Drivetrain "The Goods" have been installed
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,580
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From: Santa Clara, CA
"The Goods" have been installed
Oh yes, it has been done! Here is what was installed in order of installation:
Alta Short Shift Kit ('04 version)
Magnaflow Cat-Back (custom to fit '04 model)
M7 Device
Alta 15% Pulley
Alta Cold Air Intake
Alta Air Diverter (NO sprayer... I'll explain in a second!)
Unichip
Wow is this car different now! All of this was done in a day (well, the unichip came a day later but it only took us a few minutes to get it on) and there have been NO issues whatsoever... no EML lights, no NOTHING!
All of this work was done at a bay area shop called TC Design based in Milpitas. Although their website (http://www.tcdesignfab.com) doesnt have any MINI content yet, it should soon! They have done installation of suspension components as well as engine work on these cars.
As for fitment with everything, the only thing I can complain about is the silicone hose from Alta. It is a really tight fit and it rubs against the intercooler as well as just about anything else in that area.
The Magnaflow was custom done for my car since Magnaflow is too lazy to develop a system for '04 model cars. For any bay area folks with '04 models who want to have a cat-back system installed, I highly recommend these guys (http://www.tcdesignfab.com). They were able to modify the Magnaflow to fit my '04 model and the fit is absolutely perfect.
As for that questionable air diverter from Alta, all I can say is WOW, what a difference. The night before the installations a friend and I went out with a bag of ice. We would throw a good amount of ice on the intercooler and drive it around for a few minutes until the ice melted. We would feel the inlet and outlet sides of the intercooler (yes I know, not scientific but just sort of measuring differences) to see how much of a difference the ice made. It was much colder on one side than the other, OBVIOUSLY. However, last night we went BACK out and did the same thing again, this time WITHOUT a bag of ice. Instead, I had the diverter installed. I expected this time for the differences to not be so great, ESPECIALLY because I had the pulley installed now which should create much higher temps. We were both AMAZED at how much of a temp difference there was! The diverter cooled things down about TWICE as well as the ice did! Not only was the outlet side not warm, but it was COLD! Bottom line is, I HIGHLY recommend this mod!
As for the sprayer that we didnt install, TC Design (http://www.tcdesignfab.com no I dont work for them nor do I get any sort of referal bonus of any crap like that! They just did a great job) is going to build me a custom sprayer! Alta's design requires that you either DISCONNECT the back wiper OR tee off of the line. This obviously is less than satisfactory. The nozzle that they use is some cheap little piece of plastic thats flimsy and sprays like ****. TC Design is going to completely remodel this. They are going to mount a seperate resevoir and redesign the sprayer to be twice as efficent as the one Alta supplies. They are going to wire it up to a MINI toggle switch (that I received from someone on NAM) and mount it in the open slot I have.
All thats left for me to install are my boost and A/F gauges and the Alta gauge pod..... PM me if you have any questions!
Alta Short Shift Kit ('04 version)
Magnaflow Cat-Back (custom to fit '04 model)
M7 Device
Alta 15% Pulley
Alta Cold Air Intake
Alta Air Diverter (NO sprayer... I'll explain in a second!)
Unichip
Wow is this car different now! All of this was done in a day (well, the unichip came a day later but it only took us a few minutes to get it on) and there have been NO issues whatsoever... no EML lights, no NOTHING!
All of this work was done at a bay area shop called TC Design based in Milpitas. Although their website (http://www.tcdesignfab.com) doesnt have any MINI content yet, it should soon! They have done installation of suspension components as well as engine work on these cars.
As for fitment with everything, the only thing I can complain about is the silicone hose from Alta. It is a really tight fit and it rubs against the intercooler as well as just about anything else in that area.
The Magnaflow was custom done for my car since Magnaflow is too lazy to develop a system for '04 model cars. For any bay area folks with '04 models who want to have a cat-back system installed, I highly recommend these guys (http://www.tcdesignfab.com). They were able to modify the Magnaflow to fit my '04 model and the fit is absolutely perfect.
As for that questionable air diverter from Alta, all I can say is WOW, what a difference. The night before the installations a friend and I went out with a bag of ice. We would throw a good amount of ice on the intercooler and drive it around for a few minutes until the ice melted. We would feel the inlet and outlet sides of the intercooler (yes I know, not scientific but just sort of measuring differences) to see how much of a difference the ice made. It was much colder on one side than the other, OBVIOUSLY. However, last night we went BACK out and did the same thing again, this time WITHOUT a bag of ice. Instead, I had the diverter installed. I expected this time for the differences to not be so great, ESPECIALLY because I had the pulley installed now which should create much higher temps. We were both AMAZED at how much of a temp difference there was! The diverter cooled things down about TWICE as well as the ice did! Not only was the outlet side not warm, but it was COLD! Bottom line is, I HIGHLY recommend this mod!
