FWD Dilemma

"FrankenBlaster" (FrankenBlaster)
10/29/2014 at 22:18 • Filed to: None

After a list of bolt on modifications, a rebuilt fuel pump, and a custom tune my car makes about 300 horsepower to the front (blah blah torque steer) wheels. I don't spin the wheels unless I really hammer it in first and second, but it does happen sometimes that it will spin 'em in through first and second if I get them squealing.

The problem is, I want more power. It feels like quite a lot still, and throws me back in my seat when I start hammerin' 'er. There are a few issues associated with the platform, mainly fueling. It makes its power via a 2.3 liter direct injected turbocharged 4 cylinder. The bottleneck comes from its direct injection system.

There are no companies that make bigger injectors. In order to go upwards of around 250whp, a fuel pump rebuild is needed, which involves swapping out the internals of the cam driven fuel pump.

Anything more than running about 21psi from the stock k04 turbo, or around 300-350whp (if there's other Mazdaspeed guys on here, please feel free to correct me) requires more complex fueling. Around 400whp is the limit of the rebuilt fuel pump, and the stock engine's internals. When the level of 350-400whp is hit, some go to an e85 mixture, and some go to methanol injection. Full E has just recently been possible with modifications, running it previously led to "black death" or a gummy substance building up on the fuel pump. Most still stick around a 50/50 mixture.

Power levels above that, shit gets real complicated, involving a port injection system for fueling.

Now that that is out of the way, the dilemma I am stuck in is this. I like my power level where it's at currently. However, I've always thought it would be fun to do a big turbo build, and 400whp sounds like a great goal. I'll be able to retain fueling capabilities if I switch to a 50/50 ethanol mixture, and the stock engine will take it reliably. THE PROBLEM IS ITS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I've already come this far, and I've learned to drive the car with its power even though it is front wheel drive. To get to 400whp would be less expensive than buying a car and trying to get there.

So, do I:

1 - Stay with the 300fwhp and save to build another car with the power to the rear or all wheels

2 - BOOST THE SHIT OUT OF IT

DISCUSSION (26)

bob and john > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:20

stay the 300 and get another car.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:22

I'd stick with what you got and find something you can be absolutely stupid with. Go big power but even add lightness. Tear out seats, ac, body panels (is that legal?), straight pipe exhaust, booooost. Everything.

If Your current is your DD you don't want to push it a little too much and blow up anything. save that for frankencar.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:22

After careful consideration I have come to the conclusion that you should BOOST THE SHIT OUT OF IT.

As long as it doesn't blow up.

FrankenBlaster > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/29/2014 at 22:25

SAVE THAT FOR THE FRANKENBLASTER, YOU MEAN HUEHUEHUEHUE

I think that's the better of the two. If I go big turbo I'd probably want to go even bigger on power after that. My gut instinct has always been to buy something I can go nuts with. v8 e30 comes to mind.

Aaron James > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:29

The only problem I see is once you get used to your 400hp all you'll be able to think about is how you need more, then what do you do? You can never have enough HP, at least I never could.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:31

I just assumed Frankenblaster was your... Never mind.

I have this weird plan of picking up something like an s10 or older gran Cherokee and dropping a built 350 with plenty of boost. A buddy oh mine has a shop that does s10 v8 swaps and he recently did a twin turbo 351 build.... So it only seems logical. I'd find a way to make it a total sleeper though with a quiet exhaust, beat up body, etc. Then open up the exhaust, spool the turbos and release the beast! (That's the second penile reference in this comment if anyone I'd counting)

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:32

I dunno man, mine (Speed3) is all stock still and there is times where I immediately think RWD would be better here. At the same time, having 350-400hp in 2nd to 4th gear would be AMAZEBALLS for slaying bigger cars at speed.

In summary: flip a coin

FrankenBlaster > Aaron James
10/29/2014 at 22:34

You're right. I got the car and was like, I'll do an intake to hear the turbo noise. Then I went crazy and did a 18psi tune, up from 15psi. Then I went nuts and went almost fully bolted to do a 21psi custom tune. Now this! It all happened because my buddy just told me his tuner texted him that his Camaro had just made 410 hp on the dyno.

FrankenBlaster > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
10/29/2014 at 22:35

I have a fetish for things like this. Not penis references, but putting v8's in cars and boosting the piss out of them. A friend at work has a FC rx7 with an ls1 in it, and another has an FD with a built ls1 (and a 1000hp supra, the guy is nuts). Gonna have to talk to them some more soon.

