edit: Pulley installed, whats next?
Heres a pic of the car (dont worry about the tires, those are my stock tires. I will upgrade those sometime in the future)

 

You are definetly right by starting with the pulley. It will be the biggest bang for your buck. Check out our Pulley package, it has everything you need with the pulley, and we will loan you the puller for FREE when you get our kit.

With the budget you have the second mod I'd get would be a rear swaybar, that will be the other biggest bang for the buck mods you can do.
After those you can go for an Intake and the other mods.
Don't worry about the quantity of parts you get for your money, get them for the performance they will give you.

Feel free to give us a call or email for more info on products and some good advise to get the most for your dollar.

WAY
www.waymotorworks.com
317.201.8670

 

^^ Thanks for the info!

on the other hand.. 66 views and only 1 reply??

 

You can skip the sprint booster and the "chip" (a tune will do the same as a Chip).
When you get the tune, the throttle sensitivity can be adjusted a bit...so you can get more bang for the buck and save the $300 on the sprintbooster from what I understand. I'll be able to report in this first hand very shortly!! But that having been said....it is a great mod!!

If you get a tune, and you do not live close to the tuner, a flash loader to store/restore your tune might be a good add on...so your investment in a tune does not dissapper if you go to a dealer, and they re-flash your software!!
You question has been asked sooooooo many times.....there is a wealth of info about it...do a quick search...a good read, and it will be a learning experience for ya!!

WayMotorWorks does sell a nice kit...Pulley, belt, and cooler sparkplugs, and the all important tennsioner stop (a big $$ saver if the belt fails) for a great price IMO.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-pulley-package.html
I've bought a few parts from him with great results...they are great to deal with, and they have many things not listed on his website.

Pick your reduction pulley size by your driving style. Since you want to track your car...a 15% reduction IMO would be best for you. If you get larger....then you are over-speeding your SC at high rpm's, possibly causing cavation in your water pump, etc. That being said....as a straight street driver...I got the 17% and I LOVE IT!!

 

Everything you've asked has been posted 11teenbillion times already. Spend lots of time on NAM reading. Click the link below, if you haven't browsed that yet.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nce-guide.html

Also, I just ordered Way's 15% package over the weekend, so hopefully I'll be doing the install shortly... can't wait!

 

I've searched plenty and havent found any thread explaining power gain of 17% over 16%. But I think im going to go for a 16% (m7). Are the sparkplugs easily accessible in our cars? I havent really looked into the engine bay alot.

I dont want to get a tune when i only have a pulley and intake installed, I want to get tuned for everything so that should come last?

 

i did a whole bunch at the same time. i had my 15% pulley installed, cooler spark plugs, tensioner stop, and texas speed werks solid motor mount all done at the same time. the next day my cold air intake came in and i installed that too! if your motor mount is leaking, go ahead and replace it too. as far as jacking it up, ive always used one jack and ive never had any trouble. i jack one corner up, put in a jackstand, jack up the other side, put in a jackstand. and so on. i jack up the front first with the car in gear with the e-brake on with chuks in the back.

 

Nothing wrong with a 16%...M7 makes ok stuff(a bit of M7 bling on a MINI is almost never a bad thing IMO...most of their stuff is good looking..but you can't see the pulley)...kinda $$, and you said you have a limited budget.....

I know that with a 17%, the summer hesitation with the AC on goes away...not sure with the 16%. The difference is just how low in the rpm band the SC provides you with boost....the negative is that the SC it great at producing heat, and at higher rpms/pressures, mostly heat is made to the extant that some of the gain of the smaller pulleys are lost due to the warmer, less dense intake charge if you are at higher rpms.

Spark-plugs......easy to get too...just be sure to install them cold, with a torque wrench, as many mini's have shot them out....re-torque them after a week or to just to be safe IMO. One range cooler....the same as the JCW (has about a -12% pulley) is what most folks run....and change them just as often as the JCW...which is each non-oil change service (insp 1+2).

Doing the tune last is good idea....the car will run fine meanwhile without it. If you want a tune...adding larger injectors, JCW 380's might be an item to add to the list (no rush), you can find them used on the marketplace as folks upgrade as they need more fuel for new heads, cams, and new tunes. The stock injectors are fine with a 15%....a bit stressed perhaps, but most people run them fine....the 17% situation is a bit more murky, I, along with many club mates run the JCW's and found our cars run better, especially at higher rpms, even as we wait to get tunes soon......(YES to take full advantage of them you do need a tune, but the computer can compensate a bit for the new injectors....my car runs fine, and I got some extra power from installing them).The extra fuel will help you make even more power when you get tuned....the 380's can be run without a tune....bigger will give you CEL's, and issues till you get a tune, but folks run Bosh 550's with a tune fine....spray pattern is critical if you do this....do some research first, the JCW's are OEM, and a safe bet.

 

^^ very good information!

What do you have to torque the plugs to?

