I have a '04 MCS, and I am going to get a new belt, considering I have 71K.
I have read here that this is the time to upgrade to a new pulley.
What will the upgraded pulley do over the OEM?
If I get the upgraded pullery what belt do I need, part #?
Also should I get a tensioner stop and tensioner?

 

Yeah you'll need a smaller belt, I don't know the part number. I'm sure you can find it on Moss Mini or something.

Definitely spend the extra $20 and get the tensioner stop. Added piece of mind for very little cost.

I replaced my pulley + belt last summer with about 65k with a 15% pulley before a road trip. The difference was great- lots more supercharger whine, less drag in 1st/2nd, much peppier overall.

But, I got used to it quickly and now it feels slow again. Isn't that how it always goes?!

 

Get the Detroit Tuned tensioner stop. The Alta one, which is now discontinued on their site, rattles like a can of pennies.

Check out my buddy Way, he sells it for a very fair price.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/tensioner-stop.html

You can also buy a kit which comes with everything you need as far as parts for the project. Pulley, tensioner stop, belt, and colder spark plugs.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-pulley-package.html

 

Was your fuel economy affected?

 

I think I might just order the kit, but I am wondering about fuel economy being affected and will I need a tune-up?

 

Your fuel economy will certainly go down, because you'll be flooring it more often to hear that glorious supercharger whine that has been awakened by the smaller pulley!

Actually, I've found that if driving "normally", my fuel economy was equal, if not better, with the pulley mod.

But again, that is with very much self-discipline with pressing the go pedal, because I so much wanted to hear that aural symphony and feel the g-forces more often! Good luck!

 

If installed incorrectly or without the rubber strip it will rattle yes. If yours is rattling let me know and I can help out! PS HERE are the instructions for the stop.

 

Or you can just remove your spare tire and splashguard and install it that way. Alta's instructions make you do unnecessary steps, as well as takes way too long and has the potential for a newer mechanic to mess something up.

Order the DT Stop, their instructions take less than an hour, and all you will need aside from a jack and a jackstand is a screwdriver and a 13mm wrench. Sorry Alta, I've gone the Alta route, your instructions are not very eco friendly. How many pages are the Alta instructions, 4-5? Save a tree buddy.

 

LOL sure they are! They're online

 

The 5+ pages you sent to me weren't very. I'm not going to banter back and forth with Alta. Point is, their directions are ridiculous. Buy the DT stop, you get a superior product, and instructions that will allow you to do the install on your lunch break. Bottom line.

If the Alta product was better, they wouldn't have discontinued it.

 

No prob, I dont want to banter back and forth either. PS the tensioner stop was taken off the site because we are out of stock. Should be back in about two weeks. I will make it a point to look over the instructions and see if we can make em better!

 

Jarid,

nice job keeping things polite and diplomatic, and thanks for looking into perhaps changing the instructions.

 

My car is the '04 MC40 and it says JCW on the passenger side of the dash.
Does this mean the car came with a 15% pulley from the factory?

 

Depends..you might have about an 11% reduction if your jcw had the engine tuning kit....some cars got some jcw items, but not others. If you determine you do have the jcw engine kit (on 04's, it was a slightly ported head, and a coated SC, with the smaller pulley, with revised engine tuneing.
Do a bit of research...maybe call a dealer or mini with you vin#, and they might be able to tell you which jcw itms were installed on you car....
That, and somebody else with more info might chime in. I think most cars that got the jcw engine package got a intercooler cover that said jcw.....
One tip...IMO if you do add a pulley, and it is a jcw, go to a 17% ( unless you plan on tracking you car, the stick with a 15%) you will feel more of a differance, and if it has the jcw pulley...you will need a jcw pulley puller...not super common, but just be sure you can get a loaner or the shop doing the install has one...the regular s pulley pullers are pretty common, but the jcw puller is a bit of a speciality item.

 

R-53 & "THE ZIPPER aren't after your $$ and they KNOW what they're sayin-------do the D.T man -get to know "the little guy" and he'll get to know you. They're re-callin all the sheetrock from that "other" outfits mfg--------THINK about darlin OBEY

 

i dont have a tensioner stop but am considering the DT one. could someone post the instructions for installing it as i would like to see how involved it is. Primarily do you have to life the engine.

 

Thanks for the help

 

What does this mean?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...0-minutes.html