R50/53 The big ol' "Kodachi" thread
#26
Ok, thanks for the order, i have seen people shave the plastic, so just wanted to know.
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MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
#27
#28
#29
Took off that cracked, yellowed decal on the rear bumper. I'll never understand why that crummy bit of vinyl was chosen for the high-dollar aero kit. Anywho, for those interested, a hair dryer works wonders for peeling it off. Goo-gone easily takes case of the adhesive. Now for some Plasti-dip!
I'm slowly getting ideas for how I want the red/black scheme to eventually look. Rear bumper will be similar to the Nightwing R53 but I'll add a honeycomb mesh.
I'm slowly getting ideas for how I want the red/black scheme to eventually look. Rear bumper will be similar to the Nightwing R53 but I'll add a honeycomb mesh.
#30
Wow it's been a while. Been having fun in between being extremely busy. After the latest maintenance she's running like a top though.
What I thought was speed sensor out (trifecta, etc) turned out to be the ABS computer blown out so I took it to Madness to get it swapped and get some PS hoses replaced. George and crew did a great job, though he vocally disparages all the CravenSpeed additions to the car. It's just a dipstick, lighten up
I'm going to be on a polyurethane kick here soon after I replaced and put inserts in the lower mount. No more clunking and surging! I can still feel a little rocking on pulsing the throttle though, so I think I'll slowly go through the engine mounts and poly-up until I notice increased NVH. Lower mount didn't affect NVH at all so I'm hopeful the unbreakable lump can be cinched down even tighter and that road feel can get even better.
P.S. Loving the WMW black side markers. Much cleaner than stand-out orange.
What I thought was speed sensor out (trifecta, etc) turned out to be the ABS computer blown out so I took it to Madness to get it swapped and get some PS hoses replaced. George and crew did a great job, though he vocally disparages all the CravenSpeed additions to the car. It's just a dipstick, lighten up
I'm going to be on a polyurethane kick here soon after I replaced and put inserts in the lower mount. No more clunking and surging! I can still feel a little rocking on pulsing the throttle though, so I think I'll slowly go through the engine mounts and poly-up until I notice increased NVH. Lower mount didn't affect NVH at all so I'm hopeful the unbreakable lump can be cinched down even tighter and that road feel can get even better.
P.S. Loving the WMW black side markers. Much cleaner than stand-out orange.
Last edited by HaltCatchFire; 05-08-2017 at 07:38 AM.
#31
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MiniTigger (05-29-2018)
#32
Installed the Craven tow hook, I really like the look. I may have to start a gen1 version of the "meanest cooper" gen2 thread to get some ideas on the final look I want for this car. You can also see where the aero brackets were supposed to be, the chimpanzee who installed the aero bumper cut them off.
Looks like I'm JCW lucky number 13k
Looks like I'm JCW lucky number 13k
:p
#33
#35
I may have to start a gen1 version of the "meanest cooper" gen2 thread to get some ideas on the final look I want for this car.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r52-r53-6.html
#36
We already have one.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r52-r53-6.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r52-r53-6.html
#37
Where did you get the red scoop liner? I'm going for a black / red theme too. I left the beltline alone but I have dipped the headlight rings.
#38
Nothing more than 1/4" vinyl and a steady hand . I believe I'll put on some hood pinstripes as well in that color, I'm really happy how sturdy the vinyl has been.
#39
#41
Went out to a couple of late summer track days at PIR and met a some fellow Cooper owners. Turns out three of us were running RE-71R tires at the CSCC event so we got to share notes which was nice. The tires ran great with no gumming up despite the 9X deg heat and being pushed hard. Very happy with these + RPF1 combo.
#42
That last track day definitely highlighted how shot my suspension is - I was rolling all over the place with no damping. The struts are pretty scored, they're probably done. Time for a suspension overhaul! Since I'm quite happy with the ride height (I scrape on some driveways at stock height, I have no idea how some people get away with -1.25" springs!) I'm looking at Koni FSDs. I'll add to that a 19mm sway bar and IE fixed camber plates, I like the idea of a set-and-forget setup like this. Any opinions on this setup for a DD with several tracks days a year and maybe some future autox?
Also Mini Mania was having a great sale on this so I couldn't say no to an engine mount refresh as well. Got a new trans mount with poly bushings as well, that should clear up the rest of the rocking and surging.