Dsscats > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:36

1. Daily MS3

2. Buy Fox body or C4 Vette or E30

3. Proceed to LS swap

4. Boost the snot out of it

5. Keep the MS3 reliable.

FrankenBlaster > Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ
10/29/2014 at 22:37

I was hoping you'd comment. I see you're at the same impasse as I, haha. I know what you mean, I'm about 50/50 AT ALL TIMES. I thoroughly enjoy the power level it's at and think more would be even more fun, but I keep getting a sinking feeling that any more would be too much for FWD.

Aaron James > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:37

I know, I've been there, it's a sickness without a cure.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:38

Good lawd those sound like a lot of fun.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:41

save for another car

THEN boost the shit out of it

vdub_nut: scooter snob > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:45

Couldn't you theoretically add more injectors pre-valve? Like older turbo kits? A lot of those had one bigass injector that you added somewhere just after the throttle body which supplemented the fuel that the stock ones couldn't provide.

Kinja'd!!!

Pic pretty much related, but for a motorcycle

thedevilinside > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:53

Don't get into a HP war with muscle cars in your Hot Hatch! That won't end well for the wallet

Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 22:54

Guess might depend on your usual driving too. For the twisty back roads I have going to work and back the stock setup is plenty fun as is. If I was dancing with peeps on the highway often, high power FWD would be as good as anything.

Are you at Stage 2 basically in upgrades now and considering stage 3?

From my reading "Stage2" is basically all bolt ons added and have and an Access Port...Stage3 is definitely fuel pump, access port, and internals plus whatever bolt ons.

FrankenBlaster > vdub_nut: scooter snob
10/29/2014 at 22:57

To be honest, I'm not completely sure. I -think- that's what the addition of the "port injection" system a lot of the guys go to does. I'm guessing the product you linked and this one do about the same? http://www.speedperf6rmanc3.com/products/speed…

I'm still learning with all this stuff, so I could be completely off here.

FrankenBlaster > Life and Times of Magoo: The People's Champ
10/29/2014 at 23:00

Right now I'm I guess what you'd call stage2+? I have all the supporting mods to max out the stock ko4 as well as a custom tune done by Freektune, who have tuned hundreds of Mazdaspeed cars. The tune actually made a huge difference from what Cobb's stage 2 off the shelf map was doing for me.

JGrabowMSt > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 23:00

I saved my pennies driving a NA 4 banger with about 115HP for the past five years.

I never bothered modifying because there are better canvasses for tire slaying than a FWD econobox.

You can do the same, and trust me, it feels very liberating.

Fast is fun, but its more fun to do it right.

FrankenBlaster > JGrabowMSt
10/29/2014 at 23:04

Out of curiosity, what platform did you go with to unleash the fury?

JGrabowMSt > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 23:21

Kinja'd!!!

The LX platform is very well established. My Magnum is not stock, and will never be fully returned to stock form. The 5.7L will eventually be taken out for a bigger V8. Even now, going from 115 to 345HP was well worth it. The mods are relatively inexpensive, and the car responds well to power adders like intake and exhaust.

Then to left is an SL class roadster. It will remain stock, with good reason. If I was stupid enough to tune and mod it however, the M120 V12 is capable of well into the 600HP range. Stock right now, its good for 400, and Im perfectly satisfied with it.

michael bleggi > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 23:23

from every FWD experience i've had personally, if you want to put money into making more power out of your speed3 (which you should, i love that platform) you should first get the stickiest and widest rubber you can. It will make everything so much more worth it....

Milky > FrankenBlaster
10/29/2014 at 23:43

Don't get me wrong, your car is dope. But I'd be rather be slow and RWD …. so I imagine fast and RWD would be a ton of fun.

Just my 2 pennies.

JKER > FrankenBlaster
10/30/2014 at 01:46

If I was in your spot, I would just buy a different car now. This is going to be your project car, your baby, when it's finished you're going to want to love every single part of it. If you get to 400hp on your Mazda is there a chance that you might want to sell it and get something rwd? I wouldn't risk it. Do what you want now so you don't have to regret it later.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > FrankenBlaster
10/31/2014 at 16:04

Yup, that's pretty much what I described. Kinda funny that the advances in technology now require an old-school workaround, haha