I decided that with 1200 miles on it was time for more upgrades for JACE so the plan was to add a Forge Intercooler, the M7 boost tube, and then do an ALTA tune. Don't get me wrong here, I love ALTA and their parts, You will see I have the CAI and CAT Back. However the Forge has hard mounting points as well as looking boat loads cooler. I also wanted to get rid of the bizarre convoluted tortured path the boost takes once it exits the turbo, but I didn't want to change the other side... yet. So I got a nice red M7 tube to match my ALTA parts. So here's the story: I bought the Forge from Pete at MiniSpeed, we got off to a bit of a rocky start there, slight communication problem. Then I had a chance to chat with Pete on the phone, great guy, goes out of his way to make things right. The Forge is sweet looking.

So here is JACE ready for surgery:

Candid Alta parts shots:

Here's the parts for step one waiting;



I gotta be honest, to get this piece off and laying happy on the ground was a royal PIA, and very stressful.

Keep in mind it takes a fair amount of patience, those little plastic clips inside the wheel wells are a challenge to maneuver apart, and pay careful attention to how it comes apart, just so you don't have to rethink the crime again later staring at a few clips wondering where they went...
But it gave me this nice view:


Then a few moments with a T-25 driver later I had this scene in the garage:




That pipe with the muffler was real easy to reach up from the underside pop the hose clamp off, wiggle a T-25 up spin a screw and it came out easy.

Oddly and very scary the passenger side was a little neglected by mini, in fact the exit end clamp was loose, as well as installed wrong, had a bit of a boost leak there... unsettling, but no where near as disturbing as the number of loose bolts on that side of JACE I found. Something to be said about spending some time with your toys to make sure they are ok.

Anyway here is a top view:


Mount up was easy as all get out:




The parts lined up nice, had to wiggle a little to get the exit side clamp on, but heck at least I put it on, cough, little tight, but it went easy.
Boost tube was too easy, here is a candid shot:



My grill needed a little doctoring to accommodate the Forge unit, so a few secs with the dremel sawzall does wonders, I just whacked the tabs off, and tied the temp sensor over to the side.



It was fine test fit no trouble, So I bolted the front end on and now need to take her out and see how it runs...
One last shot to show size difference:

 

nice work jace, im getting the alta put on tuesday. petes a great person and has always helped me out in a time of need. i just clipped a 8' ladder left in the middle of the highway on my way to work the other day at 5am . pete was there to help. go minspeed and happy motoring jace.

 

That's why I love Alta ic.
Because it doesn't need any trimming in the bumper...!
Tell us your first impressions!
How has the car changed?
Did you also open the scoop in the hood in order to get fresh air in the CAI?

 

Looking good Jace! Thank you for the business! Let me know if I can help in the future!

 

Back again...

Took her out for a few romps last night and today...

I really did the intercooler in prep for the ECU, however I gotta say that factory intercooler is a joke. I swear the throttle response is better, boost is nice and consistent, all the way to redline, she wants to play now. Remember though had that issue with the exit end on the stock setup.

Yes I opened up the scoop back when I did the CAI, still not giddy the opening, I spent a bit of an afternoon with the dremel cuttign out the honeycomb pattern. I am looking for grill to replace it with though. I had some screen from when I did the intake on my Boxercup last year, but the silver looks wrong.

Anybody seen the inside of the M7 scoop, that might be an option.

Adam,

Thanks, and looks like Wednesday night the ECU goes on, thanks for the next toy!

 

Nice work, nothing like doing the mods yourself.

If you want to sell the stock intercooler, let me know.

 

Thank YOU! I have the m7 scoops in stock for the R56. I haven't measured both the OEM and the m7 but it appears visually that it would allow more air flow into the engine. How that affects the Air Intake is unknown, but more air to help kool the turbo and engine can NEVER hurt!

keep me posted!

 

I have three or four of them! How many do you want?

 

Thanks Adam. Just two, depending on what you want for them. You have a PM.

 

Not sure why did Jacemin trimmed the grille, Forge IC comes with a replacement grille for the "stock" bumper, the JCW bumper grille needs to be trimmed..

Glad you got it on..Beautiful piece the Forge IC. and Pete is a Gent!

 

Sorry,

Left out that detail, Forge neglected to pack the replacement grill. Pete got one expedited out to me, but it will not make it here till late this week or early next. Decided to trim rather than wait.

And yes I gotta say Pete is indeed a great guy.

It is great to know there are so many excellent companies out there to source mods from. Shame there isn't enough aftermarket components out yet, but the list is growing.

 

Do you have a photo head on of one? Or have you guys mounted one on a mule that you can get a shot of? I haven't seen down the throat of one yet.

Gotta agree getting air into the engine compartment is next on my list of tasks. Especially as the hot weather approaches.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

Let me see what I can do. Seems like whenever I add a photo to my website it gets goobered up the past few weeks. Should have that resolved ASAP! Sorry for the delay!