Protege5 questions

[TWISFM]

Hey all. Just signed up to this forum a couple days ago but have been reading it for months. Lots of good reads and alot of smart people out there. SO hopefully i can get some good input even tho I know alot of these questions are out there already.

1. I have a custom made cat back exhaust system and i am now planning on buying the OBX Header (unless you have other ideas for $200 or less) My question is will it fit without haveing to modify anything or buying anything else besides the gasket that comes with it.

2. I also planning on buying the Tein S. Tech lowering. I wanted to see if i can just replace my stock springs with these for a drop without buy new struts. Also i wanted to get peoples input on these springs or if i should go for other springs that are under $200.

3. I also want to black out my taillights very badly. I actually have 83% light output on them now but i did it my self with window tint and it looks horrible. I contacted rockerblocker but they dont sell the laminate for our tailights anymore because they were to hard to apply. Seeing how the protege5 tailights are very curved, thus why i had such a problem. So i found other sites like laminex that has the vinyls for the car. So it either that or buying the spray can stuff. The thing i read about the spray was that if you mess up or it becomes to dark there is no way to get it off even with paint thinner, wanted to know if this is true.So if i could get input on this and if you suggest the can which company should i go with?

4. I plan on spray painting my wheels after reading a thread about it.(great write up by the way) I wanted to know how this went for people and if their paint is still on thier wheels and how long its been on for.Also which paint you used.

5. Last question is ive been looking for a short shifter for a while and found a bunch on ebay for around $30. Obviously as you can see im goin for the cheapness seeing how im a poor college student. Just wanted to know your inputs on these If they will atleast work, cause im not worried about vibration as i installed SLS motor mounts that give the car more vibration anyway.

6. Actually this is the last question. How much do u think it would be to have the header, lowering springs and an unorthodox underdrive pulley installed(either all at once or by themselves). As i dont trust myself to install these items.

anything else you guys wana ask or say feel free i open to it all
THANKS FOR ATLEAST READING!(usa)

o and here are some pics

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

1. Yes, it bolts to stock exhaust without modification. oem midpipe will be bottleneck until you get a hi flow catted midpipe but I'm sure it'll bolt up fine to your catback exhaust. I ran awhile like that until getting hi flo cat.

2. So many options, so many opinions.

3. No help here.

4. Are they gonna be white? Diggin the white grill action. Wipers, not so much.

5. Sport auto here so no opinion on SS. Do keep any eye on that mount. I suggest Medieval front mm.

6. springs are usually 50 a corner - rent a compressor, use the how-to, pay for alignment. You can go some on stock struts until you can get some better ones. Unless you just have to have it, there are cheaper UDPs out there like OBX. You'll need new shorter belts to go with that - use the how-to. Header & catback easy install - use how-tos for both. I'm gonna guess about 400 labor to install all that plus 60 or 80 for good 4 wheel alignment so I'll guess 500. Use how-tos here plus rent spring compressor for free from autozone & feel so much better about it when you finish it yourself. You can do it.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

BTW, welcome to the forums. Everything you could ever think of or want to do with your car is in here. World of cool stuff. Explore away. The search function & for sale section will yield much treasure.

 

[joneb4evr]

+1 White P5

Welcome!

 

[justanothermp5]

1.it should because u have a cat back, and the mid pipe is still stock im assuming
2.havent heard anything bad about em
3. The spray should work fine and if u mess up i dont see why u couldnt sand off the tint spray and re coat
4. Yes i painted my wheels gold, loved them, i used duplicolor engine paint
it was on there for like 3 months until i got new tires put on and they managed to chip and scratch the paint off
5. I have the b&m SS and its only 99 bucks, so not that expensive, i love it
dont get the ebay stuff because there cheaply made and are prone to breaking
if u want a really short throw ull have to dish out the extra dough for the twm kit, its really nice, my brother has it and i like it alot
6. no idea, do all my work myself

 

[Hookedupmp5]

For the exhaust, what are your plans for the car, track, street, or daily driver. Obx is ok i guess but it does remove the first cat. So you might fail emissions depending on where you live, how big are your rims gunna be, cuz my experiance with lowering springs isnt the greatest, i have 18s and when you hit a bump goin kinda fast you may rub on the fender unless you get your fender rolled. As for short shifters, protege garage has one for 85, PM
Captain KRM P5, he may know of some. Installing all those part might be 4-500 depending on labor etc. Welcome to the place to be for Mazdas!

