Ingredients for more Horsepower

[APEXistud]

OK guys, I've been messing around in my kitchen and I've brewed up with this new recipe for horsepower and I guarantee it'll taste good. OK, here are the ingredients.....

Start with you choice of intake: MHP Cold Air-Intake $329(an MP3 favortie, also tastes great too), AEM's Short Ram Intake $185(new to the scene, but sure to add great flavor), Ractive Short Ram Intake $90(another newby to the scene). Or you can opt for the traditional K&N drop in filter which is cheap ($50-$65) and does the trick.

Next comes the bump stick, AKA cam. This single ingredient is said to have the biggest punch. Nothing like a boot to the mouth to start off the evening. FSZE Intake Cam $167.

Now, I know what you're thinking, "with the cam, won't I have to alter the timing from what factory setting are". Well, you are c o r r e c t. So, I've added the
APEX-i ITC This Ignition Timing Controller let you alter the timing signal going to the ECU, thus enabling you to advance/ retard the timing to you hearts content. Using this with APEX-i S-AFC let's you have almost total control of what information the ECU is recieving. So, you're car will have the extra kick you've wanted.

OK, now that you have the ingredients, you are well on your way to having one the tastiest, temp you tummy MP3's on the road. All these mods, (providing you're a smart shopper) shouldn't cost you anymore than $500-$700. I know, that may sound like a lot of money, but hey, who ever said cooking up your import was gonna be dirty cheap. "The more you spend, the better it'll taste"

Tune in next time, as I plan on covering the drivetrain and exhaust systems, which I have already found replacement parts for. These are among the most expensive though, so have those credit cards ready.

 

[APEXistud]

Oops, the link for the Intake cam didn't take, but if you go to Cork Sport.com or Mazda Motorsports and do a search on Protege, you'll find it.

I'm looking to have the parts I listed by January or so, I was wondering if there was anyone else who'd be interested in doing the same setup, but using one of the different intakes, then having their MP3 dyno'd. This way we can give everyone a good idea of what the cam, intake combo will give em.

[ 11-06-2001: Message edited by: APEXistud ]

 

[big_ben]

I've been planning on getting the intake cam pretty soon. Mainly b/c it's the easiest thng to install. I'll put up a tutorial for the people who aren't mechanicaly inclined. The only way to learn stuff about your engine is to mess something up then learn how to fix it. The cams should be pretty easy though, as long as you dont screw up the timing. I'm not going to get the timing controler, it's a little too rich for my blood right now. Can you get that and the air fuel ratio computer cheaper?

 

[Neffy]

APEXI....im down for doin the same setup...currently im running the AEM short ram....planning on a GReddy exhaust....and whatever else you cookbook can offer

 

[70]

I have a quick question. I've read elsewhere that the S-AFC only really works at part throttle for the Protege, and at full throttle the ECU does it's own thing and completely ignores any input that the S-AFC is giving. Just wondering if that's right?

 

[hukster00]

I might be doing that setup tho, i got MHP cai, all i need is the cams and APEX-i ITC and the S-fac , but i will see i'm gona wait till January and see if the turbo kit will out by then

 

[APEXistud]

Yeah, I 've heard about that too and have done a little research as into why and what exactly happens. It's all gonna depend on what type of sensor we have in our intake pipe (MAF or MAP) and what voltage that sensor operates at. If our sensor operates above 5 volts, when (theoretically) you punch the gas to full throttle, the voltage may spike, thus causing the S-AFC setting to drop to 0 and make the car run lean for a spli second or so. And lean is not good, so yes there is a problem that need to be addressed before people try using this on our cars.

If we're lucky and the MP3 uses the same sensor as the Miata like I'm guessing, we can just use the settings for a Miata and tune the car accordingly. I am still going to look into doing this. I will not be installing or tuning these parts on my car alone, I definately will let a shop do all the work. Preferably a shop that has dealt with the ITC and S-AFC. The ITC is extremely difficult to install. It alters the timing signal going to the ECU, so you can imagine how much slicing is involve. So, it's safe to say that the APEXi electronic are not for the faint hearted, but with proper installation and tuning, I bet they'll work wonders just as they have for other Japanese cars they've been installed/tuned on.

If you guys have any tough technically oriented questions that want answered, please feel free to post them on the board. I'm sure I or other MP3 owners can answer them.

 

[APEXistud]

Oh, one last thing. Being that APEXi does not have wiring diagrams for the protege, we'd probably have to find out what pins mean what on the ECU harness. I'll look into it also, can't be too hard to find out. Racing Beat may already have one.

 

[NC_MP3]

Great work. I am planning on getting the cam, AFC, and I guess the timing controller too, in about 2 weeks. I might get the pistons, but don't know yet.

