I just wanted to point out that if your in good hands and the fact that this is not a high tech piece, you can have a local shop make it up. At the same time, I've seen some 1-***** that were done up by a local midas type place done up by billy-bob who had just come off break having smoked a doobie out back. For this reason as well as oversight time spent, I encourage many to just by the Minspeed pipe.

PS - another reason to buy the pipe is when I decided to move up to a catback, I removed the pipe and sold in the market place for 75 bucks.

 

+1 -- resonator on the left (note that the pics posted by K-huevo show the system upside down)

 

Would there be a way to kind of fabricate a support for the other side of the exhaust? Doesn't have to be fancy, just something to help support the other side.

~MM

 

Are you sure? I seem to remember mine looking just like the one in the pic.

Also, this may sound stupid, but has anyone done this with the flexible exhaust pipe that you can pick up at the parts store? I know the pipe sizes need to be different on each end, and that may be the biggest problem. Just curious.

 

^ You, good sir, are correct -- resonator is on the right.

As k-huevo said -- remove the first ball in the exhaust line and you're safe.

 

There is a guy in my local MINI club that did it by himself with the Felxpipe stuff. It sounds great, but it's SUPER loose. He tapped it with his foot and it looked like it was going to fall out from the bottom of the MINI!

My question still stands:

 

Homer Simpson: Trying is the first step towards failure.

 

Did you guys just talk me out of a 1-ball system? I really don't want a system that moves a round a lot nor one that sits the tips at an angle. Are these both common ailments of this set-up? And is there a cure?

 

it's a common ailment for one sided exhausts on a car designed for 2 sided exhaust systems... maybe you can have the muffler shop weld up a hanger that runs to the empty side for more stability

 

the one "ball" left has supports on both side, and the main center pipe is supported at the mid point with hangers on both sides of the pipe. There is very little "off axis" weight to deal with. Mine has been on for years, and it doesn't move much at all. I think that issues with angle may have more to do with welding it up than anything else.

Matt

 

I haven't noticed a problem with mine

 

No problem with mine. . . but I did go with Dan at Grassroots who's done enough of these to know that it's worth taking the time to ensure proper placement/alignment before final welding. I can see how if someone just rushes the job, the system may not be balanced and will want to pull in one direction.
In other words, find out from members of a local MINI club who they've used and would recommend.

 

Ah, ok I see now. The connecting pipe gives it rigidity. Other wise it a muffler just hanging from it's mounts with no real support in the back. Got it. I knew there had to be a reason I have not heard of anyone doing it that way. Thanks.

 

Dr. O, SinM, eagar2.

You guys are awesome! My "faith" has been restored. I've wanted to do this mod for ages, but I was just a little chicken! I'm sure I'm going to use the MinSpeed pipe. Question...Can I leave the system attached to the underside or pull the whole enchilada off and then realign as I pull it back on?
Same with a SC pulley. I'm a pretty good mech, have worked on cars for years but I'm still just afraid about getting the stock pulley off
Can you tell I'm lookin' for moral support

Thanks again
Tmitty

 

I left mine up, just dropped the two ***** by undoing the straps, and you can rent a pipe cutting tool from Autozone for free, just have to leace a deposit. It's a chain with cutting wheels on it, you squeeze the handle to apply pressure and rock it back & forth over a 90 degree arc, works great.

 

Tmitty --
When Dan did mine he dropped the whole enchilada -- but he had to do more work with mine because the cabrios require an extra bend in the pipe due to the added underside bracing (the minspeed pipe won't work on the cabrio for that reason) -- so that's not to say it can't be done while on the car for a hardtop.

By the way, what year is your MINI?

Has anyone used the Minspeed pipe on a 05 or later?
My understanding is that, in order to standardize the exhaust parts for cabrios and hardtops, MINI added the extra-PIA-bend to the hardtops in 05 as well. . . but I don't know that for a fact since mine is a cabrio

 

yes, you can leave the system attached. A nice do it yourself mod.

As long as you have the right tools, the pulley can also be self done however I would pay to have the pulley done but that is me.

 

I’m splitting hairs with this comment, but I’m a nut about flow path transitions. Tail pipe cutters create a minor crimp on the severed end, this can be an advantage while sliding into an expanded section making the insertion easier, but a small amount of ID is lost. If used to butt against flow, the smaller cross section and protruding lip promotes reversion/back pressure. I prefer a fine blade hacksaw for thin walled stainless, which the OEM is constructed of, and then de-bur the OD and chamfer the ID edge.

 

I had the one-ball Mod done last weekend on my 2004 S with 18k miles; mandrel bend forum/text book design. I want to believe there is a bit of performance gain and I honestly believe there is albeit minor. I have only an Alta CAI and an Alta inter cooler diverter with the spray bar not the larger inter cooler. All else is stock for now.

I am basing the perceived gain on experience only tuning S30 Datsun - used to race this in the day (when I had all my teeth). No longer have access to test equipment but I'll bet $5 that I'll get that $80 back in gas over the next year.

$80 out the door. No lean but I did consider this based on posts. Has anyone with the mod considered supporting that "ball" with the former mounts or another weld solution? Seems to me we can leverage that opposite support or other under-body infrastructure with a rod and a little weld action. Just curious.

Steve

 

So is the thing on the right (that I circled) the resonator??

What is the function of this device? To quiet down the exhaust?

Thanks

 

Yup, you got it!

It is a resonator...its purpose is to refine the sound of the exhaust, prevent drone and resonance and quiet it somewhat, though not as much as a muffler. I had a one-ball on my R53 for a while, the sound is not that dramatically different, just a bit more throaty. It sounded good when I got a header to go along with it. There are clips of it somewhere in the exhaust sound clip sticky.

 

If it was the other one you wouldn't have any exhaust tips....

 

I agree - header plus 1-ball is a nice sounding system for those seeking a "subtle" sport tone. Most will not notice a sound difference between this and stock, only a real buff would notice.

 

1st mod I did, best for the buck ($60 I think/20 min out the door) and yes the guy used a mandrel bent piece ( They are a FlowMaster installer, had it laying around). The guy had no clue what a "1 Ball Mod" was , so I had him lift the car and showed him what I wanted. Had it almost a year now, tips aligned perfectly (he had his helper hold them in position while he welded), doesn't "move around", not tinny, a little burble when slowing, no backfires. Did have a O2 sensor code popup this year at MoTD, but the guys at Helix looked at and reset it (gratis! you guys ROCK!! ) and it hasn't come back. Love this mod! Now if and when I add a pulley (on the shelf), injectors, and get a tune I'll definitely be looking for something more.

 

Did the one-ball mod yesterday... It's exactly what I was looking for... Didn't want a loud aftermarket exhaust just something a little more raspier with the stock look...

Fit the bill... Took about 30 min at my local muffler shop... Used mandrel bent pipe welded on. Tips do not move and there was no need for extra hangers to hold the muffler in place... Looks perfect and very stable... No rattling...

Sounds nice especially in 1-2 and 2-3... No droning at cruising speeds...

Very pleased...