 

[TWISFM]

IDRIVE- Thanks for the response.! i plan on getting highflow car of course either that or i say a catless mid-pipe the sls is selling.. one step at a time haha. As for the rims im going flat black im likin the gangster look black and white. gunna do the black out headlight mod over the summer. Everything except for the exhause ive done my self so i know the feelin of seeing your own work. Ive checked out the how to's on everything but ehh. except for the UDP which seemed eas enough to install im just worried i wont tighten to the correct amount and end up screwing it all up. So far the SLS mount has given me NO trouble at all. Had it for lil over a month and check it alteast once a week, still no problems. maybe your worrying about the old mount, i have the new modified one. i also didnt know you need an alignment for the springs thanks for that.

 

[TWISFM]

Hooked- its a daily driver but i need to go faster and dont care about emissions test. What a cops gunna stop me and say uhh..have u gotten an emissions test lately....hope not ha. As for rims im leaving them stock and paiting them. personally i really like our rims they just need to be given a lil helping hand.85-99 for ss jeez this is why i like ebay. Thanks for you post!

 

[ProtegePower]

I used to live in an area that required emissions inspections (washington dc) and the way it works is when you're due for emissions (i think every two years) you have to show proof that you passed in order to renew your state registration (stickers on your plates). So that's how they get you, if you're wondering. But again, not every region requires emissions inspections.

 

[NCZ13]

bluebatmobile has some tailight options.

i had the rockblockers last fall. they were on my car for less than 24 hours. they were very hard to apply because of teh thickness of the material.

 

[TWISFM]

Well ive had my car now for 4 years and never have been asked to take an emission tests. I live in florida if that helps more specifically orlando at the moment. As for bluebatmobile i PMed him about that and he has yet to return my question.

 

[NCZ13]

hes a busy guy, hes on alot of different forums, so its hard to get back to everyone quickly.

just be patient

 

[mx-p5]

Where abouts in the state are you?

 

[orlandomsp]

Welcome aboard.

TWM is having a sale on shifters and you can get a discount with your student ID.

Where abouts in the state are you?

He's in Orlando.

 

[TWISFM]

ya im orlando why ask? didnt know performance shops gave discounts to students nice. is there a chance u can attach a link. ill try to do a search my self tho.Thanks

edit- i actually just looked at the TWM ss $118 isnt really a cheap price. and that was with the $25 discount. i didnt see where it said i could enter my student id either

 

[mx-p5]

Just curious where abouts in FL you are. I'm about 45 min. north of West Palm. From Longwood though.

I dropped the full $$$ on the whole TWM kit. In my honost opinion, it was worth it!

With the Ebay shiter, you're still using your stock shift boot, which lookslike doo doo with a short shifter. They also give you a nice wieghted knob, a shift bushing and the shorter boot.

Tylor

 

[TWISFM]

Actually theres a couple of them on ebay that give you a shorter shift boot and a knob ,plus i was hoping to keep my carbon fiber shift boot anyway and the shift knob i have now. im just wondering why everyone keeps saying dont get it. if it works just has more vibration then that doesn sound bad for something thats about $60 bucks cheaper and pretty much does the same thing.

 

[mx-p5]

I never said anything about vibrations. I've got AWR motor mounts. I have my fair share of vibrations. I can't recall user names but at least 2 people on here have been using the Ebay shifter.

It's your car. And i think if you can't find anything negative on any part, buy it, try it, and review it. Keep us all posted. If cheaper items work as well, more people might buy em.

Tylor

 

[orlandomsp]

Here's a link to the discount page, you get 10% off with a student ID.

http://www.twmperformance.com/discounts/

 

[TWISFM]

Thanks for the link...still to expensive