BulletProof MSP?

[autoxes]

In 2-3 years I'll more than likely be buying the MSP of a member on here when she decides to sell it. I'm not terribly interested in making it a big numbers kind of car, I'd be more than happy with between 170-200 whp, I was just wondering what can be done to circumvent the known issues with the car, I wasn't sure what section to put this in, as I want to know as a whole what should be replaced to make the MSP essentially bulletproof. I know of the weak trannies, as well as the rods, but what else should be swapped out on the car? I doubt I'll ever really flog on the car, I'm just uber paranoid after my last Protege. I've been laying out some simple mods that I want to do to it, and I think that it'd be reasonably safe. I wont be able to have a car for quite some time, so I figure it's kinda fun to plan it all out now.

I was thinking a built motor to prevent the inevitable rod failure, with the AWR oil pan to take care of the oil starvation. On another forum they were discussing a company from Austrailia that makes race gears for the G-15m-R, that are straight cut and supposed to be much stronger. I'd likely go with a Quaife differential, so the shearing diff wouldn't be an issue either. I really liked the AWR motor mounts in my last Protege, so I'd get those as well.

Do you guys think that this is a bit overkill if I never plan on upping the boost? I would likely stay with simple mods like the Vibrant cat-back with electronic cut out, a FMIC, and intake. I'd probably do more suspension stuff than anything, like the BC coilovers and an AWR swaybar, I had one on my 99 ES and I loved it. I have quite a bit of experience with working on things myself, so I'd be doing all the labor to keep cost down.

Could some of you guys post your mod lists up?

[Velocifero]

For all that work and expense going into the car. You are selling yourself short in the form power you'd like to run. 170-200 is really under the possibility of those kind of mods. I understand some of the stuff you want to make it a failsafe vehicle but at some point you have to ask what is better to spend that money and not use it fully or go and push the car. Built block and custom tranny can really open up the potential of the car. My suggestion/ opinion if that is what you want 170-200, strenghten the diff, do some bolt on power adders, and then stick to your suspension plan. That'd make your car a lot of fun, good power and great handling. The stock turbo spools quick and is plenty capable of providing you to that power. $0.03

[Velocifero]

And you know how I feel about the e-cutout, it's a most!

[autoxes]

So with the differential welded and stock (with the exception of natural gains from FMIC and exhaust) is the car relatively reliable? I'm thinking that a good option might be to do my reliability mods (welded LSD) and suspension, followed by the bolt on stuff and work on getting the built longblock and tranny with PAR gears in it ready for when / if the stock ones give up the ghost. I have no aversion to an MSP with higher numbers, I think 300-350 would be a really fun daily driver, I just want to avoid grenading my daily driver, I'll have a Miata by this point that I'll either be running in CSP or STS2, so a fun daily driver would be cool, but not necessarily critical

[Velocifero]

I am not so sure how much fun a 300-350 hwp FWD car is going to be due to neeeding a clutch that would most likely be an on-off switch and just the general drivability. It's certainly possible and there are guys doing it.

[2.0t03speed]

hmmmm got 10k+ handy? thats what your going to need to do everything your talking about. rods and pistons for the built motor alone are 1k,quafie 1.8k depending where you get it from,fully built trans with shafts and crown gear is like what 4-5k? Then you have to pay for all your boltons and suspension.

and my mod list in about 2 weeks will be

k1 rods
wiseco 9.0:1 .020 overbore pistons
arp main studs
arp head studs
ported and polished head w/5 angle valve job, aftermarket springs and retainers
ported stock mani w/ vtcs removed
exedy stage 2 clutch
fidanza flywheel
turbo life fmic
apexr1 3" j pipe back exhaust
greddy type s ebc
and some other misc. stuff

turbo,ems and trans upgrades to come in the future i want to break it in on the stock turbo and ecu

[autoxes]

hmmmm got 10k+ handy? thats what your going to need to do everything your talking about. rods and pistons for the built motor alone are 1k,quafie 1.8k depending where you get it from,fully built trans with shafts and crown gear is like what 4-5k? Then you have to pay for all your boltons and suspension.


I'll be buying the MSP as an alternative to buying a new car like a Speed3 or 6, so the cost of the mods aren't really an issue, I just want a car that I don't have to worry about breaking with normal use. I've heard horror stories about low mileage, low abuse LSDs failing, same with the rods.

[2.0t03speed]

dude with the ammount of money your talking about putting into the msp you could of bought a ms3 or a ms6

[autoxes]

But then I'd be starting at square one as far as internals go, I haven't looked too much into the 3's or 6's so I don't really know if they have similar problems to the MSP

I have some time to think about it, so I may end up talking myself out of a Mazda as a daily driver altogether and get something else. I just recall this one time I borrowed a buddies turbo'ed LX Protege (Prodigy on this forum) and how much fun I had in the couple days I had it, and want something similar.

[2.0t03speed]

the stock 3's and the 6's havent really had anywhere near as many problems as the msp

[Knox Joe]

J&S.

