Mazdaspeed Protege Build - Feels Good To Be Back

[MP3Night]

rip off from a culturally appropriated brand name, but the latter is a conversation for another day

you can get the same function for a fraction of the price by just getting the stant 14047 thermostat off rock auto (close out sale for about $10 shipped right now, as a matter of fact) or amazon... it's bottom bypass just like the mishimoto, mazdaspeed, billion, and stock one... it does lack the jiggle pin like the mishimoto though, so bleeding the coolant is a little harder but not much... I just drilled a pinhole in it when I installed it in a friend's car to kind of simulate the presence of a jiggle pin

but anyway there's functionally zero difference between the two.... there's nothing special about the mishimoto except they likely sourced it from whoever makes their radiators out of china or some other company over there... from what I saw in the pics of someone else who bought one a couple of months ago, it isn't even made off center like the OEM RX-8 one, which is what mishimoto's part number lists, so I don't even know how well it works on the RX-8 lol... if you have money burning a hole in your wallet, then feel free to cough up the $60 for one... if it was really that special like the discontinued mazdaspeed B-spec one was, then it'd be worth the money to me then lol

Well damn, so you really just paying 50 bucks for the jiggle pin.

Please tell me their radiators are good or you haven't heard anything bad about them lol. Ron Davis is pricey but if we must it will be done. I wish corksport still made them.

CS says they are Mazda ppl, I'm not seeing it...where's all my MSP parts. ( joking around )
They never email me back though

 

[TheMAN]

Well damn, so you really just paying 50 bucks for the jiggle pin.

Please tell me their radiators are good or you haven't heard anything bad about them lol. Ron Davis is pricey but if we must it will be done. I wish corksport still made them.

CS says they are Mazda ppl, I'm not seeing it...where's all my MSP parts. ( joking around )
They never email me back though

Like I said, the mishimoto doesn't have the jiggle pin either... at that price, I'd import the OEM EDM MPV one, which DOES have the jiggle pin

the mishimoto radiators do cool well, but ever since moving their production to china years ago, their fitment is horrible and almost always needs mods/fabbing to make it fit... the ron davis wasn't much better either but it seemed better still... at least the ron davis one had a MSP sized radiator to make it work with a SMIC at least

really, the stock radiator works pretty good unless you're tracking the car or live in arizona... I pushed mine to the max and using it at its limit with the bigger EDM 626/MPV oil cooler, Mazdaspeed B-spec thermostat... it stays at 180-185 degrees most times in the texas summers, but once I push the car hard, it takes a while to get below 195 lol... but it never overheats, and the plastic parts under the hood are still pretty mint unlike stock MSPs that had their coolant reservoirs melted and radiator end tanks turning crispy critter

 

[MP3Night]

Like I said, the mishimoto doesn't have the jiggle pin either... at that price, I'd import the OEM EDM MPV one, which DOES have the jiggle pin

the mishimoto radiators do cool well, but ever since moving their production to china years ago, their fitment is horrible and almost always needs mods/fabbing to make it fit... the ron davis wasn't much better either but it seemed better still... at least the ron davis one had a MSP sized radiator to make it work with a SMIC at least

really, the stock radiator works pretty good unless you're tracking the car or live in arizona... I pushed mine to the max and using it at its limit with the bigger EDM 626/MPV oil cooler, Mazdaspeed B-spec thermostat... it stays at 180-185 degrees most times in the texas summers, but once I push the car hard, it takes a while to get below 195 lol... but it never overheats, and the plastic parts under the hood are still pretty mint unlike stock MSPs that had their coolant reservoirs melted and radiator end tanks turning crispy critter

Ah I see, no I won't be tracking the car. Maybe a spirited drive every once and awhile. I understand with the Texas heat.
It won't be the daily, future garage king just like the MS3. Weekend drives.

I faintly remember my MP3 coolant reservoir crumbling when I removed it.

Well I'll admit I was a sucker and ordered one. Thinking I was getting something top quality. I guess I got this FOMO with MSP parts.

Much Appreciated for the insight

you can get the same function for a fraction of the price by just getting the stant 14047 thermostat off rock auto (close out sale for about $10 shipped right now, as a matter of fact) or amazon... it's bottom bypass just like the mishimoto, mazdaspeed, billion, and stock one... it does lack the jiggle pin like the mishimoto though, so bleeding the coolant is a little harder but not much... I just drilled a pinhole in it when I installed it in a friend's car to kind of simulate the presence of a jiggle pin

Like I said, the mishimoto doesn't have the jiggle pin either... at that price, I'd import the OEM EDM MPV one, which DOES have the jiggle pin

Read it a little too fast. My B.

 

[TheMAN]

Ah I see, no I won't be tracking the car. Maybe a spirited drive every once and awhile. I understand with the Texas heat.
It won't be the daily, future garage king just like the MS3. Weekend drives.

I faintly remember my MP3 coolant reservoir crumbling when I removed it.

Well I'll admit I was a sucker and ordered one. Thinking I was getting something top quality. I guess I got this FOMO with MSP parts.

Much Appreciated for the insight



Read it a little too fast. My B.

nothing to do with ford... it was just a plastic tank that couldn't take the heat... the only thing ford on these cars is the ECU from what I've been able to tell so far

 

[MP3Night]

nothing to do with ford... it was just a plastic tank that couldn't take the heat... the only thing ford on these cars is the ECU from what I've been able to tell so far

I've noticed that with the MS3. Hell I've seen 2.5L ford engine swaps on some MS3.

