Simplyunlucky's 2000 Mazda Protege LX build Picture Heavy!

[SimplyUnlucky]

I've been putting this off for way too long so here it is! This is my 2nd car but my first daily driver, it is a 2000 Mazda protg LX 1.6l auto. it has 140k miles on it and still runs great! I got the car about 3 months ago by an old man that works next to my dad. I originally wanted something bigger and definitely more powerful but this deal dropped into my hands and I couldn't pass it up. I recently restored a 1985 trans am and needed something to drive around daily and save me a bit on gas. if anyone is interested here is a couple pictures of my trans am

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Anyways back to the protg, here is when I firs got it wasn't too into the whole look of the car but slowly I got used to it.

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Gotta give every new/used car a good first wash

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All washed up still didn't look that good but I had a few cans of grey engine paint so I figured ill just paint the hubcaps but they still didn't look that good.

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Went to the first cruise night the day I got the car and seen these guys so I went ahead and trolled them lol

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Found an old can of VHT in my basement so I gave it a shot

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First day at school I like to have allot of fun in that what the school calls a parking lot lol, the car really enjoys the gravel and dirt.

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I got my hands on a few cans of plasti-dip so I had a ball with it

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Then I went to AutoZone and had a bunch of points on my car so I got a $20 discount on a roof rack from highland/Reese.

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finally got sick of the hubcaps so I took them off and plasti-diped the steelies and I like it so much more, kind of wish I did it from day one.

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I don't have any pictures of this stuff but I gave it a full tune up, new plugs/wires did the oil change pcv valve and cleaned out the egr ports because I got the infamous P0401 code. I do have a misfire on cylinder #1 but that's because of a faulty coil pack. isn't that noticeable, I wrapped electrical tape around it for now and it seems like it did the job so I just hope that works for now. here is the only engine picture I have it not clean under there at all. I also replaced both sway bar links..

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Here is a quick photoshop of what I plan on doing to the car in the next few months

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Got around to plati-dip the door handles and the gas door

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Went to a car show after ripping it through the dirt and putting it in the burnout pit I gave her a full wash, kind of want to do white walls now!

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Right after the burnout pit did pretty well hopefully I can find a video!

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There will be more to come soon! But updates may be slow because my trans am is always ahead of this when it comes to mods!

 

[Brains]

You'll get used to the 99-00 protege, i think they look good anyways...
...but i've got to ask, why the ford emblem where the LX badge used to be? Whyyyyyyy

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

Lol it's just a couple stick on badges I had sitting around and it was a joke between me and my close friends.! i actually prefer the 99-00 front end a little more than the 01-03 now. But the 01-03 have allot more options bumper wise.

 

[Brains]

Stock bumper's where it's at
I like the 99-00 front end, and for some reason i think they look really good with the stock spoiler... but as the (very) proud owner of a 2001, i'm not allowed to say i like the old one better eh?
Good job trollin' those guys too... lolz

 

[16vPete]

The pic you have in your signature is great! I'd say lower it/space the wheels out a tad if you really want to improve the look! It's quite clean and has just the right amount of plasti-dipped parts - painting the hood might not look good.

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

Thanks that's actually one of my favorite pics of the car, the car needs a little tlc paint wise. You can kind of see the rust infront of the rear tire on the drivers side tire. I also have a lot of little spots on the hood where pebbles chipped paint and it's starting to rust now.thats the main reason why I want to plasti dip it. That'll be temporary until I have the funds to fork up for a pro car kit. The way I drive it right now I don't think I could lower it but deff in the future after I put it through the trails.

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

Sorry guys for not posting for a while, school started and I have work so my schedule is very tight. but I haven't got to do any new mods except for these couple stupid things.

