Ok so i have a friend that is currently building his 3, hes pretty much my go to guy when i have questions about how smoothly things went when he installed aftermarket or custom parts. I told him about this forum (hoping he would join) but hes too busy to sit at a computer longer than just ordering parts, so i asked him if i could post pics of his progress and his build sheet, he said ok and he wants any feedback from us if we have any. Enjoy






















engine/drive train:

cosworth pistons (12:1)
cosworth rods
cosworth rod bearings
clevite main bearings
arp main studs
arp head studs
arp crank pulley bolt
balance shaft delete
cosworth high volume oil pump
massive speed cnc ported head with oversized valves worked over by spyder prep racing (+2mm)
cometic head gasket
crower stage 3 cams with custom machine work to install the oem cam trigger wheel
cfm adjustable cam gears
street unit motor mounts ( all three )
awr aluminum race radiator ( made by ron davis )
hard oil filter conversion kit with cosworth oil cooler
fidanza light weight aluminum flywheel for mazdaspeed 3
spec stage 1 clutch for mazdaspeed 3
mazdaspeed 3 trans
sr motorsports underdrive pulleys
walbro 255 fuel pump
custom return line for fuel system
twm induction itbs
vibrant header and draxas exhaust
microtech LT10s engine management

suspension:

mazdaspeed struts ( NOT from a mazdaspeed 3 )
mazdaspeed rear camber links
eibach pro kit
racing beat sway bars and end links
auto power rollbar
rota slipstream wheels ( custom powder coated )

interior:

corbeau fx1 pro
corbeau 5 point harnesses
autometer sport-comp II tach
autometer sport-comp II oil psi, water temp, and oil temp gauges
aem wideband o2 sensor

Questions?

 

That intake sure is pretty but, how will the air be filtered on that thing?
Any ideas on costs so far?
It would be nice to see how long it all holds up.

 

love the IM. looks like a good build so far. would like to see numbers when it is finished.

 

I'm assuming this car is meant primarily for track use as I'm thinking that the new intake will eviscerate the low end torque of the 2.3. That said, once those four squirrels are wound up, that thing should be a bit of a flame-thrower.

 

WOW!!! WILD! I LOVE that intake but as Dale said, not really street worthy. That musta' been a few grand just on its own.
I hate the color (on that body color) custom wheels.

 

Bright wheels rarely work. This is an exception:


With that said, I can't wait to see numbers. Cossie engine in a Mazda 3? First one I've seen.

 

its actually not a cosworth engine, its still the original mazda 2.3l, even though this car is being built for hill climbs, this will be his daily driver.

as for thinking that the itbs is destroying the low end its not giving up that much (according to the people who made the IBS's) and it still maintains a good low end and the gains mid-range and higher are pretty significant.

his reasoning for painting the wheels that color is because he doesnt want to be like everyone else that would get black, white, gray, red, etc. i actually suggested that he should paint all four of them different colors but he had that idea already but decided to stay with that color.

 

The wheels kinda work with the decal in the rear quarter window, some of the harness system maybe (if thats what i'm seeing), and some parts in the engine compartment.

 

So as long as he drives with the hood off the wheels work... still ugly. I didn't think he was actually leaving the wheels that way. I was just looking at the motor.

 

nope the wheels are staying, i congrat him by being out of the norm, he knows that people are going to ask why that color for his wheels but u cant see them when your trying to catch up and cant