Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

  1. #1
    Jr Member Stretch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Ajax
    Posts
    492
    Thanks
    150
    Thanked 22 Times in 14 Posts
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Am I nuts to think it would be just cut/paste? My 2007 speed 3 is dying and I'd love to swap front body panels, engine, seats, interior bits, all onto a sedan but I fear starting it and finding out the car lines don't work with a sedan back and hatch front or something.

    What are your thoughts?

    I'd be looking for a true red 2009 sedan hopefully gt without a sunroof if you know of one at a dealership...

    eric
    Check Out My Workout Supplement Blog!
    Engine: JBR 88 Duro RMM . Suspension: Bilstein B8, Cobb Springs

  2. #2
    Jr Member 2012mazda3hatch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Guelph
    Age
    26
    Posts
    280
    Thanks
    64
    Thanked 58 Times in 48 Posts
    Mentioned
    8 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap


  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to 2012mazda3hatch For This Useful Post:

    S.F.W. (11-29-2017),Stretch (11-29-2017)

  4. #3

    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Kitchener
    Posts
    5,736
    Thanks
    213
    Thanked 1,156 Times in 643 Posts
    Mentioned
    295 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Panels won't swap perfectly, you could trim to fit but it won't be direct bolt. Engine is tied to ECU which is tied to gauge cluster...might be tricky. You'd also need to swap exhaust/transmission/driveshaft/hubs/brakes.

    For once at least you're starting with a MS3 rather than an MZ3 and thinking about just dropping in an engine.

    What's wrong/dying on your MS3? You'll need almost all the mechanicals from the MS3 to do it, so if something is going, it won't do you much good.

    - 2021 Porsche Macan GTS -
    - 2016 Lexus NX200t F Sport -
    - 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica - SOLD -

  5. #4
    Jr Member Stretch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Ajax
    Posts
    492
    Thanks
    150
    Thanked 22 Times in 14 Posts
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by SomeGuy View Post
    Panels won't swap perfectly, you could trim to fit but it won't be direct bolt. Engine is tied to ECU which is tied to gauge cluster...might be tricky. You'd also need to swap exhaust/transmission/driveshaft/hubs/brakes.

    For once at least you're starting with a MS3 rather than an MZ3 and thinking about just dropping in an engine.

    What's wrong/dying on your MS3? You'll need almost all the mechanicals from the MS3 to do it, so if something is going, it won't do you much good.
    turbo, driver's side ds, door bottoms rusting out for starters. That's why I'd be interested in a clean 2009 to swap into, but thought it would make for a fun swap to do the sedan. I don't mind swapping the whole gauge cluster/loom with the engine in fact I assumed it would have to go. As you said that's the beauty of having an actual ms3 for the donor. I would get new driveshafts but at least would have a sedan to drive around as I got the parts since this speed likely won't last another year without something significant happening as is. 318k km at the moment.

  6. #5
    Jr Member Stretch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Ajax
    Posts
    492
    Thanks
    150
    Thanked 22 Times in 14 Posts
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by 2012mazda3hatch View Post
    Great thorough read thanks for the link!

  7. #6
    the "grammer" police m_bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Goderich
    Ride
    RAM 1500 - 2017
    Posts
    3,095
    Thanks
    618
    Thanked 480 Times in 324 Posts
    Mentioned
    53 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    How do you insure something like that?

  8. #7

    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Kitchener
    Posts
    5,736
    Thanks
    213
    Thanked 1,156 Times in 643 Posts
    Mentioned
    295 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by m_bisson View Post
    How do you insure something like that?
    As a Mazda 3 sedan...

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to SomeGuy For This Useful Post:

    Dave_The_BMXER (12-12-2017)

  10. #8
    the "grammer" police m_bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Goderich
    Ride
    RAM 1500 - 2017
    Posts
    3,095
    Thanks
    618
    Thanked 480 Times in 324 Posts
    Mentioned
    53 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Yeah, if you're interested in a lawsuit.

  11. #9

    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Kitchener
    Posts
    5,736
    Thanks
    213
    Thanked 1,156 Times in 643 Posts
    Mentioned
    295 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by m_bisson View Post
    Yeah, if you're interested in a lawsuit.
    For what? You are insuring the car...swapping in a different drivetrain isn't illegal.

  12. #10
    the "grammer" police m_bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Goderich
    Ride
    RAM 1500 - 2017
    Posts
    3,095
    Thanks
    618
    Thanked 480 Times in 324 Posts
    Mentioned
    53 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by SomeGuy View Post
    For what? You are insuring the car...swapping in a different drivetrain isn't illegal.
    Well, what's the normal insurance difference between a Mazda 3 and a speed 3?

    If you're driving around with more power under the hood, you can expect to pay a higher premium. Your insurance might drop your coverage if you don't disclose the engine swap. And I'm guessing if you do disclose it, you'll be paying quite a bit more.


    Thats why I asked. It's not just "it's a sedan".
    @CloudPump any idea?
    Last edited by m_bisson; 12-02-2017 at 05:35 PM.

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to m_bisson For This Useful Post:

    Stretch (12-03-2017)

  14. #11

    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Kitchener
    Posts
    5,736
    Thanks
    213
    Thanked 1,156 Times in 643 Posts
    Mentioned
    295 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by m_bisson View Post
    Well, what's the normal insurance difference between a Mazda 3 and a speed 3?

