Lewis7789 2002 Protege5 build thread (tons of pics)

[wildcard26]

True, but I competed for 7 years. I know some things.

To get back on topic, try anything different yet Lewis?

Didn't mean to offend you or anything so please accept my apologies if it came across that way. It was just my 2 cents as I put in the end of my post. I was talking from a HT perspective so in the 12V perspective you have other factors like cabin gain and again the subjective nature of it all so again my apologies if it came across in the wrong way. I was just trying to place this aspect on the table for consideration because all in all you competition experience trumps my statement.

So back on topic, any progress on this buddy?

 

[ihone]

from the outside looking in -

Why you apologize? Audio is ALL objective anyways....from pure performance all the way down to the occasional vinyl listener. Noone hears anything the same exact way, and my taste in sound isn't quite the same as anyone else's. That's why the "competitions" have multiple judges - I've done my fair share (worked at Lanzaar and Stillwater Design for a good piece) of competing also, but just because I've done that - doesn't mean what I say goes.

And yeah - back on topic: What's this box look like, how many/deep/big are these ports, what kind of stantioning is in place for the port-knocking, distancing...etc. As far as the amp: what's the gain structure look like, bass-boost or L.E.C. (Low End Cut) circuit, it's a good known amp that's worked in another's vehicle I take it. Try this - it's gonna sound cheesy, but it's a good way to try some other input (source) - get a 3.5mm stereo (ipod plug) to dual RCA (red/white unbalanced stereo) and plug it into your amp or into your xover that's feeding your amp. Play something from your iphone/ipod/mp3 player and see if it sounds any better (response wise). It may just be the source you're feeding it.

 

[wildcard26]

The reason for the apology is that it was not my intention to offend and sometimes things can get misconstrued with medium of communication that we have to use on the forums, that is type/text. So it was not my intention for my statement to be read in a "putting it to you" manner but more of just as you explained, objective/relative manner.

Still have been following this thread closely to up to this point to find out what the deal is though.

 

[Lewis7789]

Milly audio post;
Hey guys, turns out my sub control on the Alpine head unit crapped out. I may have crossed or shorted something when I wa installing the oil pressure guage in the P5 and it blew my old Infinity. Phen and Wes just hooked it up to the rear speaker output RCA jacks and it's running fine now and sounds pretty good. But I will eventually buy a new headunit so I can have more control over the sub level.

Also, my friend Pablo sold me his Alpine 45watt mini sub so I plugged that in and the stock speakers sound MUCH better. So I was thinking, can I plug the Alpine Type-R 5x7's in the door now since they will be getting more powa will they sound good again? And I also bought some Rockford 6x8's from him (brand new, he bought them for his Miata but they are the wrong size, $50) so I'll put those in the rear deck lid tomorrow. Again, I don't know jack about car stereos but I do have a good ear (I'm a musician of 16 years, heh-heh) so I just want good, clean sound. But i don't want the Alpine mini-sub blowing the OEM paper speakers. Ya know?

Again, thanks for everyone's help here on the forums AND in the driveway (Phen, Pablo and Wes). (2thumbs)

I'll get pics of the sub enclosure tomorrow, it's raining and kinda dark now. But i may sell/trade the enclosure so I would like something tighter.

P6 progress post;
I added 1/2 quart of GM synchromesh to my tranny today and it already feels much better. My 3rd gear is starting to grind when I'm shifting fast at WOT so I plan on swapping tranny internals and installing the LSD this winter.

I also changed the spark plugs today with some NGK iridiums and the motor feels so much smoother. Granted my old plugs were only 3 months old but I've got a dyno pull next week and I want the motor in tip-top shape. I also deleted the front 2nd O2 sensor and capped it. The rear 2nd O2 sensor had a few frayed wires that I couldn't repair so I just ran it without it and it ran just fine. So I removed the front one too, reset the ECU and drove around running some errands today and the AFR's look good. Still probably too rich at WOT (around 11.2) but around 13.7 when cruising. Much better than after the swap when I was lucky to see 12's while cruising. I think I had 20mpg the first month. heh-heh. Now it's around 26 lately. And that's still with my heavy right foot.

I'm going to try to get the bloody oil pressure gauge working tomorrow and make a block off plate for the stereo location. Funny side note- I was at the Wendy's drive thru last week and the girl looked in my car and said "Oh no, did someone steal your stereo?" "Nah, I put it in my other car." She said "Oh, well, doesn't it suck not having a stereo?" Me- "Nah, I've got the sweet sound of a V6 to listen too ). She just looked at me funny and handed me my food. haha

 

[PrinceValorum]

My 3rd gear is starting to grind when I'm shifting fast at WOT so I plan on swapping tranny internals and installing the LSD this winter.

Sucks, so much for low mileage JDM trans... Or else they don't know how to shift in JDMland if it really had 30k on it.

Now it's around 26 lately. And that's still with my heavy right foot

That's not bad at all! I've been expecting low 20's for mine, but that's good news.

 

[repthemazdas]

Haha, Chippy, I am a music snob. I'm the first to admit it.

