[1320autos]

Here at 1320autos one of our many mottos is:

‘It’s not how much you spend - but how well you spend it!’

The reasoning behind this is that we believe in using as many stock components as we can so that when spending your hard earned money it’s on the right parts that are actually going to transform the engine to the power level you require.

Primarily, we understand that each customer is different, requiring different things from their pride and joy, which is why we don’t offer blanket, catch-all packages. For example, some customers want a Cold Air Intake (CAI) and cat back exhaust system to enhance the acoustics of their Mini. However, a lot of the standard cat backs are now getting to the stage of falling apart due to corrosion, so replacing them makes sense, even though they do little to increase horsepower. This is why we’d rather meet you in person as well as your car, so as to talk through thoroughly the options you have available to you. So, here’s a guide to what we’d initially advise.

The first thing we recommend is to dyno your Mini to see what power you have to start with as it’s really all about gains; at this point we’d also complete an engine health check which includes checking the compression and cylinder leak-down of each cylinder as this will give us an indication of the suitability of your car to any potential mods. This can also highlight power losses before the tuning starts thereby rectifying any potential problems which will be a nice bonus before you even start on your quest for new-found horsepower/torque.

From a horsepower point of view, what would be the first thing that we advise you to do? Changing the supercharger pulley is the obvious choice for most. We use, as many do, the Alta V2 pulley. These come in 15% or 17% and can be fitted with a new belt for only £283 (VAT inc). The advantage of using this particular brand is that you can swap them over fairly easily to see which bests suits your style of driving. A new set of NGK plugs, as used in our 356bhp Mini can be added for just £30 (VAT inc).

Next on the list is a GRS Intercooler. Due to the pulley now spinning the supercharger faster more heat is being created which means you are increasing the Intake Air Temperature (IAT). Once the ECU sees this rising above 50 degrees celcius, it retards the timing and throws more fuel in, unfortunately this means you will be losing horsepower so a new intercooler is very important and the GRS at £396 (VAT inc) or £431.20 (VAT inc) fitted is, in our opinion, the best on the market.

So now you’re cooling the IAT the best that you can and you’re producing more power from spinning the charger faster, which creates more boost, the next logical step is to help the gasses escape quicker. Our next obvious mod on the list is the Janspeed Manifold at £370 (VAT inc) and fitting at £94 (VAT inc).

So what’s next? Well, if you find that you need even more horsepower, as so many do, the next step after this would be the 1320 Camshaft which is £352.50 fitted (VAT Inc). However, at this stage we would recommend 380cc injectors because now we’re heading towards a massive 250 bhp!

Of course, along with the 1320 Camshaft you could purchase, as an increasing number of our customers are, a CNC head, bigger injectors at 440cc and ARP head studs from RMW in California. Fitting these at the same time as the camshaft makes sense - if funds allow – as that’s the way you seem to be heading.

One of the final steps on your tuning path is to tune the ECU, which is a must with the RMW head and injectors. This will enable you to get the most out of the modifications you have already purchased. Like everything else we provide, it’s bespoke for your car.

So it’s at this point that you’re probably asking why we don’t list our modifications as Stage 1 with X bhp and Stage 2 with X bhp and so forth.

Well, the answer to that is quite simple. We’ve seen Cooper S’s make anywhere between 140 bhp to 195 bhp in stock form, obviously the 140bhp had its fair share of problems and was restored to 185bhp before we started modifying it. These are obviously extreme cases but unless you dyno before and after we cannot guarantee that adding certain components will give you a certain amount of power.

So that’s the beginners’ guide to modifying according to 1320autos . We haven’t even touched on suspension, roll cages, gauges, turbos or the many other options that are open to you. Whatever you’ve got planned for your Mini you can be assured that we’ll be right alongside you on your tuning adventure for as long as you and your Mini are together.

Always remember though:

It’s not what you spend - but how well you spend it!

If you have any questions, you can call us on 01234 376089 or 077899 54347, paul@1320autos.com

_________________
Dont hate the player, hate the game

[sef]

Excellent write up... Very well put... I can certainly vouch for this...

[Loui]

Does the mani include cat @370?

[mikeythemini]

Very nice - may well be in touch after I have a chat with my insurance

[minicooperboyuk]

Great info there. Think I might be giving you a ring once I have finished uni in a couple of weeks.

[1320autos]

Sorry Guys but this was written while the Janspeed price was available from us through Janspeed.

Unfortunatley the price is now £540 incl vat, though probably still one of the best manifolds out there but at that price we would have to consider Rolands GTT / Janspeed manifold as this might be ( haven't seen one in the flesh ) the same product but better.

We're working on our own manifold which will bolt to the stock located cat backs,we'll have to test this against the competion and make sure its better than all the rest before we release it.

With the current dollar rate as it is Jans RMW header is well worth a look, espically if you plan to fit one of his heads in the future. We will have Janspeed v RMW back to back dyno reports availble in the month of May.

[wibbly]

Great info, what about the By Pass Valve chaps, does that make much difference and do you offer a service to look at that?

[Loui]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1320autos (original)

Sorry Guys but this was written while the Janspeed price was available from us through Janspeed.

Unfortunatley the price is now £540 incl vat, though probably still one of the best manifolds out there but at that price we would have to consider Rolands GTT / Janspeed manifold as this might be ( haven't seen one in the flesh ) the same product but better.

We're working on our own manifold which will bolt to the stock located cat backs,we'll have to test this against the competion and make sure its better than all the rest before we release it.

With the current dollar rate as it is Jans RMW header is well worth a look, espically if you plan to fit one of his heads in the future. We will have Janspeed v RMW back to back dyno reports availble in the month of May.

Few glad thats cleared up about the janspeed price

["Reedy"]

Great info....and write up.... just what this forum needs

and it gives me more reasons to start looking at some mods.

[Jaw_F430]

Paul


Do you have any sound clips under load of Jans header/exhaust system?


I want it but not sure about the noise, after all I have even gone back to stock exhaust after I fitted the Janspeed mani as the JCW was too loud and not been at WOT yet!!

[1320autos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jaw_F430 (original)

Paul


Do you have any sound clips under load of Jans header/exhaust system?


I want it but not sure about the noise, after all I have even gone back to stock exhaust after I fitted the Janspeed mani as the JCW was too loud and not been at WOT yet!!

The JCW was to loud I'm surprised at that one, I'll be doing a whisper quiet exhaust for mine as I prefer not to heard in the next county.

I do have the advanatge of having a One / Cooper boot floor plan so plenty of space to do what I want

[Jaw_F430]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1320autos (original)

The JCW was to loud I'm surprised at that one, I'll be doing a whisper quiet exhaust for mine as I prefer not to heard in the next county.

I do have the advanatge of having a One / Cooper boot floor plan so plenty of space to do what I want

I was to as people say it is one of the quietest on the market!! I go through the Mersey tunnel everyday to work and the JCW exhaust must of deafened a few people at 6.30am!!

I like my car to be silent as well, as don't want the boys in blue to hear me before they see me lol,

[R99]

I do not own a MCS (yet!!) but that kind of info is what this forum really needs. Thanks for the interesting write up.

James.

[Hyper Active]

A great write up Paul .

I think you should make this thread a Sticky , so it's always up at the top of your forum .