{"id":10033,"date":"2018-03-22T10:18:43","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T18:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/corksport.com\/blog\/?p=10033"},"modified":"2025-03-03T15:44:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T23:44:30","slug":"the-slippery-slope-of-modding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corksport.com\/blog\/the-slippery-slope-of-modding\/","title":{"rendered":"The Slippery Slope of Modding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If the title doesn\u2019t tell the story then you must still be at the top of the hill; good luck with that as it won\u2019t last long.  Now let me tell you my story. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even before I got my Mazdaspeed3<\/a> I was a tinkerer; I wouldn\u2019t call it modding because there were no off-the-shelf parts for my vehicle at the time.  I was 16 years old with my first truck; I quickly made it loud and obnoxious among many other things. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flash forward to my later years, and you\u2019ll find that I haven\u2019t changed; things have just gotten more expensive\u2026 ya, you know what I\u2019m talking about.  We don\u2019t grow up; our toys just get more expensive. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I got my 2009 Mazdaspeed 3 in 2014 with a fresh Mazda Motorsports short block, a CorkSport SRI<\/a>, and Race Pipe<\/a>. \u00a0Oh, don\u2019t let me forget the CS Fuel Pump Internals<\/a> and Cobb AP<\/a><\/strong>\u2026 I don\u2019t want to get roasted on my blog. Anyway, that setup was short lived. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within two weeks\u2019 time, just long enough to break-in the engine, there was a prototype CorkSport Mazdaspeed turbo<\/a> on my car along with an assortment of other goodies such as a Downpipe<\/a>, Cat-Back Exhaust<\/a>, and a few suspension<\/a> goodies. \u00a0Two weeks! That\u2019s all it took! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2009<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over the next year, the car had new parts on it every month\u2026perks of the job you could say. \u00a0I tried the Mazdaspeed3 TMIC<\/a> setup, and then like everyone else moved to an FMIC <\/a>setup, new CS Struts and Springs<\/a> got set up, went to a 3.5\u201d intake<\/a>, got the engine all mounted up and then various other engine power products like the CorkSport Intake Manifold<\/a> and Camshafts<\/a>. \u00a0Oh! I almost forgot the MS3 Big Brake Kit<\/a> up front! Damn I have to say going fast is fun, but \u201cthrowing out the parachute\u201d as you dive into a corner is just as exhilarating. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any seasoned Mazdaspeed <\/a>owner knows, the OE short block was not long for the world. \u00a018K miles later the infamous friction washers got me with a silent death. All\u2026 yes, I mean ALL\u2026of the valves were bent, and the head was looking a bit rough, but luckily I didn\u2019t vent the block. \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Built<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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?)<\/strong> so she sat for a good nine months before I decided I was ready to build the engine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait. What? Remember that slippery slope I told you about?<\/strong> Well, when you are already this deep into the car the slope is covered in gear oil and damn near vertical\u2026so I went deeper into the darkness known as project cars.  <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A month later I had a built engine<\/strong> (and significantly less money) that was ready to take on 600+ HP<\/a> and more than eager to continue eating away at my bank account.<\/strong>  A built engine wasn\u2019t enough though. I cut up the front of the car for the custom CS Crashbar<\/a> with\/Big Core Intercooler<\/a> so I could support my new power goal of 500WHP<\/a>.  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<\/a> and an AEM Methanol Injection System.  <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2007-09<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> that is getting set up as I write this.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyways\u2026why does my story matter to you? Well because it\u2019s not just my story, it\u2019s the story of damn near every guy and gal that gets into modding their Mazda.<\/strong>  Maybe power isn\u2019t your goal like mine is, but if you\u2019re a motoring enthusiast, then it doesn\u2019t matter. There are so many awesome ways to slide down the proverbial hill.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all of you at the top still\u2026 this is your warning<\/strong>. \u00a0Enjoy the ride with its bumps and bruises, but most importantly appreciate the experiences and friends you gain along the way. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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