Wanting to gather a complete checklist now that the '07 Mazda3 is out of warranty...that's right, a Mazda thread that's NOT about the RX7/8 or Miata!


Car is an '07 Mazda3 iTouring 2.0 auto with tiptronic. Installing all stock Mazda parts from a 2.3 MazdaSpeed3 for the Turbo. This IS a DD/secondary family car as well...so not looking for insane boost at all, just something past the 148. 200-240 would be ideal.


So far I have the complete stock 2.3 intake manifold with backup 2.3 throttlebody, stock Mazdaspeed3 Turbo, and secondary ATX cooler. I've read a few writeups on the turbo addition, but very few as I guess it's not done very often. Every writeup seems to be completely different in what parts are needed or not (modding stock ECU is/isnt needed, ect). Anybody do this yet or have a decent checklist beforehand? This is my first turbo build, everything else has been Honda swaps...but I'm not in Hondaland anymore thank God.


I've also read mixed reviews on using a turbo with these auto engines, something about they can only handle up to 160whp? I've read that adding the secondary cooler takes care of this issue. Most 3 owners complain about how quickly their auto's get dirty fluid, I've never had that issue and changed it out 2x already.

 

Wait... Mazda made cars that werent powered by a triangle?
Id assume there are as many ways to turbo a mazda 3 as there are ways of turboing anything else. Unfortuantely i have nothing significant to offer to your checklist other than the following. Its possible that the turboing of automatic 3's isnt done very often because the drivetrain cant handle the additional torque or power produce by the turbo... Or maybe the ECU cant cope and tehre isnt an adequate piggy back and standalones our outrageous for most speed3 conversions? Good luck with the build tho, keep us triangle folks updated and maybe we will bump into something that may be useful for you along the way...

 

this is a TERRIBLE idea, it's not going to work well at all, just sell or trade the car in for MS3 because you are going to destroy it...

 

Just get a Hiboost or Tripoint turbo kit for your car, the Speed 3 swap will be a pain to work with since your motor is not direct injection and the Speed 3 is.

 

will not work. the added power will eventually toast the tranny. you want a boosed 3 buy a speed3, any other way and youll be sorry you never did.

 

Yeah I was afraid about the transmission issue...damn you Mazda. Guess I'll be selling these parts soon. At least I get to swap out the LED dash/radio/ac lights soon.


Thanks for the input guys, gotta start somewhere with this stuff I guess. I know very little when it comes to turbo setups, been trying to learn and cram as much as I could the past few weeks.

 

the stock tranny can handle 200hp with sensible driving, but eventually will fail. get a tripoint kit, run 5-10 lbs, add a tranny cooler, upgrade the valve bodies and try not to beat the hell out off the car. push it pass 200hp and you'll be walking home in no time. you can get an upgraded tranny from Lentech, if you got the cash.
long story short buy a speed3.

 

I would boost it, sell it, and use that money to buy something faster/stronger/more reliable.

But you could always sell the swap parts to someone else who can use em and use that money to buy something...

Let us know what you decide to do next.... oh and i may know of an Rx or 2 for sale that would be a good candidate for boost.... say 240whp...

 

One thing I forgot to mention. You can get the stage1 supercharger kit from F2. It gets the car up to 196hp and is safe on the factory drivetrain.