Lewis7789's 2003 Protege5 build thread

[Lewis7789]

I've had a question on my mind. With an upgraded motor, you are obviously beefing up the front end's handling and suspension. Did you select a certain lowering spring that differs from the rear to compensate in the weight difference? I'm not even sure of the weight difference in the motors.

I'm going to stick with the BC coilovers after the swap too. I'll probably swap out the springs to a higher spring rate later on when I actually learn more about it and can feel the differences in suspension setup.

thx for the part number !

RAYBESTOS Part # 5071386 Professional Grade
Complete Arm With Ball Joint; Front Left Lower
RAYBESTOS Part # 5071387 Includes Bushings Professional Grade
Complete Arm With Ball Joint; Front Right Lower


?

Was the question mark for a question? IIRC, Cheese bought the Becks & Gnarly and wasn't too thrilled with the quality. I replaced both lower control arms on the silver P5 with the Raybestos and was happy with them. I wouldn't spend the money on the Hard Race ones.

I'm shocked no one has made a press or screw in ball joint conversion yet. **** spending 260 bucks a arm.

Yeah. It would've been nice to replace the ball joints and bushings for half the cost. But whatchagonnado...

 

[RicoP5]

yeah but they dont have the 57 one :/ only the 56 one . so one side yes and not the other

 

[ihone]

I got both my replacements from Rockauto.

And about beefing up the front end - the weight gain in putting in a KL is small. I do notice it on HARD braking from the little bit of extra dive I get, but could be remedied with stiffer springs in the front.

I'm noticing some slop developing in the shifter also. I'm still on stock bushings for the shifter guide-arm (that bolts to the transmission) and never touched the shifter bushings on the bottom side of the shifter. The shifter assembly came from a clapped out P5 - my question is this - could the old bushings be the slop?

Which ones? The shifter assembly bushings or the arm bushings that bolt to the transmission?

 

[JDM_Pro5]

If cats took over the forums

http://cat.www.mazdas247.com.meowbify.com/forum/adv_index.php

 

[Lewis7789]

ihone, which shift linkage are you using? The PGT one or the stock P5 one?

I had shifter bushings on my P5 linkage and everything was tight. But when I switched to the PGT linkage there is a difference between the bottom of the shift lever (the P5 shift lever is wider) and the shifter was sloppy. I'm going to ask Josh to weld up my P5 U bracket to the PGT linkage and be good to go.

edit- Cam, wtf? haha

 

[Cleverfrog]

So, is your kl, evan, going to have forced induction down the road?

 

[Lewis7789]

Oh yes indeed. I asked Ivan to change the thread title because I thought it to be misleading, like it already had the turbo KL. I'm pulling the FS next week then swapping in the N/A KL to make sure the MegaSquirt is sorted, the KL is running well and strong, the rebuilt transmission and new clutch is broken in and everything is peachy. Then I'll switch to a turbo set up in late fall or over the winter. But I'll be in no huge rush since the N/A setup will take some getting used to and all the bugs worked out but a turbo is certainly the plan in spring of 2013.

 

[Cleverfrog]

What gear box can you use with a KL?

 

[JayG1989]

If cats took over the forums

http://cat.www.mazdas247.com.meowbify.com/forum/adv_index.php

LMAO WTF...

I love the David Blaine Street Magic pic on the right, remind of me of those good ol' videos.

 

[Lewis7789]

What gear box can you use with a KL?

Any manual tranny that bolts up to a KL. ProbeGt, MX-6 or 626 and hope to god they don't explode. The transmission internals are the same as the Protege, just different bell housings. But the trans is the weakest point in this build, that's why I went with the fully rebuilt tranny I found on ProbeTalk. And I'll get an MFactory LSD when the turbo build comes.

 

[JDM_Pro5]

The trans is the weakest point in any protege build

 

[Lewis7789]

Yup. Unless you want to spend $4,ooo+ like MP5t did. But I'm not that baller. But the great thing about this swap is the motor and trans are very easily found and are freaking cheap. 170chp for $700 shipped? Yes please. As opposed to say a Honda B16 with 170chp for $1200 shipped. Not trying to sound rich or anything, because I'm not at all, but if the motor explodes or tranny goes ka-blewy I will just swap it out with another one. No biggie. But I'll only be boosting around 8lbs and the KLDE handles that just fine. And I don't drag race so the trans won't get beaten up too badly.

 

[JDM_Pro5]

Envious of your build. Wish I had a stout Protege6 that looked as good as yours also

 

[Lewis7789]

Don't be envious, man. Shalon made it look pretty so I can't take credit there. And really it's just money and free time, pretty much anyone could build one of these. It's the cool friends I make and the good friends that help out in the garage that makes the build worth it.

I'm painting the roll bar (Fanta orange!) today and will install it tomorrow.











(just kidding, the roll bar is black. Like my soul)

 

[bikingpro5]

Don't be envious, man. Shalon made it look pretty so I can't take credit there. And really it's just money and free time, pretty much anyone could build one of these. It's the cool friends I make and the good friends that help out in the garage that makes the build worth it.

I'm painting the roll bar (Fanta orange!) today and will install it tomorrow.











(just kidding, the roll bar is black. Like my soul)

damn you.. waits for pics of the fanta orange..

 

[RicoP5]

soo yall know how good the beckeys or whatever control arms are? since rock auto only has one of the ones you recommended?

 

[JDM_Pro5]

Don't be envious, man. Shalon made it look pretty so I can't take credit there. And really it's just money and free time, pretty much anyone could build one of these. It's the cool friends I make and the good friends that help out in the garage that makes the build worth it.

Now I'm envious of these things you call "friends" I'll Google that after I find I new pair of pants seeing as someone's hellish soul caused me to piss mine

 

[Lewis7789]

damn you.. waits for pics of the fanta orange..

boom.

Rico, I can't really help you out since I've never seen them in person, just that someone on here (I think it was cheesehelmet) said he wasn't impressed with them.

 

[RicoP5]

oh okay damn fml. idk what to do then. 200 a piece for moog ones idk if its all worth it u know :/


wonder if these are okay

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...e-solutions_25987147-p?searchTerm=control+arm


or this

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d..._1398&keyword=control+arms&pt=02937&ppt=C0106

 

[Lewis7789]

I'm willing to bet any of those are just fine, I just don't know firsthand is all. No worries, man.