Heres the deal. A few years ago i was on here searching for turbo options and i found that hiboost sells a kit thats seem to be pretty decent. but the 3800 price scared me away and the fact that it used a standalone makes it a hassle to pass deq inspection (not obd2 compliant). i would like to know if theres any new options for us 3rd gen protege to go turbo besides the hiboost and wagner kits.
I'm looking for something reliable, will past deq, stock like drivability and of course greatly improved power . There seems to be some talk about using the mazdaspeed protege ecu and turbo parts but it seems hard to obtain.
A couple other questions. what turbo does the high boost kit come with. I've checked out their website and it says ihi "wrc" style turbo. i looked at the pics of it and it looks to have the same turbine outlet flange as the subaru/wrx turbos. and they sell the subaru wrx turbos on their website too. This couldnt be just coincidence could it? the reason i'm asking this is because i could get my hand on a ihi subaru turbo for cheap. maybe i can pick up a highboost kit with out the turbo and save a few bucks if its compatible.
Second question, i saw a turbo manifold on protege garage i believe it is a obx unit. anyone used that and piece together their own kit? If so, what else is needed?
sorry for the long post . comments suggestions and recommendations appreciated.

 

If you really want a low cost option that will pass deq and such, just trade your Protege for a MazdaSpeed Protege. That way you'll have the same car, with a nicer bodykit (assuming you drive a sedan), with a stock turbo.

You should be able to find one online for less than you'd think.

Selling your car privately, and paying the difference for an MSP is most likely cheaper than paying $3800 for a turbo kit you have to install yourself.

 

even if it is the same turbo, there's no chance that the manifold from the WRX will fit the protege.

+1 for the mazdaspeed kit...I don't know about all this trading in talk, do it yourself, you may learn a thing or two along the way

 

I think you misunderstood what i was saying. I mean to use the wrx ihi turbo and use everything else from the hiboost kit. I was looking at the hiboost kit turbo and the exhaust outlet flange(the part that bolts to the downpipe) looks the same as the subaru ones which are 5 bolt . So thats why i think it might bolt up. Just looking to see if anyone can confirm that. If its truly a wrx ihi turbo such as the vf22 than the possibility for turbo options will be endless. since the stock wrx mitsubishi tdo4 and all the usdm and jdm sti turbos are all interchangable on the wrx's. Am i wishful thinking ?

 

Oh I'm all for diy jobs. But if you can get the MSP for cheaper than a protege + a turbo kit, makes more sense to me.

 

true. Thing is, you've already got the protege

 

One more question . I see that protege garage is selling a budget hi boost kit that doesnt come with engine management and bov. Has anyone tried using hi boost kits with the stock msp ecu. I mean besides the ecu is the fuel delivery system the same between protege 2.0 es and msp .Such as fuel injectors and fuel pump. It would be great if someone can confirm that if not tried that