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Where to Source Replacement Parts and Upgrades/Mods for the HC...

5K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  Matsuda 9 
#1 ·
Just thought I'd start this little thread to see if it gains any momentum. And to see if anyone, particularly in Australia, has any knowledge of where to source replacement parts or upgrades/mods for the HC, new or second hand/refurbished.

What would be very helpful here would be if you've upgraded/replaced any components in your HC, what were they and where did you get them from?

The obvious answer for where to source second hand parts is from wreckers and possibly even ebay, I've found though that some Mazda wreckers have nothing for the HC. Ebay does have a number of vendors selling aftermarket parts of some kind or another.

One example is a HID kit to suit the HC. I've seen another selling new replacement aerial kits for the 929. There's one mob I found even have full radiators listed. I even found a business on there selling fully remanufactured engines, one being a DOHC for the 929.

Just recently I bought a set of replacement gas struts off ebay Aus for the bonnet as mine were long past it. The new ones are brilliant and excellent quality. Repco don't even have them listed in their parts catalogue. The seller I bought them off is "grantt005". They sell for $53 and are worth every cent.

I had to replace the idler pulleys on my engine recently too. I went and spoke to the Mazda parts dealer and for a mere $208 each :huh: and a wait of about a month and a half to have them sent from Japan I could have had them. :eek:

Needless to say a ring around for a wrecker who had a couple was my next step. I sourced them from Allmaz in Victoria, for $30 each, plus $17 freight. They were in perfect condition and looked as though they weren't long from being new. Waaaaay better than a ridiculous $208 each!! :p

As for flexible brake hoses for the front, Mazda wanted $138 each for them. Even at trade price, which they offered to me, they were still $104 each. The local brake and clutch mob made a set on the spot for $48 each. Again, a big difference.

I'll be upgrading my brakes some time in the near future too and there's a couple of places I can source performance rotors from, one is DBA Australia and the other is RDA Brakes. I'll actually be buying them from an ebay seller, "performancecarpartsonline". I've been speaking to that fella about brake pads and have decided to go with EBC Red Stuff pads when I do the upgrade. He's been very helpful and is very knowledgeable on the whole subject.

This link is from an older thread listing Mazda wreckers around Australia...

ABOUT: Mazda Wreckers & Engine Importers [Archive] - AstinaGT Forums


So, if anyone wants to share anything about where to find replacement parts or where to find any upgrades or enhancement/performance mods for your HC you are more than welcome to join in. I'm sure it will benefit all HC owners :)

Given the lack of input to this forum of late though this may be a very lonely thread, but nevertheless I'll still contribute, if only to be a repository of info for myself :p

Cheers :)
 
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#2 ·
Good idea.

Only ones i can think of is Cooroy Wreckers used to or still do have a series 1 HC 929 that i have gotten the steering rack off. They tend to never get rid of cars as the place is just huge paddocks.

Nambour Radiator Works can supply a new quality copper/brass heater core for a good price (cant remember what i paid).
 
#3 ·
A heater core? That's something I'm most likely going to need replacing. I bypassed my heater after coolant exploded all over the passenger floor a while ago.

I know next to nothing about the heater in the HC. I don't know how or why or where it burst from, or even what sort of fix it might need, but one thing is for sure, I'm going to be referring to sim_rx3's thread he did a while back on removing the dash.

See, your contribution may have helped another fellow HC enthusiast out already... me! :D

I hope we have a few contributors, every bit of info helps:)

Cheers,
Alan
 
#4 · (Edited)
Hi Alan, For a complex car like the 929, I found it not too be too bad to replace, although there are a couple of niggles. I replaced mine over a year ago, before I sold it. I did make a thread, it could've been more detailed though. Good use as a reference.

http://forums.mazdaworld.org/103-929/94558-heater-core-replacement.html

Depending where you are in nsw, I could give ya a hand.

I also got a set of those gas bonnet struts as well from that ebay seller, they were quality products too.
 
#5 ·
G'day Habib, that thread of yours is extremely helpful, to say the least, thank you :) Together with sim_rx3's thread, it'll make life a **** of a lot easier :)

Seems it's a common problem with the HC, blown heaters :p It's a job I've been dreading, but I'll be able to tackle with confidence now. Although it will obviously be rather time consuming and no doubt will incite a few choice words in the process :p

One question though, nine2nine said he got a new core from Nambour Radiator Works, where did you source yours from? :)

As for where am I? I'm actually on the Central Coast. With the info from yours and rx3's thread I reckon I'll be pretty well set. Thanks for your offer though. I hope you don't mind me picking your brains if I need to when I finally get around to sorting it out :)

Cheers,
Alan
 
#6 ·
Hi Alan, I'm near Lismore on nsw's north coast. I sourced mine from a local radiator specialist. I wanted a brass copper unit, while the core was able too be sourced, the pipework was different. Both were coming straight out. The radiator specialist had too modify the pipework to the correct angles & then do a pressure test.

No worries, when you start the work, feel free too fire any questions my way.
Just take plenty of photos during the work, especially with any connects that need too be unplugged.

Regards,
Abdul
 
#7 ·
I just found something pretty interesting while searching for parts for the HC, it's a mob in Taiwan who make Door handles for all four doors, interior and exterior both, for the HC. The internal ones they make in blue, red (maroon) or grey with the chrome lever. The exterior handles are chrome.

Pretty **** exciting I thought :)

Here's the link...

http://bit.ly/door_handles

They are manufacturers of these parts so consequently a minimum order of 10 of each item is required, which is a bit of a bummer.

I might contact them and see if they'll do smaller orders. If I can sweet talk them enough, you just never know :)

Cheers.
 
#8 ·
Thats a great find there Alan. When I had my Series 2, a few of my exterior door handles broke off. I found that while the body of the unit is chrome, I dont think the actual handle was (seems like plastic coated with chrome). Would be interesting too see if those units have actual chrome handles.
 
#9 ·
Well, they do say they're zinc coated with Chrome handles :p I had to replace both driver's side door handles on my car and they were actually cast metal, some sort of cheap-ish cast alloy. Fatigue cracks had set in on the handle mechanism and eventually gave way. They weren't plastic though.

Obviously the driver's door handle is the most common one to fail, which means difficult to find in good nick. It's nice to know there's an alternative if need be :)
 
#12 ·
HC and HD are the same, there is no valve to shut off the flow, the core is always flowing. what we have however is a door that stops airflow from the core. this one is controlled by a motor that can fail.

if all other functions of climate work then 'most likely' its the motor failed, but it also could be the wiring or the broken drive bits from the motor to the door or, if you bought the car that way, the heater core was bypassed (1. core is expensive, 2. absolute pain to remove).

In any case you are looking at removing at the very minimum the bottom cover on passenger side and having a look if things are moving as they should.
 
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