Bigshot can say what he wants. Everyone in my club with the 17 pulley eventually developed lean codes, and those who added the 380's ALL felt that their MINI's actually have much better drivabiltiy and better acelleration. ( 4 members in last 6 months including myself )

So yes, contrary to what he wrote, it does more than stated.

 

So should I be ok with w/out 380's if Im just doing a 15-16% pulley?

 

You should be fine IMO...I'm running 17% and JCW 380's, and a CAI.....I can say my car runs better with them, even no tune...is less pickey with fuel brands, etc.
I do feel my car will run better in a couple months after a tune....but the JCW injectors in my case gave me an extra kick, smother the idle, and my car just sounds different, and seems to have better pick-up, and a wider power band.....less like a tuner car, and more like a factory hot rod.....you milage may vary of course!!
But I think the 380's would be overkill with just a 16% unless you got them with plans for future upgrades...like a tune.

 

I have been told that some cars can run a bit lean at high RPM's with a 17%....but if you have a 17% you should not be at those almost red-line rpms for very long....since you are running your SC beyond its max rpm anyway (and you are likely causing cavitation in your water pump, and may see oil temps spike due to less water flow through your oil cooler....Randy Webb did some great research...most of it is very good....but I will say, a 17% rocks....IF it fits your driving style!)!! So as long as yo drive sanely....IMO you should be fine.
Getting the JCW 380's in the future, especially if you get a CAI, and freer flowing exhaust system or a tune, or if you seen lean codes would be a good thing IMO.

Remember...many folks are running 17%......since the 15%+ 2% crankshaft reduction pulley is functionary the same....and very few people report issues (related to lack of fuel anyway!!).

I got the JCW's out of an abundance of caution (and I found a screaming deal on then brand new!!), to add a bit more power, and with the look torwards future upgrades...a tune like I am doing soon.

 

I've had the 17% on my car for about a year now. Other than the usual mods CAI and exhaust my car is stock. I've had no problems with it. I won't be getting larger injectors until I'm ready to do a tune. Just wish I had the money for the tune event here in May

 

 

Short answer. No plugs and injectors are not required if your not living in the high RPM.

Long answer. Their used for better drivability especially if your going for a cam and tune.

 

Im going to 19% pulley and I live in South Texas.. aka constant temps over 90 degrees F during summer months. Ive been reading about the higher temps when installing a 17 , 19 or any smaller pulley. I would like a pro's or experienced modders opinion on keeping everything cool.
This is not a track car, just my commuter.
THX

 

Why dont you just install a 15% pulley and not have to worry about anything?

 

Already have the 19%.
Like ricky bobby said," I wanna go fast. I wanna go fast"

 

Wow if you are going to a 19 you are brave!

 

Yeh, I hear you. Im going to try it out. If its too much, Ill change it. Anyone know if I should upgrade intercooler, etc?

 

The only better IC than the stock S, is the GP IC and they are very rare to come across. If you really want to keep it cool then get a Meth kit, that will take care of any heat concerns. But they are not cheap at around $1K for a good one.

Also, there are several aftermarket options on more aggressive hood scoops that will capture much more air and direct it across your IC.

Other concerns you may have include:
- SC rpm and lifetime reduction
- SC cavitation and consequential inefficiencies
- belt slippage and belt lifetime
- Maybe even water pump lifetime ?
- tune (i.e. AFR), you don't want to be running too lean

Be careful......

 

Yes, All true.
From what I understand, the 19% really increases power under 3750 rpm.
This would keep me from wanting to drive anywhere near the redline, short shifting if running through the gears. I really like to hit the corners more than straight line speed red lining every gear. I have other toys that hit alot harder for that... no offense to anyone with minis, I love them.

So, the heat is really about keeping supercharger cool, getting cool air to it and keeping the airflow cool in the intercooler.
Bigger scoop, new boots, and cooler plugs. Then check the fuel/air ratio.

 

Mini racer, I really appreciate the warnings. Ill definitely sleep on it. Thanks for looking out

 

If you do get a 19% installed....use only the best, highest octane fuel you can get....93, preferably 94 octane, and on the hotest days....it is possible you are making less power than the 15 or 17's due to the high intake charge temps....IMO the 17 is awsome...it gets rig of the bit of hesitation you feel with the a/c on...but the 19 is just asking too much of the stock ic, and maybe even the pistons and rings.....the 19's are a bit of a rare beast.....many with 19% have gone smaller reduction...a bigger puelley to fix issues....many with 15% have gone bigger for more omph down low...IMO the 17 is perfect...it has been widely used, mostly trouble free....the risks are certainly far less yuan the 19% IMO.