Also Mini Mania was having a great sale on this so I couldn't say no to an engine mount refresh as well. Got a new trans mount with poly bushings as well, that should clear up the rest of the rocking and surging.
#43
That last track day definitely highlighted how shot my suspension is - I was rolling all over the place with no damping. The struts are pretty scored, they're probably done. Time for a suspension overhaul! Since I'm quite happy with the ride height (I scrape on some driveways at stock height, I have no idea how some people get away with -1.25" springs!) I'm looking at Koni FSDs. I'll add to that a 19mm sway bar and IE fixed camber plates, I like the idea of a set-and-forget setup like this. Any opinions on this setup for a DD with several tracks days a year and maybe some future autox?
Also Mini Mania was having a great sale on this so I couldn't say no to an engine mount refresh as well. Got a new trans mount with poly bushings as well, that should clear up the rest of the rocking and surging.
Also Mini Mania was having a great sale on this so I couldn't say no to an engine mount refresh as well. Got a new trans mount with poly bushings as well, that should clear up the rest of the rocking and surging.
I have a 19mm rear sway bar that was on the car for 1 track day. I was holding onto until I was sure about the 22mm. After 2 track days with the 22mm I'm sure I'm not going back so if you are interested let me know.
BUT
I have Koni FSDs, stock springs, stock front sway bar and 22mm rear sway bar. I was at PIR last week and this set up felt pretty good. I'm on the minimum setting for the rear sway bar. My tires are crap and new tires are for sure the next thing on the list. I feel like when I get better tires and some camber & an alignment I will be able to go up to the middle setting on the sway bar. My point is, I don't think I would recommend the 19mm sway bar.
Here's some info that might be helpful.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-question.html
#45
Let me preface this reply by saying I don't know #$%*#@ compared to some of the guys here but I have a very similar goal (daily driver with a few days at the track).
I have a 19mm rear sway bar that was on the car for 1 track day. I was holding onto until I was sure about the 22mm. After 2 track days with the 22mm I'm sure I'm not going back so if you are interested let me know.
BUT
I have Koni FSDs, stock springs, stock front sway bar and 22mm rear sway bar. I was at PIR last week and this set up felt pretty good. I'm on the minimum setting for the rear sway bar. My tires are crap and new tires are for sure the next thing on the list. I feel like when I get better tires and some camber & an alignment I will be able to go up to the middle setting on the sway bar. My point is, I don't think I would recommend the 19mm sway bar.
I have a 19mm rear sway bar that was on the car for 1 track day. I was holding onto until I was sure about the 22mm. After 2 track days with the 22mm I'm sure I'm not going back so if you are interested let me know.
BUT
I have Koni FSDs, stock springs, stock front sway bar and 22mm rear sway bar. I was at PIR last week and this set up felt pretty good. I'm on the minimum setting for the rear sway bar. My tires are crap and new tires are for sure the next thing on the list. I feel like when I get better tires and some camber & an alignment I will be able to go up to the middle setting on the sway bar. My point is, I don't think I would recommend the 19mm sway bar.
Last edited by HaltCatchFire; 09-13-2018 at 08:49 AM.
#46
I would concur with everything here and the consensus from nearly everybody is that 22mm (or equivalently 25.5mm hollow) is the way to go if that's all you're doing. I would say the opposite, though, about more camber allowing you to increase the bar stiffness. More negative camber will reduce understeer by squaring up the contact patches at the front, which means you need less sway bar stiffness (which also decreases understeer by shifting weight to the inside front wheel) to maintain the same oversteer/understeer tendencies. I've heard of a few folks having to dial down the sway bar after they added camber because the car starts to oversteer. Discussion here and here. I figured I'd start safe, since the 19mm on full stiff is about the same as 22mm on soft
Last edited by bump32; 09-13-2018 at 10:15 PM. Reason: More reading
#48
Wow, that is aggressive! I'll have to see how my setup responds - there's no shortage of varying setups people prefer .
#50
Well that was quite an interesting few days of wrenching. Got a bunch of goodies put on and learned a lot about how the engine mounts and suspension work. By far the most important thing on this bench would be the baby wipes - best degreaser ever.
- IE fixed plates
- HSport 19mm bar
- FSDs all around
- Vibra-technics mount
- PF trans bushings
- Regreasing LCAs with Aqua Shield since the PF grease dried up completely.
Last edited by HaltCatchFire; 09-30-2018 at 09:50 PM.
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ECSTuning (08-09-2019)