New P5...best parts??

[willisbr]

Hello All,

I just bought a '02 P5. I've done my fair share of searching for the best recommendations for certain parts and mods but there is an even spread of opinions. Here's what I want to know...

Best of (in order):

Short Shifter
CAI
Exhaust upgrade (no rice...want deep, sexy sound u know?)
Springs
Cams
Underdrive Pulley/(Set?)
Flywheel upgrade?
Adjustable Gears
Big Brakes
And any other mods that are highly suggested early on.

I don't know much about engine and performance modification/I'm an ICE specialist I guess. :) Thanks for any help you guys can provide. i love this site so far! Love the info...just trying to fine tune the suggestions and ideas.

Brian

[Matthew]

wow a new ICE guy! welcome!

first tell us if you have a manual or automatic tranny?

let me see if i can help you with some stuff i have saved on my computer:

Lowdown on exhausts:

Ok, this is a very opinionated opinion :)

Personally, I think that the stock piping is quite suffcient on the Protege5 unless youre going turbo. Therefore, I would not waste your money with a catback exhaust, and instead put your money elsewhere (not to mention you'll save a buttload on shipping). Mostly, you'll see people have the Racing Beat, JIC, HKS, or "custom" exhaust. Basically, from what I understand (although I've only had one exhaust, the HKS), the main difference is sound. I highly doubt that you will notice a difference in performance between the Racing Beat cat-back and the HKS axle-back exhaust or the JIC. If you wanted to go the custom route, you could simply buy a nice muffler from eBay, and take it to your local muffler shop and have them weld it on, and get the same gains as a catback system for probably half the price. i know my local shop wanted to charge me $150. so plus a decent muffler ($100+), you could get a custom cat-back for around $250 installed...then use the money you save to buy yourself a high-flow catalytic converter from the same place. The reason I chose my HKS rear section (in other words, it bolts to the stock piping right around the rear axle, as opposed to the second cat converter) is because it comes with a silencer that you can use to significantly dampen the sound of your exhaust - this keeps you from sounding like a damn ricer, AND can be very important in areas where they are strict on noise ordinances and EPA violations...plus, HKS is a good name too! i also like the way it looks coming out at an angle. Install on most of the exhausts should take you less than an hour with a good jack and a friend...they should be two bolts only, and come with gaskets!

Ok, here are the low-downs on intakes (please read, good info):

First, you have two types, CAI (cold air induction) and SRI (short ram intake). For the most part, you have two name brands that make intakes: Injen, and AEM. Injen makes the CAI and AEM makes the SRI. Also, you can purchase a no-name, Bomz, or other off brand intake from eBay with simliar results to the SRI.

Rumors: Dispite what a lot of people say, the two types of intakes do not yeild a significant power difference. I have owned both types and noticed NO, NONE, NADA, ZIP, ZILCH increase between the SRI and the CAI. The basic difference is 1) Looks (the Injen you can get in different powdercoated colors), and 2) Personal Preference. The eBay intake will yield almost IDENTICAL results to the AEM SRI power wise. In my opinion, the eBay ones look like junk, but they serve their purpose...I had an eBay intake before my Injen...it's a good intake for a tight budget.

Another rumor is that you will have to worry about the CAI taking in water and destroying your engine...while this is theorectically possible, it will not happen unless you submerge your intake in water (ie - drive through a 2ft deep puddle)...the CAI is hidden in your wheel well behind the plastic shield which is screwed in...if you are especially nervous, you can always get the AEM bypass valve, although I personally think it's a waste of money.

Prices: You are going to spend significantly more money for the Inejn or AEM intake over the eBay intake. And you are going to spend more money for the Injen over the AEM. A lot of owners feel it's worth the money to be able to get your intake in Black, Red, Blue, Silver, etc, and therefore spend their money on the Injen. Frankly, if you don't care about name brands, or care what people think when you open your hood (if you even open your hood), I would not waste my money on the Injen or AEM...but that's just my opinion, and many hours have been wasted arguing this point. Many owners have found the best prices for the Injen at www.adventon.com...

[willisbr]

Thanks for the helpful spill Matthew. As soon as I get my ICE install going I will be sure to post some pics. I have a few fiber glass ideas. I'm still looking for name brands for the other mods such as short throw shifter + bushings. I'm not to familiar with what all that entails but I've read that certain bushings are better than others. Am I on the right track? let me know what is perfection to you all. thanks again!!

