![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
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I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
So I've been reading around the forums and I've seen a lot of guys get s*** for having a body kit and such on an MX-3. Well, I really don't know very much about cars AT ALL, and I put a body kit on mine and I'm afraid that it is very ricey... So first off, I'd like to apologize
and now I would like to ask for some help in cleaning up my act. I want to add horsepower to my car, but I really don't even know where to start. An intake? exhaust? what? like I said I really don't know what I'm doing all that much but am very eager and willing to learn. So, guys, I don't have a bunch of money sitting around and I would like to add some horsepower. Whats the best way to do that? Thanks so much guys.
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
- RS_OBD'oh_2
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
step one.. find a bunch of money
step 2. http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/search.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
step 2. http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/search.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- Senior Member
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
There are really only a few ways to make significant HP gains from any engine. Increase displacement, increase compression or increase volumetric efficiency. That means bigger engine, different pistons/heads or stuff more air/fuel in...i.e. Turbocharging (I'm totally oversimplifying).
There's really no such thing as free or even cheap horsepower. Putting a Cool Air Intake will give you a small but noticeable improvement in throttle response but no real HP gains to speak of. Installing a larger diameter exhaust system will change the rpm at which your peak HP occurs, but again won't really ADD a lot of power. Maybe 10-15 and that's seriously stretching it and in the process you can wind up with a really stupid sounding car.
The good news is that in the world of engine swaps the MX-3 is one of the easiest and BP engines are fairly common. Going up to 1.8L from your 1.6L stock engine is pretty easy to do compared to most other cars and can be done inexpensively. It's not something you want to try on your own yet probably, but reading and asking questions you can learn a lot and when the time comes that you can afford to do something you'll be surprised how easy it is.
There's really no such thing as free or even cheap horsepower. Putting a Cool Air Intake will give you a small but noticeable improvement in throttle response but no real HP gains to speak of. Installing a larger diameter exhaust system will change the rpm at which your peak HP occurs, but again won't really ADD a lot of power. Maybe 10-15 and that's seriously stretching it and in the process you can wind up with a really stupid sounding car.
The good news is that in the world of engine swaps the MX-3 is one of the easiest and BP engines are fairly common. Going up to 1.8L from your 1.6L stock engine is pretty easy to do compared to most other cars and can be done inexpensively. It's not something you want to try on your own yet probably, but reading and asking questions you can learn a lot and when the time comes that you can afford to do something you'll be surprised how easy it is.
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93' GS SE, the Black Beast, the former love of my life...soon to be gutted and crushed.
94' GS, black on black, now in several small pieces...and one large crushed piece.
2007 Mazda3 GT Sport --- super fun
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Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
93' GS SE, the Black Beast, the former love of my life...soon to be gutted and crushed.
94' GS, black on black, now in several small pieces...and one large crushed piece.
2007 Mazda3 GT Sport --- super fun
2004 Honda RC51 --- Lost forever to some theavin' bastard
My Worklog
My feedback thread
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
you know those nos energy drinks? pour one of those in your gas tank.
NEED PARTS INSTALLED? PM ME!
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- Inodoro Pereyra
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Not one. TWO!!!projectzemx3 wrote:you know those nos energy drinks? pour one of those in your gas tank.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
To add to what everyone already said, I want to make something clear:
There are only 2 ways you can add power to your car: knowing how to do it, or paying somebody to do it for you.
That means if, as you said, you know nothing about mechanics, I agree with RS, your first step should be finding a bunch of money.
Meanwhile, you should read as much as you can. Not to be able to do the job yourself (unless you can find somebody to help you), but to know exactly what you want, what you need (to get what you want), and what you have to do to get there.
U28sIG5vdyB5b3UgYWxzbyBrbm93IGJhc2UgNjQuLi5odWg/DQpTSE9XIE9GRiEhIQ==
"The more I know man, the more I love my dog."
Diogenes of Sinope.
"The more I know man, the more I love my dog."
Diogenes of Sinope.
- Ryan
- Senior Member
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Hey hey hey now.
I came into the car world not knowing how ANYTHING worked. Not a freakin' clue what a coilover or control arm, or subframe was. Od the difference between a ball joint and a CV joint.
I read my face blue (or red, in this case) on this site for a few months, and I manged to do a BP swap and rebuild.
To date now I've pulled 80% of the car entirely apart and can rattle off what everything is and how it works and about how much it costs.....
And now I'm starting on the V6's.
Just because you don't know anything, doesn't mean you can't learn. If you're the slightest bit mechanically inclined as well as curious or determined, you'll do absolutely fine. If you're one of those people who would dissassemble a transmission into a box, shake it, and then use a large hammer and a pipe to cram everythign back onto the shafts in the order that "looked right" then get prepared to pay someone...