As for the sprayer that we didnt install, TC Design (http://www.tcdesignfab.com no I dont work for them nor do I get any sort of referal bonus of any crap like that! They just did a great job) is going to build me a custom sprayer! Alta's design requires that you either DISCONNECT the back wiper OR tee off of the line. This obviously is less than satisfactory. The nozzle that they use is some cheap little piece of plastic thats flimsy and sprays like ****. TC Design is going to completely remodel this. They are going to mount a seperate resevoir and redesign the sprayer to be twice as efficent as the one Alta supplies. They are going to wire it up to a MINI toggle switch (that I received from someone on NAM) and mount it in the open slot I have.
All thats left for me to install are my boost and A/F gauges and the Alta gauge pod..... PM me if you have any questions!
:smile:
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Excellent setup.
Now get out on the track or go to autocross to test it out.
Doesn't the bay area have any MINIs with the 19% pulley, Light racing wheels and larger intercooler installed?
There's always room for more Jello.
Now get out on the track or go to autocross to test it out.
Doesn't the bay area have any MINIs with the 19% pulley, Light racing wheels and larger intercooler installed?
There's always room for more Jello.
All that & a bag of chips<g>
Sounds like a great setup. When you finish the spray mod, can you post on how it works, design, setup, etc? I'm *really* interested in hearing how you wire the toggle switch, for the intercooler sprayer, in your open center console slot. I already destroyed one switch panel trying to mount a button for my purge solenoid, so instructions would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
From: Lakeside, CA
Originally Posted by JCampos
As for the sprayer that we didnt install, TC Design (http://www.tcdesignfab.com no I dont work for them nor do I get any sort of referal bonus of any crap like that! They just did a great job) is going to build me a custom sprayer! Alta's design requires that you either DISCONNECT the back wiper OR tee off of the line. This obviously is less than satisfactory. The nozzle that they use is some cheap little piece of plastic thats flimsy and sprays like ****. TC Design is going to completely remodel this. They are going to mount a seperate resevoir and redesign the sprayer to be twice as efficent as the one Alta supplies. They are going to wire it up to a MINI toggle switch (that I received from someone on NAM) and mount it in the open slot I have.
All thats left for me to install are my boost and A/F gauges and the Alta gauge pod..... PM me if you have any questions!
I understand from Randy Webb www.webbmotorsports.com that they are doing a mod to the mod
which will use a seperate resevoir and automatically spray when needed. You might want to check that out. I don't get a kickback from Randy either (but it would be nice).Earl
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,580
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From: Santa Clara, CA
Hey Earl,
yes, they are working on that mod, but the only way you can use it is if you have a unichip (which I do but I didnt want to wait). The one they are designing doesnt require the unichip, but it also doesnt have an auto on/off setup. Although that would be cool, I dont feel like waiting for Randy.
As for being the fastest MINI in the bay area, I doubt it. One of them probably, but i doubt the fastest. Give me another year though
. Ive only had my MINI for 2 weeks . Future mods I plan on (in order of installation):
H-Sport Springs and rear sway bar
Alta catch can
Big Bore TB
Milltek Header
I will conisder a larger intercooler once I get these mods done. The problem is that I will need to start doing other upgrades once I get this far also (clutch, injectors, blah blah blah). We will see though. It all depends on what MONEY (and the girlfriend of course) allow. A more important mod for me would be DRIVING SCHOOL! I am still new to a manual transmission but I am picking it up quickly. I am going to start practicing rev matching and the likes soon. Then I will probably take a few lessons up at Thunderhill from a friends brother.
yes, they are working on that mod, but the only way you can use it is if you have a unichip (which I do but I didnt want to wait). The one they are designing doesnt require the unichip, but it also doesnt have an auto on/off setup. Although that would be cool, I dont feel like waiting for Randy.
As for being the fastest MINI in the bay area, I doubt it. One of them probably, but i doubt the fastest. Give me another year though
. Ive only had my MINI for 2 weeks . Future mods I plan on (in order of installation):H-Sport Springs and rear sway bar
Alta catch can
Big Bore TB
Milltek Header
I will conisder a larger intercooler once I get these mods done. The problem is that I will need to start doing other upgrades once I get this far also (clutch, injectors, blah blah blah). We will see though. It all depends on what MONEY (and the girlfriend of course) allow. A more important mod for me would be DRIVING SCHOOL! I am still new to a manual transmission but I am picking it up quickly. I am going to start practicing rev matching and the likes soon. Then I will probably take a few lessons up at Thunderhill from a friends brother.
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