 

Does anyone know the best/most inexpensive place to get a set of colder plugs?

 

Thanks for the advice. Im for sure going to reconsider with all the new info. I purchased the pulley before I read anything on the forums or even knew about NAM.

 

R53 CooperS:
standard NGK BKR6EQUP Platinum+4, NGK ZFR6FIX-11 (also BKR6EIX-11?) Iridium 0.044 gap; Denso IK20
one heat range colder: NGK BKR7EIX-11 Iridium 0.044 gap (no valid ZFR7FIX-11 part#), Denso IK22

http://www.amazon.com/NGK-BKR7EIX-11.../dp/B0018JVDRG

 

I've got the 17% s/c pulley installed now, and soon putting in the ATI super damper 2% crank pulley, with the new Alta adjustable tensioner stop. Supposedly this will be basically the same as having a 19% s/c pulley. I'm really hoping I wont have any issues. If anybody has some real, knowledgeable and PROVEN advice, I'm open to thoughts and suggestions.

My current setup (as far as performance mods) is:

Helix 17% s/c pulley w/ smaller belt.
DDM works i/c air diverter.
m7 air plate diverter.
Alta i/c couplers.
Alta CAI w/ silicone hose.
MSD Coil pack w/ magnecor race wires.
2.5" catback exhaust.
Brisk colder range plugs.
BSH oil catch can.
Redline 5w30 oil.
93+ octane fuel only.

Like I said, those are just the performance mods. It's also lowered, tinted, rear seat delete, etc. Just looking for some insight and opinions, or if anyone else has this type of setup with the 17% s/c and 2% crank.

 

I used to run a Helix 19% on my 03 around town. I liked the grunt it had in the lower RPM. I had an intake, injectors (also from Helix), colder plugs, cat back and a tune. But I would switch out to the 15% for track days. The 19% got flat at high RPM and with any sustained high RPM driving I think the IC just got heat soaked and I felt like I wasn't getting as much power. But boy pulling out onto the highway after work with that punch and ridiculous whine was fun.

I ran both on the same tune from Lucky Dog Garage I would occasionally get a lean code on light throttle / slight load with the 19. I could recreate it on demand on one long hill by my house.

Personally I got a JCW car this time and will probably stick with the stock supercharger pulley and do the crank pulley since they are prone to fail. I think that should give me about a 15%. I say that now...

 

Oh yea. I forgot to mention I'd be putting in the JCW 380 injectors, and getting a tune shortly after (probably from WMW). I like the sound of that though, because I'm not really concerned with top speeds, so having more power in the low-mid range will definitely be nice.

You're right on about the heat though. That's my biggest concern, of course aside from overworking the s/c to death, but I'm hoping with all these air diverters, it will keep the temps down. I guess I'll just have to change my driving a little and stay away from the 5600+rpms to be safe.

I was also thinking about testing out an additional product from m7. The aerogel ex heatshield. Their test results are taken with the DFIC intercooler, so of course the temps are guna be extra low, but to my understanding, blocking exhaust heat is blocking exhaust heat. So, for $140 I think I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for the input rough68. What happened to your MCS? Mine is an '03 as well, with about 72k on it.

 

I had got confused when my second child was born and thought that I needed something big enough for the Family. Now that I have three (5 years and under) I have returned to the Mini to give myself someplace to get away.

I'm not sure about the m7 heatshield with the stock intercooler. Although not the best design I think the air coming in through the scoop needs to be able to go through the IC and down. I think the heatshield would block that airflow.

On my 03 I ran an M7 extreme scoop and I made a custom diverter that sealed to the hood.

jown.iv: I guess I'll just have to change my driving a little and stay away from the 5600+rpms to be safe.
You'll notice where it just doesn't pull as hard that's where to shift back into the good power range.

 

Ahh, I see. I was just curious if it had blown or something. That's good though. Also, not to stray too off topic, m7 makes a couple different heat shields. The one you are thinking of, for the i/c, is probably bad like you said. The one I was talking about, goes in the back of the engine bay, right above the header. It's supposed to block all the exhaust heat from the header from rising up into the air intake area.

http://www.m7tuning.com/parts/produc...roducts_id=101

Anyway, that custom diverter sounds interesting. Do you have any pictures or details of how you did that?