mitchman

Okay,ever since we picked up our 2003 Protege DX I have LIVED on the Protege Club website! I've been reseaching the best setup for the car for a couple of weeks now and here's what I came up with for an autocross setup. But first the stock class rules.

These are the ONLY stock legal changes you can make to the car:
-Shocks (springs must be stock)
-Front sway bar and linkage (rear must remain stock)
-Intake (no changes allowed)
-Exhaust (after the cat is free to do anything you want)
-Brake pads/shoes (rotors must remain stock)
-Wheels 15x6 (must be same diameter/width as what came on the car)
-Tires (anything goes as long as they fit on stock size rims)

NO other modifications can be made to stay in the "stock" class. So here's what I'm thinking of doing:

-Mazdaspeed ADJUSTABLE shocks (the yellow aftermarket ones)
-Front sway bar (can't find one!)
-Cork Sport front sway bar linkage (is it longer or shorter than stock)
-Rear sway bar linkage? (do I need longer or shorter to match new shocks?)
-K&N drop-in filter
-Replace muffler with straight pipe (do this at the joint over the axle - anyone have a stock muffler they want to sell? I need the "joint" for the muffler shop)
-Porterfield R4-S rear shoes (should help car "rotate")
-Lightweight (9 lbs) Bogart 15x6 3-piece wheels from my '99 Miata
-Kumho V710 tires also from the Miata (the ultimate!)
-Mobile 1 in engine / Redline MT-90 in tranny

Will all this work? I'm really worried about the Mazdaspeed shocks and sway bar linkage. I can't legally change ANYTHING on the rear sway bar and I'm worried I'll have to with the Mazdaspeed shocks. But maybe I can "cheat" and use MSP/MP3 rear swaybar linkage and no one will notice.

Speaking of cheating.....does anyone know if the ES springs will lower my DX? By how much?

I can't wait to get this stuff ordered!

THAPRO1

naw i don't think the es springs will lower it, the es dx and lx are all the same thing its just sum have minor differences 4 wheel discs, 5 lug ,power windows locks junk like that
everything else i know nothing about really i'm not into auto cross
peace
dante

Mazdacub

Why stay in stock? Move up to Super Stock. Replace the rear sway bar with the racing beat one and install Protégé 5 end links, in stall an aftermarket intake, Add a front strut bar, install a header, remove the cats, and install aftermarket adjustable struts and lowering springs and use racing rubber. I’m from Canada so I am not sure if the ruling for the US stuff in the same. I am allowed go up to 6 points before I’m bumped to the next class.

Don’t forget about the autox alignment!!!!!

mitchman

Because I've already got a "serious" autocross car. This one is supposed to be my "fun" car!

Besides, I don't like running a highly prepped car locally. It scares away the newbies! I'm hoping that when they see me running a basically stock Protege with Miata rims, it will bring out some new "non-sports car" types. Right now, it seems like everyone thinks you need an S2000, Miata, MR2,Vette, etc.... Car's like yours and mine help squash that misconception.

Thanks!

kargoboy

mitchman, the ES springs will not lower your car, but they are slightly stiffer.
And from what I've heard from you so far, I guess that would be cheating.
That said, I'd be willing to sell you my stock muffler--axle-back, and the springs too, if you want. PM me with an offer for one or both and tell me where you're located. I manage a transportation company so I'd be able to ship to you at my discounted cost.

Roddimus Prime

i'm not scca-smart but "stock suspensions" are allowed right?? why not buy the whole MSP suspension since it's "stock" anyway?? those things handle like slot cars.

mitchman

Yeah, "stock suspensions" are allowed, but you can't mix and match and be legal. I did think about that though!

Mazdacub

When they say stock they mean what came on that particular model when purchased. Correct me if I am wrong but I only think your allowed to change over parts if that car came with an option of upgrading that particular component during the time of purchase. This would only include items that were from the car manufacture not an upgrade that the dealer came up with to help sell the car.

Mazdacub

I found the SCCA rules...do you guys have a point chart cuz i cant find one.

mitchman

MazdaCub- That's correct. It had to come on the car as delivered. I could run the ES springs if I completely converted my whole car over to an ES (interior/exterior trim, wheels, etc...)

I'm just going to stick with my stock DX springs...which are legal.

Anyone know anything about swaybar linkage? When I change to the yellow Mazdaspeed adjustable shocks (not the blue OEM ones), will my stock sway bar link's still fit? I'm not worried about the front linkage because I plan to purchase new adjustable links from Cork Sport. But my OEM rears may be too long/short. If that's the case I'm going to have to cheat and purchase OEM Mazdaspeed Protege rear sway bar links and hope nobody notices.

Mazdacub

I would get the Racing Beat bar that was installed on the Mazdaspeed. All you need is the bar, new bushings, clamps, and rod ends from the Mazda Protégé 5. Refer to this link for more info …I have installed 2 bars on a P5 and one on a ES and you do not need a new cross member. I can get you the part numbers if you like.

http://www.protegeclub.com/showthread.php?t=38669

mitchman

I didn't know anything about a crossmember. But that's good to know I don't need a new one!

What about rear sway bar end links? Because I'm getting new Mazdaspeed yellow adjustable shocks, will the tabs on the new shocks cause the stock rear sway bar end links be too long or too short? I can't purchase adjustable end links for the rear sway bar. That wouldn't be legal (and it would be vary obvious).

Mazdacub

Use the ones off the P5 for the rear. I dont see why you have to replace the front ones, your not going to lower the car and if you were people lower the car 2 inches and still use the stock fronts and replance the rears with the P5 ones. Give me a few min and i will find you the part numbers.

mitchman

Cool! That's exactly the info I needed! Just to be clear, my rear sway bar will remain the same. The only thing that's changing is the shocks.

Do you know if the stock P5 rear sway bar end links look the same as my DX rear sway bar end links? (I hope they do!)

Mazdacub

Exactly the same but shorter. All you need is the racing beat bar, part # BP7H-28-151A, the stabilizer bushings part # BN7H-28-156E, and stabilizer plates, # BN7H-28-155A ( these are the horseshoe shaped plates that fit over the bushings ).

I wont tell anyone... it would be our little secrete. Lets just hope people you race with are not on this site.