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  #1  
Old 02-23-2005, 11:28 AM
rataha rataha is offline
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To MOD or not to MOD or shoud I wait?????

Here are my current Choices as I see it.

Basically stock MCS/03

1 Ball exhaust $100.00
Webb air box Mod $000.00
Webb TB $459.00
15% Pulley $119.00 + labor
UNICHIP $735.00 OUCH

$1413.00 plus pulley labor

Should I consider the Cartune chip upgrade instead???? Car not quite paid for yet.

My other Choice
2001 Miata Paid for
$3000.00 Jackson racing supercharger.

What would you do????

Randy Webb (and anyone else) real curious what you think of my modding choice????
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  #2  
Old 02-23-2005, 01:00 PM
rataha rataha is offline
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No comments?????????
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  #3  
Old 02-23-2005, 01:33 PM
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red rage red rage is offline
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MOD = SMILES

Do it
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  #4  
Old 02-23-2005, 03:17 PM
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kenchan kenchan is offline
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I would just do the pulley and free intake mod... the others
aren't really needed.

The sc on miata sounds good though. :smile:
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  #5  
Old 02-23-2005, 06:28 PM
ripley ripley is offline
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If you're like most of us, you'll do them all in time. As stated above, pulley first, then intake, then exhaust, then chip. You'll see diminishing returns as you go from there. (ie cost per hp gets pricey) But these are worth it. These are what Randy Webb reccomends on his web site and I'll be darned if he ain't right!

ripley
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  #6  
Old 02-23-2005, 06:40 PM
rataha rataha is offline
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I had the one ball exhaust done today. 60 bucks. Sounds a little different. Pulley and throttle body are probably next. Not sure if I have the guts to try the Pulley myself
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  #7  
Old 02-23-2005, 07:05 PM
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minihune minihune is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rataha
Here are my current Choices as I see it.

Basically stock MCS/03

1 Ball exhaust $100.00
Webb air box Mod $000.00
Webb TB $459.00
15% Pulley $119.00 + labor
UNICHIP $735.00 OUCH

$1413.00 plus pulley labor

What would you do????

Randy Webb (and anyone else) real curious what you think of my modding choice????
You could do less.
1 Ball exhaust- easy/cheap and you loose some weight but the performance gain/loss isn't much so don't expect much. Not recommended for best flow through power.
Air box mod- you can do it but some people think that it doesn't do that much. It does allow more noise to reach you but if you don't like loud intakes that isn't helpful.
Webb TB- not the first mod to consider and better suited for those that have many more power upgrades- I would not recommend it at this time. Power gains limited if any at high rpm ranges.
15% pulley- no brainer upgrade, safe and reliable.
ECU upgrade- Unichip is expensive but can work- this is a big chunk of your upgrade funds.

Other stuff-
adjustable rear sway bar- three holes, 22mm
lowering springs- M7, Alta, H-sport
Lightweight wheels and non runflat tires- big difference
Short shift kit and Whalen knob with custom engraving- very cool.
Intake- M7?, RDR, madness/pilo intakes or Hot air intake are fine.

Have fun.
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  #8  
Old 02-23-2005, 07:25 PM
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greatgro greatgro is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kenchan
I would just do the pulley and free intake mod... the others
aren't really needed. :smile:
Yeah - just go with the pulley if the cost is too high. There are much cheaper (and very effective) ECU solutions out there if that is the one you have the most trouble with cost-wise.

And forget the throttle body. It's not necessary unless you go way beyond those mods. I'd say you need a header and some type of polished-ported head - maybe even cams before you should start thinking about a throttle body.
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Want your MINI to run like a high-end sports car? 19% pulley and GIAC with larger injectors is all you need...BTW, 111,111 miles as of 2/2/08
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  #9  
Old 02-24-2005, 08:44 AM
rataha rataha is offline
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I couldn't pass up the one ball for 60 bucks. I will probably go Magnaflow eventually. More sound is good Getting kinda deaf in my old age I would love to do the Pulley next just not sure I want to try it myself. AM thinking I need to make a trip to Denver and get to know mister Webb. The ECU upgrades just plane piss me off. They should not be as expensive as they are. Guess I will study up on the MTH stuff. I know I am a cheap SOB. I would like to come up with a homemade intake. I have access to a wonderfull fabrication facility and think I could do something nice out of Carbon. Again those intakes seam awfully expensive for what they are. I was checking out a Dinan TB at the dealer last week. It was a beauty guess thats why I am focused on the TB. So much for G-stock And thanks for your comments all were appreciated.
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  #10  
Old 02-24-2005, 09:03 AM
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biggripper biggripper is online now
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Do the pulley. Randy Webb has a great how to. I did mine this Friday. It was a little bit intimidating, but I got-er done. Nothing better than that kind of performance gain for only the cost of the part ( and a couple tools I had to buy).

