Is there a good computer swap???

[mustangsvo85]

I was wondering if the MP3 computer will swap directly into an 03 ES and add power without any cels or problems??

[NegatiZE]

It will swap, but the MP3's engine does not have the VCTS butterflies on the intake manifold. If you do a search, it should say whether or not you'll get a check engine light. I don't think it will.

I know that if you put a ES/LX "regular" 2.0 ECU into an MP3 you will trigger a check engine light due to not having the VTCS on the engine.

[Captain KRM P5]

it will not throw a CEL if the MP3 unit is put into an ES, putting a regular ecu into an mp3 will throw a CEL

[NegatiZE]

Makes sense.

[Captain KRM P5]

Makes sense.

few things on this car do :)

[toucci]

remember it won't add 10 hp, because the MP3 also has a cat-back exhaust contributing to those gains. it's really a silly mod IMO, requiring premium fuel and heightening the chances of detonation just for ~5 horsepower

[mustangsvo85]

I dont know much about proteges, it is my girlfriends car and I talked her into buying it. It was quick, nimble, comfortable, affordable, and got good gas mileage. Now I want it to go faster and I do agree that a 5 horsepower computer swap is worthless. I didnt know about the mp3s exhaust. I just want another 30 horses with bolt ons. how do i do this?? thanks

[chuyler1]

You can't. You might be able to squeeze 10-20HP by doing the intake, header, and exhaust but even with rods and other non-bolt ons you won't get 30hp.

[mustangsvo85]

Well then what do I do other than supercharging (she wont be without ac) or turboing (emissions)? Nitrous? I would rather do cams and pistons, has anyone got any dyno numbers with just bolt ons?

[NegatiZE]

FS-ZE Intake Manifold
FS-ZE Intake cam
Mazdaspeed Exhaust cam
FS-ZE pistons
Intake
header
exhaust

[chuyler1]

Trade it in and buy an STI.

[Captain KRM P5]

FS-ZE Intake Manifold
FS-ZE Intake cam
Mazdaspeed Exhaust cam
FS-ZE pistons
Intake
header
exhaust

there is also an underdrive pulley, catless midpipe and a lighter flywheel. that said, you're still not going to make hordes of power without going turbo on this car. or spending ALOT of money, time, and putting alot of machine work and custom engine management into an n/a build

[mustangsvo85]

FS-ZE Intake Manifold
Where can I get one of those and does it have everything that the stock 2.0 has attached to it (or at least a place for it)? How much and can anyone boast any horsepower figures??

[DiS]

since its your girlfriends car, I assume she will be driving it MORE than you. From that being said....MORE mods = MORE problems. Different mods can cause different problems. I understand that you want more power outta that Protege, but its not your car, and if something goes wrong while your g/f is driving it and you're not around, she is screwed.

[Captain KRM P5]

FS-ZE Intake Manifold
Where can I get one of those and does it have everything that the stock 2.0 has attached to it (or at least a place for it)? How much and can anyone boast any horsepower figures??

not worth it and not emmissions legal

[NegatiZE]

If you're curious,

http://web2.airmail.net/theman/fszeim/

[mustangsvo85]

since its your girlfriends car, I assume she will be driving it MORE than you. From that being said....MORE mods = MORE problems. Different mods can cause different problems. I understand that you want more power outta that Protege, but its not your car, and if something goes wrong while your g/f is driving it and you're not around, she is screwed.

True, but she is my problem, and she wants a faster car, and I wont let her buy a new car until the new MX-5 comes out. I just want basic and RELIABLE parts and performance, and I do understand the more mods paradox, but I highly doubt new cams, pulley, intake and exhaust will cause the motor to blow at 60k miles. If it blows, it is because she wont listen to me and continues to do neutral drops from 6k rpms!

[chuyler1]

Once you start adding up the cost of all those mods, you're pretty close to the cost of a turbo kit.

[Captain KRM P5]

i have driven a protege with all the above mods except the pulley. it was fun, and felt far better than stock. it didn't make as much power as mine, but it still felt good.

[mustangsvo85]

Once you start adding up the cost of all those mods, you're pretty close to the cost of a turbo kit.

bullcr*p!! I got the header for 200, cold air (not short ram!) kn intake for 160, I can get mazda speed exhaust for less than 100, cams for 400, and pulley for 100!! lets see that equals....computing....960 or less than a 1000 dollars!! A COMPLETE turbo kit is well over 2 grand and most are over 3 grand!! I just want her car to push the limits of her suspension, as my experience with mazdas are great handling but lacking the uumph needed for an all around fun car. She has the manual shifting automatic (VW calls theirs tiptronic, I dont remember what mazdas is?), which just cant pull in the low rpms. But when I drive it I power brake from a stop to go fast (it wont spin the tires though) and can get both tires to squeel (maybe chirp is a better word). I honestly think that an extra 15-20 horses and 10-15 lbs torque would be fine, but I think past my goals.

