This is aimed at the guys at MSProtege. But I value the opinions of the people here more so I am posting it here as well. Let me know what your thoughts are.
Thanks
Bryan..

First my spelling and grammar sucks so you might have to read it slow, and maybe twice. I did use spell check but I screw that up too some times!

Most people by now know that I have issues with SOME not all just some of the things the NA tuners have stated. Supposedly every thing has been tried and you still can’t get much power out of the cars with out going FI.

Well what about this? Cork Sport has a Japanese spec Familia ECU and intake manifold on the shelf. The Ecu is suppose to be worlds better than the US one. The intake manifold doesn’t have the vcts and is again supposed to be lighter. You could go as far as extrude hone the intake, I’ve never done that but it’s supposed to do wonders for flow. Add in the cams Jspec or WMS cams (I’d go Jspec because of price). Stud the head so you can go with a thicker gasket to help improve combustion. Of course you’ll need to better the valve springs and push rods. Do a 3-angel grind and port and polish. Go with the forged pistons and rods. You’ll have to move the timing sensor on the cam but I was told that isn’t to hard. I also want the Haltech F10X fuel computer, that will help lean out the fuel. Do your header, (any kind) 2 high flow cats to stay legal with 2.5 exhaust. Also get the under drive pulleys and the 9lbs flywheel, motor mounts. I would like the aluminum radiator that cork sport has but that would just be for show!

Yes I know that this is a lot of money, A LOT of money. But if I do this it will be over a long period of time. Being a single dad makes money tight. So it will be a long time before I can get the money and parts. But for you guys that seem to have the cash flow you might try it. Maybe you already did. I don’t know, it’s just the idea that’s been floating in my head for a while. I have called a few placed and no one so far has done this.

 

I don't know if the J-spec ECU will work.... I have heard that our harnesses are not the same.

 

Hmm...for what corksport charges for that ECU and Manifold....you can go stand alone and simply remove the VTCS for a LOT cheaper, and then get more power since standalones are tuneable,where the Jspec ECU is not.

 

dsm convert AFC should get a few ponies on a n/a

 

I've been interested in doing the same. My timing belt is due for replacement soon, so I am planning on the cams, cam gears, valve springs and underdrive pulleys. If i go ahead with this, it will be in the next 3-4 months. I cannot afford to do everything at once either.

 

Your right they are diffrent. But the is an adapter for the harness.
As far as the ECU and manifold it would be about 2k for both. The stand alone would be over 1k and as far as taking out the VCTS The jap one doesn't have them and is made for the ECU so it would be a perfect match. In theory that is.
Plus I am NOT a tuner! I don't even know where to begin when it come to tuning ECUs. This might cost a little more but not much, and you wont have to bother with getting it to some place to get it tunned for you. The jap ecu has a more aggresive then ours so the bolt on parts should give more power. So I think.
God I wish gas wasn't so high I would have bout a old chevy!

 

Ive been reading on the pulleys. If I were you I might go with the light weight flywheel. It is alot more money but that hasn't started any rumors of blowing motors like the pulleys have. Plus you get better throtal reponce and hit you hp rang faster.

Hopefully I got lucky and scored a GREAT deal on a fly wheel. And by hopefully I mean I already bought it but I am always leary about doing buisness over the internet. I'll know when I get it on.

 

I've heard of a few problems with the pulleys, and thought they were isolated incidents involving the mazdaspeed. I thought the engine is basically starved for oil, and seizes. I did not think the problem extended beyond the mazdaspeed though.

As for a flywheel, I'd like to get one of those too, but I would like wait till the clutch is gone, and replace it with a better one as well.

BTW, what flywheel did you get?

 

The pulleys, yea so far I've heard the same thing and also with the miats when boosted. Some people have them on the Na cars and have no problems but there on the OTHER forum so I don't trust them. I'll wait until some one here has had them a while. As far as the flywheel I just bout the 9lb Indiglo. Should be here in a few days. You should check out my thread on the factory clutch replacment. I'm updating it now.

 

If you are worried about oil starvation get a baffled pan, infact i would probably reccomend that as something u should look into doing because I've heard of NA proteges having similar problems on other forums just from running on a track or the likes. I've had no problems but eh its not worth the risk, ill probably be getting a new pan sometime soon.

 

Thats not a bad Idea.