The last of the first, AIC's Mazdaspeed Protege.
 

I sold my XJ a month or so ago, and as a replacement, Picked up a mazdaspeed protege.

Many years ago I fell in love with a Mazda Protege MP3, and the mazdaspeed is basically an MP3 + turbo. Love it.

It was a bit rough cosmetically, and needed a few things mechanically, I probably over paid for it But its mine and I love it.


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I drove it around for a week, to see what I really wanted to get done on it, then I shoved it in the garage:


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Made my list:


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and got to work:


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So far I have replaced major parts of the suspension on 3 corners, 4th should happen in the next couple of days, replaced one motor mount (it was trashed, others are not, so they will wait a bit, but I have them), coolant overflow bottle, spark plugs and wires, VICS (part of the variable valve stuff), and brake pads/rotors.

Once I am done with the suspension, I'll be doing brake fluid, and fixing the side mirrors next I think.

I post videos on my youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/aicproductionsvideo

So check those out if you're interested.

Just to explain my title. The mazdaspeed protege was the first model to carry the nameplate "mazdaspeed" Mine is #2750/2750, so the last one made.

What are your plans for the car? I'm not much of an import guy, love my big V8s too much. I can respect them though. What kind of 1/4 mile times do those run? Nice looking car.

Based on your list on the windshield, I assume you are a doctor? I can't hardly read your writing! :lol:

Stock, its not the fastest car, it gets 15's in the 1/4 mile, it only has 170hp. it does handle like a dream though. when it was released, it was like 8th in C&D's or R&T's top 10 best handling cars, pitted against mostly exotics, while it is FWD, it does have a LSD, and doesn't push like you expect most FWD cars to into corners. very much defines the "drives like a go cart" sentiment.

My plans? for now, make it a reliable daily driver, fix cosmetic issues, start taking it to car shows. Once I have it up and running, I'm going to look into doing some serious modifications to my truck. I have a 98 Mazda B4000/ranger 4.0 with only 90k miles on it. I would like to find a low mile exploder, and yank the 302 from it, and swap it into my truck. The exploder of similar year is basically the same vehicle, so the 302 mounts right up with basically 0 modifications (compared to swapping in a v8 from another vehicle).

I've owned close to 30 vehicles in my life. Only 1 of which was a v8, a blue 91 ford bronco, lifted, flow master exhaust, got 7-8mpg. The rest of my cars being mainly 4cyl with a smattering of 6cyl in there. fastest two cars I owned were 1) a 99 saab 9-5 4cyl that I totally rebuilt and had a very custom tune and had in excess of 300hp, and an infiniti g35 with light modifications with similar power. Both very very fun cars. I don't think I'll push the mazda that far. They didn't do anything to the internals when they boosted it, so if you push it too hard, they like to grenade. If I have any money after I work on the truck I may rebuild the engine with better guts to handle more than 6psi of boost.

I have severe dysgraphia, it affects my fine motor skills and my handwriting. With it being so bad I always joked that I had two options in life, I could be a dr. or work with computers, and computers smell better than people, so I went into computers.

Edit: oh and don't feel bad about not being able to read it. I cannot hardly read my own handwriting myself. it also very much does not help that it is with those paint/chalk pens on glass. no friction whatsoever, so no control.

Buddy I am truly sorry I made fun of your writing. I had no idea. I'm an asshole by nature, but now I feel like an ass.

My last car was a 02 Z28 that I did a little work to. Never dyno'd it, but with the mods I did they typically hit 400 hp at the crank. It was running low 13s in the 1/4. It was a 6 speed and I caught hell getting a decent 60' time. It had a 12 second pass in it, just never got there. Currently I am building my 79 Camaro for the track. Plan to drop in a 454 w/ a shot of nitrous, when money rains from the sky.

The 02 Z28 got 18 mpg around town and 28 mpg on highway after the mods. The way I drove though, it typically got 15 mpg best case. :)

Thats pretty cool the 302 drops into the Ranger. What kind of power does the Exploder 302 output?

haha, no worries, I didn't take it as you being an asshole, My hand writing is is just one of those things that is part of my life, and a bit of a joke between my wife and I. In this day of computers, it really doesn't affect my life.

the explorer stock gets 210 hp, and 280ft/lbs, but it sure as hell wouldn't be stock when i put it in. Looking for a minimum 300hp if/when I do it.

if anybody is interested, I've updated several videos to my playlist. I've finished painting my bumper the video for that should be up later this week after I get it put back on my car.

Here is a link to the playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...7fM98C_dSwxpun

Replaced headlights, lots more work than I expected it to be.

Had to fix the most important badge on my Mazdaspeed.

My attempt at fixing the clear coat on my MSP

Not at all the color I wanted/expected, but it's growing on me.

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