Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

October 2009 ROTM - Lex

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    October 2009 ROTM - Lex



    Lex decided to handle this month's write up, so here it is!

    Originally posted by Lex
    I bought this blue 1991 5speed Escort GT in June 2003 from an older man that was selling it for his daughter for 2000CAD. At first sight, it looked very clean and well cared for - and had only 190,000 km on the odometer.

    Initially I had no plans to modify the car aside from putting in a CD player. I was a huge car fan ever since I was a kid however and it wasn't long before I started to really do my homework. It also didn't take me long to figure out my little blue was smoking the blue ... burning oil. I was heartbroken - I didn't know how to fix it and had no money to pay for an engine rebuild; so I put her away for a year while I was in school and started to look at my options. I soon discovered Club Protege; where I have learned invaluable information that helped me get the car where it is today.

    My heart was set on an engine swap and I came across a great deal on a motor someone was selling locally. I picked the motor up even before I re-insured my car in the summer of 2004. Then, after convincing my parents that it was a good idea to do an engine swap in their garage; armed with the FSM, many hours of reading, a box of tools, a good friend and his cousin, and many car parts the adventure of the swap began. Two weeks later, the car was running and I couldn't stop smiling when it first hit boost.

    From then-on the car underwent a much-needed suspension upgrade - twice, exhaust upgrade ... and so forth; while never letting me down as a daily driver. This was still on the GTX motor and turbo but soon my sights set higher. At one point I had every compatible turbo upgrade in my stockpile - VF10, VF12, Tbird ... and finally a VJ23 that I later replaced with a newer VJ23 ... what can I say, I like playing with turbos!

    Around the same time, I started working on engine management. First, there was a GTX ECU, then a chipped GTX ECU, then an SAFC, and then finally the Megasquirt. All was well and dandy but there is one thing I still hadn't done: build the engine!

    So in the winter of 2007-2008 I pulled the faithful GTX and built a brand new engine with the help of Jon (Shades) along with the transmission ... you can see what went in it in the mod list. Finally, the car is where I wanted it ... and at 240 000km on the odometer it stopped being my daily driver and just became the fun/race car this last summer.

    During the summer I went to a track day and managed a 13.6 at the track on street tires. I could use a lot more practice. During this last year I also started offering plug and play Megasquirt kits to make it easier for people like myself to push their BG cars further with less hassle.

    It's funny how although I have a much newer/more comfortable car to drive to work; I miss the unadultered fun of the Escort as a daily ... after all you know what they say about a first love.

    Before I close, you might ask what’s next? Honestly, it’s up in the air. I love projects and I’m itching for a new one. I want something from the 90s, AWD or RWD. I think I’m leaning towards a 94-97 Miata (since 323 GTRs are expensive to import) … that way I can keep and use the heart and brain of the Escort – but this won’t be for probably another year.

    I could also sell the Escort as a whole, but it would have to be for the right price.

    Car Mods

    Engine:
    Fully built and balanced engine
    - Belfab H beam forged rods
    - Wiseco 9:1 pistons ceramic coated and PC9 sideskirt coated by Swain
    - Clevite bearings
    - FM gasket set
    - NA head with ported exhaust, GTX cams
    - External oil cooler with -8AN lines
    - Port matched exhaust and intake manifolds
    VJ23 turbo with GTR exhaust manifold
    GTR intake manifold
    Heat insulator gaskets for throttle body
    Megasquirt I Extra HR controlling fuel and ignition with following modifications:
    - PWM idle control
    - Boost Control
    - Wasted spark control
    - Knock sensor
    Mazdaspeed Protégé LSD welded for strength
    Kia transmission, jackshaft, axles
    SPEC GTR SZ231H clutch
    550cc RC low impedence injectors
    Vishnu dual feed fuel rail
    HKS SSQV blow off valve
    4-wire TPS
    21x9x3 FMIC with 2.5" inlets
    Full 2.5" mandrel bent intercooler piping
    3" turbo back exhaust
    Highflow cat, no resonator
    Magnaflow 3" muffler
    MSD Blaster SS coil
    Walbro 255 l/h fuel pump
    B&M short shifter
    Solid front and rear motor mounts
    Delete A/C, Cruise, and power steering

    Suspension and Footwork:
    Ground Control ZX2 coilovers
    Tokico S/R struts
    Tokico strut mounts front and back
    Front and Rear Corksport upper strut bars
    Energy solid swaybar bushings front and back
    MX3 rear tie bar
    Mazdaracer front lower tie bar
    Front and rear ST swaybars
    SS braided brake lines
    Brembo front and rear rotors with 99 protégé front rotors
    Hawk HPS pads all around
    16x7 Rota Subzero rims
    Hankook Ventus tires (205/45/16)

    Misc:
    MX-3 recaro style front seats
    Autometer Boost, Oil pressure, and EGT gauge
    AEM wideband O2









    New engine is ready to be dropped in.


