Derrick Ambrose | CorkSport Mazda Performance Blog

January 27, 2011January 21, 2011

Incoming!

We have had our 2010 MazdaSpeed 3 for a little over a year now. During that time, we were able to come out with some very popular performance products to increase horsepower such as our downpipe, racepipe, cat-back exhaust, and 50 state legal Short Ram Intake System. We have also came out with several products for the suspension and exterior of the car including a one-piece aluminum skidplate, a 3-way adjustable rear sway bar, a quick-release rear chassis brace, and eyelids.

Moving forward with product development, we have several parts that are ready to be released, or are nearing their release date. For starters, our popular Ram-Air style Front Mount Intercooler Kit has been redesigned and optimized for the 2010 MS3. The kit utilizes the stock hood scoop as the location for the air intake, which also uses the stock shroud. The kit is able to decrease pressure drop, while also increasing efficiency over the stock top mount intercooler.

CorkSport Front Mount Intercooler Kit

The next part nearing completion is our Lightweight Crank Pulley. It shaves two pounds off of the stock pulley’s massive 4.40 pounds of rotating mass. Eliminating rotating mass does not add horsepower, but simply frees up existing power. The blue anodized aluminum pulley has a steel trigger wheel and comes balanced. The kit also includes all the necessary timing tools for the installation.

Available within the next 2-3 weeks will be our CorkSport Mudflaps. They will feature thick, durable die-cut polyurethane and come with all the necessary mounting hardware and installation instructions.

Another product we have in the works is a 2-way adjustable front sway bar. It will be a welded one piece design with laser cut arms and a hollow cross tube. This part was designed to match the rear sway bar we already sell, with the adjustability to match your specific driving style.

The final product we have ready to release is a 4 bar rear chassis brace. This chassis brace kit will include our quick release rear chassis brace and three other braces to tie the entire rear end together to resist chassis flex in every direction.

Look for these products and more in our New Products section on our webpage.

– Jake

January 24, 2011September 13, 2018

PRESS RELEASE: CorkSport Power Series Front Mount Intercooler Kit For the 2010-2013 MazdaSpeed 3

Due to the popularity of our Front Mount Intercooler (FMIC) Kit for the MazdaSpeed 6 and first generation MazdaSpeed 3, we are proud to release the kit for the 2010+ MazdaSpeed 3. This kit will bolt on with no bumper modifications needed and increase boost levels while decreasing intake temperature. The kit also takes advantage of the hood scoop by mounting the intake under the stock intercooler shroud, leaving a stock look and maximizing airflow.

Features:
The CorkSport FMIC Kit features an aluminum core intercooler (24 x 6 x 3.5 in) with custom cast end tanks. Flowing into and out of the intercooler is 2.25” aluminum mandrel bent piping with bead rolled ends. These are connected via silicone couplers (your choice of black, red, or blue) and stainless steel T-bolt clamps. The kit includes everything needed for installation including our uniquely designed ram-air box. The ram-air box counts to the factory intercooler location to utilize the stock plastic cover and hood scoop to maximize airflow to the engine.

The CorkSport FMIC Kit can be ordered for use with the stock, HKS, or Greddy Blow-off Valve flanges. The kit can also be custom powdercoated to match your engine bay, or give it a totally custom look.

Testing:
Our FMIC Kit has been developed and tested specifically for the 2010+ MazdaSpeed 3. It has been tested in all types of conditions including hot and cold, rain and snow, freeway driving, and stop and go traffic. The kit decreases pressure drop by about 2.5 psi over the stock intercooler (down to 3 from 5.5 psi). The FMIC kit also offers an icrease in thermal efficiency of roughly 20% over the stock intercooler (up to 86% from 66%)*. On top of all of this, the core flows 30% more air than the stock intercooler. All of these features add up to a kit that was designed and optimized for the 2010-2011 Mazdaspeed 3.

Available Now:
The CorkSport Front Mount Intercooler Kit for the 2010+ MazdaSpeed 3 ships with all the hardware needed for installation and is available now via our website or CorkSport Customer Service (360-260-2675). Full color step by step installation instructions and telephone support are also included with your purchase.

January 24, 2011February 11, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: CorkSport Rear Chassis Brace Set 2004 – 2011 MazdaSpeed3 & Mazda 3

CorkSport’s Rear Chassis Brace Set for the 2004-2011 MazdaSpeed 3 & Mazda 3 is a direct direct bolt-on one inch diameter four bar kit that stiffens up the rear-end of your vehicle’s chassis. The bar set requires you to trim a small amount of carpet out of your cargo area and utilizes stock mounting locations.

The four bar kit installs in about an hour and a half and includes all the necessary hardware to complete the installation. It fits with all existing (three bar set available if you already have our Quick-Release Rear Chassis Brace) and future CorkSport brand parts and offers a design that will set your 3 apart from the crowd.

