Wheelman's P5 Build Thread

[iamthewheelman]

Okay huge update! I have done lots but my camera has been out of comission so this is the first chance I got to throw up pics. The biggest of all is I converted my car from auto to 5 speed with a Fidanza Lightwheight Flywheel and Clutchmasters Stage I Clutch! What a task, I did most of it myself but had to take it to a shop to get the actually tranny mounted up. Shop owner was a great guy and let me finish the wiring and the rest of the stuff there. I must say I am very pleased and in the end it only cost me a few hundred bucks. Anyways some pictures of stuff....

Battery went dead right after the tranny swap so it was a great excuse to upgrade to an Optima Red Top

Finally got the OEM Grille Mesh into my DG Grille, car was dirty when I took the pic tho

This is the firt interior shot I have thrown up, its a bit dirty and basic atm

Mazdaspeed Door Sills (Y)

And then after about 2 and a half months I finally got around to putting in my P&Ped intake manifold with the VCTS removed, and the MP3 ECU to go with it. The car runs noticebly smoother with it.

And finally a mini photoshoot.

I also have a ton of stuff on the way/laying around yet again.... MP3 wind spitter, Sparco Shift Knob and Plate frame, TWM SS with bushings, MSP rear sway bar and subframe. I am going to head out to JRP this week and pick up some pedals, and will be ordering a custom shift and e-brake boot to help spruce up the interior a bit. There is lots of small stuff in my head I want to get done before summer is out because the major stuff is pretty much out of the way.

 

[SCMP3]

nice work man. what kinda wheels are those? i really like them...

 

[iamthewheelman]

Thanks! They are iKon 1 DTM's painted gold. I picked em up locally and they were painted by the previous owner, I love them too lol

 

[SCMP3]

awesome man. whats the specs on them?

 

[iamthewheelman]

They are 17 by 7.5 with a +42mm offset

 

[ProjectBlack]

I'm thinking about the switch from AT to manual. What's the parts list for that?? I would imagine the trans, clutch pedal, ECU, clutch, flywheel...what else?

 

[iamthewheelman]

Wiring harness, starter harness, starter, side transmission mount and rear transmission mount, shift linkages, brake pedal... And a few more, check this thread out. It has all the info you need, if I didn't find this I wouldn't have done. it http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...ficial-ATX-to-MTX-swap-parts-list-with-how-to

As well, my honest suggestion on the cheapest and best way to do it, is to get a parts car locally and strip it down to get your parts. you will be able to sell stuff off of it after your done and possibly break even on the swap if you keep everything OEM.

p.s. You have a tiptronic auto right?

 

[ProjectBlack]

Thank you for the link. Yeah...it's tiptronic. I always wonder why the hell someone would put a 4 speed transmission in anything! It's only fun when your going about 60 or 70 in 3rd gear! LOL!

 

[ProjectBlack]

DANG! I just checked that thread and DAMN! That is a lot of work. Props for being able to get that done. I think I might just find a manual, but it, and swap all my parts. I don't think I have the skills, tools, or time to do that type of work.

 

[iamthewheelman]

Yeah, its not a small task thats for sure, but its not as bad as some people say it is. This is my first car and I have no prior knowledge of anything like this I just was paiteint and took my time making sure I had every angle covered. Did I need help from a shop in the end? Yes, but I was able to finish the rest off no problem, and I could not be happier with the result! Trust me when I say its well worth it haha

 

[iamthewheelman]

So I went out to my first autocross this weekend, decided to put all the stuff I have done to my car to good use lol It was a ton of fun and I plan on getting involved regularly now. I will burn off the cheap tires I picked up while I am still learning and then next year invest in a good set so that I can hopefully be competative. I used to race go-karts at a national level and am used to tight competion and cars being seperated by tenths of a second or less but this was an eye opener. Hopefully with some practise and a bit better autocross style set up in the car I can run a bit quicker (Y)
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[Head413]

I miss AutoX. I hope next year I can get my P5 out there in the cones.

 

[visiongt9506]

Nice pics from the autocross... That is something i wanna start doing too, it looks like a fun time

 

[iamthewheelman]

Yeah I really recomend it, lots of fun and other than the little extra wear and tear on your breaks and tires it doesn't hurt the car at all

 

[NateTheGreat]

Nice to see more Protege5s being autocrossed! Did they put you in ST class due to your mods, or is that header illegal for that class?

 

[iamthewheelman]

Nope they put me in ST1 cause of my suspension mods, didn't seem to care about the other stuff I had done. I have a rear strut bar on the way to help stiffen up the rear a bit, but seat time is going to be my friend. My breaking was very inefficient, but the ABS kicking in didn't help me get even remotely close to threshold braking like I would have liked. From what I learned this time, next time out is going to be alot different lol

 

[NateTheGreat]

I run ST also, and it sounds like you've already figured out that seat time is more valuable than just about any mod you can put on the car. Although I ran a few autocrosses last year, I just started for this year due to suspension problems, and I'm very rusty. I'm not sure what tires you're running, but setting the pressures right can make a huge difference in the driving dynamics. I adjusted the front tires until I got pretty much maximum grip out of them, then inflated the rear tires until I could just get the back to kick out with some trail braking.

The rear swaybar though... I put on a Progress bar, and it's like a completely different car.

 

[iamthewheelman]

Yeah I used to race go-karts at a very high level and our team manager used to beat "seat time" into our heads like it was going out of style lol. For tires and I am running Falken Azenis 912's, I picked them up with a set of stock rims for 100 bucks locally, I just plan to burn them off for the rest of the year while I am still leaning and then next year invest in a nicer set. I ran 46 for pressures front and back and it seemed okay, and I know what you mean about the sway bar I have the MSP Racing Beat and it makes a world of difference. One thing I noticed is that rotating the car is hugely important, and I still gotta get better at that...... aka seat time!

 

[iamthewheelman]

Alright been a long time since I updated anything in here but there has been alot that has changed. I must say I am alot happier with the car now as its functional and still just as fun as it was before. I am waiting on a heat sheild for my headers as mine was rusted out. So heres how she sits now.

I have a set of MP3 pedals that I have delayed putting on for quite some time and finally got an MPV wiper stalk on its way too. Its all about the small stuff now but I gotta say the TWM shifter is awesome, as well as the Tribute washer nozzles. I forgot to take a picture of the rear strut bar I put in but it looks cool and for 30 bucks was worth it even if I didn't really feel that much improvement on the autox course. Since the last update here is a list of whats new including what I already said......

MSP Floor Mats
MSP Radio Pocket
Redline Goods Shift Boot
Mazda 6 Rear Wiper
MSP Valve Cover
Re-finished Headlights
OEM Bug Deflector
Racing Beat Axle Back

 

[Bastian]

where did you get that bug deflector? i've searched high and low, maybe i'm just looking in the wrong places...