Phantom Cruiser

It only looks like that from the aerial view...it actually has a lot of altitude change...ups and downs as well as the turns.

vielster

So I should be able to go into a JY and just buy up the intake and exhaust manifolds then, and send those to the company to get done. Is there anything else I would want to get P&P'd? I'm not too sure about custom cams yet...sounds like a lot of trouble. Maybe I'll just have you grind me a set for some cash once you get it all figured out

Right now I'm probably going to go ahead and get the full exhaust and cams done, and go ahead and get some handling upgrades whilest trying to pick up some junk'd intake and exhaust manifolds to get p&p'd. Maybe around christmas time I'll go down to PA and get the wagner guys to swap out my block...curious about that block, since it's a shortblock, can I put some new valve springs in and up the redline around 7500RPM to eek out some extra horsepower?

GNO

Have you tried AutoX, yet? It's definitely a good time, but like Karen pointed out road courses are far more exciting. You gotta start somewhere though and AutoX is a very good place to start. Road courses beat the hell out of your car, too. Talk about roasting the brakes.

Speaking of brakes, you ought to consider upgrading the brake system beyond a rotor upgrade. Two or four piston calipers would be a very good upgrade. While the powerplant is the biggest downfall of the Protege, you still need to keep a balance between the suspension, brakes, and engine. By the looks of it, you've got big plans for the motor and little for suspension and brakes. What about weight reduction? Remember Daniel-san, balance is key. Must have BALANCE!

The Protege is a good platform, however, they fall into the same class as the Mini. From what I've read, the Minis are dominating their class now. For a beginning AutoXer, I'd recommend staying stock for a little while. Once you start modifing, you move into other classes. . . where cars are even more honed towards their purpose and drivers are even more skilled. You need to learn how to walk before you can run. It's not fun getting trampled over.

Also, if you're going to go FI, you'll want to have cams designed for FI. So look into a custom grind. I can't believe Matty let that one slide.

Jeremy Martin

Tires, tires and more tires. Your going to want a car with all that HP to be able to use it. Also, those suspension mods are going to be half wasted if you don't have a good set of rubber to keep the car under control.

Phantom Cruiser

w3rd.

Tires and brakes are your friend!

I would suggest staying stock for now while you test out your driving skills. You'll be a much better driver if you drive a slow car well and then get a fast car after you've honed your skills! This is precisely the reason why I've left my Miata stock for this season. I wanted to learn how to drive it [slow!] and make sure my "lines" were good and then perhaps next year we'll do a turbo or supercharger and then really get the lap times down! I've seen too many people with nice fast cars right out of the box (i.e. WRXs and stuff) that drive a REALLY CRAPPY line around the track! Heck I held off a guy in a Suby just for the sheer fact that the Miata turns so well and I didn't have to brake like he did! Needless to say...he was much impressed by "the girl" I told him that his car was fast and he should come out to track day more often.

vielster

Ok, so here's a question I could use some good insight on. Would it be beneficial for me to just upgrade to a MSP now and put the money into upgrading it instead of my P5? I know I'd end up having to do most all the same engine upgrades anyway (forged block, P&P, exhaust, headers, cams, and probably change from the turbo to a supercharger), but it would be on the sedan chasis which I'm guessing will probably handle better than the P5. Also, it'd start out with wider rubber, better suspension and a few extra ponies. I would like to stay with my P5 if it will give me everything the speed will. I'd hate to put all this money into my car and find out I can't hang with the speeds just because of my model...

Roddimus Prime

you could do what I've done and just order the MSP suspension for your P5 for under $1000. I went to my mazda dealer and got pricing on everything (struts, sways, front and rear subframes) for $900 AFTER taxes.

All you'd need would your own choice of springs. I already have the Racing beat springs so I'm set, but you could use the goldlines from Chris (fc3sboy) for $140shipped. Still be right at $1K and have the best of both worlds. I think you'd find the P5 better. It's a slightly shorter body with more re-inforcement and the P5 weighs 224lbs less than the P5. NOw add to that your supercharger weight and you're only adding say 50lbs. Better power to weight ratio, same suspension....see where I'm going with this?!?!

vielster

Good deal...I didn't know that the P5 weighed less than the MSP. I guess now the question is, should I just go with a new set of coilovers like the B&G's rather than going for the MSP suspension? Which will give me better performance? You've convinced me that the P5 is a better platform because of the weight and shorter body, now I just have to go with the right handling upgrades (wheels, suspension, brakes). I'm pretty satisfied with that...would rather keep the P5 anyway. Now I guess I'll just have to start with the upgrades and keep everyone up on the upgrades. Any suggestions will be duly accepted. I'm probably going to go with a few minor power upgrades (header, exhaust) at first along with suspension and brakes, then go with the forged block, P&P next early spring, along with the WOMP kit and cams....I think I've heard enough to warant me running the car in a few AutoX courses stock (or minorly modified) before I go with any really significant engine upgrades and by next fall be running all out. Thanks for all the input. I'm very welcome to more and more input...

Roddimus Prime

I think people under-estimate the capability of the stock MSP suspension set-up. NOt trying to take anything away from you but I HIGHLY doubt you have the skill needed to use the stock MSP suspension to it's limits. You'll have to adjust and tune a coil-over set-up and I doubt you can doa better job setting up suspension than the mazda engineers.

Remeber the MSP is rated as the "best handling FWD production vehicle ever produced". I tend to not want to mess with that set-up. I'm not saying it cant be improved upon just that it's probably better than you'd ever need. It's also several hundred cheaper than just a set of coilovers.

vielster

Sounds good. My brother can get me all the Mazda parts at cost, so I'll see what it ends up running me. He works in VA and I'll be down there for christmas to see him and my family, so I'll probably just get it all done then...kinda a christmas present for myself How much could I likely pick up a set of the racing heart MSP wheels for? I know you bought them for your P5 roddimus, just curious what they run. So I guess here's the updated Modlist and order

Handling
Brembo CD/S Rotors
MultiPiston Calipers
MSP Suspension Kit
RacingHeart 17" with high perf tires

Engine:
CAI (done)
OBX 4-1 Header
Magnaflow Cat Back
Wagner built Short Block
P&P Head
AEM ECU/Haltech F10X
WOMP Supercharger and FMIC

I'd like to do the P&P sooner, but I'll have to find some way to work it. Again, thanks for all the advice everybody. I'll keep everyone posted on how the process is going. I'll also try to get some dyno runs as soon as I can find a dyno shop around here.