Your Average Silver P5

Hello folks (hi)

Just decided to make a thread dedicated to my 2003 silver p5. I got it with 106k miles and now I'm at 142k+ miles along with some minor modifications. I have the intention of boosting it this year with a semi-stock msp set up that I'll be purchasing from a member on MOCC. I'm only gonna run low boost because I don't want to blow le engine. I've been reading on the turbocharge thread along with a few builds to get an idea of what to expect.

At first I didn't want to boost and just save up for an MS3, which would be the smarter move. But hell, I love wrenching and I want a boosted p5! In the future I even plan on rebuilding and forging the engine, be it the original motor unless I can find one and work on it on the side.

For now I'm just doing smaller mods until I've saved up to accumulate all the parts I need. So I invite you to embark on a journey with me of grease and tears, taking one baby step at a time.

My sig has the mod list so I won't write it down here lol.

EDIT: TURBO IS INSTALLED RAWR!


To start the thread off I did work last week: cleaned the headlights, installed the JDP-style lip (thanks for writing the how-to Lewis), and made a license plate relocation bracket.

Dirty headlight



Clean headlight after using 3M headlight restoration kit, amazing!



JDP-style lip



For the license plate bracket:
Got some sheet metal at OSH, measured and cut with an angle grinder and drilled some holes in it.



Welded the pieces together to get this, then painted it black (not pictured)



Took out the lower grill, made some notch cuts in it to clear the nuts. Then I drilled holes on the bumper where I was going to mount the plate. Here's a pic of it bolted on.



End result: (my license plate was busted when I got the car lol)






And for kicks and giggles, Before


And After

Good job! That 3M stuff works wonders. I have used it on 4 or 5 sets of lights now and have had great results.

looks great.

I've heard the 3m stuff works great but that the lights fog up again within a month or two? true false?

It all depends on the elements of weather where you live. Is your car garaged? What condition were your headlights to being with? How exposed are your headlights to the sun, rain, and etc. I did my wife's about a year and a half ago and it's just starting to creep back a little bit. I did my P5's a month ago and it still looks like new.

Thanks guys! The 3M stuff is amazing, definitely worth more than it should be. I read in the instructions 3M has a protecting wax that you can put over the lenses, so I decided to use regular car wax over the headlight lens. Doesn't fog it up, so we'll see how well that holds up. I'll probably applying it after every wash.

Replaced the front brake pads today and my brake warning light is finally gone, hope it'll stay that way. It was a biatch trying to fit the pads in, but after some swearing and greasy hands, it's all gravy.

In the next week I'll be trading my mazdaspeed exhaust plus cash for a friend's HKS exhaust because he's selling his p5 pretty excited for that. I also want to change up some of the LED colors on the gauges. Does anyone have a How-to or what type of LED I should buy to replace it with?

Is your friend looking for an OEM exhaust? If so, I'm willing to get rid of mines for the Mazdaspeed exhaust. Let me know, pls.

No, I have the OEM exhaust as well but he wants the mazdaspeed one. We're going to meet up Thursday to swap.

Anyone know about the Dash LEDs? haha

Swapped exhausts with my friend and then we sanded, polished, and cleared his carbon fiber hood to help him get more interest in his car. I love the HKS! Pics will be posted later.

Quick question, does the clutch and brake share the same reservoir?

goodfornothing said:

Quick question, does the clutch and brake share the same reservoir?

Click to expand...

Yep

nice job men...where you get the front lip????

dereck_mp5 said:

nice job men...where you get the front lip????

Click to expand...

Check out this link CLICK HERE. You'll have to message one of the members on the forum to order it.

Okay so I will be picking up the turbo kit next week! However I have a question about the water line: Is it necessary to run? If I'm understanding this correctly, on the MSP there is an oil cooler, which has a water line running to it to cool off the oil yes. I am reading somewhere else that the water is used to keep a component at operating temperature. So does that mean it will help the turbo maintain an optimal temperature?

Also in the turbo thread, it says you can tap water from the TB. The water line on the TB keeps it warm and is for cold environments so that it'll operate properly and won't seize up. So I'm confused here, will running the water line to the turbo make it hotter?

