Hi all,

I am reading all turbo threads with interest. Glad to see some people trying to go for a bigger/more efficient turbo. I am about to do the same here in the UK and thought I would share my plans and seek your views ☺ (this was a reply to another thread but I thought I would start my own)

My car is a 2007 Mini Cooper s, n14, UK car.

Modifications:
Large and efficient intercooler (RS500 sierra cosworth intercooler.. which took a fair bit of fitting!)
Catless downpipe from Miltek
Remap that runs standard timing (based on what the OBD ecu reader is seeing when on full power) and runs 1 bar boost up to 6000 rpm and .9 bar of boost at 6500 rpm.
Chasis mods are ATB diff, Eibach sway/antiroll bars, bushes, coilovers on the way etc.

Power so far(All reading devices will vary, however, the conclusion is it is making good bhp and running well):
205bhp @ wheels in 3rd gear at 6,000 rpm (which is around 220 flywheel bhp (low loss due to large roller size, thus low roller RPM)
237lbs ft at 3500rpm @ the wheels

Next Steps:
We are looking at upgrading the turbo to get more bhp, with the aim to eventually get to around 300bhp at the engine. (around 280 @ wheels on the rollers we use). Torque will be what the torque will be, it is not the aim I am setting as long as it isn’t horribly peaky and no midrange. I set this limit as I felt that was probably about the right limit for the chasis and Nurburgring fun.

The limitation we have set ourselves is a turbo that fits in the standard install (Ie, downpipe, manifold (aka header) etc.), we don’t want to have to build a manifold and new downpipe etc. As this is supposed to be a cheap toy in comparison to previous projects.

Our current findings:
No one we know is aware of a roller bearing core for this turbo (can anyone confirm one exists, I’d be very happy if it did!). The turbo we have found which is specced to cover 300bhp at it’s upper limit involves a machined inlet housing and a machined exhaust housing allowing fitment of a bigger inlet wheel (billet? Though I can’t see why that is better..)and a bigger exhaust wheel. A 360 thrust bearing will be fitted also.

Questions:
I don’t want to fit a replacement ECU and start from scratch with the mapping, so I’d like to know is it possible for “someone” with the right equipment to make changes to the map I have, so that it runs more boost and more fuelling? We will be changing the efficiency of the turbo, so 1 bar will actually be a higher airflow so I believe we will need setup the ecu to put in more fuel for each level of boost. Plus, I’d like to change the boost curve (clearly the point in running the bigger turbo) and it would seem that the ecu controls this curve, so I assume whoever set up my remap initially changed these settings to up from .8bar (standard peak falling to .7) to 1 bar. I haven’t decided what boost I will want to run, as that will be a product of testing the increased output and also where the detonation limit of the engine is.

My most preferred outcome would be that my current engine tuner that I trust, was able to request changes to the map and ‘someone’ was able to apply these for us. Happy for that to be someone from the states or Timbuktu (though the UK would be preferable ;-) ).

Thanks for reading the large post and best of luck with all your mini tuning projects, this is a great fun little car. Any opinions and views welcome!

Regards,
Steven_RW

 

I found some other threads here already so I'm clear now that some mapping work can be done to the std ecu thx.

I'll keep people up to date with my progress.

I'll try and upload pics of my intercooler as I think you will all like it.

Regards,
Steven_RW

 

Pic of my intercooler when we were facing it up (clearly its pointing wrong direction but shows size).

Pic of standard intercooler, escort cosworth intercooler with integrated water based chargecooler and then the Sierra Rs500 Cosworth intercooler above for size comparison.

If someone knows how to link the pics properly, feel free to help as I work my way through understanding how :-)

Hope you all like it.

Rgds,
Steven_RW





http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/st...rjfui.jpg.html
http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/st...e3bvi.jpg.html

 

My hybrid turbo came from http://www.jmturbocoopers.com here in the US. Arric's turbos use N14/N18 housings so they bolt right up.

As for tuning check out DNA and Evolve both in the UK. It will be interesting to see the final numbers for these larger turbos. As several of us have already learned, it's not as simple as just installing the turbo and suddenly having huge power. It will take some tuning magic to make the most of it and that will take time to sort out.

Even before this hybrid turbo, I was seeing 235hp/235tq to the wheels with a JCW turbo and water/meth injection. I'm hoping for another 30+ with the bigger turbo setup. I don't think you can break the 300 barrier without head/cam work and a built motor.

 

Hi Taz,

Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate the car will need a map that actually suits the car and it's state of tune. I have now found someone to do the mods to the map. I already have a tuner who understands what we want to do but just didnt have access to the ECU to make the adjustments that we want to timing, fueling etc.

It should be interesting to see what happens as we know the turbo will flow circa 300bhp, so the rest will be a matter of finding the restrictions in breathing elsewhere in the car or the restrictions in strength of head gasket, rods, pistons etc.

We now have the cooling device to handle that level of BHP, so wont be needing Meth injection (did the links above work?) but I will keep everyone up to date with how our little journey goes.

My tuner called my 300bhp plans "stage 1" and came up with ideas that he called up to "stage 4" but they were vastly beyond my expectations or desired usage for the car.

What is the next step with yours?

Regards,
Steven_RW

 

Still trying to sort out tuning. It's 80% there, just waiting on suspension and wheels. Working out reliability issues to as the complexity of the system has gone up tremendously.

Here's what I have going on for my 2014 build:

Factory 2012 JCW N14 Coupe running 93 oct

Engine Mods:
-JMTC e45hp hybrid turbo - billeted and ported
-Gen 3 ported header
-NM Engineering CAI
-Helix FMIC
-Cold and hot boost tubes with plastic pipe delete
-Alta diverter upgrade
-AR Designs 3”->2.5” catless downpipe
-VIP Custom 2.5” straight through exhaust
-HFS-4 water/meth system 80 meth / 20 water
-Forge coolent hose kit with Evans waterless coolant
-Forge overflow tank
-Sneed Speed oil cooler
-Saikou Michi dual OCC
-Ignition Projects Plasma Coils
-OS Giken STR Clutch
-OS Giken 1way LSD

Suspension
-BSH engine mount
-Alta PSRS inserts
-Powerflex black series bushings all around
-Vorslag camber plates
-M7 strut brace
-3-way adjustable HVT coilovers with ACE system
-NM Engineering adjustable end links
-Helix upper and lower rear control arms
-Tarrett Sports rear sway bar with end links
-TCE Performance front and rear custom brakes with Wilwood/Brembo setup

Other:
-Cobra Imola Profit seats on VAC brakets
-Scroth harnesses
-Craven Speed short throw kit
-PLX Kiwi with AFR,Boost,EGT,
-Innovate MTS Oil Temp/Oil Pressure gauge
-iPhone 4 with DashCommand, Harry’s Laptimer Pro, and fixed GoPro setup
-GP belly pan and
-GP rear diffuser
-JCW fixed rear spoiler
-LithiumIon light weight battery
-all exhaust and intake components have been wrapped and/or ceramic coated

Wheels and tires:
-235/40/17 Starspec ZIIs
-F:275/35/15 R:225/45/15 Hoosier A6s

Goals:
-300hp/300tq
-2350lbs race trimmed