Here is the first one, it is a home depot garage door seal lip kit LOL.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9722756486/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/9722756486_715d7c1771_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

Before

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9645300813/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/9645300813_0224cdda3d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

After, I took the roof rack off just to see if I got better gas mileage.. it was a complete failure lol.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9648606365/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/9648606365_3fd5a7798b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

Here are some quick DSLR shots at school, I also put one of those velocity funnels lol just plumbed up to the stock air box....didn't notice any gains in horsepower.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9719568235/" title="IMG_3507 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2810/9719568235_0cd23ea71d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="732" alt="IMG_3507"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9722796188/" title="IMG_3508 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/9722796188_8fbea2f691_b.jpg" width="1024" height="719" alt="IMG_3508"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9722795142/" title="IMG_3509 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5480/9722795142_26e567a286_b.jpg" width="1024" height="719" alt="IMG_3509"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9719565687/" title="IMG_3510 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/9719565687_d562e63d52_b.jpg" width="1024" height="662" alt="IMG_3510"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9719564767/" title="IMG_3511 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/9719564767_a7ae7a3206_b.jpg" width="1024" height="753" alt="IMG_3511"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9722792436/" title="IMG_3512 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/9722792436_4022f9e00c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="662" alt="IMG_3512"></a>

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

Hey guys,
Finally got some more stuff in the mail so I figured ill do another update! There is a couple more things coming in so I should have another one soon but here is what I got.

First I got a black anodized tow hook on ebay for like $15 so I figured ill give it a shot.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9778883691/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9778883691_3c5ec17219_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

Its not all that bad so I think ill keep it on the car.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9778939461/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/9778939461_761fcfe136_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

Then after a week my order from Rallyarmor came in, I got the universal basic mud flaps with the red logo to replace those god awful splash guards.

Here are the Rallyarmors next to the splash guards.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9778959462/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/9778959462_c17e0346c3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

They mud flaps are quite a pain to install because of the shields on the rear of the car so I found myself having to trim them quite a bit on both rear sides to fit. In the front you probably want to get rid of the clips that hold them in and use bolts. they are a little low in the front and scrape on a real hard turn but otherwise the are great!
Here are a few pictures.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9779100135/" title="IMG_3514 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7425/9779100135_9394ebdf7c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3514"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9778922972/" title="IMG_3516 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/9778922972_fca3d71120_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3516"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9779093065/" title="IMG_3521 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3790/9779093065_aa5d13da41_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3521"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9779097744/" title="IMG_3527 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3810/9779097744_a27c812b98_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3527"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9779165683/" title="IMG_3536 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/9779165683_d8827affc9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3536"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9779155623/" title="IMG_3538 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2842/9779155623_8919e0f44e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3538"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9779063345/" title="IMG_3539 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/9779063345_b0a8366d69_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3539"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9778871951/" title="IMG_3540 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/9778871951_03cdfe5db0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3540"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9778866001/" title="IMG_3544 by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/9778866001_6c9d87dbaf_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_3544"></a>

Hope to have some updates soon!

 

[ScratchNSniff]

Haven't seen an Autozone built Protege in a while...

 

[bikingpro5]

pics of said real cars?

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

Haven't seen an Autozone built Protege in a while...

That's funny because there is one Autozone part on the car. Guess I didn't get my pont across that the cars a joke to troll the ricers.. They think its awesome. I don't I just drive it to work and rip it around gavel. That's all..... I have real cars to build not a low end mazda...

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

pics of said real cars?

Here you go, shows how close y'all actually read these... That bronco is probably worth 10x what the protogay is worth.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9787473255/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/9787473255_b4d058e837_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/giovannisantana/9787293332/" title="Untitled by Simplyunlucky, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/9787293332_6e8e101d7f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Untitled"></a>

 

[ScratchNSniff]

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

Inform me master mechanic, what makes it a what you consider an "autozone build"

 

[JDM323J48]

love the tras-am great to see one that isn't a KITT clone.

 

[SimplyUnlucky]

love the tras-am great to see one that isn't a KITT clone.

Thank you that is actually my first build. It's come a long way, allot of time and blood went into it. Thanks again ,Good to know that not everyone on here are jerks.

 

[bikingpro5]

FYI read this about your huge signature..

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?110369-Large-signatures

 

[ScratchNSniff]

Thank you that is actually my first build. It's come a long way, allot of time and blood went into it. Thanks again ,Good to know that not everyone on here are jerks.

Jerks??? You said the car was a joke, I agreed...

 

[JDM323J48]

a lot of members on here like myself are enthusiasts that love these cars, myself included who like yourself have passion for good solid muscle. I have owned Aussie hk holden monaro coupe, xa falcon gt coupe, xc falcon sundowner panel van and several other v8's. however I have found myself enjoying building and driving the protege that has a variety of options worldwide.