Let me introduce myself

[xtreme velocity]

Wow! That's just awesome! For someone that is not a big Mazda fan yet. Lol YET! But to watch someone bring a Mazda back from the dead like that is just too cool! You have done a fine job here! I'm not new to Mazda but I'm new to this sedan thing. I really love it though! Can't wait to fix mine. I have found this forum is slow than most, but its the best forum for these cars. And you can find good deals for parts here. Just got to happen to find them at right time. There are several guys that have had their cars for several years and still building, just waiting on right part for right price. Stock parts keep with rockauto and here for most part, sometimes eBay.

Good luck and thanks so much for posting!

 

[z31jaime]

Actually I didn't really think about it, but I did own an old Probe with this same motor in 5 speed and I loved it (it was Purple which sucked). Thats partly why I let her get out of the volvo game and into this... I knew the motor was solid. (I beat that Probe like a Gypsie) . Now if I can only figure out the high idle issue.

 

[z31jaime]

and figured it out. Looks like in the accident the cruise control cable got damaged. Removed cable and car runs like a champ.

 

[z31jaime]

Well good news is the mazda hit the streets today. The bad news... It sits lower than my wagon with the new suspension... which upsets me... LOL. My Wife Loves it though. I'll get some pix up soon.

 

[z31jaime]

OK well, I spent last weekend getting it back on the road...

sorry for the crappy cell phone pix
#1

That mount was bad but still in 1 peace when I pulled it.

#2

The one Next to the Timing belt....

#3

the one buy the front bumper.

I didn't get a pic of the last one, but anyways they are all new and swapped. The motor lifted and shifted about 2" all around. and the car feels much better.

so I decided to do some work to it now...
valve cover and heat sheild in black crinkle paint with the Mazda letters paint matched to the car


Then we jacked the car up and started to replace the bent struts from the accident with.........


Its just a set of cheap ebay sensen struts with ebay M2 drop springs...

decided to give her brakes some love while I was there...
the color is called Burnt Coppet, and its more metalic looking than the phots show..



the end result was this....

the front came WAY down, the back... only slightly.

better shot of the side that got hit, everything lined up prity damn close... I think.


we go a set of black houseing headlights ready to put on, but we are going to wait for the paint to be done before we throw em on.

and the wife trying to let me take a pic while she hides her face...


I was surprized the mazda dropped that much, my wagon is on Koni Yellows with Weitec springs and adjustable endlinks and the mazda just came down 2" more than it (talking rooflines).






Ok so serious talk now...
The car is back on the road and runs great...except it looks like a pack of skittles.... so I went to home depot and got some OD green paint and tested it on the old fender I had.... what do you guys think....

 

[JDM323J48]

not to my taste, i would go with the oem green and paint and fit spoiler on trunk lid while at it but great work on the repairs

 

[z31jaime]

UPDATE:

Decided to send it to get OEM paint redone (just waiting on a few parts). Sourced P5 sides for $15 each so I snagged them. Just need the rear and front lips. Color matched trunk spoiler is on its way from Canada.

I wanted to know if anyone has these on their car so I can see what they look like before I buy them...

http://www.corksport.com/corksport-taillight-covers-for-protege.html

 

[blkspdfreak]

car's coming along good. i would personally pass on the tail light covers. if you're going to get the car repainted, why not take off the door moldings? it looks so much cleaner with them off, and it would be the perfect time to do it too.

 

[z31jaime]

car's coming along good. i would personally pass on the tail light covers. if you're going to get the car repainted, why not take off the door moldings? it looks so much cleaner with them off, and it would be the perfect time to do it too.

My wife is a bit accident prone...I'm gonna leave as much "bumpers" as I can. I might change them out to something a little different though.

 

[z31jaime]

did some test fitting... what do you guys think.... splitters off a Saab 9-5







that's just on with 2 sided tape and zip ties, the car still needs to be repainted before I do a final install on them but I was amazed at how close they fit. I also like the fact that I don't end up with a super low lip in the front but I do get the Line I need to line up with the P5 sides.


its kinda cool from far away it looks like the side splitters are meeting up to the little lip on the bottom of the bumper....

 

[z31jaime]

update: got the rear lip in, and also an exhaust for it.

going paint if for X-mas.

 

[JDM323J48]

bet you can't wait.

 

[bellepopol]

Imagine the look with a nice OEM front lip :

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123835587-FS-Sedan-Front-Lip-(OEM)-for-sale

;-)