painted engine cover

and then after few weeks of nothing to do with the car, i really want to add more red bits to my car.... then the engine cover and the interior strip in the next victim...

this mini project took me and visage almost 2 days to finish coz we stuffed up so many times... its our first time doing fine spray paint and we want it to be smooth and perfect...

preparation: took us few hours just to find the right red. finally got this "regency red" from autobodypaint spraycan. cost me $14.95. also plastic prime and grey prime (grey prime is needed when you want to paint color on a black base)



tips based on our mistake... lol:
1. do one thin layer at the time
2. for new layer using spray can, you have to layer it within the first 3 hours or leave it over night.... dont do it between 3hr to 24hr after the first application.
the reason is the chemical in the paint will start working after 3 hour, and if that working chemical reacting with the new chemical on the new layer after 3hr, then it will make the surface wrinkle, bubble, and peeling off...
3. be patient!

thx again to visage for the help

Painted Caliper + EBC Green Stuff pads

after months trying to find performance parts for mazda3 ended up with no luck, i begin to rice my ride...

the easiest think to add your brake performance is to paint it red... (huehehehe just kidding)

i use VHT hi-temp caliper paint, around $10-15 from normal auto shop like autobarn, supercheap, etc...

steps:
1. take off the caliper
2. clean it with methylated spirit and brush (carefull not to damage any rubber parts...)
3. let it dry
4. mask any moving parts and flex pipe. (rubber seal, caliper piston)
5. start spraying the caliper with thin layer... do it bit by bit.... and leave it for half an hours before you start installing it back
6. voila!



oh also i install EBC green-stuff brake pads to balanced out the between rice and performance mod... :


anyway, thx again to visage to help me doing this and teach me alot of stuff...

i was bored... then i made this in photoshop...

second 0-400m drag time

so i went to calder park again to try out my new mods:
AEM CAI, Magnaflow catback, take off the rear seats

i did 15.6sec @ 89mph on that day...

very disappointing for me but i guess i need vtec also need to use 17inch.... coz i think the 18 inch also affect the time... (its a common excuse for a slow poke )

AEM CAI

well... nothing wrong with my current modified airbox setup. but after tossing between upgrading my stock panel filter to K&N panel filter or just go for CAI system (cold air intake) i decided to go with a little bit more bling... lol

then i ordered my AEM CAI... took me and pehul27 3-4 hours to install it. (it meant to be 1 hr job) hueahahah... coz both of us dont know what we're doing.... and made lots of mistake...

anyway... here we go... finally installed...


and then me and visage did extra mod to complete it... we cut a hole on the wheel well and put an old speaker cover on it... we do this because the AEM CAI is directly above it....

Cat Back Setup

i need some more grunt . so here it is... my first performance mods...

de-restricted stock Intake (thx to visage):
- take off the resonator chambers on the intake... and leaving the stock airbox with stock filter on.
- put a flex pipe from the airbox to the front bumper grille to feed fresh air

benefit: higher air flow, more throttle response, nicer intake sound (esp on higher rev)


Exhaust:

this is stock mazda3 system (2inch):
- 4-1 header coupled with 1st cat
- then a second cat
- a pre-muffler
- a muffler


i use 2.5inch inlet and outlet magnaflow hi-flow SS muffler

then for the piping, i tried few different setups:
1. 2.25inch system with no second cat, with 2.25 resonator, and just 2.25 press bent pipe. still very restrictive.

2. no second cat and no resonator. replaced with 2.25inch mandrel bent pipe. higher flow but still very restrictive.

3. this is the last and the best setup so far. it is 2.5inch mandrel bent one piece straight pipe after the header and the first cat. all the way to the muffler, then press bent 2.25inch tail pipe after the muffler outlet for a bit of back pressure that was lost by opting 2.5inch pipe....

First Drag 0-400m time

went to calder park with all the exe boys, trying out 400m rush for the 1st time...

i got the best run 15.9sec @ 87mph on that day.... car was stock, and with 18inch bling2 rims

The Concept! :)

and here are my photoshopped image of my car... this is how i want it to look like at the end.... its along way... but i'll get there somehow...

First few Mods + My first set of Wheels

first few mods:

- webasto holandia 700 sunroof

- cruise control
- tinted window
- paint protection
- sp23 matt

also some minor ricer mods ^_^:
- wide miror and mini boxing gloves for good luck*

*later on, i painted the ugly blue gloves to sexy red... habbah habbah

- stubby antenna


- RAZO G-Speed pedals



wheels:
Racing hart C4 - Gold - 18x7.5 +42offset - 9.5kg each


tyres:
pirelli p7000 225/40/18

[MERAH] - The Beginning of the Big Fat Snail

i bought these fat bubble march 2004... 2 days after i bought it, i reached 1000km already, blame it on paul for bringing me to Great Ocean Road. love the car, and love how it handle. it got good grips and balance for a passenger car....

but somehow what lack from it is the grunt... however, i dont need it yet as i couldnt even handle and use the available power to the max yet...

the basic figure for Mazda3 SP23 2004 (nothing to fancy):

Engine type: 2.3 litre 4 cylinder in-line 16 valve DOHC S-VT
Engine capacity (cc): 2,260
Bore and stroke (mm): 87.5 x 94.0
Compression ratio: 9.7 : 1
Maximum power: 115Kw @ 6,500rpm
Maximum torque: 203Nm @ 4,500rpm
0-100kmh: 8.3sec
0-400m: 15.9sec
top speed: 230kmh

Fuel system: Multipoint electronic injection
Fuel tank capacity: 55 lt
Fuel consumption: (manual) 9.0lt/100km
Transmission Ratios
1st - 3.307
2nd - 1.842
3rd - 1.310
4th - 0.970
5th - 0.755
Reverse - 3.166
Final drive - 4.388

Chassis and Suspension
Front brake: Ventilated disc - 300mm
Rear brake: Solid disc - 280mm
Front suspension: Independent MacPherson strut with coil springs and double acting shock absorbers
Rear suspension: Independent multi-link with low profile springs and cylindrical double acting shock absorbers
Steering: Electro hydraulic power assisted (engine revolution sensing) rack and pinion
Turning circle: 10.4m
Tyres: 205/50R17 89V
Wheels: 17 x 6.5 J (alloy) - offset +52 - 9.5kg
Spare tyre/wheel: Temporary/Space saver

Dimensions
Overall length: 4,540mm
Overall width: 1,755mm
Overall height: 1,465mm
Wheelbase: 2,640mm

Ground clearance - laden: 121mm
front track: 1,530mm
rear track: 1,515mm
Kerb weight 1,232Kg

so... lets the modding begin...
2 main things to upgrade... 1 is the driver skills, 2 is the car...