JosueP5's '03 Protege5 Build Thread.
- Thread starter Josue6WGN
- Start date
CheeseHelmet
Member
You sir, are good at what you do 
I would have taken me soooo much longer to get that much done. What you've got left is the easy part, good luck!
I would have taken me soooo much longer to get that much done. What you've got left is the easy part, good luck!
Haha....it's what I do! Though, I should mention that I put in over 5 hrs last night. LOL
I only planned on bolting the tranny up, dropping the motor in, and bolting it down. Then the rest today when Evan comes over. But, Kevin came over to help with the tranny, and we just got on a roll with everything else.
Parts store run to get the day started! Need....
-Oil and filter
-Tranny fluid
-Antifreeze
-Piece of heater hose
-Valve cover gasket
-Electrical connectors
-Sandpaper (to clean up headlights)
-Brake fluid
And I'm sure I'm forgetting something that will require a quick trip later. lol It's like 2 miles up the road though, so no worries.
I only planned on bolting the tranny up, dropping the motor in, and bolting it down. Then the rest today when Evan comes over. But, Kevin came over to help with the tranny, and we just got on a roll with everything else.
Parts store run to get the day started! Need....
-Oil and filter
-Tranny fluid
-Antifreeze
-Piece of heater hose
-Valve cover gasket
-Electrical connectors
-Sandpaper (to clean up headlights)
-Brake fluid
And I'm sure I'm forgetting something that will require a quick trip later. lol It's like 2 miles up the road though, so no worries.
Last edited:
CheeseHelmet
Member
Get Pennzoil synchromesh tranny fluid, it's good stuff. People also like Redline MT-90 but I haven't had a chance to try it.
SHE RUNS!!!!!!
Ran into some snags along the way, of course, but it's drivable! BIG BIG THANKS to Evan for his help today!
1st snag, and potentially the cause of the problem with the old motor.
V-whatever butterfly/screws were bouncing around inside the manifold. Only found 1 screw though, so we're guessing the other one is in the block somewhere. lol Just took them off all together.
Other than that, it was a pretty straight forward day...went just as I planned. I just came inside around 10, but we started later than I planned, after 2. We did have to make another quick parts store run for a few feet of hose, to go from the booster to the manifold, and from the valve cover to the AEM CAI. Also tried to get a bolt to block off the o2 bung in the midpipe (wideband o2 was in there), but they didn't have one, so I just installed another o2 I had laying around and zip tied the wire out of the way for now. I'll have to run to Summit to get a bolt.
We were shitting bricks once it was running though, because it was misfiring/running like crap/almost stalling just like it was doing in Evan's car!!!?? We couldn't figure it out...but feared the worse, especially given Simon's misfiring troubles that turned out to be in the head! Literally everything is original to my car or brand new, the only 2 parts that weren't, are the block and head.
But alas, we found a vacuum line that wasn't plugged in, and it seemed to straighten it out! Still idles kind of rough, but I don't know if it's just the nature of the beast or what? The only poly mount I have is the front one, but I may go OEM with that one to see if it helps. Tomorrow I need to wire up my new radio and install it, pull the door panels off and try to wire the factory wires to the speakers so they work off the radio and not an amp, pull the monster ass speaker wires out of the door harness so it seals against the body again, and weld up the loose driver seat bracket. Then the wife and I have a bunch of running around to do, and obedience class for our pup later, plus she might cash in a dinner date raincheck I had to give her tonight because I was still working on the car. LOL Should be able to get alot of seat time in her tomorrow! Looking forward to getting the miles on so I can find and work out any kinks it may have.
Few more pics...
Also, if some remember, I bought those Canadian headlights a few weeks ago. Been dealing with the situation ever since they came, because this is how I picked it up...
Looked like the damn HDS box Ace Ventura was delivering in the beginning of that movie!!! Caused this...
Guy was super cool about it though, did everything he could to make it right, even though it was UPS's screw up. I would up getting my money back though. Sucks because these headlights were freaking AMAZING! would've looked AWESOME in my car. But, since buying these, my paychecks have been taking a hit since we're slow at work, and I could use the money right now more than a set of new headlights.
