Well I got home from work tonight and ups had dropped off a package for me. It was my Alta header and a set of NGK colder plugs.
I got started right away and the wrenching began.
I took a break from working on it to eat dinner and then went out and finished it up. Took it for a ride and the first thing I noticed was she is quite a bit louder.. lol no cat, for off road use only.. Yah right.. haha
I am planning on taking it to the track this friday if the weather is good and the track is dried up from the weather from the last few days. After I got back from my little drive I changed the plugs and took it for another drive.. I really enjoy driving this car..:icon_smile:
Here are a couple pics from the install...
Bill

 

Hows that thing mate up down below? It looks like it has a different degree of bend than the stocker....

 

Yah it was offline by about an inch and a half, but I was able to muscle it over enough to bolt it up. Not bad all in all and the sound.........oh yah the sound... sweet sound......

Bill

 

Looks very nice!!

 

how did it fit against the head ? I have have been looking into the version with a cat.

 

hmmmm....well...let us know how it holds up.....

 

It fit against the head great, I tightened all that up first with no problems. Maybe the one with the cat will have a little better bend to it..

Bill

 

How hard on a 1-10 scale was the header install?

Time frame?

 

^^ echo same question. I've heard it's an absolute pita to get it in place. Is that true?

 

It took me about 3 hours to do, not to bad of a job. The hardest part was starting the header on the head. Holding the gasket in place and getting a couple bolts started. after that it wasn't bad..

Bill

 

i've got the catted version ; it is loud . i can't imagine with no cat . talk about burble.

 

Without the cat, did you get any "check engine" light?

 

+1. Sounds good though!

 

Yes I did, but as soon as I get my new tune I will have the rear o2 turned off. That will take care of that little problem..

Bill

 

you really should install the cat...

 

While I agree, where exactly would he be installing it? Notice the photo shows the catless header to be the same length as the stock header *and* cat, so unless he has a shortened cat-back system, there's no room for the cat.
But he says it's for off-road use only...

 

The cat goes between the collector and the flex tube.

 

well, the 'off-road use only' doesn't wash since his car has tags on it and he commented on taking it for a ride.... so he's using it cat-less on the street. Not a good idea. If it's for the perceived performance gain he's just fooling himself.

 

Well, if he had the header you post the photo of, maybe, but look again at the header he actually installed. No flanges and no mid-pipe. Just solid welded tubing all the way to the second o2 bung...no cat here, and no where for it to go.
And I must agree again with rl.48.mini, the noise is amazing with no cat, but the performance gains are minimal at best, especially without a head (but then, which head is the Alta header designed to match with?) In the end, just a whole lot of feel-good SS near your right foot, and a whole lot of noise at the south end of a north facing Mini.
I'd rather be installing coilovers...oh, that's right, I just did!

 

I had just purchased a Comptech MINI header from Mike @ Seven. As soon as it gets back from "Jet Hot" I will get it installed.



It should look like the header to the far right when I get it back.

 

I think we just found the moral conscience of the NAM community.

As a side note, I hope you let the engine cool off before changing the plugs. Otherwise, sounds like a nice mod and the system looks really nice.

 

How do you like the Comptech header? I'm considering buying one from Mike @ Seven as well.

 

Just installed the Comptech header this past Saturday. The install was really easy. I think it fits better than the OEM header.

With the Borla Race cat back bolted to the back of this header it is definitely louder. The sound comes on at about 3500 rpm and screams till redline!

Next time we have a dyno day I will put it up on the rollers to see how much extra power it makes.

As far as fit and finish go this thing is second to none!

I don't know if Mike @ Seven has any more of these lying around, but if you PM me I know a guy who has one for sale, since it won't fit his 07' MINI.

 

Hows the sound inside the cabin before and after the Alta Header install?

I currently have the Borla Race Exhaust and I'm thinking of adding the header for some more sound...but don't want to over do it inside the cabin. I'm really looking for more popping and burbling.

Thanks
-ROB-