I am wondering if anyone can help me decide which pulley to get for my supercharger. I was thinking about going with the 15% reduction pulley, but I am not sure. I am also curious if anyone knows a shop in the area (Maryland/Virginia) that will install it and how much they charge to do the install. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks everyone!

 

The immediate answer is Lucky Dog Garage - a DCMM supporter, NAM vendor, and very reliable shop. While I haven't had any work done there yet myself (I have stuck to "OEM" solutions like the JCW stuff... at least until after my warranty is over), a good number of DCMM members have had excellent service from there. They even have specials sometimes with VERY good deals on things like the pulley swap, or a new exhaust. The shop is run by a guy named John Behe, who is extremely knowledgeable, and MINIs are his specialty.

Keep in mind that some of your warranty may be affected by a pulley install, but that should only be if the part itself caused the problem... and considering that the official JCW kit uses a pulley that is just under 15%, it should be OK.

 

be sure to replace the stock air box with something bigger and/or less restrictive in order to get the most out of the smaller diameter pulley.

 

I would go with the 15%.. This will give you great performance without over spinning the SC. Too much boost from the stock blower and you create too much heat.
With the 15%, nothing else needs to be changed to keep it reliable and you don't need to worry about sustained high rpms.
A cat-back and intake will also add more power and works well with the pulley mod.

 

Do you happen to know any contact info for Lucky Dog Garage? website? or phone?

 

I was planning on putting an exhaust and intake on the car also. Do you have any advice on which ones are good and which ones arent so good?

 

Intakes all generally get he same power gain, some are louder than others, HAI being the loudest and cheapest, ALTA CAI is loud ( I have it I've modded it a little but I've loved haivng it on), get over to models like DInian and JCW more likely to keep the warranty intact will cost more and be a little quieter in the lower RPMs.

 

Thanks for the help. I am looking at Alta's CAI. What about exhausts? Is there any exhaust I should stay away from?

 

Exhausts all seem to be equally reliable, with varrying hp gains (technically I know its a release not a gain but I'm trying to get overly involved) Some other factors with exhausts are weight and single sided or double sided. Double sided are supposed to be more free flowing less back pressure more power, which is good as a general rule. Some sytems are over 40 lbs, some are significanlty less. There is a mod called the one-ball that most any shop can do for around 125 (or less) that will drop 20 lbs, and remove resontaor but you still have the stock muffler, its a little louder and not that costly. I think you best bet htough is read through the Exhaust shootout and exhaust referance threads in the prefomance:drivetrain forum. They have clips of most of oyur options on e of the biggest things is sound when making that choice. Some of the louder ones are prone to some hghway drone which could be annoying. I'll update this post with some link in just a minute.

This one is worth the full read
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=23789

I'd also suggest trying to listen to several options at the next meet, hearing them in person you may find where your preferance lies.

 

Where in somd?

 

I live in Great Mills (by NAS Patuxent River where I work)

 

Thanks for the info. I met a guy the other day who had the Alta 2.5" Exhaust and it sounded nice but he said he didn't like the exhaust, it felt like it was bogging down to him when he was accelerating. So I think I might see what other people have done and go from there, maybe I will do the one-ball for now until I figure out what exhaust I want.

 

Cool... Thought I saw that Mini headin up 301 a week or two ago.

 

Alot of people go with Miltek, me included, and I like them alot. LDG has their own exhaust and don't know much about it because it is new. All CAIs are pretty much the same. Check out LDGs forum on the main NAM page.

 

Also may help to consider how you drive some are setup for a little more back pressure and more low end tourge and less high end HP where other will cut the low end torque and rasie the high end HP.

Another thing you can do witht he one-ball is add a header for more volume and flow, many have been happy about doing that. Search for the One-Ball thread and you should be able to find some of the options and variation about that.

 

That wasnt me. I haven't had a chance to take it down to VA...yet! looking forward to finding some curvy roads down there off of 301 some time soon. where in VA are you?

 

How is the Miltek? Is it more for high end or the low end? I have only heard good things about it and I am highly considering purchasing it after the new year. Does anyone have a sound clip or viceo clip of the Miltek exhaust?

 

Just across the bridge. I thought i saw that Mini headed towards LaPlata.

 

Well, their website is usually www.luckydoggarage.com but for some reason it seems to be down right now. As JustJAY stated, they do have a forum right here on NAM now, since they became a NAM vendor:

Lucky Dog Garage NAM forum

Looking at the current offers (in the forum), they will install the MINI Madness 15% pulley, which goes for $235 installed... an amazing price, especially considering they are in Glenwood MD, so you can go back to them with the car quite easily you have problems (as opposed to someone from out of town doing an "install party").

Their phone number is (410)489-0230 and they are located at 2480 Route 97, Glenwood MD 21738.

Be sure to tell them you're a DCMM member, and found out about them on NAM.

 

NAH that wasnt me, I dont go down that way too much. I am usually going up around the Annapolis area if I go anywhere, maybe I will take a trip down there so you can say you saw me down there and it actually be me

 

Awesome thanks for the info on them. I think I will give them a call tomorrow, any idea how long they take to install the pulley?

 

Here is a clip

I think it is a better all around daily driver exhaust, I've drivena car with one, I liked the sound but it seem on the quiet side for my tastes. Very reliable and I've not heard of anyone dissapointed by it.

 

Here's a link to their deals. Somewhat interesting read.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=85460

You could always buy the pulley and rent a puller....,.

 

I thought about doing it myself but if its not too much for a shop to do it I will let them do it and save me some time.

I like the way that one sounds. It's a little quiet but I am alright with that. My other car has a full custom exhaust (2.5" pipe with header, cat and muffler no silence or resonator) and that car is soo loud and sometimes it gets on my nerves but of course I still love my cars. So I think I want something a little quieter like the Miltek.
Now where can one get the Miltek exhaust and how much is it??

 

Way Motor Works has it on Sale Call them up, they can provide you with lots of good info also any of the other NAM Vendors should be able ot help you out.

Balance in life is good.