Oh what fun is that? Personally we like taking the road less traveled or marching to the beat of a different drummer. If we just bought a fast car than everyone would know it is a fast car, no awe or shock factor anymore! This car has earned a lot of respect from the tuner car people in our area. They like the fact that it is something different, but most of them dont like the fact that it just beat them in a race (closed course obviously).
I think the reason we keep on keepin on is the fact that we have support from so many people. Thanks for all of the support everybody!
Ben

 

Any updates?

 

The update is in, it was inf act a crushed sidewall of piston number 2, All that is waiting to be done is get the pistons in from endyne and put her all back together, as for the cause, one knock can cause all mayhem despite the good knock sensor the MINI has. so far the list of upgrades are Forged Pistons, ported n polished head, intake and exhaust valves, Spec stage two clutch and aluminum flywheel. I will have pics of the piston soon to post. The longer I wait for this car, the more I am losing more faith if this holds up. It has been way too damn long since I have had Vader...

 

I would not be the person I am if i bought a million dollar enzo, and if i wanted to, i would. but I am not the snobby type of ferrari person (no offense to anyone that is an owner). personally, I know when my car is ready, I can take them on head to head. I may not win, but I can give them a heart attack. Plus, I would rather have this as a learning experience than to just buy a car to be fast and look fast. The aftermarket world would not exist if it weren't for people like me and all of the other tuners who continue to push the envelope!

 

Maximusmini, I feel your pain.
I pulled the modular front end off my MCS yesterday to replace the supercharger intake tube. I was losing turbo boost and installed a new intake tube that has been slightly modified to reinforce the connection. A pressure test still shows a leak so I'm pulling it off again this afternoon.
Sure it's a pain in the *** but when we are pushing the threshold we must expect "interesting" things to happen!
It's well worth it as we know, especially when we shock the heck out of Corvette, Porche and "Hemi" drivers

 

Do you remember hearing any pinging/knocking when you driving the car WOT?? What about A/F reading on your gauge? I'm wondering if you were getting any clues in regards to the tuning it got ...

As far as the upgrades on the motor you have now, .... Any room for a Quaiffe ? I can't wait for your car to be done, don't forget the pics.. By the way, before this whole ordeal what was your max boost???

Anyone know if the rods on our blocks are strong enough for lots of power... It seems people are just changing the pistons... With my turbo Miata, the rods on the '99 and up was the weak link...

///Gilbert

 

Max,
I'm with you to a point. I'm suggesting that pushing the envelope is expected, but building up the envelope that can't handle the contents you are trying to stuff into it, just isn't cost effective. But then I'm just a nerdy bean counter.

 

I have a significant hearing loss and I do not remember any knocking or pinging sound. Air fuel was set between 11.0-11.8 I forgot to add that I am adding Crower rods to the mix. The inlet air temps never exceeded 130 degrees fahrenheit. The max boost before the wholenordeal was 22 psi (with stock supercharger pulley). Thanks for the support.

 

I never stated that money was an issue. It isn't. But then again, i don't think you know the relief and satisfaction that when you know you can do something that no one else hasn't tried is overwhelming.

 

Ok, Who wants pictures? WHo? Here is the piston!

 

Zak,
What did the cylinder wall look like?

 

Ouch! Were the top rings gone altogether?

 

::shudder:: ::twitch:: ::shudder::

 

Thanks for the pictures.

I'm not very good with motor internals. Would you guys mind pointing out to me what's bad? In the first picture I see the burn mark and what looks to be a crack?? Are there wear marks on the sides in the other pictiures or is the light being funny?

Thanks for the insight.

 

See in the box where it looks like someone took a dremel and ground the hell out of it.

 

Without a doubt, Zak's Vader is THE Mini Terror in our town

 

Definatley Detonation! That is pretty bad! Your list of NEW mods should include Water injection. This stuff will save you from this happening again. Or i should say HELP save you from this happening again. So when is the new engine going to be done and installed? I want to see some big numbers!

 

definitely excessive cylinder pressure breaking the ring land; not necessarily detonation, which would have shown itself on the piston crown. Minimum new pistons and a re-bore, assuming the ring parts stayed in what was left of the groove and didn't visit other parts of the block.

 

Thanks Pir8 97! I noticed something in that shot, just wasn't sure.

 

Motorn, The cylinder walls looked perfectly fine.

Adam, the lines are all part of the coating proccess that Mahle usedm I will try and get a better picture. There are no cracks besides the ring area that was blasted apart.

Yes Andy, all the tops rings were all gone, hence the 70% compression lost.

For those who don't know, there are four tiny holes on the crown on the inside that sprays oil to keep things cool and to keep it all lubed and such. the New piston provided from Endyn have multiple of those. I should hae taken pictures of the new one, I will try today as I am heading back up to the shop.

Alta2, I do not want to add water injection, I do not want to add more horsepower actually, I liked the 249 whp that I had before all of this happend.

So list of mods that are happening, Crower Rods, Endyn Pistons Titanium Valves, Bore 20 thousandth over as there is not much room for boring in the cylinder walls.

On the other side of things, I have just recently bought a 402 crate motor for the 1947 chevy which has been pulled on the engine dyno to push out 579 Crank HP. I will load those pictures later. Thats all for an update today, I will post more later.

 

you bought that bad boy! WooHoo now that thing will have enough power to get out of its own way!!!

 

Zak, water injection is not necessarily for horse power. I use it specifically to lower intake charge temp. It also deters detonation, in effect, raising your octane. This is surely a benificial addition to a turbo charged system. I certainly wouldn't spend all that time/effort of twincharging then overlook this small but effective system :smile:

 

Yeah, I know, make sure someone takes a real good look at those walls :smile: I don't think you can go much larger.

 

I agree 100%

 

True, I am also looking to get an interesting boost gauge Pyrometer and an IAT temp gauge. Sid, my car never had IAT's above 130 F.