Please be patient with my inexperience.

First, what does GIAC actually stand for?

Second, I'm looking to do my first mod to my '03 MCS (yes, I've waited this long!!!:smile I can't go too crazy with cash, and would like to avoid making Gryffon too loud in the process. So though I am considering the options between an ALTA intake and doing a 17% reduction, I wanted to make certain that I wouldn't be running the engine too lean without either an intake or GIAC if I ONLY do the pulley. If I understand correctly, the MCS runs rich to begin with?

I know the pulley would give me far more oomph than the intake, but can I safely do it without other mods to help feed the engine air?

 

Miniature,
1. GIAC stands for - not sure- email them and ask.
http://www.giacusa.com/about_giac.php
GIAC has 15 years experience doing ECU tuning for many european cars and has a strong reputation for quality.

First mod? Certainly an intake is easy enough. Alta adds to the intake noise so go for a ride in another MCS with the alta intake before you decide. Other possible intakes that are less costly and not too loud are- RDR, Pilo, Maddness, any drop in filter, etc.

Another good first mod is an adjustable rear swaybar.

17% pulley? Why 17% as opposed to 15% or 19%? Most times MINIs are going to run rich and as long as you don't keep running your engine at redline you should be fine.

Usually a smaller pulley belt is used with a 17% reduction pulley. Any pulley upgrade from 15% to 19% can be done alone without intake, exhaust, or ECU upgrades. The benefits may be muted a bit.

Overall you'll do best when thinking about your ultimate goals for upgrading and how you'll reach that. For example it's common to upgrade ECU after a pulley upgrade so what will you do with your 17% pulley? Leave the ECU stock or upgrade the ECU? If leaving the ECU stock then fine. If upgrading ECU then one path is GIAC for 17% and larger fuel injectors and another path is a different ECU upgrade and tune it (adding larger injectors, APEXI-APC to control air/fuel ratios, trying different software MAPS) or even a add a crank pulley.

 

My first motor mod was the 15% Mini Mania pulley. I chose it because it was black and not immediately recognizable as non-stock. It made a big difference. As you see in my sig I've since gone a little further.


If I had, say, $600 to spend I would do 19%, crank pulley and VGS mod. You'll be amazed.