Just be careful, use your brain, and ask lots of questions.
And learn how to use the search feature. Oh, and the location of the shop manuals.
I came into the car world not knowing how ANYTHING worked. Not a freakin' clue what a coilover or control arm, or subframe was. Od the difference between a ball joint and a CV joint.
I read my face blue (or red, in this case) on this site for a few months, and I manged to do a BP swap and rebuild.
To date now I've pulled 80% of the car entirely apart and can rattle off what everything is and how it works and about how much it costs.....
And now I'm starting on the V6's.
Just because you don't know anything, doesn't mean you can't learn. If you're the slightest bit mechanically inclined as well as curious or determined, you'll do absolutely fine. If you're one of those people who would dissassemble a transmission into a box, shake it, and then use a large hammer and a pipe to cram everythign back onto the shafts in the order that "looked right" then get prepared to pay someone...
Just be careful, use your brain, and ask lots of questions.
And learn how to use the search feature. Oh, and the location of the shop manuals.
Now with Moderator power!
Black '93 BP RS - wrecked, parted, scrapped.
Green GS - Sold.
Black GS - Summer DD/Race car - Fancy KLZE
Red GS - K8-ATX -> MTX-KLDE - Frakencar. Scrapped
White GS - Rusty. Parts. Scrapped
1997 BMW M3 - my summer baby
2002 BMW 325Xi - sold
2003 Forester Xti - EJ20K swapped.
Feedback
Black '93 BP RS - wrecked, parted, scrapped.
Green GS - Sold.
Black GS - Summer DD/Race car - Fancy KLZE
Red GS - K8-ATX -> MTX-KLDE - Frakencar. Scrapped
White GS - Rusty. Parts. Scrapped
1997 BMW M3 - my summer baby
2002 BMW 325Xi - sold
2003 Forester Xti - EJ20K swapped.
Feedback
- Limegreen mx-3
- Regular Member
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Not a year to what make and model u have but since u posted on this section its either a sohc or dohc what a shame newbie.
If ryan can learn so can you just takes time and the heart to be true to a mazda MX-3 a dying breed that few are up to the challenge.
If ryan can learn so can you just takes time and the heart to be true to a mazda MX-3 a dying breed that few are up to the challenge.
(12.4@118@18psi) 92 MX-3, KIA (BP-DE)Swap, Electromotive TEC II Standalone, 8,200 Rev Limit, Custom Intake/Exhaust Manifold, 1,000cc PTE Injectors, Custom Fuel Rail, Aeromotive FPR, 80MM Holley TB, MSD 8.5MM Wires, NGK V-Power #8, SC6262 Turbo, 3 in. DownPipe, Tial WG/BOV, 600HP PTE FMIC, 2.5IN Intercooler Piping, EQUUS/Autometer KIA G-Series Tran, Extreme ACT Clutch, Built BP in starting process.
- Ryan
- Senior Member
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Haha, ouch.
Now with Moderator power!
Black '93 BP RS - wrecked, parted, scrapped.
Green GS - Sold.
Black GS - Summer DD/Race car - Fancy KLZE
Red GS - K8-ATX -> MTX-KLDE - Frakencar. Scrapped
White GS - Rusty. Parts. Scrapped
1997 BMW M3 - my summer baby
2002 BMW 325Xi - sold
2003 Forester Xti - EJ20K swapped.
Feedback
Black '93 BP RS - wrecked, parted, scrapped.
Green GS - Sold.
Black GS - Summer DD/Race car - Fancy KLZE
Red GS - K8-ATX -> MTX-KLDE - Frakencar. Scrapped
White GS - Rusty. Parts. Scrapped
1997 BMW M3 - my summer baby
2002 BMW 325Xi - sold
2003 Forester Xti - EJ20K swapped.
Feedback
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- Regular Member
- Posts: 1603
- Joined: March 6th, 2007, 1:17 pm
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA)
Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Ryan wrote:Hey hey hey now.
I came into the car world not knowing how ANYTHING worked. Not a freakin' clue what a coilover or control arm, or subframe was. Od the difference between a ball joint and a CV joint.
I read my face blue (or red, in this case) on this site for a few months, and I manged to do a BP swap and rebuild.
To date now I've pulled 80% of the car entirely apart and can rattle off what everything is and how it works and about how much it costs.....
And now I'm starting on the V6's.
