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Louis’s 323: One and Only

I first met Louis about 2 years ago when on Import Atlanta when he owned a very clean DA3 Integra.  At that time those cars were not the easiest Honda to modify at the time, and still are not.  But Louis made due, and put together a really nice vehicle during High School.  Well sadly to say that car was wrecked, and Louis ended up in a 88 Mazda 323 that most would not even think twice about doing anything to it, but from the start he was full of ideas.  From my point of view it was a good platform to make something different, and me being very familiar with the proteges and fwd Mazdas in general knew plenty of options.  After talks of me trying to talk him into a 1.8 bp swap, he set his goal on being the first to do a complete KL motor swap into a BF chassis 323.   The Mazda K Series v6 comes in many configuration from a 1.8l version found in the Mx3 Gs to the 2.5 KLG4 found in the later versions of the 626.  Louis’s first attempt was with the 165hp KLDE which was a success, until the motor started to knock.  So he was forced to upgrade to the 190hp 2.5 KlZe found in the Japanese model mx6,626,millenia (eunos 800).  And with the platform setup already from the KLDE the KLZE was able to bolt right into place where the DE left.  And weight balance isnt an issue with the KL being an aluminum built from top to bottom, it helps retain the balance of whatever it goes in, and is a very capable NA motor, and no need to cut a hole in your hood or any extreme chassis modifications it fits in just nice.  The car is the first to be completed and documented as far as its known in the US, and Louis has set a blue print for all the BF chassis community that want to take this path with their 323.

CLUB PROTEGE.COM: LOUIS’S 88 KLZE MAZDA 323 BUILD THREAD

– JDM KLZE swap w/ roughly 65k
– millenia intake manifold
– kl31 ecu and je50 vaf
– stainless steel headers
– lowering springs
– 2.5” custom exhaust with tsudo 4” muffler
– Isuzu I-mark front bumper
– jdm Familia badge
– 3rd gen z28 camaro spoiler
– ’94 protege front suspension swap
– 14” bottlecaps on the front, 14” american racings on the rear

Joseph Dale

Joseph Dale SF Owner/Editor Born in Houston, Texas Lives in Atlanta, GA Mazda Lover