What have you done to your MSP today?

[2-8-1]

Will a 95-98 protege radiator fit our cars? With the removal of our SMIC?

Nope, besides, the stock MSP radiator cools better than a stock full one. Just put some esyu brackets on it.

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

It just frees up SO much room in the front of the turbo manifold. And I was looking on the internet and the Core was the same size but I couldnt find anything about how the endtanks.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

if its the same size, then just do your own thing for brackets and hoses, and you should be good?

 

[2-8-1]

Go to Advanceautoparts.com or similar, find the part number for the 2003 Protege or P5, compare it to the part number for the previous years.

Edit: Just did that, P/N are not the same. Sorry man.

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

Lol, I thought I might get lucky. Dad has a old protege in the junk yard and if I could have got the radiator out of it for free and I would have put it in my car just because it makes it so much less cramped up there.

 

[hornsfan10609]

Mazda basically put ZERO research or quality control in it. Mustang > MSP.

Ford does have the upper hand, they've been building Mustangs WAY longer than Mazda has been using turbos. Besides, it seems the turbo on the MSP was almost an afterthought, the package was clearly thrown together at the last minute. Either way this car gives me headaches and my Bullitt gives me smiles.

 

[TheDirtyGoatee]

If a car was perfect from the factory, what would the fun be in that? No fun... that's what. Besides, not all MSP's have given their respective owner's issues. It's all in the abuse you put on the car.

I do agree though that Mazda should've spent just a little more time at the drawing board before signing off on the MSP's schematics. Racing buckets come to mind, better engine internals for a boosted car, better boost, etc. We've gone over the list a zillion times. When it's all said and done... either you love the MSP, or you love to hate the damn thing. Either way, if you still own it, you still own it for a reason.

What have I done to mine today? Dreamt about driving it.

 

[Shadow102]

Ford does have the upper hand, they've been building Mustangs WAY longer than Mazda has been using turbos. Besides, it seems the turbo on the MSP was almost an afterthought, the package was clearly thrown together at the last minute. Either way this car gives me headaches and my Bullitt gives me smiles.

actually the original design was well thought out and much better. Mazda cheaped out in certain areas to cut costs and use items they already had in the parts bin.

 

[hornsfan10609]

If a car was perfect from the factory, what would the fun be in that? No fun... that's what. Besides, not all MSP's have given their respective owner's issues. It's all in the abuse you put on the car.

I do agree though that Mazda should've spent just a little more time at the drawing board before signing off on the MSP's schematics. Racing buckets come to mind, better engine internals for a boosted car, better boost, etc. We've gone over the list a zillion times. When it's all said and done... either you love the MSP, or you love to hate the damn thing. Either way, if you still own it, you still own it for a reason.

What have I done to mine today? Dreamt about driving it.

The car does keep me busy, working on it is fun. But CELs every other week and dropping $400 on parts to have another $100 part break the very next day gets frustrating.

actually the original design was well thought out and much better. Mazda cheaped out in certain areas to cut costs and use items they already had in the parts bin.

This is true but all in all the MSP was a car that needed more R&D and better parts such as a wastegate that lasts, a diff that won't break, a suspension that won't clunk, an exhaust mani that won't crack, or an exhaust that won't seperate. I had a P5 since it was new and I never had to do more than replace the tires, brakes and battery (and headlight bulbs, P5s eat those).
I love my car I just want it to run normal and be reliable for a while, like my last Protege.

 

[TheDirtyGoatee]

I will admit that even in it's time, the MSP seemed to be a little behind the curve for being boosted. Cars like the STi were making way better numbers. I mean, why wouldn't they have used the JDM 2.0L Protege engine that was 170 NA and boost that? Plus, isn't AWD offered in Japanese Proteges? I mean, I know the ultimate factor was cost but how much cost would've really been added? Plus, it would've made them more desirable and thus the brand would've probably flourished more like the STi.

 

[hornsfan10609]

I will admit that even in it's time, the MSP seemed to be a little behind the curve for being boosted. Cars like the STi were making way better numbers. I mean, why wouldn't they have used the JDM 2.0L Protege engine that was 170 NA and boost that? Plus, isn't AWD offered in Japanese Proteges? I mean, I know the ultimate factor was cost but how much cost would've really been added? Plus, it would've made them more desirable and thus the brand would've probably flourished more like the STi.

