dorkidori_s13
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Protege5
Ok, since someone asked me when I was gonna start one in the "What have you done to your Protege today" thread... I caved and decided to start one.
Bought the car May of 2015 in a pinch. I had wrecked my Lexus IS300 5spd w/LSD and I was desperately in need of a daily driver. I have a damn near fully built and restored 1992 240sx Hatch at home that I was daily driving in the interim, but the car has WAY too much money invested in it to daily anymore (its sitting in the garage with a dead battery right now unfortunately). Found a guy here in Vegas selling a 2003 P5 Wagon in dark blue. He wanted $1500 so I went and test drove it. Car was from back east, had a lot of surface rust on bolts and what not. I live in Vegas so rust is really a foreign thing out here. The P5 needed quite a bit of work as well. The guy really took s*** care for the car unfortunately, but the interior was in nice shape and exterior wise was decent (needs body work and paint as far as Im concerned, but Ill do it later). Anywho, started working on it a few weeks after I bought it. Had the timing belt and water pump replaced immediately. Car had (and still does) a pinging issue in warmer weather when the car gets up to normal operating temps, but Im convinced it has something to do with the VTCS/VICS system as Ive replaced every major fuel delivery component in the car, but on to the pictures. Ive documented SOME of the parts and work Ive put into thus far...
DAY I BOUGHT IT MAY 2016:
CHANGED HEADLIGHTS OUT TO PROTEGE SEDAN HOUSINGS (P5 housings were shot):
CHANGED OUT CRAPPY SHIFT BOOT AND WORN OUT SHIFT KNOB TO OLD SCHOOL TENZO WEIGHTED KNOB AND EBAY BOOT:
CHANGED OUT CRAP OE STEREO UNIT AND FOUND A SET OF PERFECT CONDITION USED FOGS VIA MAZDAS24/7 (OE fogs were completely shattered):
WIRED UP HEADLIGHTS PROPERLY W/RELAYS AND INSTALLED FOGS:
CHANGED ANGLE OF AEM AIR INTAKE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND ADDED K&N FILTER (filter was positioned directly behind radiator):
Those are just the photos of the good looking stuff. From June to October, I added new rotors, brake pads, replaced rear drivers caliper, added brand new OE injectors, new OE spark plugs, new OE knock sensor, changed fuel sending unit, added new Bosch fuel pump, changed the sending unit screws out to brand new allen bolt screws with washers, 2 brand new front tires, installed a brand new OE FPR and replaced the coolant catch tank with a brand new unit given the original was totally rotted out. I know Im forgetting a few things, but meh... on with the story.
I got sick of hating my P5 so much cause it just felt so soft and numb driving it around. I decided a few months back to actually start fixing it up a bit... which meant suspension upgrades and replacements, engine bits and pieces and the most important part... WHEELS!!! lol
PICKED UP A SET OF GODSPEED COILOVERS AND INSTALL THEM ALONG WITH AN OBX AXLEBACK EXHAUST:
After the coilovers, my OE coilpacks decided to crap out on me... Soooo I had been eyeballing the 1.8liter conversion for a while, thought it looked just swell! So I bucked up and hunted down all the parts to do the conversion. The valve cover was in horrible condition, so I stripped it, wire brushed the crap out of it and painted it matte black. Redid all the electrical wrap on the wiring harness as the OE tape was brittle and flaking off. After getting everything installed, I decided to wire brush the crap out of a load of brackets, nuts and bolts in the engine bay and paint them black. Also painted the air intake pipe since it looked like crap! I still need to replace the 2 couplers on the MAF with some quality ones (just havent gotten around to doing it yet).
BRAND NEW VALVE COVER GASKET, NGK WIRES AND FRESHLY REFINISHED 626 VALVE COVER WITH SNAZZY BRAND NEW OE COILPACKS:
While waiting on my parts to show up from various eBay sellers who shipped my stuff on a slow boat from China, I hopped on Yahoo Auctions Japan and picked up a mint set of JDM Familia taillights for $120 shipped to my door! Dont EVER EVER EVER spend more than $150 on these things, you can get them off YAJ for dirt cheap (it was $60 for the lights and $60 for shipping).
FAMILIA OE TAILS:
The wheel bug finally bit me and I happened on a mint set of my favorite wheels (also the same wheel I run on my S13)... Advan Super Racing Generation 2s! Found these bad boys for $180 over in Japan land! They will be arriving in May when my importers next container comes in.
