Hey experts! I finally made up my mind and ordered Thew's (Matt) last GReddy Turbo Kit at mazdaparts.com for the next 30 days! Being my first venture into FI, I was hoping someone could help me with a few concerns:

1) Regarding installation...I'm not sure many performance shops (none come to mind) here have too much rotary experience. If I can't find a rotary expert, what should I look for in a shop to know that I'm dealing with the right people?

2) I was hoping to remove the stock cat and replace it with a straight through mid-pipe as my state has no inspections and I could use a little more noise(looking at either B&B or SR Motorsports...but I'm definately open for more suggestions ). Can I expect the same backfire problems with this as with those who have the high-flow cats?

3) Man, I could really use some help with all these gauge options ! I really dig the Defi BF (amber) 'cause it matches, but those (Boost, and maybe Exhaust Temp) plus the controller seem pretty expensive. Does anyone here have a fairly economical gauge setup with a good looking mount, or pod?

I'd appreciate any answers that might make this transition easier! Plus just any general post-installation advice (loading updated maps, breaking in, etc...). You guys rock!

THANKS!!!

P.S. I had a million other questions that I think my countless thread searches answered pretty well. The above is just stuff I was still left wondering about!

 

1) The turbo install isn't much different from a turbo install on a regular
piston engine. Be sure that you might have a dyno ready, & possibly be
able to dyno tune the turboed engine if need be.

2) Yes, you will have the backfire problem. If anything the hi-flow cat burns
more fuel up than a straight pipe, so you may have a WORSE problem.

3) Not seeing too many inexpensive mounting options that are clean. The
gauge pods cost from $250 (a-pillar & they didn't fit quite right) to
$500 for the 3 gauge pod from PTP (replaces the center dash). You can
always get those standard mounts that sit on top of your dash. Not
sexy but functional. For a turbo I would definitely get the boost gauge,
plus either an EGT or an A/F gauge.

 

Hey, thanks Fanman, I was actually hoping you would respond!
Do you have pics of your GReddy gauge setup?

-Darin

 

I'm actually going to be swapping out my Greddy gauges in a little bit. I'll post thoe pics. Probably keep the A-pillar gauge pod, but it has been a bit of a hassle as they do not fit flush with the A pillar itself so we tried epoxy & that fell off, now velcro, but the bottom still comes off, so we are just going to screw it in next time.

 

1) what he said
2) I'd recommend not to do a midpipe just yet. You'll have to tune the emanage using the support tool cd/cable. I plan to get the RP midpipe w/ hiflow cat.
3) Check this thread for an affordable, matching pod for the center dash (hope you don't have nav unit). It'll fit any 52mm gauges.
I've got the defi bf boost gauge on the A pillar DIY thread here and plan to add defi link meter gauges in the pod (egt, oil press, water temp).