Just because you don't know anything, doesn't mean you can't learn. If you're the slightest bit mechanically inclined as well as curious or determined, you'll do absolutely fine. If you're one of those people who would dissassemble a transmission into a box, shake it, and then use a large hammer and a pipe to cram everythign back onto the shafts in the order that "looked right" then get prepared to pay someone...
Just be careful, use your brain, and ask lots of questions.
And learn how to use the search feature. Oh, and the location of the shop manuals.
gotta agree with this. I came hear not knowing crap about cars. But now I know a good bit. And even now, I'm learning (learning about engine internals). And I feel confident in swapping an engine.
Just read up on the forums the various posts, use the search engine, and make the online manual/guide your best friend.
- Inodoro Pereyra
- Senior Member
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- Joined: March 11th, 2009, 3:44 pm
- Location: Back in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Whoa...
Looks like what I said came out wrong (not surprising, given my daily struggle withe the language), so I think an 'splanation is in order...
I agree you CAN learn from an internet forum, especially from this one. That's what we're all doing here, and the willingness to help each other most everybody on this forum shows is second to none, at least in my experience.
I said what I said because I had the impression, from The_silencer's post, that he wanted to add HP NOW.
Now, I agree, if he decides to take his time to read and ask questions (and learn), he can do whatever he wants...as long as he gets rid of the body kit...![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
D_R: how's your thing going?
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Looks like what I said came out wrong (not surprising, given my daily struggle withe the language), so I think an 'splanation is in order...
I agree you CAN learn from an internet forum, especially from this one. That's what we're all doing here, and the willingness to help each other most everybody on this forum shows is second to none, at least in my experience.
I said what I said because I had the impression, from The_silencer's post, that he wanted to add HP NOW.
Now, I agree, if he decides to take his time to read and ask questions (and learn), he can do whatever he wants...as long as he gets rid of the body kit...
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
D_R: how's your thing going?
U28sIG5vdyB5b3UgYWxzbyBrbm93IGJhc2UgNjQuLi5odWg/DQpTSE9XIE9GRiEhIQ==
"The more I know man, the more I love my dog."
Diogenes of Sinope.
"The more I know man, the more I love my dog."
Diogenes of Sinope.
Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Pics?
Took the bp+t out of the mx and swapped it into a 95 escort wagon. ![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
Heh, alright I'll show you guys what I've done, but I would just like to say that I actually don't think the car turned out too bad and I'm proud of myself for doing all the work with just the help of my uncle ( as i said many times I know NOTHING about cars and some stuff was pretty difficult for me). I mean, I bought this car for $900 and it was in horrible shape and was white with rust spots on it, the interior was all ripped and so many things needed replacing.pox wrote:Pics?
So, anyway, here's what I've done:
![Image](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/The_Silencer12/IMG_0615.jpg)
![Image](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/The_Silencer12/IMG_0616.jpg)
![Image](http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/The_Silencer12/IMG_0614.jpg)
- Inodoro Pereyra
- Senior Member
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- Joined: March 11th, 2009, 3:44 pm
- Location: Back in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
OMG, SILENCER, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!The_Silencer wrote:Heh, alright I'll show you guys what I've done, but I would just like to say that I actually don't think the car turned out too bad and I'm proud of myself for doing all the work with just the help of my uncle ( as i said many times I know NOTHING about cars and some stuff was pretty difficult for me). I mean, I bought this car for $900 and it was in horrible shape and was white with rust spots on it, the interior was all ripped and so many things needed replacing.pox wrote:Pics?
So, anyway, here's what I've done:
WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOU BANNED!!!
![Evil or Very Mad :evil:](./images/smilies/icon_evil.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Actually that looks pretty good (with the exception of the big fog lights
![Throw Up :throwup:](./images/smilies/throwup.gif)
U28sIG5vdyB5b3UgYWxzbyBrbm93IGJhc2UgNjQuLi5odWg/DQpTSE9XIE9GRiEhIQ==
"The more I know man, the more I love my dog."
Diogenes of Sinope.
"The more I know man, the more I love my dog."
Diogenes of Sinope.
Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
I like the sides and rear if you want to sell them? =]
Id say keep those and get a nice OEM front bumper or mazdaspeed front.
Id say keep those and get a nice OEM front bumper or mazdaspeed front.
Took the bp+t out of the mx and swapped it into a 95 escort wagon. ![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
- RS_OBD'oh_2
- Senior Member
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- Joined: April 9th, 2007, 1:26 pm
- Location: Calgary, AB
Re: I'm afraid I've done a terrible thing...
I like the fade. I don't think I've seen one done on an mx before. Not a fan of the evo style (or whatever it is) front.. other than that.. good work. Not my style but cool.