What about....

Exhaust cam? I have read on here that we alrdy have the FS-ZE exhaust cam, but what about the Mazdaspeed one?

Header? Mazdamotorsports.com has a header listed for the 2.0 DOHC I4, but it says MX6 in the application box, will it work for the MP3? I might call and ask.

 

[APEXistud]

After doing a little more research, I'm suggesting we hold off on the ITC for a little bit, till I can find out more details. After speaking to one of the Techs at APEX-i (sorry forgot to get his name for you guys). I'm thinking I should actually look into having someone make and cam gear for us.

 

[APEXistud]

BREAKING NEWS.....

After making about 10 phone calls today, I've discovered that we shouldn't need to mess with our timing. And yes, we do have the same exhaust cam that is found on the FS-ZE motor, but if you think about it, if you're installing the intake cam you might as well by the lumpier MazdaSpeed bump stick. No double labor this way. Cam gears can always be added later when they're available and if you see the need to have them. So, sorry about that miss information I posted. Hell it all still works out, the money you were gonna spend on the ITC or cam gears can just go to buying the MazdaSpeed bump stick.

 

[MP3Ben]

Nice work ApexiStud!

Here's a little more info from Corksport that I got today:

Cams-wise; we can swap the FS-ZE intake cam no problemo, and when doing this, it's even better to do the Mazdaspeed exhaust cam. I asked if we needed stronger valve springs, and the answer was no! We already use the FS-ZE valve springs!

Pistons (for those of you who are interested) are do-able in two ways: either the stock FS-ZE pistons (10.4:1 compression) or the Mazdaspeed pistons (10.7:1). The recommendation for doing pistons is that we should do cams as well, although if we do cams alone, we don't necessarily have to do pistons. Another tip from them was to look into an upgraded fuel pump especially if we are looking to do the pistons, as the higher compression and high revs makes for less room for error in the engine.

Cheers

 

[NC_MP3]

Great! Now about those fuel pumps, do we have any aftermarket ones available? How about the header? Anyone know if it will work? Talking about the one at mazdamotorsports.com, not the $700 one on corksport.

[ 11-07-2001: Message edited by: NC_MP3 ]

 

[MP3Ben]

Corect me if I'm wrong, but I think the Mazda Motorsports and the Corksports one are the same thing...except that on Mazda Motorsports they sell the entire exhaust system along with the header for something like over a grand...

As for fuel pumps, I'm researching into it, but so far there's nothing made specifically for our car. I bet the universal stuff made by various companies like AEM would work, or perhaps even a Mazda part from another engine may work...anyone care to do the research? I'm a little busy this week, so might not be able to get anything useful for the time being...

 

[NC_MP3]

Here is the one on Mazdamotorsports.com:

0000-06-6402 C HEADER, EXHAUST - 2.0 1 626 MX-6 2.0 I4 1993-97 $271.45

Notes: Bosal header is engineered to provide maximum gas flow for higher power, greater torque, and wider power band. Made 14 guage mild steel and ceramic coated for durability. Raises power approximately 8 at the wheels.

It is under the 2.0 DOHC engine section.

Here is the one at Corksport:

99p-6-508 MAZDASPEED Stainless steel header (1.8, 2.0) New $739

 

[MP3Ben]

OK, that jarred my memories a bit! My guess then is that the Corksport header is the one for the FS-ZE engine actually made by Mazdaspeed (possibly like the one listed on Mazda Motorsports under their catalog if you do a Protege/2.0 I4/2001 search, but that includes header/exhaust. It's for the World Challenge FS-ZE.) whereas the one you have listed for Mazda Motorsports above is made by Bosal, and is for the 93-97 2.0 I4 found in lower model Probes,626's, and MX6's?

The engines are similar, but that set may not fit our car, as ours is a newer, slightly revised version of that engine I think. Then again, they might...you'll have to see what Mazda Motorsports says...if they do, it'd be quite a cost reduction to replace our headers! The exhaust might not fit though coz the cars probably vary in dimension ie. length, number of bends in the exhaust, etc.

 

[70]

Something to keep in mind, as far as have scene, the headers that are curently available remove the cat that is just off the exhaust manifold. So, it might not be emissions legal (pipe sniffer test). Then again, that might not matter depending on where you live.

 

[APEXistud]

Yeah, I'd bet they'd pass the sniffer, but being that the headers would be in plain sight once the hood is opened, you'd fail the visual. No CARB OE Number is stamped on there. Simple problem to solve though, we just have to put a heat shield over it. Then we'd have to relocate the O2 sensor that's in the factory manifold to another spot.

[ 11-09-2001: Message edited by: APEXistud ]