Intercooler Advice

[43975]

I second the MAM set-up!!! I love mine. I also love the MAM intake!!!!
If I were OK with loosing the crash bar Turbolife would be the way to go. But since I'm not MAM is the Best way to go. I have absolutly no lag with a larger turbo low boost and FMIC. I even ran this turbo set-up for about a month with the stock SMIC. I found no difference in lag but the power felt for sure changed. You can easily build your own FMIS for about $100. I will gave this advise. Don't get the intercooler with the in/outlets centered get the off centered ones. It'll save you headache when trying to route behind the bumper

 

[Spiced MSP]

these turbos are tiny and spool up very qiuck, theres no lag. the turbolife has very short pipe routing as well. i felt absolutely 0 lag when i went from the stock smic to the turbolife.

i would go for the kinetic/ion kit instead of mam because of the shorter pipe routing.

corksport makes a nice kit as well

I agree with the corksport fmic, had to cut a little here and there but factory crash bar is still there. I thought about trimming it so the core sits a little higher but I'll leave it alone.You will need slimmer fans for this kit though or the hot pipe won't really fit right.

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

hmm i think we need pics of those with different fmic kits

Here is my MAM kit with my WW kit and then my stock kit.

STOCK KIT:

Wings west kit:

And with no bumper on the way to the paint shop.

I hope you kinda get a feel for how the kit fits on the car.

 

[43975]

Pics of my set-up here: I took a bunch of pics
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123717866&highlight=FMIC
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123717655&highlight=FMIC
As I stated if I were to replace the intercooler I would get the exect same one but with the off centered inlet/outlet due to the fog lights. I don't think an 03.5 would have the same fitment issues because there are no foglights to get in the way. I had to trim some of the plastic and basically fab up some of the drivers side piping to get it right. off set up to the top would have solved all of that. I still may order up a new one this spring and just toss this one on my samurai!!!

 

[turbolife]

Turbolife pics...

(Ti Gray car my old one, Laser Blue car belongs to Justin)

 

[.mazda.speed.]

i just jizzed lol

 

[43975]

I have to admit the Turbolife set-up is damn sexy and you can't beat it numbers wise. It is in fact dyno proven gains!!!!

 

[theEZV]

if you want an off the shelf kit and want to keep your crash bar, this is the best kit.

http://www.kineticmotorsport.com/products/KINETIC_MOTORSPORT_MAZDASPEED_PROTEGE_FMIC_KIT-38-76.html

thats the kit featured on the turbo magazine project msp

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

if you want an off the shelf kit and want to keep your crash bar, this is the best kit.

http://www.kineticmotorsport.com/products/KINETIC_MOTORSPORT_MAZDASPEED_PROTEGE_FMIC_KIT-38-76.html

thats the kit featured on the turbo magazine project msp

Um, that kit is a GRAND! Man I would never put anything like that on my msp. I would buy a turbolife/MAM/Altered customs new or used

 

[43975]

Um, that kit is a GRAND! Man I would never put anything like that on my msp. I would buy a turbolife/MAM/Altered customs new or used

agreed!!!

Just because it's in a mag doesn't mean it's right. It just means that that's what was donated!!!!

any links to this turbo mag project MSP??

 

[cruton5]

I just recently removed my custom smic. Its a nice setup. Went with the hardpipes, smic and greddy bov flange welded on. Looks very nice and is easy to install. Ive decided to go deeper into my upgrades so switched to an altered customs fmic. havent got it in yet tho. Like was said earlier in the thread, If you wanna keep your car looking stock and still have nice gains smic is the way to go imo.

 

[turbolife]

By the way, if you are still running stock ECU, I would get something like the DSM AFC before an intercooler.

 

[yudkib]

good god i never appreciated how giant the turbolife core is.
the kinetic kit is pretty good, but if im going to spend that much theres a lot of other kits i would look at first.

 

[littlemimus]

i loveee the way the turbo life kit is. its the best looking kit in my opinion but the crash bar is the only thing holdin me back. lol

 

[turbolife]

i loveee the way the turbo life kit is. its the best looking kit in my opinion but the crash bar is the only thing holdin me back. lol

So don't crash!!! (laugh)

Lol, kidding. Some are OK with it, some aren't. I completely understand either way.

 

[Gr8Panoz]

Sorry guys my decoding of acronyms has failed me a DSM air fuel controller? Coming from turbolife this is obviously good advice. Could someone help me out. Also possibly the wrong thread but there was mention of some possible leftovers from last turbolife GB? I dont have the cash yet but should shortly. Thanks for all the help guys and to possibly jack my own thread, any other advice on mods prior to the intercooler upgrade. Great community =)
Thanks again
Dave

 

[Ricktalife]

I would suggest some gauges to start. Boost and Air Fuel seemed the most important to me. If you get an Air Fuel gauge, do not waste your money on a narrowband as it is just a light show. Wideband is the way to go, and I bought the Prosport but I'm told the AEM is a better unit.

 

[turbolife]

Sorry guys my decoding of acronyms has failed me a DSM air fuel controller?

DSM AFC = a piggyback fuel controller (some versions do timing as well). This was made off of a split second piggyback, customized and brought to market by a user named DSM Convert, hence the DSM AFC. Not sure what it goes by now or where to get one.

Here is a map sharing thread, and F/S thread, more info can be gleaned via search.

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?t=123761723

Maps - http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123620555&highlight=split+second

As a note, I have not owned a DSM AFC. I had a Unichip on my car, which I was not 100% satisfied with.

My suggestion was meant more to look towards some sort of fuel and/or timing control before going too crazy with mods. These cars are tuned like ass stock, and you will see greater gains with future mods if your car isn't running pig-rich.

If you go this route, as pointed out above gauges (WB02 and boost) should be done first.

Also possibly the wrong thread but there was mention of some possible leftovers from last turbolife GB? I dont have the cash yet but should shortly.

Yes, I do still have some spots from my last GB open. I ran about 10 extra kits in the event of more future interest.

Thanks for all the help guys and to possibly jack my own thread, any other advice on mods prior to the intercooler upgrade.

Midpipe is another cheap and easy mod. The stock midpipe on the MSP necks down to something ridiculous like <2" between the cats. I noticed a huge difference when switching to an SLS catless mid. Catted ones are available as well, from a few different vendors.

As a side note, here is a dyno of an stock ECU MSP running a catless mid and FMIC
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123723220&highlight=dyno

I am sure he would have made more numbers with a cleaner tune.

-Brad

 

[BOOSTR]

Ken at Protege Garage sells the Split Second AFC. He's the only authorized vendor for new units that work on MSPs. DSM is no longer active or selling them.

Ditching that POS oem shoe box intercooler for either the CustomMSP smic or fmic of your choice will make the car more enjoyable to drive even without a device to control the air/fuel ratios.

 

[StealthWyvern]

So don't crash!!! (laugh)

Lol, kidding. Some are OK with it, some aren't. I completely understand either way.

Just curious but have you entertained the idea of a much smaller turbolife fmic setup? IE smaller core but same routing?