15% Pulley, Rear Sway Bar, and Short Shifter Install 6/12/2004

[LordOfTheFlies]

Today I headed down to visit Eric at Helix MiniSports in north Philly.

The plan was to install a 15% pulley, an RDR rear sway bar, and a short shifter kit (specifically made for an '04).

First the pulley:

Eric had done some 200 or so pulleys and I really didn't feel like spending 7+ hours trying to do it myself (That's how long it took Mike Chin over at UUC to do it the first time!).

The engine mounts in the '04's were changed....didn't take any pics of that though (sorry).

Here are a couple of pics of the pulley. As you can see the new pulley is visibly smaller....It's also a taper bore design (as opposed to a press fit).

I also had the great pleasure of meeting John Milich, the designer and fabricator of the pulley. He's a metal machinist one of whose hobbies just happens to be making a pulley for the Mini! He brought his son Zeff along and there will be a pic of the two of them washing his DS/W MCS.

More info and pics in the next post.

[LordOfTheFlies]

Next he did the short shifter. I'm going to attach a pic from Helix13.com that shows the difference in size of the stock end piece compared to the altered one....What he did was get someone to manufacture a piece that would fit over the stock piece (sorry, don't know what it's called), whereby it would extend the ball at the end of the piece! Increasing this length would result in shorter throws.

Up next.......Rear Sway bar.......

[LordOfTheFlies]

The rear sway bar installation required the removal of quite a number of bolts.....Didn't take him longer than 10 minutes to get the old one out (removed wheels, bolts, etc.).

Here are some comparison pics of the RDR sway bar compared to stock, all the spare sway bars he has, the mounting brackets and finalized view looking in from the wheel......

[LordOfTheFlies]

Here's John and Zeff washing the car, my new stickers, and the best part - me smiling in my new Helix Minisports soccer jersey!

[LordOfTheFlies]

One just underneath the registration, got two yellow ones on both rear windows, full shot showing all stickers.......and a nicely washed MCS!

Up next my conclusions............

[LordOfTheFlies]

Pulley:

What a kick! (that's about all I have to say about that....)

It definitely makes a lot more noise now when revving up past 4500rpms - I can *really* hear the supercharger whine and I love it!

Oh and the stock belt didn't have to be changed - Eric says I should check for glistening on the surface and probably change it at 30K........

Short Shfiter:

Very noticeable difference in shifting. I found that it was definitely very stiff as well and asked him if it would loosen up with time. He said it will still be stiffer than stock. I can only imagine how much stiffer it would be if I didn't have the Whalen shift knob.....

Very effective, very tight shifting, though I haven't had a chance to test it out on the twisties yet (i.e. when I need to shift super fast!)

Rear Sway Bar:

Definitely can tell a difference whilst turning in that I had felt the stock setup felt loose....especially when taking a curve hard....Almost as if the outside suspension dipped a little too much thereby throwing off the feeling a nice tight turn. It doesn't seem any stiffer on the straightways or over bumps....but it will get the ultimate test on the twisties, hopefully sometime soon.

All in all I was very happy with today. The total cost came out to about $850, parts and installation, and on top of that I got some really cool stickers, got to wash my car in his garage, and then got to eat a real-deal Philly Cheese Steak...and let it be known that I ordered it the following way:

"Provalone WIT"

(Can't say with, can't say "Philly cheese steak with onions and provalone please")

Heh heh.

Comments, questions anyone?

Thanks again Eric - had a great time and some great gear!

[obehave]

Very nice,
You should be happy for about 1-2 months until you get used to it. Then you'll want more

Exhaust next??

Yea John and Chris have almost iconic status, to me at least. They pretty much drove development of the underdrive pulley.
Glad to see you went with the 15% and that the dust cover was fine.

And then lighter wheels and tires

[LordOfTheFlies]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

Very nice,
You should be happy for about 1-2 months until you get used to it. Then you'll want more

Exhaust next??

Yea John and Chris have almost iconic status, to me at least. They pretty much drove development of the underdrive pulley.
Glad to see you went with the 15% and that the dust cover was fine.

And then lighter wheels and tires

Eh?

Check out my signature! I've already done the exhaust!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-mini-tuning/59500-uuc-exhaust.html

And I've already done the lighter wheels and tires!

13lbs for the 17" SSR Competitions!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-tyres-brakes/60508-ssr-competition-anthracite-17x7-5-wheels-pirelli-p-zero-nero-m-s-tires.html

I'd be surprised if it lasted me 2 months!

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by LordOfTheFlies

Eh?

Check out my signature! I've already done the exhaust!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-generation-mini-tuning/59500-uuc-exhaust.html

And I've already done the lighter wheels and tires!

13lbs for the 17" SSR Competitions!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-tyres-brakes/60508-ssr-competition-anthracite-17x7-5-wheels-pirelli-p-zero-nero-m-s-tires.html

I'd be surprised if it lasted me 2 months!

My goof. I don't do sigs. I did know about the rims though
It's just sad getting old

[gazah]

never thought you'd get ALL those mods you mentioned during previous installs... but WOW!

[LordOfTheFlies]

Quote: Originally Posted by gazah

never thought you'd get ALL those mods you mentioned during previous installs... but WOW!

When I want it I get it! It's been an absolute thrill so far. Haven't even hit 2 months of ownership and now I've got as much if not more HP than the JCW! Eric at Helix said that at the wheels the JCW's that he has tested only get about between 163-168 (I think).

With the lighter wheels, pulley, and intake I should actually get right around 165. Too bad Eric's dyno was in pieces at the moment or else I would have really enjoyed looking at the before and after dyno!

Next time (hint, hint) I go there, should that hypothetically happen, I'll be sure to make sure that the dyno is ready to rock!

I'm thinking the next step (hopefully much further down the road) is to get new rotors and a big brake kit...But that's a lot of dough to shell out for brakes. Maybe I'll just get better pads for now......

[DarkMiniCooperS]

Very nice MCS!!!

And great story too!

Next part to install would be lowering springs to take off that huge gap...

Keep up the good work!

[LordOfTheFlies]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

My goof. I don't do sigs. I did know about the rims though
It's just sad getting old

And I believe it's John and Eric, no? Who is Chris??

[LordOfTheFlies]

Quote: Originally Posted by DarkMiniCooperS

Very nice MCS!!!

And great story too!

Next part to install would be lowering springs to take off that huge gap...

Keep up the good work!

Thanks......

I've got a little bit of wheel rubbing so I'm going to hold off on the springs until it goes away.

It's not THAT huge of a gap, is it?? Heh heh.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by LordOfTheFlies

And I believe it's John and Eric, no? Who is Chris??

That would be Eric's name in Bizzarro World where I seem to forget everything.
Kinda like sunroof vs sunvisor eh?