ADVAN SUPER RACING GEN2 WHEELS IN WHITE 17x7.5 +45
After installing my OBX axleback, I discovered the OE mid pipe was rusted out so horribly that I couldnt get it to seal anymore... even with a brand new gasket. So as luck would have it, a load of cheap catbacks popped up on eBay that included brand new mid piping! Ordered one for like $120 shipped immediately! Still need to install these suckers, but I will do that when I pick up a brand new mid cat in a few weeks. I also have a set of eBay ceramic coated headers sitting at home that will go in at the same time. Will be a brand new exhaust system from head to tailpipe! Im keeping my OBX axleback though, it love the way it looks! Sits flush with the bumper and has a super low and mellow tone to it!
The good folks at Corksport put together an exhaust hanger kit because mine were shot! Got the new hangers ordered and 2 of the 4 on the car immediately upon arrival! The OE hangers were/are rusted to the metal hooks, so theyre a major pain to remove. Ill install the final 2 exhaust hangers when I put the brand new exhaust parts on the car.
EBAY MID PIPING SECTION AND CORK SPORT HANGERS:
FEW SHOTS OF HOW THE CAR CURRENTLY SITS:
Over the last few days, Ive snagged some neat little tidbits! Managed to pick up good condition OE roof rack setup from some friends in AZ... also picked up a Protege MP3 intake manifold (bye bye VTCS). Still trying to hunt down an OE MP3 ECU. Also will be picking up a brand new Mishimoto aluminum radiator, SAMCO hoses, Aeromotive FPR, Corksport exhaust cam, FS-ZE intake cam and possibly new head in the next few weeks. My valve seals are SHOT (I go thru 1 1/2 quarts of oil every month). Would rather just swap in cams to a freshly rebuilt head and throw in some ARP head studs plus upgraded head gasket! But yeah, the little P5 is turning into a fun little project for a daily driver. Im just adding little bits here and there, its not gonna be a major rebuild like my S13 was/is. I need to keep it 100% smog legal here Vegas as well so eeking another 20 odd HP out of the car in N/A form would be perfect! Id like to add an STI lip, Mazdaspeed lip, sideskirt extenders (the little plastic pieces that run the length of the skirt) and possibly rear canards soon... Buuuuut thats the build thus far. Ill post more pics as I get more done.
Bought the car May of 2015 in a pinch. I had wrecked my Lexus IS300 5spd w/LSD and I was desperately in need of a daily driver. I have a damn near fully built and restored 1992 240sx Hatch at home that I was daily driving in the interim, but the car has WAY too much money invested in it to daily anymore (its sitting in the garage with a dead battery right now unfortunately). Found a guy here in Vegas selling a 2003 P5 Wagon in dark blue. He wanted $1500 so I went and test drove it. Car was from back east, had a lot of surface rust on bolts and what not. I live in Vegas so rust is really a foreign thing out here. The P5 needed quite a bit of work as well. The guy really took s*** care for the car unfortunately, but the interior was in nice shape and exterior wise was decent (needs body work and paint as far as Im concerned, but Ill do it later). Anywho, started working on it a few weeks after I bought it. Had the timing belt and water pump replaced immediately. Car had (and still does) a pinging issue in warmer weather when the car gets up to normal operating temps, but Im convinced it has something to do with the VTCS/VICS system as Ive replaced every major fuel delivery component in the car, but on to the pictures. Ive documented SOME of the parts and work Ive put into thus far...
DAY I BOUGHT IT MAY 2016:
CHANGED HEADLIGHTS OUT TO PROTEGE SEDAN HOUSINGS (P5 housings were shot):
CHANGED OUT CRAPPY SHIFT BOOT AND WORN OUT SHIFT KNOB TO OLD SCHOOL TENZO WEIGHTED KNOB AND EBAY BOOT:
CHANGED OUT CRAP OE STEREO UNIT AND FOUND A SET OF PERFECT CONDITION USED FOGS VIA MAZDAS24/7 (OE fogs were completely shattered):
WIRED UP HEADLIGHTS PROPERLY W/RELAYS AND INSTALLED FOGS:
CHANGED ANGLE OF AEM AIR INTAKE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND ADDED K&N FILTER (filter was positioned directly behind radiator):
Those are just the photos of the good looking stuff. From June to October, I added new rotors, brake pads, replaced rear drivers caliper, added brand new OE injectors, new OE spark plugs, new OE knock sensor, changed fuel sending unit, added new Bosch fuel pump, changed the sending unit screws out to brand new allen bolt screws with washers, 2 brand new front tires, installed a brand new OE FPR and replaced the coolant catch tank with a brand new unit given the original was totally rotted out. I know Im forgetting a few things, but meh... on with the story.
