Help me start on my new project
Thread Starter
Protege Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6
From: Texas
Help me start on my new project
I'm new to the board and just getting into my Mazda Protege (Gray 91 LX 5spd, 135,000 miles & the origianl owner) . I bought my wife a new car and rather than give away her old Protege (they offered like $1,200) to the dealer I just parked it. Well last summer as gas hit $1.75/gal I parked my 454 dually (9 mpg) and started driving the 25mpg "Mazdarati." And much to my suprise (I'm 6'4, 265), it was a blast after I got squeezed in. Rev it to 7k and shift 
, what a way to get to work and back 
Well, you know the rest of the story ..... nothing I drive is stock ... Period! But I have NO experience with imports. So please help me map out what I need to do to this car to make it go zoom zoom 
My plan:
Stage1: Suspension & Tires
1) Will 215/40-16's fit with out protruding past the fenders? I want to use them since they are the exact height of the stock 185/60-14 and it won't mess up the speedo.
2) What suspension mods do I need to do? For sure springs, larger sway bars, shocks & struts ... what else? What are these camber adjusters I've heard about?
Stage 2: Engine, Trans & clutch
1) If I turbo the car with 10psi what will I break? I figure the stock clutch is gone, but will the axle shafts & CV's handle the extra hp?
2) Would I benefit from the Gude head & cam if I install a turbo too?
SORRY FOR THE BOOK, I'm just enjoying my new toy
, what a way to get to work and back Well, you know the rest of the story ..... nothing I drive is stock ... Period! But I have NO experience with imports. So please help me map out what I need to do to this car to make it go zoom zoom My plan:
Stage1: Suspension & Tires
1) Will 215/40-16's fit with out protruding past the fenders? I want to use them since they are the exact height of the stock 185/60-14 and it won't mess up the speedo.
2) What suspension mods do I need to do? For sure springs, larger sway bars, shocks & struts ... what else? What are these camber adjusters I've heard about?
Stage 2: Engine, Trans & clutch
1) If I turbo the car with 10psi what will I break? I figure the stock clutch is gone, but will the axle shafts & CV's handle the extra hp?
2) Would I benefit from the Gude head & cam if I install a turbo too?
SORRY FOR THE BOOK, I'm just enjoying my new toy
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,339
From: PA
Well, I'm no expert on anything, but I'll relay on to you what I've learned from being around here a while.
Stage 1:
1. Your best bet will be to go 205/40/16, they are the widest I've heard you'd want to put on, just to be safe.
2. Everything you mentioned sounds golden. Don't forget polyurethane bushings, or something of the like. I've heard it's a great cheap upgrade. You won't need a camber kit, as far as I know. Camber (as you may know) is the degree of the tire/wheel and how it sits in relation to the ground, if you will. A negative camber will have the top of the wheels tucked in a little bit more towards your car, and the bottom of the wheels facing outwards, it would look sorta like this //----\\ where the slashes are your tires, and the dashes are the drivetrain, etc. Positve camber is just the opposite. As far as I know, a moderate drop (with springs as you said) will not require a camber kit. It's usually only for real low drops (i.e. coilovers, etc.)
Stage 2:
1. I have no experience with this, but Braden (the turbo expert) and Gro told me that you can safely run 10-15 on stock internals. However, if you're going to run that high, you'll DEFINATELY need and intercooler (requiring some custom piping) and for reliability purposes, a standalone engine management like a Haltech (braden suggests). Those don't come cheap, though. ($1000+) If you're going to run off the stock ECU, I'd definately go with a intercooler setup, and run 10psi at the MOST. I'd be conservative with 6-8psi normal driving. I hear you break a lot more stuff running off the LX ecu as opposed to a standalone management system (makes sense). In other words, if you run an intercooler, and don't beat the car constantly, 10psi is doable.
As for clutch, if you need a new one, get an ACT clutch, I hear they are excellent, and grab HARD. As for your axel shafts and CV joints, don't be suprised if they fail (due to high mileage). Just don't be dumping the clutch @5k all the time from a dead stop, and they should last you.
2. I have no experience or knowledge of the gude head and cam, so I can't help you there. You'd probably be better off seeing what kind of performance you get with the turbo in the first place, and deciding from there.
Sorry for the long post, I hope this helps. If I'm wrong about anything, please correct me people!
Stage 1:
1. Your best bet will be to go 205/40/16, they are the widest I've heard you'd want to put on, just to be safe.
2. Everything you mentioned sounds golden. Don't forget polyurethane bushings, or something of the like. I've heard it's a great cheap upgrade. You won't need a camber kit, as far as I know. Camber (as you may know) is the degree of the tire/wheel and how it sits in relation to the ground, if you will. A negative camber will have the top of the wheels tucked in a little bit more towards your car, and the bottom of the wheels facing outwards, it would look sorta like this //----\\ where the slashes are your tires, and the dashes are the drivetrain, etc. Positve camber is just the opposite. As far as I know, a moderate drop (with springs as you said) will not require a camber kit. It's usually only for real low drops (i.e. coilovers, etc.)
Stage 2:
1. I have no experience with this, but Braden (the turbo expert) and Gro told me that you can safely run 10-15 on stock internals. However, if you're going to run that high, you'll DEFINATELY need and intercooler (requiring some custom piping) and for reliability purposes, a standalone engine management like a Haltech (braden suggests). Those don't come cheap, though. ($1000+) If you're going to run off the stock ECU, I'd definately go with a intercooler setup, and run 10psi at the MOST. I'd be conservative with 6-8psi normal driving. I hear you break a lot more stuff running off the LX ecu as opposed to a standalone management system (makes sense). In other words, if you run an intercooler, and don't beat the car constantly, 10psi is doable.