Features:
The CorkSport Rear Chassis Brace Set utilizes powdercoated 0.25” steel brackets that mount to factory locations on the side of your cargo area and are completely hidden behind the trunk carpet except for the bar mounting holes. The bottom mounts are small and stay close to the corner of your hatch to minimize taking up precious cargo space. The bars feature a black anodized aluminum design with our CorkSport Logo etched into the bars (the two shorter bars do not have the logo). The top bar is attached to the brackets by aircraft grade quick-release pins that allow the bar to be removed quickly and effortlessly in an event that you need to fold down your rear seats and haul a large object in your 3. The end links are threaded for full stiffness adjustablility. Turn the bar one way to stiffen the rear end, turn the bar the other way to lessen the stiffness.

Testing:
The CorkSport Rear Chassis Brace Set has been tested on our own vehicles to ensure fit, form and function. The bar set increases stiffness in the rear end by tying load points together. This results in reduced chassis flex that is a common issue with the hatch-back’s open cargo area design. We have tested the design and with the bars installed, you can expect to see a 12% decrease in rear end deflection.

Available Now:
As with all our CorkSport Brand Mazda Products, the Rear Chassis Brace Set ships with all the hardware you need for installation. Full color step by step installation instructions and telephone technical support are also included with your purchase.

January 20, 2011September 13, 2018

Aftermarket Parts and your Warranty

Now that our CorkSport Power Series Short Ram Intakes for the 2.3L DISI turbo-charged engines are 50-state legal (Press Release), I would like to revisit a past blog post as I think it is important for every car owner to understand.

A little over a year ago, we put a blog post on our webpage that outlined some of the laws and tips regarding your vehicle’s factory warranty and aftermarket parts you put on your vehicle. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (US code – Title 15, Chapter 50, Section 2301-2312) was put in place to make it illegal for your dealer to void your warranty just because you put a non-OEM part on your vehicle (see SEMA Article). However, if you bring in your vehicle for a warranty claim, and it was obvious that the aftermarket part caused the issue, then you are out of luck.

The best way to avoid an issue is to have a good relationship with your dealer and to know in advance how accepting they are of vehicle modifications. Even though you have the law on your side, if they are not accepting of your vehicle modifications, you may want to find another dealer. No one wants to spend time dealing with a lawsuit or fighting over something that you can just as easily avoid in the first place. However, if you do run in to the unfortunate event where you believe that your dealer has wrongfully voided your warranty, you can contact the BBB Auto Line at 1-800-955-5100.

Please note that improper installation of any factory or non-factory parts that cause damage to your vehicle, are not covered under your warranty. Also, driving through water deep enough to cause water to be ingested into the engine will not be covered even with the factory intake installed.

If you have a specific question or concern about a CorkSport product, feel free to call us at 360-260-2675 or email and we will be happy to answer your questions.

– Jake

January 18, 2011October 24, 2023

Dealership Friends of CorkSport

Back in June Chris wrote a blog post about how we have been actively looking for dealerships who are “Mod Friendly”. We are happy to announce that our list of dealers who carry our products and are more accepting of performance products on your Mazda is growing! We have 6 Mazda dealerships in various parts of the US who have access to all of the CorkSport brand product line. Here they are in no particular order:

Continental Mazda
Located in Anchorage, AK

Continental Mazda in Anchorage AK. Continental Mazda is the best source of Mazda parts for the enthusiasts in the Anchorage area. AJ in parts is the go to guy for our CorkSport brand products.

Roger Beasley Mazda
Located in Austin, TX

Beasley Mazda keeps an active calendar of local events for Mazda enthusiast on their dealer webpage. There are enough things there to keep most people busy all month long. If you need to contact them you can email Danny in parts or stop by their location and talk to Adam at the parts counter.

The Autobarn Mazda of Countryside
Located in Countryside, IL

Autobarn Mazda has been racing and modifying Mazdas for quite some time. The more recent events Autobarn has been involved with are MX-5 Playboy Cup series and the One Lap of America. The One Lap event was done in a Mazdaspeed 5 which was built by Autobarn. Contact either Dan or Julio in the parts department.

Ralph Thayer Mazda
Located in Livonia, MI

Thayer Mazda has been supporting local rally cross events and now has moved up to supporting the Sno-Attack event at the Snodrift rally in Atlanta, MI the weekend of Jan 28-29th (the Sno-Attack event is on the 29th). I will be at the Sno-Attack event so if you are in Atlanta, Michigan stop by the Thayer Mazda tent and say hello! Talk with Kyle in parts for your CorkSport parts needs.

Continental Mazda
Located in Naperville, IL

Continental Mazda has been offering CorkSport products for the last 9 months. They are active in support of motorsports including spec Miata racing. They approached us about offering our products to their customers. Ed in parts is the best person to contact to get our products there.

Hayes Mazda
Located in Kalamazoo, MI

Hayes Mazda is active in the local Mazda scene in Kalamazoo and supports other automotive events. Last year Hayes Mazda supported the Kalamazoo Miata Club 2010 Sports Car Show Extravaganza at the US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI. Shoot Bob an email if you are near Kalamazoo to get our parts.

If you have any dealerships in mind that you think will be good candidates for CorkSport brand parts feel free to email me with the name and I will be in contact with them.

– Derrick