 

If price is a concern....I would get a different brand pulley .... the 16% is an in between size...and there are many pulleys that offer better bang for the buck...and perhaps a more up to date desgin (better grooving to reduce belt wear). Pullies from a few other vendors might offer better belt wear and quality....I've heard of a few 16% that seemed to have a Quality control Issue...If you want some M7 bling....I'd get it somewhere you can see it....like a strut bar, or strut tower defenders....
I'm sure somebody will chime in on the plugs.....Just remember when you go to order your parts...if you get it from one place, you can save some $$ on shipping...and if you call, they can give you advise!!
I have called Way at WayMotorWorks, and he can give you some pretty good advise, like what brands/parts seem to fit best, work better, or is simply worth doing or not doing based up your budget/goals!!

 

Ugh I've forgotten the exact torque spec - I think it's 24 ft-lbs but I can't be sure. Anywhere in the mid-high 20's should be fine.

 

The real world difference between the 15% and 16%, or the 16% and 17% is marketing. You won't be able to tell the difference in butt dyno performance between one percent reduction changes. Sounds like you are looking for a bargain, and you're in luck: several companies are fire sale-ing tuner parts right now. Unfortunately we're not one of them, so I can't lead you to our site. Maybe I can talk you into a road trip to Philly for some installs of your parts, though .

 

Service both before and after the sale is well worth the $$.
Are you saying than there is a vendor that is trying to raise some quick cash?! That they are having constant sales....and some simple things like spark-Plugs are said to be "on back-order"?! Kinda Ironic that the old "classic" pulley they are selling cheap is better (IMO) than the V2....its just a shame that people who buy it to save a buck or two need to BUY a pulley puller...rather than borrow one for free or cheap from a few other vendors!!

I would most likely recommend paying someone to install your pulley....it is DIY able....but if you do it at a pulley party or MINI centric shop, you can get some good pointers...and meet a few fellow MINI motorists!!
Install prices vary...My "Local" MINI guy is mass will do an install, with a used 15% pulley for about 175-200$, plus $30 for a belt if you need it. He has TONS of 15%....everybody seems to upgrade to the 17%!!
Like I said, prices do vary, but (kinda makes you wonder if vendors are stopping shipments or doing COD only..not a good sign...kinda sad).

 

The VGS mod is a good 1 https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tem-vgs-5.html = less than $10

 

Water Meth injection is nice

 

So i ordered my pulley the other day and im waiting for it to come. (ordered it from way) along with the colder plugs and tensioner stop + belt.

Im thinking of straight piping my car (not fully, just the catback) because its cheaper than buying a full exhaust which i cant afford now. Cant seem to find any decent sound clips on youtube though.

 

Thanks for the link! Gonna do this in the near future. I had GReddy boost gauge installed in my old '02 MCS, and it was connected to the vacuum line at the front of the intake manifold. Will be easier getting to the one at the rear corner.

 

I installed the VGS mod. Go to the original post link, then click on the "Last" option to read it.

 

best bang for the buck performance mod is the pulley. if you have modded cars before the install shouldnt be a big deal. many people are worried when they read about having to jack the motor but it is pretty easy. if you choose to do it yourself just take your time!! i used a method of one large jack and some jack stands and i incrementally hieghtend/lowered the sides as needed to adjust it. this made sure that the motor was as level as possible and not slanted on the jack. also, it supported the motor from both sides so it didnt lean too much. it took a bit more time than using just one floor jack but i felt more confident knowing that the engine was more supported. it also made the lowering of the motor back onto the motormounts much easier since alignment was a snap!

as far as your mod plans list, it looks to me like u only will need to jack the motor off the mounts for the pulley install.

 

So i got my pulley in, its amazing. wmw package with 17% pulley. It pulls a LOT faster.

Jan is coming to Mach V on april 25th for tuning session. I dont want to miss out on this, so what should i buy before the tuning session? Im gonna buy an intake and exhaust then tune. thats all the money i have, unless you guys think i should get something else


Heres a recent pic of the car, has came along nicely.

 

just do the one ball mod. 50 bucks vs 700-1000 and you really wont get much from an exhaust other than sound.

 

I realize its not a motor mod, but a rear sway bar is a good idea

 

I disagree on the exhaust. I have the Invidia and love it. It definitely feels a little faster and has a really good sport tone. Combined with a pulley and CAI, it will help. The one-ball mod will create a slight imbalance because of the weight distribution with the two mufflers. I know I lost about 40 lbs. getting rid of it.

Get all your parts installed, then do the tune. Make that the last thing.

 

Listen to WAY----------------You'll be HAPPY---------what goes in MUST come out-----nothin wrong with a GOOD "stool softner" as long as its NOT just a bunch of racket----------used & pickup local would be just fine-watch for those---------Stick w/ one guy---IF WAY is good for you (locale) he's GREAT !! Jan IS w/out question & IF your gonna SEE him at that "get-together------call him first---------------HE'll get you RIGHT !! Make sure you tell him you ALSO use WAY------be STRAIGHT---its FASTER !!

 

Should i buy headers?

Im thinking about buying this OBX header

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-06...item255970883f


Im gonna order that tonight.

Headers, cai, and one-ball exhaust will be done before i get the tune.