As for clutch, if you need a new one, get an ACT clutch, I hear they are excellent, and grab HARD. As for your axel shafts and CV joints, don't be suprised if they fail (due to high mileage). Just don't be dumping the clutch @5k all the time from a dead stop, and they should last you.
2. I have no experience or knowledge of the gude head and cam, so I can't help you there. You'd probably be better off seeing what kind of performance you get with the turbo in the first place, and deciding from there.
Sorry for the long post, I hope this helps. If I'm wrong about anything, please correct me people!
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,339
From: PA
Originally posted by PseudoRealityX
1) yeah, just make sure to get the correct offset. That size isnt the easiest to find...and honestly, 2% difference isnt going to make a difference on the speedo.
2) Theres a bunch of springs out there. There are basically 2 options for struts right now that are cost effective. ZX2 S/Rs from Ford Motorsport for like 179 for all 4, or the Mazdaspeed Adjustables if you want the good stuff, for about 185 per CORNER. Sway bar options are front and rear Suspension Techniques, and then the Compass Motorsports Rear bar. You can get camber plates, or bolts to adjust camber, if you want/have to.
1) 10psi... clutch..thats it. Give it the fuel, and nothing else will break. 10 lbs of boost on a BP will give around 220 hp at the wheels. A LSD might be a thought with that power.
2) You would benefit from the head, but not the cams. You could always sell the cams and keep the head, but thats your choice. Also, the Gude package raises compression, which is bad for a turbo motor.
Any other questions, feel free to ask.
1) yeah, just make sure to get the correct offset. That size isnt the easiest to find...and honestly, 2% difference isnt going to make a difference on the speedo.
2) Theres a bunch of springs out there. There are basically 2 options for struts right now that are cost effective. ZX2 S/Rs from Ford Motorsport for like 179 for all 4, or the Mazdaspeed Adjustables if you want the good stuff, for about 185 per CORNER. Sway bar options are front and rear Suspension Techniques, and then the Compass Motorsports Rear bar. You can get camber plates, or bolts to adjust camber, if you want/have to.
1) 10psi... clutch..thats it. Give it the fuel, and nothing else will break. 10 lbs of boost on a BP will give around 220 hp at the wheels. A LSD might be a thought with that power.
2) You would benefit from the head, but not the cams. You could always sell the cams and keep the head, but thats your choice. Also, the Gude package raises compression, which is bad for a turbo motor.
Any other questions, feel free to ask.
Protege Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 587
From: www.clubprotege.com
Welcome a'board'!
Yep, those LX 5spds are FUN FUN, and there's plenty you can do with 'em...Glad you kept it and DIDN'T give it to the 'Stealer'...
Anyways, i can't give too much 'vice YET.... just good to see 'nother happy 1st genner.
Anyways, i can't give too much 'vice YET
.... just good to see 'nother happy 1st genner.
Thread Starter
Protege Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6
From: Texas
Thanks Guys! 
A couple more questions after your replies.
1) Who on this board is running the 205/40-16's & what wheel size and offset are they running?
2) I was thinking of 8~10psi with maybe 12 psi max. Intercooler for sure. Will a piggy back computer system be ok? Which one would be recomended?
3) I have new half shafts and CV joints. Before we were married, my wife had a brake shop install "rebuilt" CV's at ... they were knocking inside of 10k miles. I got new shafts & CV's ($$$) less than 2k miles ago. So they should be ok? With
4) Pseudo mentioned and LSD. I've heard those very expensive. What are my options for an LSD? Big $$$ or nothing?
A couple more questions after your replies.
1) Who on this board is running the 205/40-16's & what wheel size and offset are they running?
2) I was thinking of 8~10psi with maybe 12 psi max. Intercooler for sure. Will a piggy back computer system be ok? Which one would be recomended?
3) I have new half shafts and CV joints. Before we were married, my wife had a brake shop install "rebuilt" CV's at ... they were knocking inside of 10k miles. I got new shafts & CV's ($$$) less than 2k miles ago. So they should be ok? With
4) Pseudo mentioned and LSD. I've heard those very expensive. What are my options for an LSD? Big $$$ or nothing?
Thread Starter
Protege Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6
From: Texas
Thanks again!
1) You ran the 205/40-16 on a 16x7 with 38mm offset? Where did it rub? Front, rear or both? Inside or outside? Why did you take them off?
4) Who is OPM? Why would I have to lose my tranny for a while? Do you have to ship them your tranny? $600 might be do-able, but $1,200 for an LSD hurts!
Has anyone heard of Phantomgrip www.phantomgrip.com ?
1) You ran the 205/40-16 on a 16x7 with 38mm offset? Where did it rub? Front, rear or both? Inside or outside? Why did you take them off?
4) Who is OPM? Why would I have to lose my tranny for a while? Do you have to ship them your tranny? $600 might be do-able, but $1,200 for an LSD hurts!
Has anyone heard of Phantomgrip www.phantomgrip.com ?
Last edited by Mazdarati; Mar 14, 2002 at 01:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Protege Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6
From: Texas
Thanks Again for all the info. Just tell me to stop if I wear you out with too many quesitons.
1) How much room is there on the inside of your tires (front & back) when you put on the 205/45-16's & 38mm offset? Could I tuck them with more offset to clear better (I haven't ordered wheels yet)?
3) Phantom's don't like to disengage in turns?
Can you say hello Mr. Understeer! 
Laterz
btw how do you cut & paste quotes from one post to another
1) How much room is there on the inside of your tires (front & back) when you put on the 205/45-16's & 38mm offset? Could I tuck them with more offset to clear better (I haven't ordered wheels yet)?
3) Phantom's don't like to disengage in turns?
Can you say hello Mr. Understeer! Laterz
btw how do you cut & paste quotes from one post to another
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