If the title doesnโt tell the story then you must still be at the top of the hill; good luck with that as it wonโt last long. Now let me tell you my story.
Even before I got my Mazdaspeed3 I was a tinkerer; I wouldnโt call it modding because there were no off-the-shelf parts for my vehicle at the time. ย I was 16 years old with my first truck; I quickly made it loud and obnoxious among many other things.
Flash forward to my later years, and youโll find that I havenโt changed; things have just gotten more expensiveโฆ ya, you know what Iโm talking about. We donโt grow up; our toys just get more expensive.
So I got my 2009 Mazdaspeed 3 in 2014 with a fresh Mazda Motorsports short block, a CorkSport SRI, and Race Pipe. Oh, donโt let me forget the CS Fuel Pump Internals and Cobb APโฆ I donโt want to get roasted on my blog. Anyway, that setup was short lived.
Within two weeksโ time, just long enough to break-in the engine, there was a prototype CorkSport Mazdaspeed turbo on my car along with an assortment of other goodies such as a Downpipe, Cat-Back Exhaust, and a few suspension goodies. Two weeks! Thatโs all it took!
Over the next year, the car had new parts on it every monthโฆperks of the job you could say. ย I tried the Mazdaspeed3 TMIC setup, and then like everyone else moved to an FMIC setup, new CS Struts and Springs got set up, went to a 3.5โ intake, got the engine all mounted up and then various other engine power products like the CorkSport Intake Manifold and Camshafts. ย Oh! I almost forgot the MS3 Big Brake Kit up front! Damn I have to say going fast is fun, but โthrowing out the parachuteโ as you dive into a corner is just as exhilarating.
Like any seasoned Mazdaspeed owner knows, the OE short block was not long for the world. ย 18K miles later the infamous friction washers got me with a silent death. Allโฆ yes, I mean ALLโฆof the valves were bent, and the head was looking a bit rough, but luckily I didnโt vent the block. ย
At that point, my beloved Mazdaspeed and I were not seeing eye-to-eye (I think we have all had this feeling with our project cars right? You debate pushing it off a cliff?) so she sat for a good nine months before I decided I was ready to build the engine.
Wait. What? Remember that slippery slope I told you about? Well, when you are already this deep into the car the slope is covered in gear oil and damn near verticalโฆso I went deeper into the darkness known as project cars.
A month later I had a built engine (and significantly less money) that was ready to take on 600+ HP and more than eager to continue eating away at my bank account. ย A built engine wasnโt enough though. I cut up the front of the car for the custom CS Crashbar with/Big Core Intercooler so I could support my new power goal of 500WHP. ย I have the engine, so I might as well use it, right? (Note: This is the kind of logic that continues to cost you lots of money) To do this, I go the car setup with a larger turbocharger and an AEM Methanol Injection System. ย
The single 16 GPH nozzle was quickly at its power capacity so without even considering the cost I moved to a port meth injection system that is getting set up as I write this. ย
Anywaysโฆwhy does my story matter to you? Well because itโs not just my story, itโs the story of damn near every guy and gal that gets into modding their Mazda. Maybe power isnโt your goal like mine is, but if youโre a motoring enthusiast, then it doesnโt matter. There are so many awesome ways to slide down the proverbial hill.
For all of you at the top stillโฆ this is your warning. ย Enjoy the ride with its bumps and bruises, but most importantly appreciate the experiences and friends you gain along the way.
-Barettย
Connect with us
what wheels are those? love them.
Konig
How did the port injection setup work out? Was it a complete kit? Who makes this kit?
The port kit is the CorkSport intake manifold which is tapped for meth nozzles on each runner.