New old member

Starting off with one of those boring first posts to say Hi Everyone.

I've had my Speed3 since new in 08 and have put on over 250k in mostly trouble free miles (minus a freak transmission pop around 100k). Since then just doing regular maintenance and driving the car. Used to frequent the other forum that died, but kinda dropped away from it all as life gets busy and drags you in different directions.

The car has only minor mods to keep it a reasonable daily driver. Been running with upgraded fuel pump internals and a hypertech tuner for almost the life of the car. Intake and a slightly bigger top mount. Pulled the 2nd cat but the rest of the exhaust is stock. Eibach springs with the Koni orange streets rides comfortably enough. And a short shifter out of necessity when the stock one finally snapped off in my hand. Mostly just drive and enjoy it.

I just realized I created an account here a year ago for some reason, probably just to poke around a bit, and now I'm back because I think my timing chain / VVT / tensioner is shot and it's time to start wrenching or find someplace trustworthy to have it worked on. I also started throwing a couple emissions related codes recently that shouldn't be too big of a problem. If anyone has any recommendations in the Chicago NW suburbs / Gurnee / Waukegan area I'm looking for a place that's worked on Mazdaspeeds before.

I've also been off of facebook for a while and have been looking for groups there to check out. Just realized Damond Motorsports is closeby and maybe they might have some suggestions for me to find some local support.

I guess that's it to start, now back to browsing.

 

Whalecum to mso! While I don't have shop recommendations if Damond is close by to you I'd say they're certainly worth a call for a shop recommendation, matt is great on the phone.

 

HOLA! If Damond does VVT, do it there 100%. Or a local dealership. Any hole in the wall shop is a risk of messing up timing.

 

Yeah, I'm very leery of having some local shop touch the car unless I can be certain they've done timing chain jobs on speeds before. It's been quite a while since I've done a big wrenching project, so I've been contemplating ordering parts and just getting to work at my own slow pace. Considering the high miles and the fact that she's never really been cracked open, I'm sure I'll end up wanting to replace other little crap while I'm in there.

Thank goodness for the community content that's still out there, I'll get back to digging around.

 

Welcome! You ever go to any of the WI Nator meets/cruises back in the day?

We're not doing any service ATM, but we do refer people to Red's Garage in N. Aurora IL. They know their Mazda shit.

We do offer dyno tuning at our facility in Brookfield IL, so hit us up if you're needing a tune.

 

I just re-read, 250K on the VVT which was revised in like 2012 due to the VVT failures, bravo! And on a Hyperfail toon, too! The VVT/chain is an ASAP mod, and I would consider inspecting the HPFP internals for wear and replacing as needed. Then get Versatuner or Cobb, and a custom e-tune. Will at Purple Drank tuned mine and is really good.

 

lol, yep tons of miles. Not sure if Mazda got their crap figured out by the time 08.5s came out, and I've tugged the chain through the oil cap from time to time, but just kept on driving it waiting for the day I start hearing the rattle of doom. I think that rattle came all at once in dramatic form. I'll try to upload a video in a day or 2 to share, and I need to find my scope to shove in there to take a look.

I only got as far as taking off the serpentine belt and firing it up for a few seconds to confirm it wasn't something dumb like an idler pulley or tensioner. Been sitting a few days.

Also, I'm fully aware of the hypertech's limitations, and also aware of how crappy the stock tune is along with the history of ZZB with these motors. I'm convinced that a mix of hypertech with the idle bumped, HPFP, and avoiding full throttle below 3k has helped my motor survive years of enthusiastic driving.

I'll definitely check out the HPFP while it's apart too, those internals have been in there for an eternity as well.