Found this posting on "the other site" about a guy who directly/indirectly found out from Helix13 MINIsports that the four holes on the reverse side of the bonnet can be taped shut for a 3.5hp improvement (person had a Rogue intake and did the mod an got this improvement, dyno proven).

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=19435

Unclear what I'm talking about? Take a look:

*Before*


*After*


Hard to tell by the seat of my pants what, if any, improvement there was since I installed my BMP intake today at the same time.


All I can say is that the car is a different beast all together.

R

 

how kewl is that !!!!!
i will do this ....duct tapin......soon as i can.
since i don't have the bmp intake...it should be an interesting...test

Peace,
D

 

Call me a doubter...

In the real world, there should be more than enough airflow. I really would be surprized if this made a difference in normal driving off the dyno. I mean, on the dyno the airflow is probably less than ideal. Driving around though, even if you are just going 30 mph you probably have more air volume flowing over the car than you would on a dyno with fans running. So while the tape may help direct more of the available air to the intake on the dyno, in real life, I would be surprized if this was really noticable.


that said I still did this mod about a week ago after talking to Helix on the phone.

 

BTW, Davbret your engine compartment is too clean. You need to be doing more motoring.

 

>>BTW, Davbret your engine compartment is too clean. You need to be doing more motoring.

I do alot of motoring, actually. Although I haven't travelled to Jasper lately unlike some. Darn, I wish.

R

_________________


2002 Darksilver/Black Cooper S

 

Davbret: I'm keeping those pics to show people I am not totally obsessed (only mostly obsessed).

 

Interesting to know just how many people got out of their seats, and ran outside to their car with a roll of duct tape.
I'll of course will have to give it a go, just for chits and giggles, and the fact that it's free. Funny how some on the mini2 site didn't relly notice a change. Well, at a *claimed* 3.5hp increase, you're not going to get whiplash. The increase will be more in your head than anything, as far as feeling any difference, if there is one at all. I'll have to play around with that one the next time I'm around a dyno tester.
Cheers,

 

If you can't mod it...duck it!

 

here is a link to the original post; it was during a dyno day on my car that we found the "Helix ducting mod". about two thirds down, page 4:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...p;pagenumber=4

 

Loathe as I am to point out apparent anamalies in others vehicles, but did I spy a small gnat on your radiator?
LBC1

 

I wonder which will happen first. Dealers calling MiniUSA saying there is an apparent problem because people are duct taping their hoods. Or, Mini specific colors of duct tape being sold on Mini sites. :smile:

That being said, should I carry duct tape when I go to pick up my car?

 

That's the nice thing about Darksilver, standard duct tape is a great match.

R

 

First chance to do the *Duct Tape mod was this morning.

Drove my MCS to warm it up. I then did a run down an area not far from the house, but safe to accelerate some. Went from 0 to 60 in 1st to 2nd gear only. It had that "I love it feeling".

Came home and did the duct tape mod then went out for the second run.

This may be all psychological, but the acceleration seemed better. I have no Dyno test or actual MPH/time recording, but pickup appeared to be better.

Disclaimer
* Test was performed with United Tape Company Silver Duct Tape. Performance and results my vary with different brand or color tape.

 

>>Disclaimer
>>* Test was performed with United Tape Company Silver Duct Tape. Performance and results my vary with different brand or color tape.
>>

ROFLMAO! You will be hearing from my attorney, as soon as we determine my injuries from falling out of the chair after reading this.

X2

 

>>I wonder which will happen first. Dealers calling MiniUSA saying there is an apparent problem because people are duct taping their hoods. Or, Mini specific colors of duct tape being sold on Mini sites. :smile:

They have many colors of duct tape at the climbing gym. They use it to mark different routes on the walls. I know there are a couple of shades of yellow, I'll have to borrow a roll and see if it matches the MINI LY

 

>>>>I wonder which will happen first. Dealers calling MiniUSA saying there is an apparent problem because people are duct taping their hoods. Or, Mini specific colors of duct tape being sold on Mini sites. :smile:
>>
>>They have many colors of duct tape at the climbing gym. They use it to mark different routes on the walls. I know there are a couple of shades of yellow, I'll have to borrow a roll and see if it matches the MINI LY

Make sure it's DUCT tape and not GAFFERS tape. They look similar but are actually quite different. Gaffers is more woven looking than the smooth finish on duct tape. Gaffers tape can be breathable, unlike duct, which is waterproof. Just a heads up...like it will really make a difference in this application.

R

 

Does it seem strange to anyone that you could even measure the effect of a "ram-air" mod on a dyno?

I mean...without the air ramming..and all.

 

all dynos have to have a fan blowing on the car or the engine would overheat, at the least. What is funny is that this effect would show up with this wimpy amount of airflow, compared to road conditions. You are lucky to simulate 20mph with a dyno fan.

It may be the effec t of the tape is overshadowed when there is a surplus of air supplied by moving 75 mph, but that has yet to be tested (drag strip is closed until March)

It is very interesting to note how various intake air supply mods do have an effect, implying how much potential for improvemnt may be there.

 

Maybe we could get some of our Aussie friends to go to the strip down there and tell us how it goes...?

 

Maybe someone with a G-tech or similar instrument could do a road test?

I want some data here before I go out and blow a bunch of money on aftermarket mods.

_________________
~Yucca Patrol~
Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.

7 sub 21

 

>>Maybe someone with a G-tech or similar instrument could do a road test?
>>
>>I want some data here before I go out and blow a bunch of money on aftermarket mods.




R

 

i've discovered that having the slots taped up makes the a/c ducts shoot out hot air when the a/c is not running.... i'm not sure if this will have any ill effects to any of the other systems... i've removed my tape till we learn more...

-Mo

 

Did the DT mod a couple of weeks ago and I cannot say that it produced a noticable difference, but what the hell it was almost free.

 

Taped mine last night, what the heck, doesn't cost anything.

 

my question is:
Is it harmful to the system to not have the cool air flowing through there... taping up the holes blows hot engine air through the a/c duct... what negative effects will this have besides the hot air in the passenger area?

[scratches head]