I just cleaned mine up for now so they don't look like ass. I might try to bake and paint when I find a good set.
800, 1500 (should've stepped up with 1000 then 1200, but they didn't have any and I didn't want these to be "perfect" since they're shitted up with cracks) then 2000. Regular rubbing compound and my high speed Makita buffer.
And a quick bad front end shot I took because I forgot to get one while it was solo in the garage. lol
Ran into some snags along the way, of course, but it's drivable! BIG BIG THANKS to Evan for his help today!
1st snag, and potentially the cause of the problem with the old motor.
V-whatever butterfly/screws were bouncing around inside the manifold. Only found 1 screw though, so we're guessing the other one is in the block somewhere. lol Just took them off all together.
Other than that, it was a pretty straight forward day...went just as I planned. I just came inside around 10, but we started later than I planned, after 2. We did have to make another quick parts store run for a few feet of hose, to go from the booster to the manifold, and from the valve cover to the AEM CAI. Also tried to get a bolt to block off the o2 bung in the midpipe (wideband o2 was in there), but they didn't have one, so I just installed another o2 I had laying around and zip tied the wire out of the way for now. I'll have to run to Summit to get a bolt.
We were shitting bricks once it was running though, because it was misfiring/running like crap/almost stalling just like it was doing in Evan's car!!!?? We couldn't figure it out...but feared the worse, especially given Simon's misfiring troubles that turned out to be in the head! Literally everything is original to my car or brand new, the only 2 parts that weren't, are the block and head.
But alas, we found a vacuum line that wasn't plugged in, and it seemed to straighten it out! Still idles kind of rough, but I don't know if it's just the nature of the beast or what? The only poly mount I have is the front one, but I may go OEM with that one to see if it helps. Tomorrow I need to wire up my new radio and install it, pull the door panels off and try to wire the factory wires to the speakers so they work off the radio and not an amp, pull the monster ass speaker wires out of the door harness so it seals against the body again, and weld up the loose driver seat bracket. Then the wife and I have a bunch of running around to do, and obedience class for our pup later, plus she might cash in a dinner date raincheck I had to give her tonight because I was still working on the car. LOL Should be able to get alot of seat time in her tomorrow! Looking forward to getting the miles on so I can find and work out any kinks it may have.
Few more pics...
Also, if some remember, I bought those Canadian headlights a few weeks ago. Been dealing with the situation ever since they came, because this is how I picked it up...
Looked like the damn HDS box Ace Ventura was delivering in the beginning of that movie!!! Caused this...
Guy was super cool about it though, did everything he could to make it right, even though it was UPS's screw up. I would up getting my money back though. Sucks because these headlights were freaking AMAZING! would've looked AWESOME in my car. But, since buying these, my paychecks have been taking a hit since we're slow at work, and I could use the money right now more than a set of new headlights.
I just cleaned mine up for now so they don't look like ass. I might try to bake and paint when I find a good set.
800, 1500 (should've stepped up with 1000 then 1200, but they didn't have any and I didn't want these to be "perfect" since they're shitted up with cracks) then 2000. Regular rubbing compound and my high speed Makita buffer.
And a quick bad front end shot I took because I forgot to get one while it was solo in the garage. lol
CheeseHelmet
Member
I honestly can't believe it, awesome work guys!
marcs_sp20
Member
- :
- 02 Mazda 323 Astina SP20 (P5)
Congrats on getting it running mate! 
95blkprobe
Member
- :
- 95 Blk Probe/ 02 Blk Mica P5
Congrats man
How the idle look on the tach? It looked pretty steady around 700rpm. My car had vibes lke crazy because I've got two poly motor mounts but the idle stayed steady. If you can find someone who wants to swap front motor mounts then that will take a lot of the vibes out, as you know. Even just the one motor mount will cause vibes. But the stock mounts tend to rip, that's why we always upgrade them.