I got sick of hating my P5 so much cause it just felt so soft and numb driving it around. I decided a few months back to actually start fixing it up a bit... which meant suspension upgrades and replacements, engine bits and pieces and the most important part... WHEELS!!! lol
PICKED UP A SET OF GODSPEED COILOVERS AND INSTALL THEM ALONG WITH AN OBX AXLEBACK EXHAUST:
After the coilovers, my OE coilpacks decided to crap out on me... Soooo I had been eyeballing the 1.8liter conversion for a while, thought it looked just swell! So I bucked up and hunted down all the parts to do the conversion. The valve cover was in horrible condition, so I stripped it, wire brushed the crap out of it and painted it matte black. Redid all the electrical wrap on the wiring harness as the OE tape was brittle and flaking off. After getting everything installed, I decided to wire brush the crap out of a load of brackets, nuts and bolts in the engine bay and paint them black. Also painted the air intake pipe since it looked like crap! I still need to replace the 2 couplers on the MAF with some quality ones (just havent gotten around to doing it yet).
BRAND NEW VALVE COVER GASKET, NGK WIRES AND FRESHLY REFINISHED 626 VALVE COVER WITH SNAZZY BRAND NEW OE COILPACKS:
While waiting on my parts to show up from various eBay sellers who shipped my stuff on a slow boat from China, I hopped on Yahoo Auctions Japan and picked up a mint set of JDM Familia taillights for $120 shipped to my door! Dont EVER EVER EVER spend more than $150 on these things, you can get them off YAJ for dirt cheap (it was $60 for the lights and $60 for shipping).
FAMILIA OE TAILS:
The wheel bug finally bit me and I happened on a mint set of my favorite wheels (also the same wheel I run on my S13)... Advan Super Racing Generation 2s! Found these bad boys for $180 over in Japan land! They will be arriving in May when my importers next container comes in.
ADVAN SUPER RACING GEN2 WHEELS IN WHITE 17x7.5 +45
After installing my OBX axleback, I discovered the OE mid pipe was rusted out so horribly that I couldnt get it to seal anymore... even with a brand new gasket. So as luck would have it, a load of cheap catbacks popped up on eBay that included brand new mid piping! Ordered one for like $120 shipped immediately! Still need to install these suckers, but I will do that when I pick up a brand new mid cat in a few weeks. I also have a set of eBay ceramic coated headers sitting at home that will go in at the same time. Will be a brand new exhaust system from head to tailpipe! Im keeping my OBX axleback though, it love the way it looks! Sits flush with the bumper and has a super low and mellow tone to it!
The good folks at Corksport put together an exhaust hanger kit because mine were shot! Got the new hangers ordered and 2 of the 4 on the car immediately upon arrival! The OE hangers were/are rusted to the metal hooks, so theyre a major pain to remove. Ill install the final 2 exhaust hangers when I put the brand new exhaust parts on the car.
EBAY MID PIPING SECTION AND CORK SPORT HANGERS:
FEW SHOTS OF HOW THE CAR CURRENTLY SITS:
Over the last few days, Ive snagged some neat little tidbits! Managed to pick up good condition OE roof rack setup from some friends in AZ... also picked up a Protege MP3 intake manifold (bye bye VTCS). Still trying to hunt down an OE MP3 ECU. Also will be picking up a brand new Mishimoto aluminum radiator, SAMCO hoses, Aeromotive FPR, Corksport exhaust cam, FS-ZE intake cam and possibly new head in the next few weeks. My valve seals are SHOT (I go thru 1 1/2 quarts of oil every month). Would rather just swap in cams to a freshly rebuilt head and throw in some ARP head studs plus upgraded head gasket! But yeah, the little P5 is turning into a fun little project for a daily driver. Im just adding little bits here and there, its not gonna be a major rebuild like my S13 was/is. I need to keep it 100% smog legal here Vegas as well so eeking another 20 odd HP out of the car in N/A form would be perfect! Id like to add an STI lip, Mazdaspeed lip, sideskirt extenders (the little plastic pieces that run the length of the skirt) and possibly rear canards soon... Buuuuut thats the build thus far. Ill post more pics as I get more done.
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