Protege Garage Intake Mani & NSN IM spacer review

[Shadow102]

Well i got the intake manifold installed yesterday. I got some test driving in before the roads got wet. There is alot more torque in the middle and up high especially under high load and full boost. High end HP has definatly increased as the car seems to keep going where as before it started to run out of a little steam up there in the 6.5k range. Also i did more testing today at 7.1psi low boost setting i am just barely keeping traction in second gear and i can now spin the wheels in the 1-2 shift where as before it wasnt possible and i had plenty of traction in second gear (my clutch is pretty shot from the last owner so it does not grab hard in between shifts). Before this was installed i was dynoed at 188whp on a dynojet i would easily make a bet to say i am over 200whp with this installed.

While installing this i also threw on NSN motorsports intake manifold spacer. This is an excelent product for the price. The spacer is exactly matched to the gasket so there is no need to gasket match it (in fact the manifold is the only thing that needed matching as the head is already very well gasket matched). Between all my testing high and low boost highway and city driving i have been checking the intake and it has been consistently warm to the touch where as before it got decently hot and sometimes it wasnt possible to hold onto for periods of time.

One of the things i realy enjoyed was that not only is the intake manifold ALOT lighter than the stock MSP one but it frees up a bunch more space and makes things look a little neater. Install was a piece of cake the only trouble was getting the EGR pipe off the intake manifold. Took 4 hours including a pizza break and a half hour trip to lowes.

Speaking of for the people that do not want run a EGR pipe you can cap the egr outlet on the manifold with a 1/2" female pipe cap

I figured i would throw in what a real intake manifold looks like from my old car:

 

[03.5MSP]

Keep us posted on how the mani does. I just ordered one for me. What else did you need to buy? You mentined a drive to lowes.

 

[Shadow102]

Yeah i had to buy the 1/2" pipe cap for the egr on the exhaust manifold

 

[sweetlou69]

so u dont think i should get the gasket matchin for 30$?? and what about a vaccum block? did u have any troouble re-routin these lines?

 

[Mutmatt]

so u dont think i should get the gasket matchin for 30$?? and what about a vaccum block? did u have any troouble re-routin these lines?

same questions + no cel? with the egr pipe capped?

 

[Pretzellogic]

SHO FTW.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

in my experience, a check engine light should come on if you choose not to re-route EGR flow. that said, that particular CEL does not affect performance of the vehicle.

 

[ca_deal1]

For its price, its a really good deal. But can you give us some 411 on how to install it? for example how to get the Mani off. Also what kind of tool do we need.

 

[65racecoupe]

That looks like a very nice piece. I was actually checking it out on your site, Ken.

 

[Shadow102]

Yes the CEL is on it came on after i started the car for the second time (two trip monitor). There has been no Ill effects with it on however. If you do not know how to gasket match/dont feel comfortable doing it yourself then i would suggest purchasing it as there is alot of extra metal on the intake manifold that needs to be removed to gasket match. I was taught how to port and polish/gasket match at wyotech so i saved the money and did it my self with a dremel tool. I will probably invest in the vacuum block at a later date just to clean everything up but if you do not have the cash then do not worry all my vacuum lines had a place to go i just had to lengthen 2 or 3 lines so just make sure you have extra hose on hand while doing this. The installation was easy no special tools were required. About the only things i can think about to help would be make sure you have a 12mm swivel socket for the lower manifold bolts. And if possible seperate the stock manifold into two pieces as the EGR pipe is a pain to get off since its extremely hard to get a wrench in there.

 

[srvntfhim]

subscribing for help when I do mine if I go through with it!

 

[srvntfhim]

Where can I get the correct size gasket and how much are they??
Other than that, all we need is an EGR pipe that protegegarage sells and the proper tools, correct?

 

[Captain KRM P5]

Where can I get the correct size gasket and how much are they??
Other than that, all we need is an EGR pipe that protegegarage sells and the proper tools, correct?

you need a throttle body gasket and an intake manifold gasket either from a dealer or order through an auto parts store. i may offer them as an option at some point.

That looks like a very nice piece. I was actually checking it out on your site, Ken.

thanks jay!

For its price, its a really good deal. But can you give us some 411 on how to install it? for example how to get the Mani off. Also what kind of tool do we need.

i am working on a detailed instructions set with some people who have done them up thus far. standard shop tools, nothing out of the ordinary required for the install.

 

[Shadow102]

Where can I get the correct size gasket and how much are they??
Other than that, all we need is an EGR pipe that protegegarage sells and the proper tools, correct?

As stated you will need the intake manifold gasket and throttle body gasket. Mazda's price on them are $13-14 and the throttle body gasket is about $5

 

[Ryoga28]

My next mod this summer.

 

[ca_deal1]

Here is a funny question: what's the difference between the Intake Mani that Protegegarage sales and the one that ********** sales?
Protegegarage sales for $199.99 and ********** have smiliar for $549.99.
What is the difference in the two? Why such a big price difference???

P.S. I would like to know how much it would cost for the EGR pipe so I dont have to block it.

 

[ca_deal1]

you need a throttle body gasket and an intake manifold gasket either from a dealer or order through an auto parts store. i may offer them as an option at some point.


i am working on a detailed instructions set with some people who have done them up thus far. standard shop tools, nothing out of the ordinary required for the install.

A detailed instruction would be great. I would buy this mani if I instruction to tell me how to install it(I mean I will buy it anyways, but a instruction would be perfect). So I dont have to make mistakes that other had made during their installation.

P.S. A step by step instruction from how to take off the instake mani to how to install the mani with the new EGR pipe would be better.

 

[djdanny5000]

will this manifold also improve the n\a guys or is it just a turbo thing

 

[Captain KRM P5]

Here is a funny question: what's the difference between the Intake Mani that Protegegarage sales and the one that ********** sales?
Protegegarage sales for $199.99 and ********** have smiliar for $549.99.
What is the difference in the two? Why such a big price difference???

P.S. I would like to know how much it would cost for the EGR pipe so I dont have to block it.

there has not been a peer to peer comparison of the ********** manifold against mine. cullen and i have talked in great length about the similarities and differences and i am waiting on dynos from a few people before i can speak further on that, because simply put i do not have concrete evidence to speak either way on that. cullen has stated he buys his new manifolds from a casting source in japan, mine are either reconditioned units or - if you choose a rush order through the storefront - brand new parts from Mazda.

the EGR pipe is an addon for $55. this is my cost for the part and i do not make a dime of profit on it. tekkie has posted pics of a way to make your own EGR fix, which as i priced it out costs $35.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

will this manifold also improve the n\a guys or is it just a turbo thing

i have n/a buyers on another forum who are going to supposedly dyno for me and answer that for sure. the general thought is, yes, it should offer n/a increases.