02 auto Performance Mods

[Huascar82]

Alright, so like I said in like my only 2 previous posts . I have an 02 ES 2.0L automatic protege. I'm wondering what some good performance mods would be. I've already gone with a K&N Typhoon intake, and was thinking maybe at some later point not anytime soon going with the Stripper turbo kit from MAM and later upgrading that with the intercooler. Now is that something that would actually help with an automatic or if its at all possible. I read on a protege5 post that its not worth it for an automatic, is that true? If it is true what would be worth it for my car? Oh yeah, keep in mind that I'm completely new to cars and would not like to do something to mess up my only means of transportation. The easier the mods the better, but I also dont mind getting my hands dirty.

 

[ChopstickHero]

Oh yeah, keep in mind that I'm completely new to cars and would not like to do something to mess up my only means of transportation.

takes serious money to build up a car like the one you're describing. especially after you turbo your ride. if you don't want to mess up your daily driver, don't do serious mods. bolt-ons are easy to do and they won't mess up your ride if done properly. there's too much info on this forum. do a search, you will see. (thumb)

 

[Huascar82]

Sounds reasonable chopstick, but would anything else be worth it? I guess I dont plan on racing it or do any hardcore racing, mainly want it to look and sound good, althought I dont want it to just look and sound good, I want it to perform as good as it looks. (hopefully I'm explaining myself correctly) Is doing intake, headers and exhaust worth it? How about changing the pulleys? i read that give you a few extra hp. But I read that on the vendor site so I dont fully trust that. How about changing spark plugs and spark plug wires? will that really give any boost? Those seem to be simple changes, what else would be right for my car? I'm sorry if I ask a lot of questions but I dont wanna dive into something not knowing what will be the final outcome and I want to at least make a plan on what would be good.

 

[36Crazyfists]

like the above statement, this website holds a wealth of information for your car. welcome. now start searching around

 

[ChopstickHero]

not to damper your spirits, but put it this way: if you want a faster car, buy a faster car. if you want to make your ride look nice though, there are a bunch of nice body kits, wheels, etc that you can do. making your autobox fast is another story.

 

[65racecoupe]

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY on regular bolt ons.

If you want a nice little ride, get a lower level turbo from Mental Addiction or HiBoost and keep the boost at 5 to 7 psi.

Intake, header, pulleys, different plugs and wires - waste of money. You will not get more than a few horsepower (under 10).

It is tough to make the autos faster because they can only take a certain ammount of horsepower to break, less than the manuals.

Either turbo or keep it stock.

 

[hurleyblink]

Alright, so like I said in like my only 2 previous posts . I have an 02 ES 2.0L automatic protege. I'm wondering what some good performance mods would be. I've already gone with a K&N Typhoon intake, and was thinking maybe at some later point not anytime soon going with the Stripper turbo kit from MAM and later upgrading that with the intercooler. Now is that something that would actually help with an automatic or if its at all possible. I read on a protege5 post that its not worth it for an automatic, is that true? If it is true what would be worth it for my car? Oh yeah, keep in mind that I'm completely new to cars and would not like to do something to mess up my only means of transportation. The easier the mods the better, but I also dont mind getting my hands dirty.

umm the only things i would do is intake (you have) and a catback and headers, and the headers are pushing it.. lol auto's arent meant to be fast.. plus whats the fun of having an auto with a turbo, you dont get the bov effect..

 

[Huascar82]

hurleyblink: Whats the bov effect? I'm really new at this and havent gotten to know MOST of the acronyms or technical terms, not sure what this falls under.

I guess truthfully the turbo thing dont matter to much right now since its not something that I plan on doing in the near future, but I would like to hear from anyone that's added a turbo to an auto tranny, wanna see what those with it think about it, I guess it will be partly one sided since most likely you got it cause you really wanted it, but I'm hoping for a little nonbiased opinions.
Thanx yall.

 

[hurleyblink]

when you switch gears, you get a Psst from the blow off valve (bov) an auto would go through the gears soo fast you wouldnt hear it.. i mean its something pointless, but also think of it like this, you cant drop gears to speed up in an auto, so i wouldnt go turbo route.

 

[InFeXIoN]

find someone who can do a tranny swap for cheap. i did all i gotta do is get the parts from wrecked pro's and hes gonna charge me 640 to do the entire thing.

 

[subz3r0mkt]

find someone who can do a tranny swap for cheap. i did all i gotta do is get the parts from wrecked pro's and hes gonna charge me 640 to do the entire thing.

Wow, that seems like an incredible deal. hmmmmmm

 

[InFeXIoN]

Yea it is, and its at a shop.

 

[Huascar82]

I really hate going to bed and not falling asleep quickly, that happened last night, and while I lay there, I started thinking about my school loans, and well that just completely made me throw out the idea of turbo any time in the near or far future until I finish paying those off. What I will do is buy headers and exhaust and maybe tint and basic things like that. Anyways, now my question.
Is the OBX header and the Racing beat exhaust and basic bolt on? I mean will I be able to just install both of these without any worry about one not fitting in with the other?

Oh yeah, and some new tires will be nice at some later date.

 

[Huascar82]

The tranny swap sounds like a good idea though, anyone thats in philly or the sorrounding areas could you recommend a shop that could do that? and wont rip me off.

 

[65racecoupe]

Sounds reasonable chopstick, but would anything else be worth it? I guess I dont plan on racing it or do any hardcore racing, mainly want it to look and sound good, althought I dont want it to just look and sound good, I want it to perform as good as it looks. (hopefully I'm explaining myself correctly) Is doing intake, headers and exhaust worth it? How about changing the pulleys? i read that give you a few extra hp. But I read that on the vendor site so I dont fully trust that. How about changing spark plugs and spark plug wires? will that really give any boost? Those seem to be simple changes, what else would be right for my car? I'm sorry if I ask a lot of questions but I dont wanna dive into something not knowing what will be the final outcome and I want to at least make a plan on what would be good.

None of that stuff will really help all that much.

 

[Huascar82]

but it would help even if its a little bit, and specially with someone like me, that just 1 month ago started wanted to build up my car, its the safest route, dont wanna blow my engine before I even get to enjoy the car. specially since I dont have the money to spend on repairing it if I do do something stupid.

 

[65racecoupe]

but it would help even if its a little bit, and specially with someone like me, that just 1 month ago started wanted to build up my car, its the safest route, dont wanna blow my engine before I even get to enjoy the car. specially since I dont have the money to spend on repairing it if I do do something stupid.

Your engine will look a lot cooler, but if you had two identical looking P5s, one stock, and one with pulleys, headers, CAI, etc, you would not be able to really tell which is which if you were to drive it.

You are talking about 15 wheel horsepower MAX with those mods.

Add up all the time and money for the parts and install (except for the exhaust) and compare it to a LOW boost turbo kit from MAM or HiBoost.

You can have an easy easy 170 wheel horsepower safely.

 

[Huascar82]

damn it, I dont know what to do . I want MAMs new budget turbo, but I'm afraid of screwing something up and then not being able to fix it cause I blew all my money on the turbo, and well I got an AT tranny so that also sucks. I want to trade teh car in for a manual but dont have the money to pay the extra, and I havent seen any manuals at my local dealership anyways. Wonder if someone here is willing to trade . I'll prolly stick with this and not turbo it, once I pay of my loans (that will take a while) I'll look to getting something newer in the mazda world. But I'll still go with the racing beat and clean her up a bit.

 

[bazooka joe]

i turbo'd my 02 auto and it's the balls! will it break...maybe...if i was looking for raw big power i wouldn't have done it...i turbo'd the car so it would have the guts it should had from the factory...it's not the same car...it is just so much more fun and i was in love with this car before the kit went in. i'm at 5psi and maybe go to 7 once i do the tranny cooler and upgrade the valve bodies...that's it and i'm not racing it so...i think i'll be okay...time will tell!!(thumb) i've go about 7k on the mam sleeper kit....

 

[theice]

Sure, turbo is going to be a much greater net gain in power, but there is surely going to be a possibility of losing reliability of your daily driver, plus you're talking $2600 for the MAM stripper kit.

The I/H/E combo will be a noticeable upgrade to you and will make your car much more responsive. I have an auto p5 with all the above and I'd love to go turbo, but I can't afford for my daily driver to be out of commission and I have better places to put my money than throwing it away on any car (although it is fun). This sounds to me to be the same type of situation you're in.

Either way, like others have said, just search around and then search some more to find exactly what you want.