's K8 could be used, but if I can get a set for $50 or so, it will save time... and money.

I ended up finding a brand new Fidanza flywheel for $200 :-)