Nick's Summer Transformation Journal

[Maxx Mazda]

Well, the car is undergoing a major transformation this summer. I just picked up my brand new Spool kit from another member here, Glen (FunkyBuddha) and I'm going to be keeping a diary of the transformation process that the car will undergo. Much like some of the other journals you've seen here, only I will not post everything on the front page, but add stuff along as I go, so be sure to check back!

Here's a brief breakdown of a few things you might see here:

- Spool kit installation, w Corksport FMIC and hopefully MAM pipes
- Full compliment of Autometer gauges (in addition to the 3 I already have, Fuel Pressure, EGT, Boost, and their all new wideband O2 gauge...
- Custom home made "Leadfoot" gauge pod
- SPEC stage 2 clutch and flywheel
- Mazdaspeed LSD
- Nology Hotwires
- And if I have time for it, a new sound system

Well, to start off, I just installed the AWR front and rear motor mounts, 95 surometer. CRAZY stiff, but I hope I'l lget used to it. Picked up the Spool kit, mocked everything up and looked at what had to be done. (Pic 1) Yes, I know I have to flip the bearing house so that the return line is on the bottom, but that will be done once it's back from ceramic...

Corksport FMIC came in today, check teh hotness! (Along with my FAVE slippers! They RULE!!!) (Pic 2)

Sport20's custom single DIN gauge bezel also showed up today. (Fast shipping!) (Pic 3)

And a quick look at the new gauges... The Wideband is on orde since it's so new. (Pic 4) And you can see the pod I'll be using for the leadfoot bezel in the background.

And Pic 5 is the Wideband gauge that's on it's way... SO sexy...

As soon as the clutch/flywheel and LSD get here, it's off to Mazda to get them all put in. Still waiting on the Nology wires and my FM voltage clamp (which I found out the kit already came with... Grrr!) Will be placing an order for MAM hardpipes tomorrow once they're open, and then this build can really get off the ground...

Turbo assembly is at my local performance shop getting a custom downpipe made, so I can get it off to cveramic by next week. I'll keep you guys posted, so please keep checking back! Thanks!

 

[Tengo]

good luck

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Thought I'd post some details on the turbo setup, in case anyone is asking.

Garrett T3/T4 ceramic coated
TIAL 38MM Wastegate (7Psi spring)
Spool Stage 1 Manifold
Custom Downpipe, ceramic coated
HKS SSQV
FM Voltage Clamp
Vortech FMU
MAM Hardpipes
Corksport Power Series FMIC
JoeP MBC

Later on, I'll most likely go with the MPI tuner, or more likely the Haltech F10X with larger injectors an a fuel pump. I'm hoping to run around 9-11 PSI on stock internals, with fuel management.

 

[FL_PR5]

i'll trade you my paintball gun for your turbo. haha. good luck man.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

i'll trade you my paintball gun for your turbo. haha. good luck man.

LOL! Thanks dude! This is gonna be one hell of a build...

 

[dave45090]

It seems so many P5s are going turbo lately. Good luck Nick!

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Thanks! Also planning on an air to oil oil cooler. I'm going to mount it i nthe fenderwell area, horizontal and then have a scoop to force air through it from the bottom...

 

[FunkyBuddha]

Take pics of the install, and EVERYTHING!!

Lucky bastard!!

 

[susamafone]

looking forward to updates

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Update 1!!!

Well, the Nology Wires showed up today in the mail, and I got started on the custom instrument cluster bezel. I hacked up a pillar pod from a 2003 mustang and started fitting it all together. I came up with a design similar to the "leadfoot" pod, only my gauges sit a bit lower, and are angled up more towards the driver. Tomorrow it's time to break out the bondo and go to town. I'll have my EGT on the left, and my boost on the right, so that I can watch it and the tach closely.

I'm dropping the car off tomorrow to have the downpipe made, and I'll leave it with Top Gun on thursday for ceramic coating. My goal is to have the car up and running by the weekend of the 24th, and so far it's still doable, but I'm missing one important piece of the puzzle... The intercooler piping! Hopefully I hear back from MAM, but if not I'll be forced to go custom. Well, enjoy the pics!

 

[L8R]

_ SOLID

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Update #2

Dropped my car off at the shop today to have the downpipe made. It took the guy all day, but he did an amazing job. It's just tacked together, and no bungs are welded yet, so I'll have it by Friday. That means the ceramic gets pushed back till Monday at the earliest. I also had him weld in the bung in the oil pan for the oil return line. What I got was a junction block, welded, bolted, sealed and even polished! He made it out of billit aluminum, so that now when it's install time, I just remove the bolt and attach the oil return line. That simple. I posted a few pics of it from under the car. More work on the cluster pod tomorrow, and hopefully I'll get the Nology wires all in place.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Update #3

Got mroe work done on the bezel. Drilled the holes for the gauges, glued down the pods themselves, then began the fun part - the bondo work and sanding... All you really need to do to make it right is test fit, test fit, test fit... Have a good night! Lots more work to be done tomorrow!

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Update#4

Got the downpipe assembly back from the shop. It looks great! All the bungs I'll need are pre-welded in place, so it really is a drop in installation. I'll be dropping it off for ceramic on Monday morning. Also, Progress sway bar kit finally came in after a month from protegegarage.

DId some more work on the gauge bezel today. Finished sanding down al lthe filler, and got it into primer. So far I'm really happy with the way it's turned out, but it is alot of work. I should have it done tomorrow along with my DIN gauge bezel. I had to re-mount the deck into the dash a little differently so that the bezel would clear. Enjoy the pics!

 

[FunkyBuddha]

sweet ass!! I like gauge pod. Make me one

 

[sandspeed]

niice!

The turbo setup looks great.

 

[Pretzellogic]

Cool. Glad to have another turbo'd p5 running around.

How much did that wideband set you back? Any cheaper than AEM or Innovative?

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Cool. Glad to have another turbo'd p5 running around.

How much did that wideband set you back? Any cheaper than AEM or Innovative?

About $300 CAD. It comes with a bosch sender, so I'm assuming it's just as accurate if not mroe so than the others...

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Update #5

Almost done the cluster bezel... But anyways, got the Progress swaybar on today, and finished up the dash. Note, those are not what's going to be in there. I'm going to have the fuel pressure on the left, and the wideband on the right, I jsut put the boost gauge to tese for fitment. Anyways, have a good night!

 

[Pretzellogic]

Thanks for the price on the wideband. It's not bad.

I'm glad to see that the underside of your car is just as funky as mine.