Well folks, I'm leaving for Helix now, after thinking about it for a long time and going back and forth worrying about warranty issues, I've decided to get the pulley, I'll post later on my post pulley drive home experience. Wish me luck.

X2

 

Have a safe drive!
...and try to restrain yourself from doing TOO many burnouts

Cheers,
Ryan

 

COngrats X2board! I love those guys at Helix! Can't wait to visit with them soon!

 

OK for those of us that are waiting on the Great Texas Pulley Install starting June 20, give us something to munch on! What does it sound like having boost lower down? When does the torque start, 2000rpm? On a scale of 1-5 (5 being best) how do you rate the power/torque increase?

Is this going to increase my obsession with this car? I already get withdrawal if I can't drive it or I don't have new stuff to do to it!

Graham

 

>>OK for those of us that are waiting on the Great Texas Pulley Install starting June 20, give us something to munch on! What does it sound like having boost lower down? When does the torque start, 2000rpm? On a scale of 1-5 (5 being best) how do you rate the power/torque increase?
>>

I'd give it a 5 since it is the mod with the greatest increase in performance (power-wise) you can get for the S. Sounds like a higher revving pulley. Basically the 15% pulley revs higher/faster so the supercharged whine is louder and more pronounced - just like if you raised the rev limited 1500 RPMS. If you thought the torque started at 3000 RPMs before then I'd say it will start at 2200-2300 with the pulley. Basically it will feel the same at 750 RPM lower than it does stock. 3000 will pull like 3750 used to, 4500 will pull like 5250 used to etc...


>>Is this going to increase my obsession with this car? I already get withdrawal if I can't drive it or I don't have new stuff to do to it!
>>

Yes. Without a doubt! It's been 6000 miles now since the pulley and I think I want an exhaust and desperately want a reasonably priced and convenient to install ECU!!!!

 

Greatgro, this makes the wait harder but it is what I wanted to hear! Makes the wait worthwhile, that's why I asked. Thanks!

Graham

 

Well,

What can I say? Helix MINI-Sports is the best, Eric did my pulley install in less than 2 hours. I can't stop cackling like a mad hen every time I step on the gas See, there I go again and I'm just thinking about my drive home. I took the scenic route, which included Mahattan's 3rd Ave. from Chinatown to E.86th, where I jumped onto the FDR, those yellow cabs had no idea what they were dealing with, kills on almost every block, from standing and rolling starts.

I don't have to shift as much and my 3rd gear hill here in town is now an easy 4th gear hill, in stop and go traffic you can stay in 2nd if the RPMs don't drop below 1200. The engine is really tractable now.

This is what the MINI should have been from the get go. I'm going to modify my Magnaflow next, the T junction will become a Y and the rear section will be changed into a semi traditional bend, except the two pipes will be joined where they overlap, similar to an X pipe.

 

>>I don't have to shift as much and my 3rd gear hill here in town is now an easy 4th gear hill, in stop and go traffic you can stay in 2nd if the RPMs don't drop below 1200. The engine is really tractable now.
>>

Yeah that's one of the best, yet most overlooked benefits of the pulley. You can take a corner in third instead of second, etc...The other day I actually made a LEFT at a traffic light in 4th instead of 2nd or third!!! NOw I wasn't going to break any land speed records at low rpms in 4th, but it IS very driveable. It makes every day driving a breeze and a pleasure.



>>This is what the MINI should have been from the get go. I'm going to modify my Magnaflow next, the T junction will become a Y and the rear section will be changed into a semi traditional bend, except the two pipes will be joined where they overlap, similar to an X pipe.
>>

What's the point of modifying the magnaflow???? Will this increase power even more???? Will it increase the sound???? Tell me X2board!

 

>>What's the point of modifying the magnaflow???? Will this increase power even more???? Will it increase the sound???? Tell me X2board!
>>
Thoughts from Davbret on 5/12:

I've only heard what Hartmut at RENNtech was telling George (of Madness). Haven't seen any dyno sheets. But Hartmut's big point was backpressure. The Quicksilver was effectively REALLY heating up because flow couldn't get thru quick enough, proof that more power is to be had. While the Magna was ok, he severely critised the use of the intersecting pipes, calling it ineffecient at high flow.

He basically said that a high hp MINI needs the most straight thru design possible. At this time the Borla Sports fills that bill.

If you are keeping to intake/headers/exhaust you'll do fine with Quick or Magna. It's once you add the pully and/or the head or throttlebody work that there's too much flow for those systems to adaquently deal with it effectively, and with the most hp/tq possible. Hartmut was using TONS of race experience and dyno results to come to this conclusion. I trust him completely.

--------

 

know you'll be very happy with their product and work. Hope you don't get a ticket coming back like I did crossing over into Delaware!

 

>>know you'll be very happy with their product and work. Hope you don't get a ticket coming back like I did crossing over into Delaware!

Tickets suck! I didn't see any Delaware or NJ Troopers on my ride home, which is very unusual. Helix has earned a lifelong customer, Eric is a great guy and I couldn't be happier with his work. If anyone else in the NE or Mid Atlantic is thinking about modding their MINI's, I highly recommend Helix.

X2

 

>>>>This is what the MINI should have been from the get go. I'm going to modify my Magnaflow next, the T junction will become a Y and the rear section will be changed into a semi traditional bend, except the two pipes will be joined where they overlap, similar to an X pipe.
>>>>
>>
>>What's the point of modifying the magnaflow???? Will this increase power even more???? Will it increase the sound???? Tell me X2board!
>>

With the pulley, I could actually feel the restriction in the Magnaflow, I don't know if it will increase the sound, but I'm sure it will increase the power, the exhaust pulses were definitely colliding at the tailpipe and that is where I will start, depending on the results, I may leave the T intact, so I don't loose too much torque due to not enough backpressure.

X2