which one? need some input

Bump. I also think u will run into some serious differential issues trying to swap a 1.8 Maz mota into the 323 GTX.Leave the 1.6 in it and work on an upgrade turbo swap.The 1.6s in those cars have dished pistons and lots of other goodies that are turbo specific. 1.8s dont.Bj

NAW sounds like you have more pros for the mazda 4x4 man and i agree.

if it was me id get the truck, but the gtx has a HUGE resell value compared to the truck

b2600i ftw. it sounds like the car is gonna be another project. get the 4x4 truck and keep building your mazda

your right AWD and 4wd are completely different and i'm glad someone else knows the difference cause i'm tired of people not knowing but a 323 gtx is 4wd. i've done my research and i know what i'm talking about. they were built to rally in any condition i drove it in the snow last year and it was a beast. that thing could get around when no one else could because it has 4wd and there is no loss of power. it can haul when you want it too. got it up to 120mph last fall its just that the 1.8 block and the 1.6 block are practically identical and it would be the easiest swap ever. the tranny and everything will bolt right up. its a pretty solid car. i drove it yesterday and i'm kinda leaning towards that right now because i've driven trucks in the snow and ice and they dont have enough weight in the back to get traction. right now the gtx seems like the better car.

Not enough research. Maz describes them as AWD .They have a planetary differential with a dash mounted switch to lock the differential up for loose surface driving.But they have NO feature to allow u to disengage either the front or rear wheels, so therefore they cant be 4WD. Same system is on my wifes Volvo Crosscountry (Haldex)and Volvo describes it as AWD as well..bj

actually according to mazda they have fulltime 4wd. says it right on the car. they do have a switch to lock the front and rear diff and it may seem like its awd but infact its actually 4wd. trust me i know my stuff.

Trust me, I know mine. First Maz was a 1974 REPU bought new and Ive owned them ever since including a 323 GTX. They are AWD,so described in the Maz marketing lit as well as the owners manual. . Im off this thread-call the damn thing what u want.Its academic. BJ

i believe you according to what i know and have seen on these cars they function just like a 4wd system it may be 4wd or it may be awd they are really strange and they arent like most 4wd rally cars. at least not like i've seen. all i know is i want one to take out on old logging roads and up into the snow cause it is personally the best car i've driven in the snow. way better than any truck or suv i've driven in the snow.