Those headlights look amazing! I saw how yellow and nasty they were originally. Good job!
Those headlights look amazing! I saw how yellow and nasty they were originally. Good job!
CheeseHelmet
Member
Rockauto has a beck/arnley front mount for $25 (iirc it's only listed under the "protege dx" section). That's what I'm using and it's really great.
It's around 600-700, steady...but rough still.
Thanks! I'll probably just buy one, then worry about selling this one later.
Today was another good day! Again, got everything done that I wanted/needed to. Installed radio, hooked up front speakers, ripped out speaker wire from door harness, welded up busted seat, installed OEM spoiler, even gave it a quick vacuum, wipedown, did the windows, and rims! (I'm a stickler for clean rims for some reason lol)
Took it on it's maiden road voyage! Got on the highway for a little bit, to see how it was up at those speeds. Honestly, as of now, kind of disappointed. So far, it's fun to drive...handles great, stick shift is cool again. But, it's got ALOT of road noise and rattles/vibrations. If this 1 small motor mount is causing the car to feel like it's going to rattle apart on me, then I have to say that anyone who runs a full set has to have a few screws loose! I mean, it's worse than the Cavalier, and that car is 6 years older than this one! Hopefully I can tighten it up a bit as time goes on, because that WILL drive me crazy eventually. lol
Radio...
Busted seat...
Door shenanigans...
Finished pics! (well, finished as of now at least)
I am in love with this engine bay...*drool*
CheeseHelmet
Member
P5s aren't known for their smoothness 
Changing the front mount will make a noticeable difference but probably not to extent that you'd like. Are the rest of the mounts OEM? And what condition are they in?
Regarding the bad idle, it sounds like your EGR valve is shot... See if the idle improves after cleaning and oiling the valve.
Changing the front mount will make a noticeable difference but probably not to extent that you'd like. Are the rest of the mounts OEM? And what condition are they in?
Regarding the bad idle, it sounds like your EGR valve is shot... See if the idle improves after cleaning and oiling the valve.
95blkprobe
Member
- :
- 95 Blk Probe/ 02 Blk Mica P5
i love that upper grille. is that a dgm grille with that plastic mesh modded to fit?
Tessa just asked if the doggies like it.
The rear seat cushions can be removed and the rear seat backs will lay down flat where the cushion used to be so the boxers will have more room and not muss up the leather.
And as far as poly motor mounts go, you should ride in Kevins Protege with all four AWR mounts. It's like a massage chair. But I also love that his motor doesn't move at all in the bay when you hit the throttle. That's the pay off.
The rear seat cushions can be removed and the rear seat backs will lay down flat where the cushion used to be so the boxers will have more room and not muss up the leather.
And as far as poly motor mounts go, you should ride in Kevins Protege with all four AWR mounts. It's like a massage chair. But I also love that his motor doesn't move at all in the bay when you hit the throttle. That's the pay off.
03zoomzoom
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 3 i Touring
This has got to be one of the quickest build threads I've seen. Good work buddy!
P5s aren't known for their smoothness
Changing the front mount will make a noticeable difference but probably not to extent that you'd like. Are the rest of the mounts OEM? And what condition are they in?
Regarding the bad idle, it sounds like your EGR valve is shot... See if the idle improves after cleaning and oiling the valve.
The OEM mounts appeared to be in decent condition still. No cracks or dry rott or anything. And I hosed the EGR valve out with throttle body cleaner before installing the manifold, but maybe I didn't do a good enough job?
Your guess is as good as mine. lol I checked the back of it before reinstalling, and I didn't see any marks. I'm not sure on the mesh either, cause he game me the factory grille and it's not cut up or anything.
Tessa just asked if the doggies like it.
The rear seat cushions can be removed and the rear seat backs will lay down flat where the cushion used to be so the boxers will have more room and not muss up the leather.
And as far as poly motor mounts go, you should ride in Kevins Protege with all four AWR mounts. It's like a massage chair. But I also love that his motor doesn't move at all in the bay when you hit the throttle. That's the pay off.
Henley is first up today!