VRRRROOOOOOOOMMMMM
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  #11  
Old 02-24-2005, 09:14 AM
rataha rataha is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by biggripper
Do the pulley. Randy Webb has a great how to. I did mine this Friday. It was a little bit intimidating, but I got-er done. Nothing better than that kind of performance gain for only the cost of the part ( and a couple tools I had to buy).

VRRRROOOOOOOOMMMMM
What did you use for the removal tool and the tensioner tool??? 500 degree oven and fitting is what scares me

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  #12  
Old 02-24-2005, 09:19 AM
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the press-fit is no longer an accepted method. almost all pullies are now clamp-on style (ALTA, Helix/P&D, etc). MUCH easier to do and self-centering. If you buy a pulley from Randy Webb, he'll loan you the tools for free.


I had him do my 15%, but come spring I'll replace it with a 19% and do the injectors/GIAC thru Helix. These cars are pretty easy to work on...

Marty
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  #13  
Old 02-24-2005, 10:34 AM
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biggripper biggripper is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rataha
What did you use for the removal tool and the tensioner tool??? 500 degree oven and fitting is what scares me

Tensioner requires a little brute force and the helpful hand of a buddy to drop a pin in a hole to hold the tension. No ovens only a self centering Alta pulley. Push piece number one (pulley hub) onto the SC shaft with your bare hands then add piece number two (pulley body) insert 4 supplied bolts into piece number two (with loctite of course) tighten and presto.
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  #14  
Old 02-24-2005, 10:35 AM
rataha rataha is offline
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any comments on chip tuning??????
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  #15  
Old 02-24-2005, 11:33 AM
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kenchan kenchan is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rataha
any comments on chip tuning??????
Yes, when in doubt, don't do it.
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  #16  
Old 02-24-2005, 01:25 PM
rataha rataha is offline
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intake exhaust and Catback and you are getting 200hp???
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  #17  
Old 02-24-2005, 01:36 PM
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greatgro greatgro is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rataha
intake exhaust and Catback and you are getting 200hp???
He's got a pulley also.
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MMC #1 (MINI-Mustang Club)Helix 19% pulley, GIAC software with larger injectors, UUC exhaust, Milltek Header, Madness intake.
Want your MINI to run like a high-end sports car? 19% pulley and GIAC with larger injectors is all you need...BTW, 111,111 miles as of 2/2/08
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  #18  
Old 02-26-2005, 06:08 AM
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spending money

You've got the one ball done...

Now go to the pulley, you'll be able to notice that power as soon as you hit the gas.
As far as the TB, no real need as you don't have many other mods to take advantage of the big TB right now.
Intakes seem expensive, and most are, you can always mod the air box, dremel the cowl and install a K&N so you can have a higher flow for about $50 and a little time.
Now on to the ECU, so many choices, and so many prices, from $300 range to well over $1000 (I know the well ove 1k ECU). You need to decide what you are willing to spend for what power you are looking for or what your upgrades will be in the future.

Everyone has an idea or an opinion, it's your butt in two ways...how if feels when your wallet is lighter...and how the butt dyno feels when you go WFO....
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  #19  
Old 02-28-2005, 08:17 AM
rataha rataha is offline
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K&N has a cold air intake for around $200 anyone tried that??
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  #20  
Old 03-01-2005, 09:10 PM
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norm03s norm03s is offline
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rataha , "K&N has a cold air intake for around $200 anyone tried that??"
Sure , do a search
Just make you own intake, most say it's only noise but it's an adictive noise. Save your money for the parts you can't make.
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Old 03-01-2005, 09:10 PM
 
 
 
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