28/06/2023
So I would like to share what started me with all this car nonsense. Like a wayback Wednesday kind of a thing.
Caloy + Wen + Caloy's dad
The car that sparked a passion. (Long read up ahead!)
So this is a 1999 mazda 323 familia GLI and this was my first project car..but second car because I got into 3 fender benders in a month with my first car, a second hand 1995 nissan sentra series 3 super saloon, and dad decided to sell it because he thought it was cursed. A ninong's theory stated there might have been a big strong magnet in the car which was left by the casa. LOL.
Anyways, I named my car, Wen, because of its license plate, and was handed down to me after a few months after it was purchased back in September 1999. It was what was called a scrap car, an unsold brand new unit, where parts were taken from like body panels, suspension parts, when client cars under the casa's care need them. From what i observed, only the left rear door was taken as the replacement door had a slightly darker shade of white on it; Lessened when i wax it 🤪.
So when I was the official custodian of Wen, it piqued my interest and I scoured the world wide web, or what we now call..the internet, and discovered that it was called the Mazda Protegé in the US and there was a club called Protegetech and it even had a website! Perusing (naks!) the site I found out that there was a Philippine chapter and later joined Protegetech Philippines. It took several text messages and months before I had the courage to attend my first Familia Reunion. From there, I met new people, new friends, new enemies(lol), and built relationships through a common car. The Mazda 323/Protegé/Familia.
I started modding Wen by changing a few aesthetic stuff and adding a sound system. This was the time when dad found out I had been tinkering with the car when he used it one time and heard a whining sound when the revs go up. When he went home that night, he got angry about modding the car because he heard this sound. He told me to "not change the specs" *harumph harumph* of the car because it was designed that way. The whining turned out to be the amplifier's power wire crossing a signal wire. A no-no since it will produce alternator whine on the speakers. So I solved that by rerouting cables and that was that.
What got to me was dad's statement about not changing specs of the car. I was just starting to mod Wen and had to think of a way to go around that. I needed a loophole. So I did my research and found out about Mazda's in-house race division, Mazdaspeed. And this was where the obsession started since Mazdaspeed was under Mazda, I'm technically within "spec" if I change parts to Mazdaspeed..right? Riiiight. So my 323 Familia GLI was transformed to a 323 Mazdaspeed+ because a locally released 323 Mazdaspeed didnt have the parts Wen had.🔥
IIRC (if i remember correctly), a Mazdaspeed Familia sold by Mazda Philippines at that time had the Mazdaspeed bodykit, Mazdaspeed 15 or 16 inch wheels, Mazdaspeed suspension c/o 4-way adjustable KYB shocks on Eibach springs, a Mazdaspeed strut bar,a Mazdaspeed steering wheel and shiftknob to put that perfect cherry on top.
Mine had those said parts plus a Mazdaspeed gauge, Mazdaspeed sport exhaust, Mazdaspeed silicon high tension wires, and a whole lot more. Sooo technically, my car was within mazda's spec....right? Riiiight.
When I came across a set of 17 inch DTM KS-05 wheels for cheap in one of the forums+, I had to get it since I loved the classic 5 spoke design and it was honestly a very good deal. I didnt think about what dad would say when he sees them on the car. Bahala na! Haha. So the night when dad came home, he saw the car, harumphed, and went in the house..ooh parang lusot na. Those wheels were technically out of spec but I tried to be "near spec" as possible so tire size was within safe limits and all.
I think my mindset and attitude to modifying cars was molded by dad. He is honestly a big influence on my taste and how I modify cars; almost always in spec, with sooome restraint, and done very tastefully. So, I guess...Thanks dad. 🙂
The goal for Wen was to just look a little bit better, a little bit faster, sound a little bit nicer (than a bonestock 323 Familia automatic GLI). And all those little bits have turned into a whole lotlle bits(lol), transforming Wen into somewhat of an icon, I think..
Here is Wen's modlist
Exterior:
Mazdaspeed front grill
Mazdaspeed front chin
Mazdaspeed sideskirts
Mazdaspeed rear fins
Mazdaspeed rear spoiler
Mazdaspeed grill emblem
Mazdaspeed trunk emblem
Jdm trunk with red/white rear garnish
Red white taillights
Oem foglights
Custom a-toy projector housing
Custom smoked clearance lights
Spectrum HID
Engine
Mazdaspeed sport exhaust
Mazdaspeed oilcap
Mazdaspeed silicon high tension wires
Mazdaspeed strutbar
Knn cone filter
Simota intake
Hotbits 4-2-1 headers
Adjustable cam gears
Custom wrinkle finish valve cover
Wheels and Suspension
Mazdaspeed KYB 4 way adjustable shocks
Mazdaspeed Eibach lowering springs
Mazdaspeed by Rays MS-03 15 inch wheels
Mazdaspeed 16 inch Rota Astral wheels (other notable set)
DTM Modia KS-05 17 inch wheels (other notable set)
Rota Tuner 17 inch wheels (other notable set)
Kyoei lug nuts
Crossdrilled front rotor discs
Rear disc brakes
Interior
Mazdaspeed steering wheel
Mazdaspeed boss kit
Mazdaspeed gauge cluster
Mazdaspeed "tuned by" emblem
Momo automatic on Custom short shift look
Custom red arcade type hold button
Custom aircon switch cut-off near shifter for more powaaah!!!!!! when needed
Carbon fiber gauge trim
Carbon fiber shifter trim
Custom seat upholstery and sidings by seatmate
ICE - in car electronics
Alpine 7998r Phantomface headunit
JBL 300.4 amp
JBL GTO separates
JBL GTO 12inch subwoofer
Install, trunkworks, and tuning by Rocky+ and Leo of Mach2audio