    If you're driving around with more power under the hood, you can expect to pay a higher premium. Your insurance might drop your coverage if you don't disclose the engine swap. And I'm guessing if you do disclose it, you'll be paying quite a bit more.


    Thats why I asked. It's not just "it's a sedan".
    @CloudPump any idea?
    Having owned both a MZ3 and MS3...my insurance actually went down when I got my MS3 (same provider). As far as I can tell, it's treated as a trim level and not as a different car, so it's no different than owning a GX or GT, the only thing that plays into it is purchase price.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to SomeGuy For This Useful Post:

    Stretch (12-03-2017)

  16. #12
    Sr Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    3,760
    Thanks
    3,360
    Thanked 1,031 Times in 700 Posts
    Mentioned
    199 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    I don't know how each insurance company would differentiate between an engine swap (n/a or turbo) and engine modifications. They could see it as one or the other based on their individual rules.

    Engine mods:
    Most insurance companies don't want to insure any type of engine modifications. If engine modifications went against their filed rules for refusing to provide/decline coverage then they could cancel the policy and try to get off risk.

    Worst case scenario is if you got into a claim and these modifications were not disclosed, they could cancel your policy for nondisclosure/material change in risk and in certain cases decline portions of the claim.

    Best to inquire if your insurance company will insure n/a to turbo engine swaps / engine modifications at all or shop around for one that does. Some companies are generally very strict around engine mods and some are not.

    You just need to be concerned about being covered in a claim and not being cancelled for misrepresentation (most companies won't insure a person like this for 3+ years).
    Last edited by Kiewan; 12-03-2017 at 09:47 AM.

  17. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Kiewan For This Useful Post:

    m_bisson (12-03-2017),Stretch (12-03-2017)

  18. #13

    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Kitchener
    Posts
    5,736
    Thanks
    213
    Thanked 1,156 Times in 643 Posts
    Mentioned
    295 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    On the other hand...it's an OEM engine into the same car. It's not like it's an LS swap.

  19. #14
    the "grammer" police m_bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Goderich
    Ride
    RAM 1500 - 2017
    Posts
    3,095
    Thanks
    618
    Thanked 480 Times in 324 Posts
    Mentioned
    53 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Still... Better to get insurance sorted out first. Otherwise you might end up with a car that you can't even drive.

  20. #15
    Newbie
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Brampton
    Posts
    58
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
    Mentioned
    20 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Why waste time swapping the ms3 engine... just turbocharge the regular mz3 engine and even get forged pistons and rods

  21. #16
    Sr Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    5,010
    Thanks
    105
    Thanked 336 Times in 242 Posts
    Mentioned
    129 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by m_bisson View Post
    Still... Better to get insurance sorted out first. Otherwise you might end up with a car that you can't even drive.
    Pretty sure it would fall under a hot rod class of insurance.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lmmorden View Post
    Costco = good cheap solution
    Just go to automotive and ask to see their nuts
    It's like a buck a nut

  22. #17
    Professor
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Toronto
    Ride
    1992 FD3S
    Posts
    727
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 438 Times in 190 Posts
    Mentioned
    89 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Question about Speed 3 into a sedan swap

    Quote Originally Posted by m_bisson View Post
    Well, what's the normal insurance difference between a Mazda 3 and a speed 3?

    If you're driving around with more power under the hood, you can expect to pay a higher premium. Your insurance might drop your coverage if you don't disclose the engine swap. And I'm guessing if you do disclose it, you'll be paying quite a bit more.


    Thats why I asked. It's not just "it's a sedan".
    @CloudPump any idea?
    There's a fine line here, you're going to see the word "Technically" a couple times.

    Technically insurance companies won't insure vehicles "customized or modified for speed"

    Technically you should disclose to your insurance company that you're replacing the engine.

    You don't technically have to say "I put in a way more powerful engine" into the car. You could just say that "The old engine went bad and we put in another Mazda 3 engine" which would be technically correct.
    If a serious claim were to come up, you could technically plead ignorance and say that you just needed a running engine and this one fit.

    Side note: "Running around with more power under the hood" doesn't really jack up insurance rates. You are required to obey all traffic laws and safety requirements when operating a car. If you are intentionally doing something wrong/stupid you don't technically have insurance. (Good luck proving the intent to do something wrong/stupid though)

    -Geoff

  23. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to CloudPump For This Useful Post:

    Dave_The_BMXER (12-12-2017),S.F.W. (12-04-2017)

Similar Threads

  1. Galaxy's 09 Mazda 3[soon be fully] speed swap
    By Galaxy771 in forum Member Rides
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-26-2017, 12:49 PM
  2. Is there much of a demand for 6 speed swap?
    By EVILMSP in forum Frequently Asked Questions
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 05-17-2015, 06:40 AM
  3. Speed 3 front brake swap, Mazda 5 back brake swap, questions!
    By MattisBrown in forum Suspension & Brakes
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 07-18-2013, 01:24 PM
  4. Engine swap question
    By AdnanMazda in forum Performance
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-04-2010, 03:12 PM
  5. HB/Sedan Seat Swap
    By m3zoomzoom in forum Trim & Interior
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 03-31-2010, 08:43 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •