Mazdaspeed Protege Build - Feels Good To Be Back
- Thread starter MP3Night
- Start date
MP3Night
MS3,Mazda3,MSP
A nice update and a super score at the junkyard.
I was honestly getting tired of the search for another transmission and started reconsidering just building the one I already have. Decided to check the local yards to see if maybe an MSP popped up… and sure enough, there was one 15 minutes from me.
This time feels different. Much more intentional
I walked in ther like a kid in a candy store, lol
Somebody already grabbed the pedals and shift knob, door sills, amp, sub, one of the rims, the hard pipes, but clearly I was the only one willing to pull the trans. Thank goodness it was still there.
MSP transmission — $162.
Lower ball joints fought me a good bit. CVs didn’t want to pop at first. Once everything was soaked in PB Blaster though, it all slid off like butter on a hot skillet. Felt like familiar ground wrenching on it again, made it way easier. Took me about 3 hours. Whole round trip and time invested about 4hrs.
I wanted to grab the axles too, but couldn’t get them free from the wheel bearing and the yard was about to close. I was running out of time. Also wanted the head
...but I was out of water and 80f weather, getting hungry. I was ready to go, lol
But hey, for a solid MSP transmission and got it on the low. Supreme snag. I feel like it was the best thing on the car to take.
Case looks solid.
No cracks around the diff.
Input shaft spins smooth.
For the price, I’m not complaining.
Still going to open it up and take a closer look.
Also, no mileage was written or listed anywhere on the vehicle like they normally do at yards, unfortunately.
This one’s getting stacked with the rest of the forged parts.
Also scooped this goodie for $25. A little rough, but looks solid.
I was honestly getting tired of the search for another transmission and started reconsidering just building the one I already have. Decided to check the local yards to see if maybe an MSP popped up… and sure enough, there was one 15 minutes from me.
This time feels different. Much more intentional
I walked in ther like a kid in a candy store, lol
Somebody already grabbed the pedals and shift knob, door sills, amp, sub, one of the rims, the hard pipes, but clearly I was the only one willing to pull the trans. Thank goodness it was still there.
MSP transmission — $162.
Lower ball joints fought me a good bit. CVs didn’t want to pop at first. Once everything was soaked in PB Blaster though, it all slid off like butter on a hot skillet. Felt like familiar ground wrenching on it again, made it way easier. Took me about 3 hours. Whole round trip and time invested about 4hrs.
I wanted to grab the axles too, but couldn’t get them free from the wheel bearing and the yard was about to close. I was running out of time. Also wanted the head
...but I was out of water and 80f weather, getting hungry. I was ready to go, lolBut hey, for a solid MSP transmission and got it on the low. Supreme snag. I feel like it was the best thing on the car to take.
Case looks solid.
No cracks around the diff.
Input shaft spins smooth.
For the price, I’m not complaining.
Still going to open it up and take a closer look.
Also, no mileage was written or listed anywhere on the vehicle like they normally do at yards, unfortunately.
This one’s getting stacked with the rest of the forged parts.
Also scooped this goodie for $25. A little rough, but looks solid.
Attachments
Last edited:
misnblu
2002 Mazda Protege DX
Nice finds and a gift for those willing to endure the hardships of tearing down a car for what you need for your project.A nice update and a super score at the junkyard.
I was honestly getting tired of the search for another transmission and started reconsidering just building the one I already have. Decided to check the local yards to see if maybe an MSP popped up… and sure enough, there was one 15 minutes from me.
View attachment 381286
This time feels different. Much more intentional
I walked in ther like a kid in a candy store, lol
Somebody already grabbed the pedals and shift knob, door sills, amp, sub, one of the rims, the hard pipes, but clearly I was the only one willing to pull the trans. Thank goodness it was still there.
MSP transmission — $162.
Lower ball joints fought me a good bit. CVs didn’t want to pop at first. Once everything was soaked in PB Blaster though, it all slid off like butter on a hot skillet. Felt like familiar ground wrenching on it again, made it way easier. Took me about 3 hours. Whole round trip and time invested about 4hrs.
I wanted to grab the axles too, but couldn’t get them free from the wheel bearing and the yard was about to close. I was running out of time. Also wanted the head
But hey, for a solid MSP transmission and got it on the low. Supreme snag. I feel like it was the best thing on the car to take.
Case looks solid.
No cracks around the diff.
Input shaft spins smooth.
For the price, I’m not complaining.
Still going to open it up and take a closer look.
Also, no mileage was written or listed anywhere on the vehicle like they normally do at yards, unfortunately.
View attachment 381268
This one’s getting stacked with the rest of the forged parts.
Also scooped this goodie for $25. A little rough, but looks solid.
View attachment 381270
U-Pullits are a blessing that keeps on giving.
Can you not go back for that head?
Having an extra head is mandatory and why I have 3 used heads and one fully rebuilt head ready to go.
The three used heads I have I plan on using to make one good used head to have ported and polished for my n/a build.
All in time.
Good luck and continued success at the JY.
