It's been over a year since Helix installed the MiniSport final drive kit on the cosmicpurple. The car was set up to be a high revving short shifting fast moving ... etc. And have to say it was.
After 6 or 7 track days and some really hard street driving, i started to hear a knock on giving it the pedal. It turned out to be the tranny. At 1st we thought it was the drive shaft as i'd been through a couple. But it was indeed the tranny. Both pieces of the final drive kit were broken.
On contacting MiniSport and showing them the pieces, they said the car must have "caught air". I must admit i've done a lot of things but catching air in the mini wasn't one. I do remember falling in a huge uncovered hole driving at about 20, and hearing the noise shortly after. But nevertheless the end of a very fast era.
Overall, my impression of the setup was very good. Perhaps a little much for a daily driver. At some point, i think other components on the car, like the cv joints, were being pushed to their limits a lot faster than they wouldv'e normally.
So... with the thought of settling down some, we installed an '06 tranny. It's been OK, but nothing like before. 2 weeks after that install i went to the drag strip and in a moment, destroyed the new tranny. Not quite but, the synchronizers on 3rd gear are ruined. So, i am in search of a 05/06 tranny for parts. If anyone can help, please.
In the meantime, i've decided to order another final drive kit from Helix and install in an 04 tranny. It will be at least 3 weeks. My wallet would like to still go with the 06 if i can find the synchro. But my right foot says go with the final drive kit. What a dilemna.
If we go with the final drive kit again, an issue that has come up with me but is rarely discussed here is the drive shaft/cv joint. I spoke with Tony Nuzzo who actually special ordered a few sets from an aftermarket company because they were an issue on his cars. The company said they would make more if there enough orders. Anyone interested?

 

Cosmic,

A price would be useful.

 

So what are these driveshafts rated to?

 

The driveshafts came from www.driveshaftshop.com in NC. They made a few sets for Nuzzo. When i called, the person who made them was not available to see if he would be willing to make a few more sets. I will call them today again. I don't know the ratings, but Nuzzo said he had no more problems after installing these on his cars.
How's it going TrickleX? How's the twurbo kit for you? Peace.

 

I am organizing a Group Buy and posted there. Here is what I posted:
$999
If you have any questions please contact DMH.

From http://www.driveshaftshop.com/roadrace.ivnu
Over the last 2 years we have been developing Road Race axles for some of the top names in the front wheel drive road racing circuits. what we have done is create a way to convert any of our axle system to last an entire season with out failure and we guarantee this (as long as the boot is not ripped by debris) What we have done is raise the Rockwell of these parts to make them last longer, we polish and match all internals so the axle is pre-broken in so there is no excess heat build up when first installed. We have a higher durometer vented boot and have done extensive research on the grease we use (grease has been known to stay inside a c.v. after ripping a boot to finish a race with out failure or damage to the c.v.) we have also found out that when a c.v. gets to about 300 degrees with is quite easy on a system that the rotor is bolted directly to the c.v. certain greases tent to vapor and blow the boot up like a balloon causing it to rip on suspension parts. We have found most people are under the impression that the boot fails due to heat but after extensive research we have found it more than likely is the grease vapor expanding the boot to be the cause. Now if we could just talk about Honda axle for a minuet they have what's called a dual arc outer C.V. this is a precision forging process (The ball track is not machined it's forged?)This dual arc design is a problem in road racing because every turn the ball passes the transition from one arc to the other causing pre-mature failure. Our Honda and all other axles have a single arc design to eliminate this problem. The axles are all chromoly units that are completely assembled and ready to install, the cost for a set of these axles vary and for now are built on race car specific basis. Most will fall into about an extra $50.00 per axle, So if you are running a Front Wheel Drive Road race car please give us a call and we will design a set specific for you application. These axles do very well in Ralley and Ice racing also....
Some of our clients are
Honda of America Road Race Team (HART)
Colletti Motorsports
The BMW Mini's
Laurence Loshack
And many more ....

 

I might have what you need. I've got an 04 AND an 05 tranny in my parts bin at my tech's shop. The SPEC lightweight flywheel separated from the clutch plate under load TWICE (thought the first time was a fluke/SPEC replaced flywheel) when the 3 dowl pins holding it together failed. Tech now swears he's got an engineering fix for flywheel w/ 3 hrs in the machine shop, but I'm currently back to stock w/ my third transmission...So, I feel your pain!

Both times, there were holes in the bell housing & as you well know, unless you're doing the work yourself, that means a new tranny...so there's a very good possibility w/ two trannies, I've got the parts you're looking for unscathed. PM if you're interested w/ the specific parts & I'll forward it to my tech or you can PM him directly thru MetroplexMINI (LABRAT).

 

Whoops must of missed your reply....sorry. The turbo is going...I am slowly isolating issue areas. I finally got the exhaust manifold staying together, so now I am working on drivability. I will more than likely going turbo only soon as I think this is the only way I am going to achieve the drivability I want.

 

So it's been a while since this has been updated. Are you currently running the Helix tranny Cosmic Purple? Another opinion for the second time around would be great. Thanks, Chirs.