Page 1: Intro, Currents, Pics, Etc. **YOU ARE HERE**
Page 2: GReady Turbo Timer Install
Page 3: Boost Tube Install
Page 4: XM Controller/IPod Controller Install
Page 5: Painting the calipers
Page 6: Hardwiring my Escort Passport 9500i
Page 7: LED Lighting Install
Page 8: Killerglass Tubing
Page 9: Injen CAI Install
Page 10: New Horn Install
Page 11: HIN Miami, Dec 2007
Page 12: Future Mods
Page 13: Navigation System
Page 14: Rear Motor Mount
Page 15: NOPI Florida, April 2008
Page 16: First Set of New Tires
Page 17: Fun Photos
Page 18: Shifter Spacers
Page 19: Hot Import Nights Miami Beach 2008
Page 20: Cross Country Road Trip from Miami to San Francisco **UPDATED 10/25/09**
This is Stealth.
This is my daily driver and the car I play around with with the intent to show sometime in the future. I've had it for about a year and a half now, and it is a total blast to drive!
My Speed Story
At the beginning of July 2007, I picked up my 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 GT w/out a nav system after being throughly impressed with the car during my testdrive, wasn't actually looking to buy one, but too sweet of a deal, under sticker...
I finally settled on a name...Stealth. I think it fits, if only I could actually get my car painted in the same radar absorbing paint as the SR-71, F-117 and B-2...that would be great!
You'll see a lot of detailed comments and explanations during this. I am actually a mechanical engineer and truely enjoy messing around with the car. Let me know what you think of my ride and leave any comments you have.
Road Trip
I decided to leave Miami and move on and take a new job in San Francisco. I'll be documenting my road trip with pictures from across the country. Enjoy the trip pics, I'll try to get them posted on a regular basis.
Here's a map of the route I took...3600 miles in total.
Here are some Day 1, Day 2 and randoms...check page 20 for the captions.
Last stop in Miami Beach Driving through Florida, west of Tallahassee
Mobile, Alabama... Driving over the bayous
The BIG D! Texas Motor Speedway...TEXAS SIZE!
Train tracks in Northwest Texas... My car at the Texas/New Mexico boarder
Driving outside Albuquerque... Cool pic in Arizona
Accolades
First off, thank you all who have voted for my ride...as of 10/8/07, this was rated as the Top Ride for Custom Lighting!!!
Also, thanks to all of you who mave voted my ride as the Top Ride for Brake Setup as of 7/6/08!!!
Please remember to rate my ride.
Sponsorships
Just got sponsored by StreetUnit!
They are a totally awesome company and have the best stuff for Mazdas, Evos, Subies, etc. I get a lot of my upgrades from there, more to come soon!
www.streetunit.com
Thanks much!
Pics around Miami, July 2008
Pics from July 2007
These are pictures from when I first got the car, before any mods, tints or anything else. These pics were taken from Hobie Beach looking toward Brickell Bay.
This is my car at the beach in Miami in it's stock trim (July 2007). It totally rocks!!
Here are some more pics on the beach...
August 2007
Here are some pics of my car after the tints and the painted calipers...a little artistic and I think it looks pretty good...
Here are some new pics of the LEDs. Most of the pics are pretty good, as I took them with adequate lighting and the right camera setting this time. Let me know what you think.
Front, overall effect
Rear, interior lights
Exterior lights, featuring the grill
Exterior from the rear
Here's the first of the Killerglass installs, the recirculating hose.
Modifications
Here's a list of my other pages with the other mods I've got on the way or installed...
1. GReady Turbo Timer Page 2 **INSTALLED 9/2/07, FIXED AND WORKING 3/20/08**
2. Boost Tubes Page 3 ***INSTALLED 9/13/07***
3. XM Controller to replace the Sirius unit along with an IPod Controller Page 4 **INSTALLED 9/10/07**
4. Painting the calipers Page 5 **INSTALLED 8/5/07**
5. Hardwire kit for my Escort Passport 8500 Page 6 **INSTALLED 7/19/07**
6. LED lighting for the footwells, engine bay and under carriage Page 7 **INSTALLED 9/2/07, 9/3/07, 9/15/07, 12/7/07**
7. Killerglass Tubing Page 8 **PARTIALLY INSTALLED 10/14/07**
8. Injen CAI Page 9 **INSTALLED 9/5/07**
9. New Horn Install Page 10 **INSTALLED 10/14/07**
10. Kenwood Navigation System Page 13 **FINISHED INSTALL 11/14/08**
11. Street Unit Rear Motor Mount Page 14 **INSTALLED 3/2/08**
12. Street Unit Solid Shifter Spacers Page 18 **INSTALLED 8/7/08**
Cold Air Intake
I've now INSTALLED an Injen CAI system!!! If the Injen dyno chart is correct, this will gain 26 hp and 29 lb-ft of torque and the wheels! This will put me at 253 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque at the wheels, or ~ 293 hp and 312 lb-ft of torque at the flywheel.
