Ignition would hold the key in the ignition barrel. Easily repaired by pulling out the ignition barrel and cleaning.
Rear drum brake shoes came loose. The pins that hold them to the backing plate had worn through, and no longer locked. Bought new pins from the brake shop, and replaced myself.
Destroyed the old 1400cc engine driving through a creek crossing. The fan caught the water, and sucked into the radiator. This caused the radiator to empty, and I cooked the motor. I have since replaced it with a 1300cc motor.
Original shock absorbers were worn out when I bought the car. I have since replaced them with aftermarket Koni ones.
The car is used for setting up rallies. It is cheap, cheerful, and very capable. It treads where some four wheel drive vehicles (RAV4, Forester, CR-V) fear to go.
I have slowly upgraded it as I have gone. It now has the bare minimum of interior trim (no carpet, sound deadening, centre console, radio, etc).
It does have:
- Upgraded springs and Koni shock absorbers
- RX-7 Series 2 Front disc brakes and calipers
- 626 rear drums
- 323 five speed gearbox
- late model 323 radiator and thermo-fans (to prevent further radiator explosions)
- A seam welded chassis
The car is a barrel of laughs to drive, and has been very reliable for the amount of very hard kilometres that it does.
It is very nervous at high speeds (anything above 140km/h), and I have had difficulty getting the front suspension set-up to my liking.
It needs more power (perhaps a 12A rotary transplant), but makes up for it in low running costs and ease of maintenance.
I to own an 808 wagon, I think it's awful the way this one is treated. 808 wagons are some of the rarest cars around and they should be treated accordingly. My 808 wagon was a show car, until I had an accident in it now it's off the road being restored. I have to disagree with the fuel consumption as I have had a couple of 1300 motors in mine and compared to other 1300 cars I have owned like old corollas, charades, terios, the Mazda was the most expensive to run. But I do think 808 wagons are great cars, with the 1300 engine they don't have too many problems, but when they do ever thing will go wrong at once and it's extremely difficult to find parts. That is why my shed is full of parts. If any one needs parts they can email me on dstrawbs@hotmail.com as I don't need any more 1300 parts as I'm putting a 13B Turbo fuel injected engine in it. I have 2x motors with all other parts like alternators, starter motors ect., 2x 4speed gear boxes and 2x diffs (one is whining a little bit).
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