Sorry if that was confusing to you guys. I'm just stuck on what I need for water lines; I don't want to go the OEM route because it's freakin' expensive for certain fittings. The water feed is easy but I have no idea how the water return works or where it goes.

Nvm, found this

"Following a hot shutdown of a turbocharger, heat soak begins. This means that the heat in the head, exhaust manifold, and turbine housing finds it way to the turbo’s center housing, raising its temperature. These extreme temperatures in the center housing can result in oil coking.

To minimize the effects of heat soak-back, water-cooled center housings were introduced. These use coolant from the engine to act as a heat sink after engine shutdown, preventing the oil from coking. The water lines utilize a thermal siphon effect to reduce the peak heat soak-back temperature after key-off. The layout of the pipes should minimize peaks and troughs with the (cool) water inlet on the low side. To help this along, it is advantageous to tilt the turbocharger about 25 about the axis of shaft rotation."

I'm a little confused as to which part I need for the water return. To my understand, they feed and return both use 14mm banjo fittings correct? I'm just confused as to where the water return goes to and which connections are needed. If I don't run a water line, will a turbo timer help to prevent heat soak into the turbo?

It doesn't really matter where the water goes or comes from as long as it is a flowing part of the coolant system.

Turbo timer should help some but water cooled housings are made to be used... And water lines are way cheaper than a timer.

Our P5's are sisters.

Looking good, mate.

Alamo1 said:

It doesn't really matter where the water goes or comes from as long as it is a flowing part of the coolant system.

Turbo timer should help some but water cooled housings are made to be used... And water lines are way cheaper than a timer.

Click to expand...

Awesome, I'll definitely tap into the TB to get the water flow. Turbo timer will have to wait .

Lewis7789 said:

Our P5's are sisters.

Looking good, mate.

Click to expand...

Thank you sir! Except your p5 is the prettier of the two haha and our cars have different ambitions in life (Turbo vs. Engine swap) hehe

i wish my silver P5 was as pretty as either of yours. Edmonton has been very cruel to mine.
nice job on the lights and the lip looks killer. can't wait to see your turbo set up. =b

Your Average Silver p5 - TURBO TIME!

I'll start of with pics of my friend and I swapping exhausts:

Here he is at work while I take pictures and tell him what to do.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgfn/5642357614/" title="IMG_0758 by AdamGFN, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5642357614_3f9c742099_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0758"></a>


Side by side comparison of the MSP axelback and the HKS hi-power exhaust.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgfn/5641789029/" title="IMG_0762 by AdamGFN, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5641789029_35af060f38_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_0762"></a>


End Result. Here's a video of what it sounds like.


I love the HKS! My friend has thunder headers and now my MSP exhaust. I'm sure we've all heard about how loud and obnoxious that combination is and from personally hearing, it's freakin' loud! So if you N/A guys are looking for a header, don't run it with the MSP exhaust unless you're in to that kind of stuff. My friend is selling his headers btw .

So yesterday I picked up the turbo kit from a member on MOCC. Great guy to say the least and very helpful!

PICS!
Here's the whole kit. I didn't feel like unboxing everything hehe.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgfn/5642358482/" title="IMG_0781 by AdamGFN, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5642358482_407c91f8b1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0781"></a>


The Octopus
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgfn/5642360276/" title="IMG_0788 by AdamGFN, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5642360276_e91a6bfa96_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0788"></a>


MSP ecu, and SSAFC v1
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgfn/5641790719/" title="IMG_0784 by AdamGFN, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5641790719_f4bef05f0b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0784"></a>


BOV, Tapped Oil Pan, Clamps, etc...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgfn/5641790137/" title="IMG_0783 by AdamGFN, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5641790137_d7b5fa287a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0783"></a>


I need a few odds and ends. I'm receiving a prosport boost gauge and vibrant vac block from JosueZQ8!

So all I pretty much need are gaskets, water fittings, clamps for the vac lines, check valve and aem wideband in the future. There are other stuff I need but I'll keep the first post updated with that

that sound clip was the last straw... i am not FOR SURE going to get a HKS!
all i need to do now is find one and finally spend the few pennies i got from taxes!

good luck going turbo!

Thanks man! The HKS is definitely sexy. I can't wait to hear it with the Thunder v2 manifold!