new guy

["Myrtle" 03P5]

hi everybody im new on this fourm just wanted to say hi. me and my wife are owners of our baby a 2003 Protege 5 named Myrtle lol. It currently has 122,150 miles on it and the only thing we have done is 18 inch black Driftz rims and an Kn Airfilter. im looking to put an exaust maybe a catback but im open to any suggestions that you guys think would be better.

 

[808MP5]

welcome to the forums..

 

[dxaveP5]

whats up, and welcome.
more pics?

 

[A louie]

Before you do any other mods..



MOAR LOWERRR!!!


I expect you to order springs/coilovers tomorrow (yes)

 

[mx-p5]

welcome welcome! Glad to see another white protege on black wheels! Super sexy combo!

As to a catback, whatcha looking for? Each and everyone has a totally different exhaust note and style

 

["Myrtle" 03P5]

Im looking for a Deep exaust note i dont want my car to sound like a piece o crap honda or anything. i was looking at droping in a mazdaspeed engine off the speed protege while im in iraq ( i will actually have the $$$ then lol). i couldnt agree more the black on white combo is an eye catcher! as for lowering the car i was thinking about that to i just dont want to have any clearence problems or anything. i willl post some more pics this weekend so i can wash and detail the car so it will look presentable lol.

 

[mx-p5]

don't bother dropping a mazdaspeed engine in. It's an identical block to ours.
YOu can just throw all the mazdaspeed components on your engine you've already got


Have you got an auto or 5 speed?

If you just want a nice deep exhaust note, go either with Racing Beat or Magnaflow

 

[dxaveP5]

low drops = Tanabe Springs or the whole Tokico suspension/spring combo on Protegegarage.com i think.

as for exhaust
Greddy Evo 2, Magnaflow, or Racing Beat, and if u dont mind lil bita drone on highways u can go for the Mazdaspeed Sport Exhaust Axle back or the Tanabe Medallion Touring Axle back.

and about the engine ^^^^ what he said. it'll save u alot more money for turbo upgrades.

 

[mx-p5]

i wouldn't waste money on the Tenanbe though, $325 for just an axleback.

For a nice note on the cheap, the mazdaspeed axle back is your ticket

Magnaflows, Racing beats, and Greddy Evo2's will set ya back a little more.

 

[dxaveP5]

i have the mazdaspeed it's good and sounds cooler with the KN drop in once i hit the 3Ks it'll start hissing like a cai almost, and the exhaust gets super aggressive like its turning Super Saiyan (DragonBallz if u dont know)

 

["Myrtle" 03P5]

well thanks for the advice. My sister has a 03 protege speed and thats what inspired me to get my protege 5 i just think the wagon look is sexier lol. the only reason i was looking at a speed engine as because my car is at 122,000 and i dont know how the block will react to performance upgrades. it runs good but sometimes when i do push it i get a slight knocing in the engine. I am a mechanic so installing a new engine is no problem just wanted to see what other options there were before an egine swap takes place. while im deployed my wife will have it so i dont expect it to get to beat up i just dont want to turbo it and other things when i get home and then have the engine give out on me lol. but i apreciate any advice you guys can give i just want it to spank my sisters when i take it back home lol its a sibling rivalry thing(first)

 

["Myrtle" 03P5]

o yeah lol its an auto

 

[mx-p5]

totally understood. i have that rivalry with my wife daily. lol

just remember, with the engine at 122K miles, you've got 122k miles on everything else.

And, you got it right with the wagon being sexier! lol

And if your car already has a knock, picking up a stock speed motor may not be a bad idea, then you can rip apart the knocking motor and build it out, then turn up the boost when it goes back in

oh, you just killed that whole paragraph above. lol

With an auto, you are not gonna wanna put the boost over 6lbs. Keep it at stock boost levels or kiss your magic black box goodbye

It can be done successfully though. there are a number of boosted autos now both on this forum and another mazda forum i am on.

 

[mazdaspeed777]

Here is a couple of how to's on mods I think you should do:

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14144
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4737
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114394

Plus I would:

• Get a shorter antenna
• Paint your rear valence and latch cover black
• Tint your tail lights

 

["Myrtle" 03P5]

yea im just trying to keep it under 10,000 seing as how were trying to have a baby i just want to get some simple mods that are cheep but effective. does anybody know where to get some cheep electronics such as speakers and i want to do gauges but ive never been good with electricity lol

 

[mx-p5]

black out the headlights as well, got it done to both my cars. Great look, unless your car happens to have the rare Canadian headlights which are already black

 

["Myrtle" 03P5]

how much did you pay to do the head lights?

 

[mx-p5]

i paid for a can of BBQ grill high temp spray paint.

That's it. lol, i already had scotchbrite pads

Then with that same spraypaint, you can also do the rear part of the bumper black

Cheap Do-it-yourself mods are the greatest

 

[mazdaspeed777]

i paid for a can of BBQ grill high temp spray paint.

That's it. lol, i already had scotchbrite pads

Then with that same spraypaint, you can also do the rear part of the bumper black

Cheap Do-it-yourself mods are the greatest

You really don't need to get the high temp paint. I got a nice high gloss regular black paint and it worked fine. Bin rockin the blacked out headlights for about three years and the paint is still fine. It really does not get that hot in the head light lamp

 

[mx-p5]

i only suggested it so he can use the same can to do headlights and rear bumper