I'll do some tinkering this weekend with the stereo and see if I can get it sorted out.

Cres, thanks for that link. I might go that route next year. I completey gutted my EG then used 4-5 cans of spray bedliner on the inside. It actually worked pretty well to dampen the sound. And was cheap to boot. But I don't mind spending $50 for a gallon of that Second Skin and spraying that in there.

Before the bedliner, obviously;

I miss this little car though. It was slow as piss, but handled great.

And it looks like Ryan will probably buy my seats (I forgot to get pics for you, man.) then I'll buy some Corbeau's or a good deal on some used fixed back racing seats, buy the side brackets and have my boy Josh weld them to the floor. After the Second Skin is sprayed in, of course. I like to sit upright like a nerd, even while daily driving, and I'm 6-1" and my helmet was almost touching the roof so the lower seats will help out a lot. Plus they are so comfy! I'm excite. Still gotta figure out a good harness and harness bar solution though. Or else I'll just get some of those G-lock thangs and rock the OEM 3 points. I love feeling strapped in with 4 points, but I want to stay safe and legal.

slow eg hmm i have a friend with a k20 in his and damn that thing beats some boosted cars. im guessing u must of had a single cam none vtec under ur hood?

 

[CheeseHelmet]

I'm going to try to get the bloody oil pressure gauge working tomorrow and make a block off plate for the stereo location. Funny side note- I was at the Wendy's drive thru last week and the girl looked in my car and said "Oh no, did someone steal your stereo?" "Nah, I put it in my other car." She said "Oh, well, doesn't it suck not having a stereo?" Me- "Nah, I've got the sweet sound of a V6 to listen too ). She just looked at me funny and handed me my food. haha

LOL

You should have told her that you have enough voices and music in your head to make up for not having a stereo

 

[Lewis7789]

Rep- mine was slow since it still had the stock D15B8 in it (70chp). I had all the parts for a B20B swap but the block, but I was living with my parents at the time and my dad changed his mind on the swap. He said I would be making too much noise in the garage and it would upset the neighbors. Pffsht... Thankfully our neighbors at this house are cool or they were always be pissed. heh-heh. I still miss that car though. It was in great shape. I sold it on eBay to a cat in IN who turned it into a drag car and said I can always come visit and drive it.

Cheese- good one, buddy. haha

 

[repthemazdas]

lol damn fart canons lol

 

[roidz69]

Hey I was also wondering if you still had any other engine parts from the old motor?

 

[Lewis7789]

Yeah dude, total fart can. But back in the day, it's all we really had to choose from. Hell, I'm still running a fart canon.

Roidz, I don't really have anthing left from the old motor. I traded it to my friend Josh who is running it in his P5 now.

I ran to Summit Racing today for a new air filter. Funny story- a week or so after the swap was done I was driving and I heard a "clunk" and ran over something and I looked in the rearview mirror and see my brand new $40 K&N air filter bouncing down the road. Haha! Apparently I forgot to tighten the hose clamp on the filter. It was squashed but I had to put it back on because of a "temprary lack of funding" (I was poor). Then I kept forgetting to replace it. So I got a new filter today and a K&N pre-filter screen that goes over the filter. Apparently it's supposed to help keep the filter dry because my car runs funny when it's raining. I think because the CF hood doesn't have the gaskets the OEM one does and since I don't have an A/C condensor anymore a lot of the road water is being splashed up through the radiator to the filter. So hopefully this will help.

 

[repthemazdas]

dont worrie i do too and i love me some corksport btw i love the way ur sounds ahh i sounds fukking clean..

 

[HKPRO5]

Don't worry that happened to me a few months ago after putting back the SC kit lol. Needless to say, thats one thing I check when I change my oil... lol

 

[Lewis7789]

Lulz, Cres. Glad I'm not the only one... Ps- I forgot to polish your IM today! I'm out to the garage after I post this. Doh!

So I'm doing some research on the FPR (fuel pressure regulator) since I'm running rich at WOT (around 11.2) and lean at idle (around 15.3). I found this thread on PT.com and it seems like everyone agrees you can't tune the fuel pressure since the ECU will readjust it. Which kinda makes sense. But then why do so many N/A probe owners have them without MegaSquirt?

I'm trying to find if it's worth installing my Megan Racing FPR I have on the shelf, and if so, then how. heh-heh

 

[PrinceValorum]

Dang, I was going to say just get a chipped DE ECU, but I forgot you went with dumb OBD2... And no one's figured out how to crack that, yet...

 

[roidz69]

oh I think I will be heading down to get that exhaust in mid October, is that fine with you?

 

[Lewis7789]

Cool with me, man. It's just hanging on the wall in the garage. No worries. I'll PM you my number.

 

[Lewis7789]

Well, I'm having some real problems with traction this evening. With all the added horse powa!

 

[wildcard26]

LOL. I like that one "I'm not drunk just avoiding potholes." and "Rust is lighter than Carbon Fiber." LMAO!

 

[goodfornothing]

Hellasticker fad ;D