Getting there, but not finished yet !

 

very informative thread

 

Wow! Rollbar and seats turned out great!

 

>>very informative thread


HAHAHAAHAHA

 

Very nice



How many dead presidents ($$$) invested?


His, Chile RED all over, Madness intake, MINI-Motorsport Airbox Mod, Magnaflow Exhaust, BMP spark plug wires, RDR rear sway bar and Helix P/D 15% reduction pulley.
Hers, EB UJ on top and BONE stock

 

ok, not so informative to some, but to others yes. And righto Mark, they did come out well. Just spent the day today trying out the new K&W Var II's, rear sway, and control arms. WHAT a difference, and now with my pulley in, it really rips ! Really have to watch it around town as it is waaaaaaaay too easy to into trouble.

Anybody have questions about any of the mods, just let me know and I will help out however I can !

 

PLENTY of dead presidents, thats for sure. BUT, it is so fun to drive I can hardly to stay at home anymore !

 

could you post another pic of the hamman front spoiler. it's not that visible in your pic. how do you like it? it doesn't scrape when you go up driveways does it?

 

>>could you post another pic of the hamman front spoiler. it's not that visible in your pic. how do you like it? it doesn't scrape when you go up driveways does it?

Yes please post a pic, I really like the look of the hamman front spoiler. Oh and did you get your side skirts from the dealer? Really cool how you have the company names on the side skirt like that.

 

actually, the front lip does not stick down any lower than the small vertical piece of rubber under there already. Actually a bit higher than that. Optically it looks like it does. Does it scrape ? Yes, it can if you dont pay attention to big dips in entrances, but not otherwise, no it doesnt normally scrape. I painted my gloss black, then had it overcoated with a satin finish to blend in with the other body trip. That was the ticket for me, so that it did not look like an obvious add on ..............

 

Is the amount of $$$$ obscene? How much? Did you install all yourself or installation costs as well? Share the details.



His, Chile RED all over, Madness intake, MINI-Motorsport Airbox Mod, Magnaflow Exhaust, BMP spark plug wires, RDR rear sway bar and Helix P/D 15% reduction pulley.
Hers, EB UJ on top and BONE stock.

 

What, is that it?

 

Did you have to modify the wheel well to accommodate the 225s? Rubbing issues?

Can you post any pictures of the interior?



His, Chile RED all over, Madness intake, MINI-Motorsport Airbox Mod, Magnaflow Exhaust, BMP spark plug wires, RDR rear sway bar and Helix P/D 15% reduction pulley.
Hers, EB UJ on top and BONE stock.

 

Sorry, stepped away for a bit. I did all the installs myself, except the coil overs, the rear sway and the 4 rear control arms. Because the car was alowered one inch, and all the other things with the suspension were done at the same time, I had a shop do that. An new alignment was needed because of all the suspension pieces being changed with a slight drop in hieght.

Rubbing. A half inch was trimed from the front plastic wheel well on the outer edge which is actually under the hood and has the headlight impression in it. Nothing was trimmed from the rear. Thus far no rubbing issues. The suspension (coils ) were originally tuned for a mid stiffness setting as I use the car daily on the street. If I were going to Autox or other, you can stiffen it up more. The same for the rebound adjustment. Mid stiffness setting and has shown to be very driveable. This is also adjustable, although the rears must be removed to adjust the rebound. The fronts can be adjusted in the car for rebound by just lifting the hood.

Overall cost has been kept under control as I have done the work myself with basic tools, and over a few months. The suspension work was recently done all at once.

OH, and I also had the shop do the pulley then too as I missed Randys pulley party, and that was done for the same Randy charges, about USD $400 for pulley and labor.

 

ok, here are some more pics ......

 

All that and you stayed with the stock brakes?!?!? Seems almost shameful. Come on! You know you want the Brembo or Stoptech! :smile:

Paul

 

How are the Sparco Milano's? Are they roomy enough for us guys who aren't rail thin?

 

i have the sparco Milanos and they are very very nice (I'm about 165lbs, but my 220lb son fit right in.) I also use the schroth four point harness, but only for Autox. It is not a good idea for general driving, where you need the benefit of an inertia reel belt. Fortunately, the Schroth clips in and out of the stock connectors, leaving the stock unit intact.

This maybe moot for this car, which seems set up for the track, with the roll bar, right?

 

Well I mostly use the car on the street, and have yet to put it on the track. Roll bar was installed in case I want to track it. I agree also, the Milanos are not for bigger guys around the waist. I am 185lbs and they feel great, much bigger might feel tight.

As for the brakes, the project kind of developed as I had time, and I originally never thought I would go this far, BUT I did change to the slotted / drill rotors with ABC pads and thus far on the street this has seemed fine. After I get a few other things done, I may then move to the bigger brakes, because as you know, that is ANOTHER big ticket item on it's own, AND it is only for the two front brakes / rotors.

 

Jigster,
Thanks very much for your fine pictures and explanations.
What is your favorite one or two mods so far?
If you had to do it over again, what would you leave out second time around?
How about a flat 270mm Broadway rear mirror?
Not on the track yet? Your car is a natural for the track- just be careful to keep things cool or you WILL boil the brake fluid.

 

jlm, jigster - I have been contemplating a seat upgrade, and the Milanos look like they have some of the best adjustments. I suspect they might be a bit too snug for me, I'm looking at some of the seat choices that go up to a 40" waist. Milanos may not cut it. Would save me some $$$ as well...

Nice setup jigster...

 

MiniHue,

Just returned from 2 hours of driving, very fun. I would say my favorite 2 mods would be the pulley, cold air intake and the seats. Those do make a big difference.

As far as the broadway mirror, not sure, but would help when your strapped into the seats. ALso I have noticed with the seats, because they are a little lower, it would be nice if the side mirrors were a little wider. I am always double checking to the sides now more than ever before changing lanes.

What would I leave out ....... hmmmm......... good question. Maybe I would opt to be more patcient, and just save the money up and go straight for the big brake kit, BUT for what driving I have done thus far, the upgraded rotors front and rear have been just fine

 

jigster - Love your car!

As far as brakes go, if you hit the track, just change your brake fluid to some high performance fluid like Motul 600 or Castrol SRF and put on some Ferodo pads on for the track (Ferodo 3000 front and 2500 rear) and you'll have no problems with your stock brakes and upgraded rotors.

But then, the big brake kits do look cool :smile: However, they are not necessary for track use unless you manage to squeeze anothor 40+HP out of your MINI.

Have fun!

 

jigster

the reason i had my first response was becuase when i clicked it, there was no pic
just your thought of "modifications so far"

that was all, so i thought it was an empty thread
i apologize :smile:

 

Sleepless, I agree with the thoughts on the fluid and pads. I have not yet changed fluid as I have been so busy with other things on the car, but am getting to the point where I can do the fluid and the Ferrodo pads if I decide to take it for a run...................... are you kidding, you think I dont get tired of dealing with traffic and cops !!! ?? Would love to get on a orad race track where you could carry some more speed rather than just a Autox cone set up.

Was in Mexico for 3 months this last winter and they had a go kart track I went to all the time. They called them SUper Go Karts as they did not have governors and would do about 60+ mph, which let me tell ya is rippin 4" off the ground. Great fun and good driving practice !! Now, just gotta find one to get the MCS on........... maybe I should drive up to OHIO and go to MidOhio track, and stop at Atlanta on the way, now THERES a thought !