Is there an aftermarket for an MSP?

[CarlM2]

Has anyone in the general public actually modified their MSP with aftermarket engine performance parts? (Not people that own a shop but, people who bought an MSP and then researched and purchased modifications to help their car drive better.) Where did they get it and how? If you go to www.miata.net and click on 'marketplace' you will find pages of vendors who sell Miata stuff. Is there anything like that here?

I tried emailing JoeP and got no response, there's no number either... If I wanted to buy a CAI, new IC, and an exhaust system, is there anyone selling anything right now that works and is available? I see Ion's posts and think they've probably got a great line of products... but, without being able to see a price, a photo, or anything, it kind of makes it tough on me to part with my money on something so unknown.

I'm looking for reliability, smoother power delivery, and quicker spool-up. If power goes up a little, that's cool but, not my ultimate goal... driveability is key. I don't know how much these things will cost or what the return will be. I've been looking for reviews but, haven't had much luck.

I've read and read through many posts in the MSP forum and have found a few nuggets such as cooling the intake helps hesitation..... whether using a bigger IC or using the wrapping of Mr. IRD. I've seen claims about HP gains on exhaust systems but, no flow tests or dyno numbers, just 'claims'. When I do a search on the hesitation issue, I get threads that tell me to do a search mostly... but, a few interesting guesses about the problem. Nothing conclusive but, that's the way it goes sometimes.

I've read that JoeP's products work great and don't work at all. Without any tuning tools (data logger, scan tool, etc.) I don't see how anyone can know what the problem is or whether it's fixed. What's the 'defenser' he sells supposed to do?

If this car is too new and/or small production no.'s for an aftermarket, I understand but, so many people talk about 'mods' here.... but, I see none available from the aftermarket. And, not much helpful comparison data.

Sorry for the rant but, I've gotten pretty frustrated trying to research products that enhance this car on this forum. If anyone has any constructive advice, please let me know and thanks!

 

[STLBLKMSP]

Try spool-turbo.com, they have a cold air intake, front mounted intercooler, and aan exhaust all made for the MSP. Ion performance does make a front mount intercooler, brake kit and I belive they also make a turbo back exhaust sytem for the MSP. As for the bigger companies in the aftermarket world, well that will take time. These companies may not make anything for the MSP considering mazda has only built around 5000 MSP (this includes 2003, 2003.5, and 2003.7 models). As for using the search button on this forum, I have not had a problem looking up things, it may take some time to find what you are looking for. When you use the search function look at the whole page and see what feature are on that page, don't just type in a word and hit search.

 

[OrangeAppeal]

MSP Aftermarket - as far as Turbo System upgrades, the only ones I'm aware of are Ion and Spool (both authorized vendors). As far as engine stuff goes....it will be the same as regular Protege engine upgrades (same 2.0L as the non-turbo Protege).

Typical Turbo System Upgrades - FMIC (Ion & Spool), hard pipes(Ion & Spool), larger turbo (Spool), CAI (Spool, Ion(?), Injen, AEM, generic/home made), Short Ram Intake (InsiduousMSP, generic/homemeade), BOV/BPV/DV (all different makers), Exhaust Manifods (Spool)....I'm sure I'm leaving out parts and suppliers, but this is just to get you started.

Hesitation - No one knows for sure what is causing it...just speculation. And until Mazda is willing to tell us exactly what they did to correct it (and if it in fact corrects it), we probably won't know (unless someone wants to reverse engineer the ecu and see if the problem, in fact, lies within....***lots of work***). JoePs FPReducer does not claim to get rid of the hesitation...it's just a possible bonus effect...his product is to reduce the richness of the A/F ratio.

His "defenser" as you put it, is a fuel cut defender that eliminates fuel cut at higher boost levels (not sure how this works exactly cause I havent' looked into it).

Hope this answers some of your questions.
Peace,
Jesse

 

[servoeyes]

The hesitation is a fuel delivery problem. We're stuck with it until:

a) mazda fixes the ECU and flashes it
b) you get an s-afc II to work on the car (we're checking into it)

The car is still young so the aftermarket is bergeouning, yet.

For CAIs there's the INJEN. That's all that's done I think. Spool-turbo.com has a whole slew of parts coming soon, as does ION. Both are excellent companies. K&N is working on their intake, but it's still not done. Other than that, a lot of stuff is universal parts and custom one-offs that people are doing themselves or getting done w/ local shops...even exhausts. Most of those are still in the development stage.

Don't worry...things will start looking brighter in the next couple of months...you can't expect huge moves during the summer when everybody's taking vaction or having family parties, etc.

If you're looking for faster spool up get an intake. It will add HP too, and can be had for like 215$ at adventon.com. For more reliability (i don't think you'll have these problems for a while) get one step colder plugs by NGK; search and ye shall find. As for the smooth power delivery, that's the stumble; It's related to the hesitation. That again...there's not much you can do. The intake may help, or it may not. This is one of those Mazda ECU flash or S-AFC II fixes.

I hope that that was helpful. Let us know if you need anything, and welcome aboard!

 

[jonnydoe48]

spool is done with his intake, injen isnt the only. plus you can always make your own SRI and lose power!

 

[CarlM2]

Thanks for the info... This confirms what I was thinking... limited production = limted aftermarket... makes sense, really. First I'll be getting a boost gauge, then a datalogger. Then, any changes can be measured.

As to the intakes and other engine stuff, all I have found available is the Injen intake and the Spool IC. There is a good local shop that can do turbo-back exhausts. I may go that route if I do a CAI....

If Ion and Spool get their products to market within a few months, I may still be in the market and will definitely be interested in their offerings.

Thanks again for the help!!!

 

[iON Performance]

CarlM2 - what we have right now are the following for the MSP:

(1) Stage 1 & 2 FMIC upgrades + CAI upgrade -> link as follows
http://www.protege5.com/vbb230/show...age=15&highlight=iONPerformance&pagenumber=12

(2) MSP Sport Spec Springs

(3) MSP Brake upgrades (pads, rotors, lines, big brake kits, big rotor kits)

(4) Carbon fibre body pieces (hoods, splitters etc) - functional stuff not just showy performance wannabe. We're the only one with an orange CF/Kevlar hood for the MSP [other colors are yellow, blue and red]

- pic thanks to phantom

(5) Turbo upgrades (either hybridized stock turbos as well as full replacement turbos - aka Disco Potato )

What's in the works: (within the next 2 months)

(1) Full turbo-back system (3") as well as down-pipe back system.

(2) Equal-length manifold

(3) Piggy-back engine management as well as ECU reprogramming.