Drivetrain OBX Header Questions
#26
11-15-2006, 03:08 PM
I'd just go ahead and get it 
. Mostly as everyone said the gains you're going to feel with a header are going to be midrange. I can definatly feel a difference if I try to pull up a hill in 5th gear (Used to only be able to do that in 3rd!). As far as overall speed though, the car doesn't really accelerate any faster. Gains like that come from an Intake/Pulley/Head. Whatever you do to this engine, it's still only 1.6 L, and it has almost NO low end 
. I think you'd like the mod, and as headers go, it's one of the cheapest out there. I'd see no real point in trying to buy a more expensive header with a high flow cat or something, basically the same (+1-2 hp maybe) and with all the publicity Miltek has been getting with failing cats, i'll stick with the stock cat! 
. Mostly as everyone said the gains you're going to feel with a header are going to be midrange. I can definatly feel a difference if I try to pull up a hill in 5th gear (Used to only be able to do that in 3rd!). As far as overall speed though, the car doesn't really accelerate any faster. Gains like that come from an Intake/Pulley/Head. Whatever you do to this engine, it's still only 1.6 L, and it has almost NO low end . I think you'd like the mod, and as headers go, it's one of the cheapest out there. I'd see no real point in trying to buy a more expensive header with a high flow cat or something, basically the same (+1-2 hp maybe) and with all the publicity Miltek has been getting with failing cats, i'll stick with the stock cat!
#27
11-15-2006, 05:27 PM
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#29
11-16-2006, 01:00 AM
5th Gear
#31
11-16-2006, 12:30 PM
I got mine done at VF Engineering. They do free reflashes too. Eurosport doesn't install GIAC for the MINI. Also Virtual World Parts in Temecula is another great shop to go to. He did the reflash on my Jetta GLI when I put in a bigger turbo and he bent over backwards to help me out with that one since it was a new file from GIAC.
Does anyone have any experience getting GIAC flashes in SoCal? I did a search at GIAC USA and got the following dealers for Mini's. Are one of these places the place you went to? If not, where would you recommend to get it done?
OC:
VF Engineering
Euro Sport Accessories, Inc
GMG
San Diego County:
AJ USA
All German Auto
Group 5 Motorsport
LA County:
Torque Factory
Weilinger Motoring Group
Wicked Motorsports
Too bad I don't live on the East Coast or I would go to Helix.
OC:
VF Engineering
Euro Sport Accessories, Inc
GMG
San Diego County:
AJ USA
All German Auto
Group 5 Motorsport
LA County:
Torque Factory
Weilinger Motoring Group
Wicked Motorsports
Too bad I don't live on the East Coast or I would go to Helix.
#33
11-16-2006, 12:40 PM
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#34
11-16-2006, 12:41 PM
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I got mine done at VF Engineering. They do free reflashes too. Eurosport doesn't install GIAC for the MINI. Also Virtual World Parts in Temecula is another great shop to go to. He did the reflash on my Jetta GLI when I put in a bigger turbo and he bent over backwards to help me out with that one since it was a new file from GIAC.
#35
11-16-2006, 12:47 PM
I love it. It doesn't it slam me back in the seat like it did with my Dub, but it just made the car run smoother. I also got a torque increase over similarly modded MINI's as measured on the Dyno. This dyno was pre header. It is actually my wifes. You can see the car here:
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ead.php?t=2872
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ead.php?t=2872
#36
11-16-2006, 01:25 PM
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I love it. It doesn't it slam me back in the seat like it did with my Dub, but it just made the car run smoother. I also got a torque increase over similarly modded MINI's as measured on the Dyno. This dyno was pre header. It is actually my wifes. You can see the car here:
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ead.php?t=2872
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ead.php?t=2872
#38
11-16-2006, 02:00 PM
The TSW engine damper really helps clean up the lurch between shifts. It was a breeze to install because of the brackets that they provide, but it is 110 shipped and it is the same damper that helix and LOTF sells for less without the bracket
#40
11-16-2006, 10:15 PM
5th Gear
Admittedly, have not -- yet.
Will not until after I get MY 4% Alta crank pulley and OBX header (as soon as I figure out what to do about the cat!!
Have not done ANY ECU tune yet.
Decided on Fireballed because local (I live in Long Beach) and, while GIAC WOULD have been my choice until Fireballed came along, my list of mods will not fall into the GIAC maps that are currently available.
It is my understanding that Fireballed can and does tune to AF ratios rather than using a fixed set of maps that may or may not fit your mod list. It seems that with GIAC if your list happens to fit, it is a good deal; and customers who have been in that situation seem to be very happy -- from what I have read (A LOT) on NAM.
