N rider89

yeah if you have any problems while installing jsut post here and well see what we can do

Phantom Menace

Thanks guys for all of your advice and tips. They ALL came in handy. Okay, so I'm done with my installs. Sadly, my camera wasn't charged so I couldn't take any pics. The bumper was not as difficult as I thought it would be. For me, the hardest part was the AC condenser screen. My car already came with one, albiet small and mostly ineffective. It looks almost like a fire place screen.

Taking that one out was the hardest part of the overall install, since you cannot take all 4 bolts out at the same time. On top of it all, I had to install the brakets to hold the new screen. It reminded me of a rubix cube. In retrospect, I should've removed the black undertray. The new silver screens from RB give a cool look to the front air vents and the fog lights.

The intake was a snap. The vacuum hoses were the hardest part. I didn't want to just yank 'em out. Although I had to drill a hole in the front of the box because it only came with one. These holes are supposed to match up with the rear facing screws on the backside of the bumper frame. I also did not like "harvestin" my OEM equipment as it renders it useless to anyone else thus, un-profitable.

The ram air scoop was not difficult at all. I was afraid to unbolt the bumper frame at first but in the end figured that I had gone "too-far" to chicken out. I put a few drops of red (permanent) loc-tite one each bolt when I replaced them for some peace of mind. When driving I can imagine the air being rushed up into the new box. Kinda cool.

I did a classic Scrub error that Jedi would've backhanded me for. I put the bumper back on and was ready to testdrive when I remembered! I forgot to plug in my foglights! Damn! In the end, I was pleased at how quickly I am now able to remove the front nose. 6-8 minutes and I was ready to testdrive.

All-in-all, I'm not sure if my car is faster due to the mods or if I'm giving more gas than usual just to hear the intake. It's not "loud" but it's definatley not stock, anymore. Engaging 1st gear feels a bit wimpy. That is, at friction point it feels as if it needs more gas to engage smoothly vis-a-vis the OEM setup. Overall throttle response seems to have suffered. Usually, a blip on the gas would be felt on the "butt" dyno. Now, the car does not lurch as much. I do, however notice that the RPMs spin up a lot faster. Usually, the 9k redline is so high that I never have to watch my tach. Now, I'm all up in the 7ks really quickly. Again, I do not know if I can attribute that to more power, proper, or to me wanting to hear the intake (giving more gas). I'm pleased that it still looks "stock" under the hood and I get a cool growl at idle.

I'm worried about one of the electrical connections that was unplugged. Originally, it plugged into the back of the OEM airbox next to the VFAD hoses. That one is just zip-tied onto the Air Mass Sensor cable and is not doing anything anymore. Is this okay?

Mazda-Rati

The green VFAD connector is not plugged back in to anything. Just zip tie it out of the way.

Also, for the screen you took off the original condensor screen? Is it ok if you don't. I just put the RB screen over top the stock one

mysql101

i wouldn't recommend installing the rb screen over the stock one. you're reducing air flow.

Mazda-Rati

damn...looks like my bumper is coming off again

Phantom Menace

I guess that'll work, too. Probably even provides extra protection. But yeah, it may block critical air flow to that area. It probably won't "choke" it, but may rob the condenser of precious fresh air. That, and the mesh on the OEM part is rather large. I don't imagine it being really helpful. I've got bent fins behind where it used to be.

I just took it out because I didn't think the bolts were long enought to hold both. I wanted to try and chop it and use it (original black screen) for the front grille, but I'm not that handy....

Mazda-Rati

I found this.....

http://www.finishlineperformance.com.../pdf/06-02.pdf

I guess the 05 and later come stock with this condenser protector. So all of us with 04s have nothing to remove to install the RB codenser screen.

foo77

^ IMO the protector not enough to protect it well..

N rider89

my 05 didnt have that but i would have replaced it anyway. its like a 1/4 protector anyways