    Wiseco piston and H beam rod


    Summer 09 track day


    Escort resting for the winter in front of the daily driver.

    I peered out from the castle window and looked over the splendor of ROTM county. Yes, twas' a much simpler time back then. Peasants would go about their postings, and I, the mod, would rule over them with an iron fist.

    #2
    Congrats. Well deserved win
    1993 Protege LX-Midnight's shadow SOLD
    1996 Honda CBR600-Wrecked. Damn Honda crippled me
    2002 mazda MPV-family truckster SOLD
    2010 VW routon

    Originally posted by jay
    .....they totally underestimated the number of gearheads such as myself that have families but refuse to grow the hell up and stop playing with cars, or that otherwise see the utility of having 4 doors. Obviously I ain't alone, as there are a helluva lotta sti and evo here. Bueler? Beuler? Mazda? Mazda?

    Comment


      #3
      congrats man, that car gives me flashbacks of my brothers egt
      91 protege gt. dropzone mx3 springs, mx3 crossmember, ractive front and rear strut braces, rear lower mx3 brace, 4 wheel disc brakes, corksport ss brake and clutch lines,kvr front pads, ractive cai,ram air hood scoop, modified front bumper, shaved ant and rear trunk lock, fubu ant, short shifter, corksport bronzeoil shifter bushings,92 glass sunroof and tail lights, mx3 center console, autometer gauges (volt and oil pressure) cluster needles painted to match, sound system, 17 inch eagle alloy 193 with 205 40 17 rubber. klze is ALIVE BABY!! . http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2394656http://www.toprotege.com/forums/show...hlight=project[url]

      Comment


        #4
        Beautiful escort. Hopefully one day my festiva looks that clean.

        Comment


          #5
          congrats....nice EGT

          Comment


            #6
            Much accolades.
            1991 Protege LX with GTX swap, DD
            1990 4WD Protege with GTX swap, Project/garage decoration
            2006 Mazda 3 with 2.3, Her car
            1980 Ford F100 Short bed with 300ci 6 cylinder, work truck/home for moss

            Comment


              #7
              more reason not to sell it
              -Jack

              ONTARIO MAZDA CLUB! Join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/500055016671733/

              91 626 LX - basically stock and pretty slow still
              http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/sho...my-GD-626-LX-)

              01 E53 3.0i - FOR SALE! pm if interested

              91 USDM Protege LX - SOLD! turbo/manifold up for sale!
              http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46606

              Comment


                #8
                congrats lex



                sigpicWorlds first car with GPS was a Mazda



                ~~~~~~~~> Thanks again to member gooseinyou for the familia garnish <~~~~~~~~

                Comment


                  #9
                  nice car!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by JohnnyBees View Post
                    nice car!

                    Like it? It happens to be up for voting in the "Nominations" thread for Ride of the Year....

                    maybe toss him another vote?
                    I peered out from the castle window and looked over the splendor of ROTM county. Yes, twas' a much simpler time back then. Peasants would go about their postings, and I, the mod, would rule over them with an iron fist.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Wow I never noticed this thing went up. Thanks everyone!!

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Lex View Post
                        Wow I never noticed this thing went up. Thanks everyone!!

                        I'm just that good....or bad? Probably bad.
                        I peered out from the castle window and looked over the splendor of ROTM county. Yes, twas' a much simpler time back then. Peasants would go about their postings, and I, the mod, would rule over them with an iron fist.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          nice joj lex and keep it goin gd luck man

                          Comment


                            #14
                            That's the cleanest escort I've seen. Congrats on ROTM Lex!

                            - Nikita

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Thanks a lot! Also Russianred ... your Accord is very nicely done!

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X