[L8R]

welcome! www.corksport.com ! - chris

[igdrasil]

The biggest restriction in our wagons is the downpipe after the first cat (and the first cat of course), OMG, you should see that. Doesnt matter if you put 3" pipe and exhaust, the hole in the downpipe is like 1.5 inches.

I will try to take pictures.

If you are not familiar with performance, I would do basic mods like the intake (injen I recommend), exhaust, springs and the short shifter. That will give a nice touch to the car.

[willisbr]

igdrasil...I'm sure I speak for everyone else when I say that your videos of the turbo runs are an inspiration to us all! I'm far from spooling anytime soon but you've changed my mind when I originally told myself..."No Turbo on this one...keep it simple". :) Keep up the good work!

What shift kit are you using? Thats my first change out.

[jjac28]

I disagree with Mathew on the exhaust but agree on the intakes.

i have a full catback exhaust and you can feel the difference... the car pulls stronger ie:accelerates faster, the car revs easier to its redline and you have better throttle response and of course the sound of your exhaust is improved.

combine the exhaust with an intake and you'll gain some horses (5-7hp) and better accelaration.


a header will also give you more hp, maybe 8-10 extra
i would get one but i'm not sure about how much louder it will make my car.
i want to keep the noise levels within reasonable limits, right now i dont want to go any louder, so i'm not so sure about getting the header...

[Matthew]

it will make you REALLY loud :D

[mp5smuggler]

as far as shifters go there are kartboys B&M and tw. i have the kartboy and thier bushings and i love it. ive installed mine and another club members and it was easy 20 min operation.

from everything i hve heard all the shifters are nice but kartboy has the cheapest price and they are the only ones offering the bushings.

[jjac28]

Originally posted by Matthew
it will make you REALLY loud :D


damn...i guess no header for me:(

[willisbr]

Everyone agree that kartboy is the way to go? Where can i get the best deal?

[TxSpeed59]

Here is what I have done to my 2 p5's...

I put borla mufflers and tips on, much deeper sound than the stock muffler

injen intakes - definite inprovement over stock - car accelerates better and doesn't seem as restricted.

I have a kartboy shifter & bushings and it was a slick install.

at some point, I would like to put a turbo on but that is far down the road..

[willisbr]

Thanks! Think i'm going with Injen and Kartboy. I ordered my lip/grill combo today! Get on it!

[Brian MP5T]

Welcome to the board. Most of you questions have been answered already... So just welcome.(drinks)

[smithers_0990]

Here is a site I found on this site while browsing one day.

Brakes (http://www.rr-racing.com/bigbrakes.htm)

Later

[Matthew]

Originally posted by willisbr
Thanks! Think i'm going with Injen and Kartboy. I ordered my lip/grill combo today! Get on it!

i knew i recognized your name from a different post, lol!

as for kartboy, i would get their shit, and tom is quick with delivery. only reason i have the B&M shifter with the Kartboy bushings is because mitch at Protege5Online.com was having a sale on them and i had a credit with him, so i owed him my customer loyalty, something most people dont do anymore.

[TxSpeed59]

I would have to second Tom's speediness... I got my stuff 2 days after I ordered it.. I have the shifter/bushings/knob and they are great!...

now if I could just convince the wife that I need a turbo ;)

[WRCprotege]

hey welcome, i have a bit on the big brakes.. i have a p5 now but use to have a 93 protege in wich i put on the big brakes because i autocross and run the shit out of back roads.. this is what iv found-big brakes will usally allways increase you stoping distance however are much harder to heat to get them to fade!! if you buy big brake you have to buy the rears as well to get the braking system balanced right or an brake balancer which isnt fun to put on.. i only hade the fronts so i went back to the factory calipers and got brembos cross drilleds all round ,good pads , and homemade brakes ducts. now the car stops in much much shorter distances and i dont get brake fade at all- a braking system that out performes my car, though the big brakes look good... heres a tip after you get good rubber on the car, go out and do a brake check if you can lock up the wheels at just about any speed you have all the brake force you need and just need those brakes to work cooler so they wont fade and will always stop the car to the fullest potiental of the tires, which is good!!! also saves you a shit load of money from those big brake kits.. i love big brakes!! but in less you overheat them alot or have a track car you wount need them...