[nate0123]

bullcr*p!! I got the header for 200, cold air (not short ram!) kn intake for 160, I can get mazda speed exhaust for less than 100, cams for 400, and pulley for 100!! lets see that equals....computing....960 or less than a 1000 dollars!! A COMPLETE turbo kit is well over 2 grand and most are over 3 grand!! I just want her car to push the limits of her suspension, as my experience with mazdas are great handling but lacking the uumph needed for an all around fun car. She has the manual shifting automatic (VW calls theirs tiptronic, I dont remember what mazdas is?), which just cant pull in the low rpms. But when I drive it I power brake from a stop to go fast (it wont spin the tires though) and can get both tires to squeel (maybe chirp is a better word). I honestly think that an extra 15-20 horses and 10-15 lbs torque would be fine, but I think past my goals.I just figured out the perfect mod to make the car a lot faster

auto => manual swap

[DiS]

if you know what you're doing, then go ahead and start doing cams. If you are getting j-spec camshafts, which have exact same lift as US-spec cams, but longer duration, and dealer wont tell difference if they pop the valve cover open, unless thats the specific reason why they popped it open. 4 digits on the camshaft will give it away. Otherwise, you can always get custom grind camshafts to your specs, and these will cost you more than j-spec ones.

As far as bolt-ons (intake, header, exhaust) that should be one of your 1st priorities to make the car a tiny bit faster.

[Dexter]

blah automatic?

kill it. it'll be slow forever.

[DiS]

blah automatic?

kill it. it'll be slow forever.


bahahahahahahaha!!!!! Dexter always has colorfull comments that make me laugh (rofl)

[mustangsvo85]

blah automatic?

kill it. it'll be slow forever.
True, but I am going to try and make it less slow.

[bradicus18]

Wagner CLAIMS that their cams make 26whp. Don't know whether that is stock or with other mods like exhaust and cai. Either way, try exhaust, cai, underdrive pulley. That should get you over 10whp I would think. If that doesn't make her happy, consider cams and pistons, etc. But as Twilight is doing, you might have to get an engine management system to make the most of such mods. I was thinking about doing all of this, but it will be almost as expensive in the end as a turbo and with quite a bit less HP.

MAM has their stripper turbo kit (low boost, non intercooled) for $2600 til August 1. They claim you can run 5-6 psi with it which would probably be ok for an auto. But you will need a fuel pressure regulator and a voltage clamp which are cheap. Some people also recommend a tranny cooler.

We all just have to face the fact that we do not drive a popular car to modify and that performance is not cheap. (notcool)

[peepsalot]

I think 30hp is possible for less than a turbo kit.

Remove your VTCS, that's free.

Then I'd say header would be next, then exhaust, then intake.

Here is a full set of lightened and underdriven pulleys.
http://www.shaneracing.com/Mazda_Protege_Performance_Power_Pulleys_Parts.html
They claim 13-15hp, I don't know if you'll really see that much, but I'm sure it would help quite a bit.

You can get a lightened flywheel too.

Cams and cam gears wouldn't hurt either.

Maybe even going with some engine management. I think I recall someone talking about trying the DSMconvert AFC on an NA protege, I don't know if they ever did, but that is definitely a cheap option for fuel management that could squeeze out a few horses. With the new FTC coming out for not much more in price, you could even go with that, run some higher octane and advanced timing for even more power.

[Captain KRM P5]

Wagner CLAIMS that their cams make 26whp. (notcool)

i would LOVE to see dynos to support this, really I would. too bad wagner is impossible to contact

[nate0123]

i would LOVE to see dynos to support this, really I would. too bad wagner is impossible to contactdaveB did a before and after dyno with those cams + cam gears, and it showed 18.4 whp gain
http://www.mazda3club.com/showpost.php?p=339936&postcount=141


(btw also check out http://www.wagnermotorsports.net/home.htm and hover your mouse over "Dyno Results" - they've made a rather humorous typo)

[chuyler1]

DaveB also had a catless mid-pipe installed during that session. That will count for quite a bit too.

[nate0123]

DaveB also had a catless mid-pipe installed during that session. That will count for quite a bit too.ah yes I forgot about that