my MSP build...kinda

[stdntDrvr]

so, i don't have forged internals or any head work...this is all mainly exhaust parts since I have a Hiboost FMIC w/ HKS SSQV and an injen intake. here's my list...i'm hoping to have it all on this weekend...i am going to keep the boost low (5-7psi) since I do not have forged internals. let me know what you think!

here's what i've bought so far:

CS S-pipe
Vibrant Vac Block
New lines for the turbo and new gaskets - some of them are here...still missing parts. not all have shipped.
kartboy shifter bushings
mpnick turbo
sls catless j-pipe - i had 2 o2 sensor bungs welded on today (10/15)
steed speed exhaust mani
forge WGA
ARP Exhaust Mani studs
Innovate Motorsports G2 Boost Gauge
Innovate Motorsports G2 Oil Pressure Gauge
Innovate Motorsports LC-1 with G2 wideband gauge
SLS Billet Thermostat Housing
AWR 88 durometer Front motor mount / side inserts
AWR 88 durometer Rear motor mount - shipping this weekend
autometer a-pillar triple gauge pod
spare intake mani to remove vtcs and p&p (free! thank you, blitzd!)

here's my list of things to buy:


Innovate Motorsports OT-1 (ordering 9/1)
cheap laptop (looking at the dell 9 mini)

I put the wastgate on the turbo last night...i was happy to see that MPNick had placed a nipple on the turbo housing for the wastegate...so i shouldn't have any issues there...i had been concerned reading people's issues with boost spiking and the various locations people use to feed their wastegates.

comments/thoughts?

Disclaimer: for what it's worth, i've been modding these cars for 5 1/2 years...2 n/a proteges (p5 and mp3) and this f/i. my n/a cars were pretty stout (ask forcefed about my p5 vs his msp)...so i know what i'm doing...and i know pretty much every weakness there is...the guy that got me into the protege world and helped me during my early days modding also had a nice n/a p5, one fast as s*** spicy (for some reason it was much quicker than his fully built msp) and a fully built yellow msp. so, the knowledge is here...and i'm not going to do something that will hurt my only mode of transportation. i have completed all of the work on my cars myself...and yes, i've had quite a few 'oh s****' and 'dammits' along the way...but that's the only way to learn. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[mspHtown]

i dont understand why you would spend the money on a MPI turbo upgrade at this time. maybe you want to build the engine down the road, but the stock turbo would have been more than capable of fulfilling your needs now.

that money could have been spent on another useful mod.

 

[stdntDrvr]

my stock turbo died on me...i fully understand the fact that i cannot run the 8 psi or so on this turbo that i could with a stock turbo, but mine died...i needed a new one...and i bought the mpnick for 650...which a used stockie in the same condition would have been the same price...so it just makes sense. i do plan on getting rods/pistons next year...so why buy 2 turbos when i can run this one conservatively until i get the forged internals?

 

[mspHtown]

my stock turbo died on me...i fully understand the fact that i cannot run the 8 psi or so on this turbo that i could with a stock turbo, but mine died...i needed a new one...and i bought the mpnick for 650...which a used stockie in the same condition would have been the same price...so it just makes sense. i do plan on getting rods/pistons next year...so why buy 2 turbos when i can run this one conservatively until i get the forged internals?

thats definitely understandable!

 

[stdntDrvr]

...there's always a valid reason behind the madness...

 

[mspHtown]

...there's always a valid reason behind the madness...

i think it would serve you well if you bought engine management.

 

[stdntDrvr]

i was thinking about the split second fuel and timing controller...but a friend of mine told me to go with a unichip...so i'm kinda uncertain what to do...this would have to wait until next year as well...gotta get the kids Christmas presents.

 

[Speed3.5]

hmm, for that much you can get new GT28RS now days
but you still have more to collect

 

[stdntDrvr]

650 for a DP? wow, most reputable shops have them for around 1200...plus, with the mpnick, you don't have the turbo lag that you do with the gt28rs, but 5psi on the mpnick feels like 10psi on the stock turbo...so you have most of the pro's for going with a DP and none of the cons if memory serves me correctly.

 

[stdntDrvr]

sexy gauges

will all be here tomorrow! they'll be installed this weekend...still waiting on parts to put my turbo back in...lacking studs/nuts to put it all together. ...hard to tell in the pics, but the faces are silver.

 

[stdntDrvr]

going to home depot tomorrow...i need the fittings for the vac. block, studs/nuts for both sides of the turbo and wiring accessories to hook-up my turbo timer and run the wire for my gauges...also going to advanced auto parts to pick-up parts for a non-fouler, paint for the a-pillar pod and 5/16 (3.5mm) vacuum hose.

i'm installing the front mm and side inserts as well as my gauges this weekend...fun stuff!

 

[kamon8404]

I'm liking your build thus far. I think you made a nice choice going with the hiboost kit to suite your low boost needs.

I have the SS AFC v1 and it definitely is a nice piece. I don't know if the FTC is necessary to fit your needs. kinda over kill in my opinion. If i could do it again I would grab the AFC v2 with datalogging.

Have you thought about any suspension mods?

Why did you go with that WB gauge? I think that it would have been a lot more accurate to have the actual numerical values vice the sweeping.

 

[stdntDrvr]

thank you for the comments...

i've been thinking about the AFC v2 as well...i would like to have a nice knock sensor. I found a local fs-de with a spun bearing i can pick-up for $100...i'll probably grab that and start rebuilding it with forged internals next year.

as far as suspension mods, i'd REALLY like to lower it...but my better half has told me that i couldn't spend anymore money on it right now.

as far as the WB, i wanted it to look clean...and the LC-1 kit from innovate motorsports comes with software you can load to your laptop that you can connect to the kit to show real-time info. the gauge is dampened (i guess that's the word) to keep the needle from bouncing all over the place. i had considered the AEM, but once i saw this gauge, i knew it was the one i wanted. they offer a ton of cool products...i would like to get the OT-1 within the next month or two to monitor everything...the only wiring for it would be to connect it to the OBD-II port and then run a USB cable to the laptop...you can also connect the LC-1 wb kit to it and display everything you'd want to know. I just thought with all of those options, i could go with a cleaner looking gauge and if things look a little crazy, hook the laptop up and check out the fine details.

 

[kamon8404]

Damn that OT 1 is hot. Makes me wanna get the LC1 now.

 

[stdntDrvr]

lol...and the price isn't bad at all, either.

 

[stdntDrvr]

they offer several different gauges with the LC-1 kit as well...they have some similar to the AEM.

oh, to go back to the suspension question...i had an extremely nice handling mp3...the only suspension mods i did to it was the cp-racing 3-point strut bar and eibach sportlines...that thing handled like crazy...but the different steering rack and lack of EBD and other crap on the msp made a huge difference as well.

 

[kamon8404]

Yeah a friend of mine had a 3 point strut bar on his protege matched with k-sports and the cp rear strut brace and that car was so sick. I wish I could get my hands on those 2 bars.

 

[stdntDrvr]

it's a shame no one makes the 3-point strut bar for our cars...that was #2 of my favorite mods i did to that car (behind the twiggy cams, of course)

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16164&cat=262&page=2

this is innovate's option that's similar to the AEM wb. i need to get a laptop so i can view all of the graphs and tables off the LC-1

 

[stdntDrvr]

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/logworks.php

yeah, i REALLY need a cheap laptop for my LC-1 and i need to get the OT-1

 

[jmv]

i would reccomend the split second over the unichip. If you ever have to deal with unichip's customer support, they're terrible, slow, and i'm not sure they know what they're doing. Very frustrating. And you'd be wasting part of your money on a horrible quality boost controller too.