Dyno Chart
This is the current configuartion with the intake and boost tubes.
Navigation System
This wil be the last major mod for a while...like at least a year or so. But this Kenwood system will be able to control the IPod, XM, Navigation and my PS2. I just got (3/1/08) the steering wheel controls and blu tooth are now working perfectly!
I've installed (7/4/08) the PS2, but it took me till November (11/14/08) to figure out how to get it displayed on the screen. Check out the pics below. The software update to the KOS-V500 from January 2009 now allows for full video control of your video IPod and even your IPhone 3G with the KCA-iP301V.
Here are the pics of the system as it is installed. The sound now works and the touchscreen is just awesome.
I installed a power inverter and it works really well. But the fan is kinda loud and I don't wanna have it running unless I'm actually using it, so I'm looking to change where it's installed. Here's a pic of it. This is what the PS2 is plugged into.
Here's the PS2 Installed, and of the wireless controler. I just (11/14/08) got the video working on the front screen. Check page 13 for how I did it.
Here's a video of the PS2 working...
Rear Motor Mount
I also just (3/1/08) just got the Street Unit Rear Motor Mount, 62A bushings and installed it.
Here's a couple of pics, I'll get a page for the install up soon.
Modifications Not Featured on Other Pages
Exhaust Modification and Resonator Deletion
This is my car with the resonators deleted.
Here's a pic of the deleted resonators.
Parking Spot Modification (Seriously)
Well, I got sick an tired of crap getting on my car every time it rained from the gap in the concrete above my car so I got some DAP and sealed it up. Here's a pic (look at the reflective stuff, that's the DAP). I it so much better now, no more crap on my car.
Pulstar Spark Plugs (Taken Out Within A Week!)
I've also just installed the Pulstar sparkplugs. I took readings on the mpg I was getting the week prior. I'll take them this week as well. Slight problem is that one of them snapped in half...
I sent them a message and should be getting a replacement. The initial gap was also too wide, so I had fix that, seems to be working now. I'll put the info for the gas mileage up once the testing is complete.
Um...yeah...these things are total shit! I have had them in for about a month now, and had some major knocked as i was driving along last night (4/13). Let the engine cool down and put the stock ones back in this morning...the damn probe had either melted or broken off! This is the third time this has happened in the last month, so no more of these for me. I'll post a pic here soon.
Yeah, see the missing probe or whatever does the gap. Then you see the high burning marks, this is from only three weeks use. So they are out for good.
The only thing that saved my engine here was the fact that my engine has the best protection out there with Mobile 1.
Shifter Spacers
I just installed the Street Unit Solid Shifter Spacers.
The shifts are much more crisp and each shift just feels more solid. Details of the install on page 18.
FUTURE MODS
One mod will be doing something with the engine color. Possibly wrapping the hoses with coloring if not a complete replacement with colored hoses. I'm also thinking of painting the plastic pieces that are left around the engine. Not sure what else in there for now, I'm looking around to get ideas.
What I'm looking at now for the next possible upgrade is for the stereo system. The current power just isn't enough and neither is the bass! I'm looking at a couple of JL Audio amps and subs along with a cap. Total of 600W in the new system. That should be plenty for now!
If you have any ideas that would be good for the car and contribute to it being a better show car, let me know. I really don't want to touch the exterior though, this is in keeping with my concept of this being a "stealth" vehicle that "flies under the radar." This concept is reinforced by an article at ESPN.com on avoiding speeding tickets. Linked here.
SECOND LOOKS
Just a little update, since I've painted the calipers I've had a Corvette speed up to take a second look; a Mustang stop at a red light and just stare after his girlfriend in the passenger's seat was checking me out, or maybe it was the car a little too; and had a Porsche Carerra try to keep up then do a double take at the 5-door that was passing him up and giving him a run for his money.
CAR SHOWS
HOT IMPORT NIGHTS, MIAMI BEACH 2007
Here are some pics of the HIN show. More of them are on page 11.
NOPI Florida 2008
Here are some of the pics from NOPI Florida.
Jessica Barton and her 9 second Supra, look for her at Revvwear.com as well.
Hot Import Nights, Miami Beach 2008
More Pics
Here are a couple of pics of me and the car that a friend of mine took for a class. The blur image is pretty cool.
This is me by the MS3 in a shirt from Revvwear.com...cool shirt.
Anyway, I'll be back with pics, pics of the mods, and pics of the installation of each mod.
Sign my guestbook with any suggestions, feedback or if you have any questions about the install.
JJ
speed3stealth@gmail.com
Here's a link to the Revvwear site from TheMaximaGirl
