Can you only mod from the Cat back or can you put headers on a Mini S and a larger flow exhaust all the way back? I'm speaking of uhhh, "off road use only" of course and I am asking for information purposes only. Not a question of what is legal, but what is possible, and also, what is usually done?

I had an UN-named type of car one time and the exhaust pipe separated from the exhaust manifold. The car changed from a lamb to a lion...it was loud as hell, but the HP seemed to double.

REHutch

 

Madness and Milltek make headers. I'm sure there are others.

 

od from the Cat back or can you put headers on a Mini S and a larger flow exhaust all the way back? I'm speaking of uhhh, "off road use only" of course and I am asking for information purposes only. Not a question of what is legal, but what is possible, and also, what is usually done?
>>
>>I had an UN-named type of car one time and the exhaust pipe separated from the exhaust manifold. The car changed from a lamb to a lion...it was loud as hell, but the HP seemed to double.

For the exhaust system you can do anything you like. At the exhaust manifold on the engine the most common upgrades are:
Exhaust headers- Milltek, London Stainless, Jackson Racing with no cat, Mini mania header with race cat and without, Supersprint with and without cat.
Cat-back exhaust- The powerful ones are Magnaflow, Borla Race, UUC, Milltek.

There is no reason you cannot do something custom or pick and choose parts from supersprint's lineup but it can be costly. Also when you do upgrades that are not specifically for the MINI you never really know how much power and torque you might be adding or subtracting unless you do a dyno test before and after the mods. Many of the headers esp those with no racing cat may not provide for any substantial and measureable power gains although they might be very loud. Sound doesn't equal power. It might scare some people though

http://www.promini.com/products/sss.shtml
For supersprint parts ala carte

Have fun.

 

If you plan on 'offroad only,' I would certainly think about a header w/ no cat. Jackson racing makes one. You'll probably have to live with the check engine light constantly being on, though. The smoother flow path without the cat should help breathing out quite a bit, as long as you have a good, free flow exhaust - I went with the Borla sport (race). Won't do the header for awhile yet, though.

Be prepared to switch the header off and then back on the car once a year for your inspection, though - if you go no cat.

-joe

 

>>If you plan on 'offroad only,' I would certainly think about a header w/ no cat. Jackson racing makes one. You'll probably have to live with the check engine light constantly being on, though. The smoother flow path without the cat should help breathing out quite a bit, as long as you have a good, free flow exhaust - I went with the Borla sport (race).

In theory this would be something to try. People have tried it and when dynoed the headers with no race cat and aftermarket exhaust consistently did not produce any advantage in power. They would be better off with the stock header according to the dyno numbers. So far only the headers with race cat such as the London stainless or Milltek are showing any measurable gains and there are some who doubt that finding as well. Therefore the jury is still out on the use of an exhaust header for the purposes of more power. Sure it is louder but loudness does not equal power.

I'd suspect that the Borla race exhaust alone might equal or beat almost any aftermarket header and exhaust setup or be darn close on dyno.

The objective tests are:
quarter mile times
autocross or track lap times
dyno numbers done on one machine at one shop with one operator.