Picked Up My First MSP!

P

ProbeChris

Member
:
2003 MSP
I've been looking for a newer daily driver for a little while now because the probe wasn't very practical. I was looking for a wrx or an 02-03 protege to kl swap before I stumbled across this 03 MSP with only 85k. Turbo is blown but considering the things lowered, has rims, exhaust, front mount, sts, gauges, and I'm sure I've forgot some things, I think I came out great only giving up $3k for it.

Not sure if I'm going to source a new turbo or kl swap it. I literally have all of the components to do it except the wiring or megasquirt.

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Forgot a shot of the engine bay, I'll try to throw one up tomorrow.
 
That car looks familiar, belonged to someone on the forum I'm pretty sure. You can pick up a turbo around these parts for pretty cheap.
 
I fully agree keep the fs in there that's the same as tossing a v8 in a rx7... If you love the car you just don't do it
 
INeedMoarLow said:
I fully agree keep the fs in there that's the same as tossing a v8 in a rx7... If you love the car you just don't do it
Click to expand...

I've been fighting my buddy with that argument for a while now. I WILL NOT do it.
 
not sure of what rims they are. the previous owner only had the car for 2-3 months, some 17 year old that had more money than know how. I do know the tires are 215/45/17's. The wiring for the remote start/alarm really makes me wonder if the gauges and open source tuning? are installed correctly.

Not knowing as much about the fs as i do the kl is going to make this a bit of a challenge for me, but then again that's why I'm here. Having a number of kl powered probes over the past 8 years has led me to really enjoy the motor. IMO there's nothing wrong with dropping a kl into one of these, I understand that the msp is something kinda special and rare, but the kl was designed and engineered and built by mazda. So i don't see it the same as v8 swaps into other cars.

Pretty sure it's not the same car as the fm fitment is a little different, lights are different, and obviously the rims. Looks pretty similar tho, not saying that a previous owner isn't on here. It would actually be pretty beneficial for me if they were.
 
Just checked the vin against the prod list and it doesnt show this as being a msp...

Having some trouble getting this thing started now. Doesnt turn over at all
Starter checks out fine as do the battery and connections. Would removing the stock alarm system cause ghis? Plugged it back in but still nothing. Is it some sort of safety feature?
 
The alarm does have a black bypass button under the dash on the drivers side you can push to start the car.
 
hornsfan10609 said:
The alarm does have a black bypass button under the dash on the drivers side you can push to start the car.
Click to expand...

I found the button a few days ago after searching for the issue and stumbling across some of your other posts. Thanks.

In the past week ive re rean all of the wiring under the dash for my gauges as someone had made a complete mess of it. I found out that someone drilled out and re tapped my exhaust manifold w 7/16 20 holes, which is going to make it a real pain to put everything back together. The wastegate actuator wasnt even hooked up to the turbo. And the car has two bovs? All these little issues are driving me nuts.
 
ProbeChris said:
I found the button a few days ago after searching for the issue and stumbling across some of your other posts. Thanks.

In the past week ive re rean all of the wiring under the dash for my gauges as someone had made a complete mess of it. I found out that someone drilled out and re tapped my exhaust manifold w 7/16 20 holes, which is going to make it a real pain to put everything back together. The wastegate actuator wasnt even hooked up to the turbo. And the car has two bovs? All these little issues are driving me nuts.
Click to expand...

Adding a BOV to the stock BPV was a fairly common practice when these were new to the aftermarket scene. The studs do have a tendency to snap so having the replaced with larger ones isn't a shock either. If the turbo was blown they may have just disconnected the WGA... but I woulda gone the other way and tried to force it open personally...

Grats on the car..
 
Thanks. Ill be attempting to repair the threads w helicoils until i check out the turbo and then purchase a new manifold as well. Theres just no clearance for the nuts w the 7/16 studs.
 
i say, source turbo, drive it til the motor gives up, then KL swap it
 
323 said:
i say, source turbo, drive it til the motor gives up, then KL swap it
Click to expand...

Or immediately swap out the FS with a KL because I need another motor to start building before this one goes.
 
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