[CooperSAZ]

hi guys,

anyone tried the dinan larger throttle body? any good? is there any downside to installing a larger throttle body?

also do i need to reprogram the ECU for the throttle body? will the larger throttle damage the engine in anyway?

No idea if it is any good! I do not believe you need the SW upgrade, the stock should be fine! It will not damage the engine in anyway! Besides, Dinan's warranty will be in place!

If you get it, let us know!

 

[CooperSAZ]

Maybe I am going above and beyond but follow me on this one...

When installing a larger TB onto the intake manifold, wouldn't one want to also increase the size of the intake manifold to match the TB? Do we know if the MINI IM is sized to the stock TB or is it larger? And, when the TB is installed, will the IM be bored out a little.

I only ask, we used to do this with our Civics. It just seemed like one went with the other. Maybe a bit overkill, but if/when I get mine, I will probably do the same. Doesn't pay to increase the TB without increase/matching the size of the intake manifold. I wonder if this is why people only say there is an increase in throttle response as opposed to an actual power increase??? Without making the IM bigger, there is still a "bottleneck" present!

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

 

[CooperSAZ]

An increase in runner cross section will slow intake charge velocity. Also roots blower are dependent on resistance to generate boost. A larger volume will take longer to develop boost.
BUt honestly I don't know how much of a volume change it would take to make a difference. It would almost certainly move your power increase farther up the rev band.

Randy Webb is offfering Extrude Honed intake and IC runner pieces.
Link

I'll be doing that before I get a TB, if I even get a TB.
This very much depends on if the polished parts give anything below 3K rpm.
High rpm driving is not something I do.

I completely agree about the peak power! But don't you feel that the MINI could use a little more power on the high end? Meaning, after installing my CAI, I find that the car runs even better in the mid range, but the power climbing really seems to level off once you start to enter the higher rpm range! So I was wondering, since the midrange is so good, does it pay to work on the high end a little?

 

[CooperSAZ]

Time for a high flow header/cat combo for you

Good point! Perhaps this is what I need! I am 'patiently' waiting for Milltek on this! I am waiting to hear back when their exhaust system for the '05 MY is ready. Perhaps this is it, I am sucking in a lot more now with no additional ability to get "it" out.

Then again, this may be 'my' problem! I come from DOHC VTEC motors where you build and build and build! Just need to get use to a new way of achieving the same speed!

 

[CooperSAZ]

What cat comes with that and what's the cell density?
From what eveyone has posted the headers are a high rpm improvement and that's about it.

Those are great questions! I have written Milltek twice, both of which have fallen on deaf ears!

I will be curious though to see how much/if anything they change in their design for the '05 MY. With MINI "altering" the '05 exhaust a tad, how much will Milltek alter their exhaust to get the same results as the '02-'04 MY.

This is just my impression, but the pull that the MINI has from 3000 rpms to 5000-6000 rpms is greater that the pull the MINI has from 5000-6000 rpms and up! Just wondering if I'm nuts or if there is a way to 'continue' that pulling power up to redline to get the most from each gear.

 

[CooperSAZ]

You MCS looks beautiful CooperSAZ! With speed on your mind, you might want to consider a lighter wheel, and tire combo (if still the stock runflats). Don't get me wrong, I think the 17 OEM wheels are simply gorgeous, but they are quite heavy, and with the ideal selection, you should be able to save about 50 pounds! I lost a little over 40 lbs from my stock 16 set-up, the feeling was VERY noticeable But, I feel it most from the get-go, where like obe, I want the most improvement. Up top, i have zero complaints. If you were a VTEC guy before, that might explain the need you have...

Thank you for the kind words! In the 3.5 months I was waiting for my MINI to arrive, I was able to wear my wife (the finance committee) down! To date, I have the green light for the following: CAI (already have), the Milltek exhaust and the Dinan pulley (if/when it arrives). I attempted to throw in the wheels but was promptly told to go and jump in a lake! In the summer of '05, I plan to renew my campaign to get wheels for the MINI! Too nervous about dropping the runflats tho as I have to lug my 1.5 yr old around! So you say that you can notice a difference with losing the R85s (or stock wheels)? I thought I remembered that someone wrote (within the forums) that you could notice a difference, but that it was not significant! Sounds like hogwash then....

Yeah, unfortunately, I think that is my problem! With the VTEC as a foundation, I have to be open minded in realizing that there are many different ways to get from Pt A to Pt B and in the same amount of time!