Stis make more power because they have a much stronger engine, the FS-ZE is a higher compression FS-DE with better flowing cams and no VICS/VTCS BS, aside from that it's the same so putting a turbo on an FS-ZE wouldn't make much more power. And the AWD system isn't very strong for anything above a stock protege. These cars didn't flourish because of a number of reasons, a big one being the fact that they are so rare companies cannot sell enough parts to make it worth while, another because they werent very strong stock and people like to mod the easiest cars to mod, not something in which they have to replace all the stock parts before making more power.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

and mazda really didnt care since they were replacing the protege the next year anyways.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

I will admit that even in it's time, the MSP seemed to be a little behind the curve for being boosted. Cars like the STi were making way better numbers. I mean, why wouldn't they have used the JDM 2.0L Protege engine that was 170 NA and boost that? Plus, isn't AWD offered in Japanese Proteges? I mean, I know the ultimate factor was cost but how much cost would've really been added? Plus, it would've made them more desirable and thus the brand would've probably flourished more like the STi.

The FS-ZE's power bump comes from 4 main things:
Higher compression (read: NOT boost friendly)
Better flow
Lack of emissions equipment (read: likely not legal)
Better tune (Irrelivant for boosted application requiring a new tune anyway)

Even comparing the MSP to the 03 WRX is a little unfair, comparing to the STi is just... absurd. Especially the newer generation. IMO the current WRX stomps on the MS3, let alone the MSP, or the STi package on top of the WRX base. I say this having driven an 09 WRX with a couple mods, purchased by a former MSP owner.

AWD would be cost prohibitive, as it only came on foreign P5s, and isn't built to take the extra turbo power, so reliability there with the existing system would be... well, like our diffs. lol

Realistically, the car is great for what it is. Factory tuned protege. Any dreams of being "STi-like" are misguided at best.

 

[Laser Blue]

Well said, Wagon...
Although, with regard to the last statement I think Mazda is missing out on what would be a sure-fire winner. They should develop a sturdy AWD platform in a turbo-driven 2.5L and find a way to bring it to market at least $3000-$5000 cheaper than the WRX and the Audi A4 (which would obviously be less than the STI & Evo too). If it put up good numbers on a budget, I bet it would be back-ordered in no time...

 

[Wagonbacker9]

Well said, Wagon...
Although, with regard to the last statement I think Mazda is missing out on what would be a sure-fire winner. They should develop a sturdy AWD platform in a turbo-driven 2.5L and find a way to bring it to market at least $3000-$5000 cheaper than the WRX and the Audi A4 (which would obviously be less than the STI & Evo too). If it put up good numbers on a budget, I bet it would be back-ordered in no time...

Far simpler than that, I can't figure out why they refuse to offer an MS3 sedan. But I don't disagree with your point at all. Mazda is still the only japanese MFR to offer a turbo FWD car though, which is kinda insane.

But... back on topic, I'm hoping the brackets come from raj soon. so I can actually install my hood dampers before my CF hood goes into hibernation.

 

[o0n8]

changed the oil, passenger side bolt on my lower tie bar was loose so that got tightend. Realized i could really use a set of hood dampners for the cf hood. maybe nest summer...

 

[Wagonbacker9]

changed the oil, passenger side bolt on my lower tie bar was loose so that got tightend. Realized i could really use a set of hood dampners for the cf hood. maybe nest summer...

prb about when I'll be selling mine. lol

 

[TheDirtyGoatee]

An MS3 sedan would be sick as hell. I think getting rid of the Protege name was somewhat silly anyhow. I mean, honestly, the 3 and the Protege are not all THAT different. Well, ok, I know they are (please for the love of God don't list every nut and bolt that's different). My argument here is that look at the Taurus. It's changed drastically in size and engine over many years, yet, it still a Taurus. It even added AWD eventually (in the new SHO). Take the Civic. It got grossly huge in recent gen's. It's even gone through a wagon stage and came out alive. And it sells like mad.

So how is that different from saying the 3 is just a slightly bigger Protege with a better engine?

 

[o0n8]

because mazda wanted to be the bmw of the japenese car makers so they droped protege for 3 as in 3 series

 

[Outlawstar98]

Got the perrin Exhaust, s**** huge! I <3 3" exhaust's hahaha

And sent the downpipe and turbo mani and comp. housing for the turbo to the ceramic coaters.