A Mazda V6 indeed!
Diehard AutoWeek readers probably already know this Mazda 626 from Marcel Smeding, because he keeps track of his experiences in this review. We liked the story so much that we paid him a visit. Marcel received the red Mazda 626 from his grandfather when he stopped driving. To really make the good hatchback fun, Marcel boosted it up. The original 1800 engine made way for a 2.5 V6 from the MX-6, also in his possession. The Mazda enthusiast also installed ABS and cruise control himself.
At the home of Mazda fan Marcel Smeding from Lutjewinkel, the red 626 looks somewhat anonymous. Not surprising, because it is located between a beautiful, rare, yellow 818 Coupé from 1977 and an MX-30. Marcel: “I inherited my love for Mazda from my grandfather. His last was this one, which he bought new in 1994. He didn’t drive it much; When I got the car fifteen years later, it only had 39,000 miles on it. This was not visible from the bodywork: it had once kissed a garage door and grandpa’s walker had also severely damaged the rear screen.”
The standard GLX furniture was allowed to remain in place.
In short, grandfather eventually thought it was no longer responsible to go on the road, after which he gave Marcel the JN-TV-11. “The car would end up in good hands. I already had an MX-6 and a 626 Coupé. Because my grandfather passed away a few months later, I always considered that car as a family heirloom. I will pass on that baton: later it will go to my youngest son. He loves the 626.”
Five cars is too many, grandpa’s 626 was allowed to stay
The future of the Japanese five-door is therefore certain, but that was not always the case. “No, despite my love for Mazda, I just thought this type of 626 was so-so. That’s why my wife mainly used it for commuting to Amsterdam. When our eldest son was born, I started to appreciate the car a little more, because transporting such a little one in a 626 Coupé is much more difficult. After a few years, unfortunately, the end was approaching for the MX-6: rust. When my wife also received a company car, the question arose: what am I going to do with Grandpa’s 626? Put away? Or say goodbye to the MX-6? I also had an MX-5 as a daily car. Five pieces together, that was a bit too much, haha!”
Gearbox 626 converted
Marcel gets an idea: the V6 of the MX-6 is still completely fresh underarms. If he were to place it in grandpa’s 626, you would have a nice sleeper. It should be doable, because the same 2.5 engine was also used in top 626 Xerxes. The engine transplant does not go smoothly, despite Marcel’s penchant for tinkering, which he also inherited from his grandfather. “I wanted to keep the gearbox from the 1800, because of the longer fourth and fifth gears. The gearbox is basically the same, but the clutch housing of the V6 is different. Because that is part of the tank itself, everything had to be taken apart. The wiring harness is also different: for example, the MX-6 does not have a rear window wiper and the 626 does. And because the mirror adjustment is in the door on the MX-6 and in the dashboard on the 626, it was necessary to make one new one from both wiring harnesses.”
Chassis components also transferred to 626
Marcel also installed ABS and cruise control and had the chassis of the MX-6 transferred to the 626, so that it is now about four centimeters lower. Finished? “Well, the car is now thirty years old and then you get things: a handbrake that sometimes sticks, valve seats that need to be replaced and rust. The engine was taken out again last winter. All seals, O-rings and gaskets have been replaced. It then turned out that the flywheel was full of cracks. That has also been replaced, along with the clutch. I also put the car on the alloy of the RX-8.”
The wheels are from the Mazda RX-8.
You see: Marcel did everything he could to honor his grandfather’s pride, but sometimes this really tested him. “The timing belt once came off due to a defective hydraulic tensioner. Later we were stranded due to a defective ignition coil. And once a deer jumped in front of the car, resulting in a leaky radiator and a broken bumper.” Marcel is above all a very proud and happy owner. “Despite its age, it is still a nice travel trailer. The comfort is fine; the seats are softer than those of my wife’s leased Tesla Model X. His motor skills are strong and of course nostalgic feelings play a role.” The North Hollander is therefore more than happy to drive his own 626. Thanks to grandpa.
Below this article you will find the specifications of the car as it was originally delivered. You can check out those of the Mazda 626 2.5i V6 Xerxes and that of the MX-6 2.5i V6 via the links to CarBase. In case you hadn’t already done so in the text above!
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl