Circuit's 03.5 Protege5

[clement_ghost]

Where's the "Like" button?

It's nice to see well done work with a good taste of constant evolution on a 13-year-old clean mazda!

 

[Circuit]

Where's the "Like" button?

It's nice to see well done work with a good taste of constant evolution on a 13-year-old clean mazda!

Thanks!!

I got tired of the miss-matched interior panels so I picked up a new set of window switch panels and radio surround from the junkyard and gave them to a friend to paint. He took the center console too so they all match. Everything has been blacked out.

Comparison of the radio surround

 

[Taco Cat]

The painted trim pieces look awesome! Do you know what paint he used? Was it with a gun or just rattle canned? Looks super clean so I would guess it's a good quality paint with a gun.

 

[Circuit]

The painted trim pieces look awesome! Do you know what paint he used? Was it with a gun or just rattle canned? Looks super clean so I would guess it's a good quality paint with a gun.

Small paint gun. He is the manager of a hobby store and does some really awesome hobby painting. Single colors on relatively large flat surfaces were cake for him. You can see his work here: https://www.facebook.com/Hobby5ensei

 

[Circuit]

Fixed my lean issue!! I pulled the intake manifold AGAIN and while double-checking tightness on all the bolts holding it together, one totally snapped. Luckily I was able to get the remaining portion out of the IM. Replaced with all new gaskets and bolts and she drove great up to San Francisco and back! Woot!

Got my header and intake pipe ceramic coated with a polished/chrome finish. Will likely do the same with the valve cover

The paint/clear on my Carbing strut tower bar was cracking so I had it stripped and re-done in gloss white powder coat. Luckily it came with a replacement sticker. Looks great now.

Made it out to the Blox Evolution Evo2 show with Reg and a couple other friends. Spoke to the judge today (Kenjo from GarageStar, a friend of mine) and he said I was 2 points behind the 2nd place Miata. Too bad there was no 3rd place category lol.

 

[njaremka]

header looks fantastic. is that the old Ractive header? i had one on my old Protege, and i loved it.

 

[Circuit]

header looks fantastic. is that the old Ractive header? i had one on my old Protege, and i loved it.

Nooo! Its the Pacemaker from Australia. One of the few (maybe only?) in the US.

 

[googoo1oo]

not the only one I have one for my blue mp3 its sweet I also have the awr header too also sweet

 

[Circuit]

not the only one I have one for my blue mp3 its sweet I also have the awr header too also sweet

Nice! I've had 3 AWR headers since owning the car lol. Wish I had just kept the first one.

 

[njaremka]

Nooo! Its the Pacemaker from Australia. One of the few (maybe only?) in the US.

LOL! no offense intended, looks fantastic. love your car

 

[googoo1oo]

I'm running the AWR now and I love it

 

[Taco Cat]

Looks amazing as always man! (thumb)

 

[ffocused.]

The ceramic coat looks great!

Car's looking really clean with the re-done retrofit and everything, nice work bud.

 

[Circuit]

LOL! no offense intended, looks fantastic. love your car

None taken! Thank you!

Looks amazing as always man! (thumb)

Thanks!

The ceramic coat looks great!

Car's looking really clean with the re-done retrofit and everything, nice work bud.

Thank you!

Next steps to continue refining her:

- Clear high beam bulbs
- Get valve cover ceramic coated to match header and intake pipe
- Re-do sub beauty panels and make them more "showy" (think frosted plexiglass outlines with edge-lit LEDs)
- New windshield
- Re-cover rear seats to match the evo seats
- Headliner and pillars in alcantara

 

[David1206]

What kind of kit did you use for you lights?

 

[Circuit]

What kind of kit did you use for you lights?

TheRetrofitSource Morimoto Mini H1

 

[David1206]

Pretty happy with them?

 

[Circuit]

Pretty happy with them?

The best bang for your buck and easiest to install projectors available.

 

[Circuit]

Halos and city lights

Getting gas for like the 2nd time in 2 years LOL

Had an idea of re-doing the Aeros in full BBS LM F1 livery. Yellow-gold with black hardware. So I had a friend do a quick photoshop.

Oil change stuffs (haven't done the oil since getting the car back running) and clear high beam bulbs. Also picked up a Mazdaspeed Miata mirror. Will be wrapping it in a better matching silver and adding a new mazdaspeed decal.

Also, powder to go full gold has been received. Will be Edgemont Gold.

 

[njaremka]

i like the city lights i did the same thing when i had protege5 headlights on my old sedan. your car looks great.