got a chance to play with engine modifications today...my afternoon project. Anodized caps, strut tower brace bar, new air intake, plug wires...and a huge smile on my face. Here is the process, before and after and detail shots.


Before


After


Intake


Strut brace detail


profile shot




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2003 Indi Blue Mini Cooper

2001 Black Audi Allroad 2.7T

http://www.rmcb5.com

 

WOW!!!!! That's awesome!!! I'm smilin' and its not even my Cooper!!! Nice job! (....nice color, too )

 

Yep, the new mods look great! I know you had fun, & thanks for the pics

 

i have done a little under the hood trimming. first off was the anodized caps for the 3 things. next was the intercooler cover. i masked off the parts of it that are not raised and did the rest in a great paint from duplicolor called metalcast. with the undercoat it makes plastic look anodized. its very cool but still to see about the durability becuase i just did this 3 days ago. i am impressed with the result so far. i will have pics to follow.

the paint can be seen here... duplicolor ignore those pictures tho, it doesnt look excessivly shiny like them there.

 

Jon,
It looks sweet. Does it drive different? When's the next track day or drive?
Brad

 

I like it!!!

You have good taste in choosing red color accessories to contrast IB. I'm thinking of doing the same with red Nology wires, Alta intake (red), and red caps.

 

>>Jon,
>>It looks sweet. Does it drive different? When's the next track day or drive?
>>Brad

Brad, it does drive a little different, but nothing to get your panties in a bunch about. Feels a little more even through the revs, a bit more power down low...but in the cornering, who knows. The Mini is pretty ridgid anyway...I just bought it for looks...afterall, it's not how fast you get there, it is how good you look while going...hehehe

 

Looks GREAT, but that intake probably sucks lots of hot air from the engine bay. That little tube doesn't do enough, it needs to be sealed off from the rest of the bay.

 

>>Looks GREAT, but that intake probably sucks lots of hot air from the engine bay. That little tube doesn't do enough, it needs to be sealed off from the rest of the bay.


True....I am planning on making a simple shield out of sheet aluminum for between the filter and the engine...It won't seal it off, but it will help a little. That may cause more air to be forced through the front air intake through the remaining ducting that I left in place. The opening is right below the filter...I am also considering adding to that and making a bottom pan for the filter...forcing the air to be sucked from the ducting. Who knows...guess I will do that when I get bored again

 

After hours of driving, I have lifted my hood up and lo! My intake was cool to the touch! How could that be? Well, constant air flow at 75 MPH and such keeps it cold. Things get hot under there when the car has been sitting there for a while, but if the car is moving, you've got cold air going in there.

And really, why rain on his parade?

 

>>>>
>>And really, why rain on his parade?

hehehe....I didn't take it that way at all...it is all about the discussion and appreciation. Either way, I love the way it looks, and the way it sounds at WOT!!!!

 

It does look very sharp. I have a small aluminum "air ramp" below my Monster Foprce intake, but on the 3 intakes I have thrown in there, they all remained cool after hours of driving.

 

Looks almost like this one....But an "S" version.

 

good to know...I figured so since the air induction piping is right there anyway...that is where the regular coopers get their air from, just not a closed system like the stock or the Piper Cross Viper set up...but for the money, I could not go wrong with the Moss intake, they ahve a sale going on right now...pretty sweet deal...

Thanks for the input everyone

cheers
jon

 

>>Looks almost like this one....But an "S" version.
>>

BMP makes one like that for the Cooper as well, just more than I wanted to spend...not in it for the racing, just having fun, want some cool stuff, like to mess around with the car....but the looks of that BMP intake are real nice...that is where I got my idea for seperating the filter from the engine. if you go to http://www.promini.com and check out their intakes, I believe they have a shot of the regular MC intake with the heat shield...looks nice..

BTW....love the sway bar...hehehe, mine did not come with their sticker though...which I think I am glad about

 

Jon,

Very nice - I look forward to seeing it in person!
Is the stress bar pre-loaded?
Let me know when you get out to SCR, I might have MY car back together by then.
Mark

 

Yeah Mark, it can be pre loaded...I have it on the loose setting right now...gonna play with some things and see what happens...not really sure how much the pre-load will change it, the car was pretty stiff to begin with.

We are thinking SCR sometime in April or May...I will be sure to keep you up to date. Now that it is staying lighter later, I may even go for one of the Wednesday night sessions sometime in the next month, weather permitting. What did you do to your car that it is not "together"?

 

That sounds good, let me know. Are you going to the Audi School in May?
I'm putting in gauges, which has it torn apart now. I need to put on new brakes - I toasted the rotors the last time I was at SCR in December. I've been waiting for a kit that will fit under 16" wheels, but I may just bite the bullet and get some Stoptechs and sell my 16" SSR's.

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IB/W some mods

 

Might go to the Audi School in May...was thinking about the Steamboat Audi Ice course...but time and schedule does not allow for it this year.

Are your gauges near the tach or down lower in the center console? I like the ones near the tach myself. If you end up selling your SSR's, let me know, I might be somewhat interested. If I can be of any help getting your car back together, let me know, I would be happy to help, If I can make it up there.

cheers
jon

_________________
2003 Indi Blue Mini Cooper

2001 Black Audi Allroad 2.7T

http://www.rmcb5.com