I saw what you did with the shifter bushings (QFord shifter bushings). Definitely can't get those anymore but saw the Kia bushings that were mentioned in your thread. I'm considering going that route with that being on my list of things to do on the speed.

Have you read anywhere or know yourself that the bronzoil bushings squeaking and getting stiff after an x amount of use time. Or just simply drying up and causing some type of concern?

 

[MP3Night]

A tiny update: Mishimoto Low Temp Thermostat arrived.

Per TheMan: it doesn't have the jiggle pin. He is correct. From what I gathered is as long as it works as intended (E.G - it opens early as stated by Mishimoto). I got exactly what I wanted..a low temp T stat. I don't plan on draining the coolant often, very minor inconvenience thinking about it further.

 

[323]

I meant to check if those Kia bushings are still available. Did you happen to look? I want to swap my bronzoil bushings out with the Kia ones on the shift linkage by the transmission. Reason being is after the bronzoil install, my shifter rattles while cruising and it’s quite annoying. Saw a couple other folks on the Facebook group post videos of the same rattle after they installed theirs too so I’m not crazy or anything.

 

[MP3Night]

I meant to check if those Kia bushings are still available. Did you happen to look? I want to swap my bronzoil bushings out with the Kia ones on the shift linkage by the transmission. Reason being is after the bronzoil install, my shifter rattles while cruising and it’s quite annoying. Saw a couple other folks on the Facebook group post videos of the same rattle after they installed theirs too so I’m not crazy or anything.

Wel well, I thought there might be an issue with those bronzeoil bushings. Glad I decided to go the poly route. Metal on metal didn't seem right to me.

They are still available on ebay. It looks like there is still a few. Only place I could find them is ebay.

 

[MP3Night]

Intercooler arrived CX Racing. Had one on my old build and worked amazing.

 

[323]

Wel well, I thought there might be an issue with those bronzeoil bushings. Glad I decided to go the poly route. Metal on metal didn't seem right to me.

They are still available on ebay. It looks like there is still a few. Only place I could find them is ebay.

Thanks! Going to order me a set tomorrow.

 

[MP3Night]

Scooped this crispy fresh new front grill. Couldn't pass it up...especially in spicy orange. What!?

Can't believe the previous owner chopped the front grill up.

Current Grill:

New OEM Mazdaspeed Grill:

 

[njaremka]

Whoa! Nice find

 

[MP3Night]

Little update: Got a few parts in the mail today.

OEM Freeze Plugs and Oil Squirters:


Linkage Bushings/bolt:

 

[TheMAN]

Scooped this crispy fresh new front grill. Couldn't pass it up...especially in spicy orange. What!?

Can't believe the previous owner chopped the front grill up.

Current Grill:
View attachment 334506

New OEM Mazdaspeed Grill:
View attachment 334507
View attachment 334514
View attachment 334513View attachment 334512View attachment 334510

ebay special? the box looks resealed... the original tape is paper... and the blue protective tape that goes on the orange piece aren't there either

note all MP3 and MSP grilles don't come with the badge... you're supposed to order the "satin" badge separately, using domestically sourced part number... you'll need to look in that separate mazdaspeed PDF catalog (where it lists all the turbo parts also) for that part number... hope it's not discontinued

 

[TheMAN]

Little update: Got a few parts in the mail today.

OEM Freeze Plugs and Oil Squirters:
View attachment 334561

Linkage Bushings/bolt:
View attachment 334562

that kia bolt isn't as good as the mazda one in terms of rust protection plating... better to buy the mazda one and use that instead

 

[MP3Night]

ebay special? the box looks resealed... the original tape is paper... and the blue protective tape that goes on the orange piece aren't there either

note all MP3 and MSP grilles don't come with the badge... you're supposed to order the "satin" badge separately, using domestically sourced part number... you'll need to look in that separate mazdaspeed PDF catalog (where it lists all the turbo parts also) for that part number... hope it's not discontinued

Indeed, pretty much my only outlet for certain parts. I'll check the parts catalog, hopefully it's not discontinued . Otherwise I have to get a reproduction badge.

that kia bolt isn't as good as the mazda one in terms of rust protection plating... better to buy the mazda one and use that instead

Well that's unfortunate, I'll take a look again.

I'm still missing the nut for it too.

 

[TheMAN]

Indeed, pretty much my only outlet for certain parts. I'll check the parts catalog, hopefully it's not discontinued . Otherwise I have to get a reproduction badge.


Well that's unfortunate, I'll take a look again.

I'm still missing the nut for it too.

shiny one in the middle is what you need

 

[ProteJester]

Nice find!!! Quick question about the MSP, I'm about to put the SSAFC - psc1-020 in my car. Do you happen to know if the pin out diagram is the same as the ZM/FS pinout? I imagine it is

 

[MP3Night]

Nice find!!! Quick question about the MSP, I'm about to put the SSAFC - psc1-020 in my car. Do you happen to know if the pin out diagram is the same as the ZM/FS pinout? I imagine it is

I would imagine so, might be a better suited question for TheMan.

Maybe check out the search bar (if you haven't already) and see if you can find anything through there. Or Mazda Service Manual Tuns of info there as well...in case you don't wont to wait for TheMan to respond.

 

[ProteJester]

I would imagine so, might be a better suited question for TheMan.

Maybe check out the search bar (if you haven't already) and see if you can find anything through there. Or Mazda Service Manual Tuns of info there as well...in case you don't wont to wait for TheMan to respond.

I promise, the search bar and I are very close friends at this point haha
there is a ton of information but not a lot of back and forth between the MSP and the protege as far as wiring and such. (Not that I could find at least)

If that service manual is the same for the msp, then that's the one that I've been using up until now