I just installed mine, again.

[thekefren]

I'll be buying the MSP as an alternative to buying a new car like a Speed3 or 6, so the cost of the mods aren't really an issue, I just want a car that I don't have to worry about breaking with normal use. I've heard horror stories about low mileage, low abuse LSDs failing, same with the rods.

why. get a ms3.

i would if i could, hell buy my car. haha

[avarela86]

I'll be buying the MSP as an alternative to buying a new car like a Speed3 or 6, so the cost of the mods aren't really an issue, I just want a car that I don't have to worry about breaking with normal use. I've heard horror stories about low mileage, low abuse LSDs failing, same with the rods.

Get a newer used SI IMO. If you want reliability with an MSP then it takes some constant TLC. No need for built block for 170-200WHP just do an FMIC, cat delete, 8PSI, an intake and your set. You WILL be in that range. Throw a SplitSecond AFC properly tuned and you will be even better. The minute you go with a bigger exhaust you may break through that 200WHP barrier.

In the end its about how well the car has been maintained. I was at 10PSI on a bigger turbo for two years. I spun a bearing ultimately. So it's all about taking care of the car imo. if you weld an LSD get a new one and THEN weld it. Welding a used one still breaks. I would know. For some reason many times used/welded LSDS still break.

[haze20]

If you only want 200whp you don't need to up grade anything in the tranny but the LSD. Build the motor(Not need to handle the power but I would do it anyway). Get the turbo rebuilt. Get a good Ems and minor bolt ons. Once you get to the 250whp and up you have to start wondering about the gears. The handling of a MSP is bar none when it comes to FWD.

[autoxes]

The handling of a MSP is bar none when it comes to FWD.

The main reason I want a Protege again.

[autoxes]

I need new pants. Turn your sound UP

YouTube - PAR Straight Cut Gearset 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0WpHPYMRA&feature=related)

I love straightcut gears.

[low_psi]

planning ahead a bit?

[autoxes]

I'm just kind of in the unique position that I know exactly what kind of car (and the exact one too!) I'm wanting to get and when (kind of) I'll be able to get it, I'm not really able to have a car right now due to military stuff, so it's fun to plan at this point.

It's a personality thing too, I am a planner

[haze20]

The main reason I want a Protege again.

I hear you. That is why I won't get rid of mine even when I get my EVO IX MR in a year or to.

[autoxes]

Do you MSP guys forsee the aftermarket drying up for these cars anytime soon? Since Proteges aren't made anymore it seems like companies would start producing less parts for them.

[haze20]

Yep. If are for sure going to buy the car I would look for any parts you think will be hard to find and get them while you can.

[autoxes]

Well damn, that kind of ruins that idea :(

Maybe I should just get a Speed3 instead. Lack of OEM and aftermarket parts is the whole reason I got rid of my first Protege (1999) ES.

[haze20]

I don't think it will happen before you get the car but if you want some of the hard to get items like the Manifold Terbow is having built and things of that nature you might want to get them sooner than later. The cars will be raced for years to come so there will be parts in my opinion.

[fr0st]

dude with the ammount of money your talking about putting into the msp you could of bought a ms3 or a ms6

+1

[Knox Joe]

dude with the ammount of money your talking about putting into the msp you could of bought a ms3 or a ms6

Uh, a MS6 is not better than a MSP. I would know.

Check sig yo.

I mean, in the rain, on the highway the MS6 may be better, but in every other category the MSP pwns it. The stock MSP may be slower in a drag race than a stock MS6, but a few mods on the MSP and it's bye bye heavy MS6.

Then you can go run some backroads in the MSP and really wave bye bye to the MS6.

The MS6 is a great car, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't built for the same thing as the MSP. It's a nice, adult oriented, AWD, sedan. The MSP is a backroad burner.

To me;

MSP>MS6

[autoxes]

Uh, a MS6 is not better than a MSP. I would know.

Check sig yo.

I mean, in the rain, on the highway the MS6 may be better, but in every other category the MSP pwns it. The stock MSP may be slower in a drag race than a stock MS6, but a few mods on the MSP and it's bye bye heavy MS6.

Then you can go run some backroads in the MSP and really wave bye bye to the MS6.

The MS6 is a great car, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't built for the same thing as the MSP. It's a nice, adult oriented, AWD, sedan. The MSP is a backroad burner.

To me;

MSP>MS6

This further solidifies the argument for me against a Speed3 or 6 in favor of the MSP

[HondaEat-R]

You can just buy my car :) It already has all the stuff you want. I want an Evo...

[autoxes]

Yes. Yes it does.

How do you like the PAR gears? Bulletproof?

[HondaEat-R]

Haha, actually I just finished fixing my car after a 3 week job....why you ask ? I broke a tooth off my PAR straight cut ring gear....not bulletproof at all. I'm under 300hp. Cost $1,200 just for a new ring gear & pinion gear. It's good to go now but, $2,000 later...