ONLY reason I got off of GIAC and "on" to Fireballed is that my car doesn't fit either of the available GIAC maps, and the few who have been Fireballed about whom I have read are satisfied -- reporting significant gains.
One who has recently had Fireballed done is Mariokart.
Will not until after I get MY 4% Alta crank pulley and OBX header (as soon as I figure out what to do about the cat!!
Have not done ANY ECU tune yet.
Decided on Fireballed because local (I live in Long Beach) and, while GIAC WOULD have been my choice until Fireballed came along, my list of mods will not fall into the GIAC maps that are currently available.
It is my understanding that Fireballed can and does tune to AF ratios rather than using a fixed set of maps that may or may not fit your mod list. It seems that with GIAC if your list happens to fit, it is a good deal; and customers who have been in that situation seem to be very happy -- from what I have read (A LOT) on NAM.
ONLY reason I got off of GIAC and "on" to Fireballed is that my car doesn't fit either of the available GIAC maps, and the few who have been Fireballed about whom I have read are satisfied -- reporting significant gains.
One who has recently had Fireballed done is Mariokart.
#41
11-17-2006, 10:43 AM
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#42
11-18-2006, 06:43 AM
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I love it. It doesn't it slam me back in the seat like it did with my Dub, but it just made the car run smoother. I also got a torque increase over similarly modded MINI's as measured on the Dyno. This dyno was pre header. It is actually my wifes. You can see the car here:
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ead.php?t=2872
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ead.php?t=2872
I agree with your sentiments on both!
#43
11-19-2006, 08:24 AM
#44
11-19-2006, 01:19 PM
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#45
11-19-2006, 08:33 PM
Yes I read it to mean just that here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=62343 so he probably doesn't want you to mail in your kitty cat.
Note the OBX from Helix is also modified to reduce fitment issues.
Note the OBX from Helix is also modified to reduce fitment issues.
#47
11-19-2006, 09:12 PM
3rd Gear
It seems like your questions have been answered, but specifically to answer your question #3, i paid $20 to have the shop cut off the stock cat, weld it on to my minimania header, and install on the car. the shop is located in rosemead if you're interested.
For my next mod I think I want to get an OBX header. I just have a couple questions before I go out and buy one:
1. I was wondering if I can retain the use of the stock header if I cut off the cat and weld it onto the OBX header? I want to know in case I ever have to go back to stock.
2 Is it street legal to run the OBX header in California? I know it is supposed to be CARB exempt, but that does not mean street legal right?
3 What is a reasonable price (excluding the cost of the header) to cut the stock cat from the stock header, weld it onto the obx, and install on my car? I have been quoted at $300 total in labor to get it installed. Is that reasonable?
4. What kind of performance gains can I expect (I have 15%, HAI, One-Ball)? Do you need to have head, cam, etc work done to really see a difference, or will it be noticeable with what I have already done?
5 I know there is tons of information available if I search, but for those of you that have had your OBX header on for a while, what are your impressions thus far? Have they changed at all? Have you had any problems since you first put it on?
Thanks in advance!
1. I was wondering if I can retain the use of the stock header if I cut off the cat and weld it onto the OBX header? I want to know in case I ever have to go back to stock.
2 Is it street legal to run the OBX header in California? I know it is supposed to be CARB exempt, but that does not mean street legal right?
3 What is a reasonable price (excluding the cost of the header) to cut the stock cat from the stock header, weld it onto the obx, and install on my car? I have been quoted at $300 total in labor to get it installed. Is that reasonable?
4. What kind of performance gains can I expect (I have 15%, HAI, One-Ball)? Do you need to have head, cam, etc work done to really see a difference, or will it be noticeable with what I have already done?
5 I know there is tons of information available if I search, but for those of you that have had your OBX header on for a while, what are your impressions thus far? Have they changed at all? Have you had any problems since you first put it on?
Thanks in advance!
#48
11-20-2006, 03:14 AM
5th Gear
Wow! Thanks!
IMO, beats the heck out of the e-Bay OBX route.
Thank YOU!!
#49
11-20-2006, 07:56 AM
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I am definitely interested. What is the name of the shop? And were you satisfied with the quality of their work?
#50
11-20-2006, 11:17 AM
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From what I read in the link it seems as if he would want me to mail in my stock header and cat in exchange for an OBX header with my stock cat welded on for $300, hence the "cat exchange". Maybe I will have to just call Helix to get clarification. If he doesn't need me to mail anything in, I would be all over this offer, but if he does need me to I guess I'll have to go down the ebay route.
Yes I read it to mean just that here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=62343 so he probably doesn't want you to mail in your kitty cat.
Note the OBX from Helix is also modified to reduce fitment issues.
Note the OBX from Helix is also modified to reduce fitment issues.