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special k
Member
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Posted: Monday July 2nd, 2007 02:17 pm |
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Hi Guys
I have been looking through a couple of the mini periodicals, available from my friendly newsagent and have been thrown a bit!!
Some of the mini parts suppliers state parts list available for Mark I and Mark II and suchlike and you obviously have to state which.
Mine is a Rover Cooper, which as far as i am aware is a MK6 or is it? What should i tell the suppliers? I know i can just tell them its a Rover Cooper, but i was just curious.
The next puzzle i have is this.
When i picked the car up from having its new alternator fitted, my mechanic said that for the year of manufacture, my mini does not need a cat-converter fitted, which mine has!
He says it would be better to remove it as this age of car/engine is not subject to emmissions testing due to its age. But it had one fitted, so why is it there, if he is correct.
He says it would be good to put a straight through stainless steel exhaust unit on, with a single center outlet. I agree it would look nice, any advice guys?
Spesh
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hanlminiman
MCR Member
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Posted: Monday July 2nd, 2007 05:00 pm |
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| Have sent you private message
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special k
Member
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Posted: Monday July 2nd, 2007 09:17 pm |
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Thanks Cliff,
Anyone got any thoughts about the stainless straight through center exit exhaust?
Spesh
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Monday July 2nd, 2007 11:02 pm |
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I'm pretty sure that if you have a fuel injection Mini, then you must retain the cat for the MOT. But the good news is it doesn't really affect the performance, just robbing one or two BHP right at the top of the rev range I believe?
If you're Mini has a carburettor, then you can ditch the cat and you will see far more of a performance difference in that case.
Anyway I've heard that side exit exhausts provide better performance than centre exit versions? Don't know why, but I know I've read or heard it said somewhere.
And a single box is going to be very noisy and again probably not improve the performance either, much like having too large a system can affect the performance too.
Everyone seems to rave about the RC40 exhaust system, but I've always bought Maniflow exhaust products because their quality and service are simply superb.
Plus the chap who runs the business is an ex-Downton employee too.
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special k
Member
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Posted: Tuesday July 3rd, 2007 09:13 am |
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Thanks for that taffy,
I dont want it to come across that i am a performance junky...thats not the case and not where i am coming from.
My questions are based on the old chestnut of cost and repair-ability.
If its true that only cars registered after 1st August 1992 need a cat then mine shouldn't need it.
The next obvious question is, if i have the cat removed when i next have to replace the exhaust (with whatever, Maniflow or RC 40) can i run the an injection system with no cat?
Hope that makes sense.
As you say taffy, the process of swapping from injection to carb is going to be costly, so that is not an option at the mo.
Steve
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DaveShreeve
Administrator
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Posted: Tuesday July 3rd, 2007 10:10 am |
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| Running without the cat shouldn't be a problem if you're only altering exhaust. If you change manifold you'll still need a cat manifold to retain the lambda sensor. Trying to run the ECU without this will cause great problems, it also keeps emmisions as low as possible without the cat.
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special k
Member
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Posted: Tuesday July 3rd, 2007 12:05 pm |
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So if i leave the manifold as is and replace everything from there with a new exhaust (of whatever make) would that still be enough to pass an mot test on the ommissions?
Been having a talk about in the office and the opinion is that if the car came fitted with a cat, (even prior to Aug 1st '92)then it will fail an mot if not fitted on the test.
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DaveShreeve
Administrator
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Posted: Tuesday July 3rd, 2007 12:36 pm |
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| Wouldn't like to say. I know owners of optional cat minis and carb'd RSP/Mainstreams have deleted them without problems but Spi is a closed loop system which obviously had a cat as original. I know I must run the open loop cat on my '93 carb'ed Open Classic. Best bet is probably to talk with your MOT man, if he's happy with it you shouldn't have a problem but I'm not sure what info the new MOT computer may give him to check.
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Tuesday July 3rd, 2007 01:17 pm |
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I've heard that Minis have their own little addendum at the back of the MOT testers handbook.
And a carburettor equipped Mini of any age doesn't require a cat for the MOT. There used to be a date in force of around 1992, but that changed and they made special provision for Minis.
But if it's an SPi or MPi Mini then it will probably fail the MOT without a cat. I'm sure I've heard some owners have claimed that they got theirs through without one fitted, but it will affect the emissions and chances are most MOT testers will notice it's not there and issue a fail.
Either way keep away from places like Kwik Fit, because their only out for money as I've heard many tell and discovered myself.
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shaddy
MCR Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 02:34 pm |
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i've also heard you don't need a cat upto 1992 on a k reg car of any make or model. so not just mini's.
As i have a 92 cooper and was planning on getting rid of the cat at some point but i've just ordered a lcb for the time being.
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special k
Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 03:03 pm |
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Shaddy, whats an LCB?
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special k
Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 04:14 pm |
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| LCB...Long Center Branch?
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shaddy
MCR Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 04:41 pm |
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| its a two branch type that has the y piece ton connect to the system look at jonspeed racing website but there cheaper on ebay.
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 07:59 pm |
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The Rover Cooper got a cast iron manifold that is very close to LCB spec, but it still has the annoying manifold/downpipe link/flange that can leak and sound awful when it's blowing.
A good LCB like the one I got from Maniflow a decade ago, won't have that flange and so is very gas tight and sounds great too.
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 08:02 pm |
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I dont want it to come across that i am a performance junky...thats not the case and not where i am coming from.
You don't mate, you're just asking the same type of questions that most enthusiasts ask and why not slightly modify you're Mini, because in most cases it will improve it considerably and make it a far more desirable car too.
 Last edited on Wednesday July 4th, 2007 08:03 pm by taffy1967 |
taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 08:06 pm |
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shaddy wrote:
i've also heard you don't need a cat upto 1992 on a k reg car of any make or model. so not just mini's.
As i have a 92 cooper and was planning on getting rid of the cat at some point but i've just ordered a lcb for the time being.
But if it's a fuel injection car then the owner may have emission problems come MOT time.
Unless the emissions test isn't so strict for pre 1993 cars regardless of what's fuelling them?
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special k
Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 10:03 pm |
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taffy1967 wrote:
shaddy wrote:
i've also heard you don't need a cat upto 1992 on a k reg car of any make or model. so not just mini's.
As i have a 92 cooper and was planning on getting rid of the cat at some point but i've just ordered a lcb for the time being.
But if it's a fuel injection car then the owner may have emission problems come MOT time.
Unless the emissions test isn't so strict for pre 1993 cars regardless of what's fuelling them?
And i guess that is pretty close to the truth taffy and probably the best answer we can come up with...
Its all down to the MOT testing station and how they interpret the regs
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special k
Member
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Posted: Wednesday July 4th, 2007 10:08 pm |
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I am due back at the workshop with the Mini on Friday morning, so i will have a chat to them then.
I expect, to be legal, i will have to go for something with a cat installed in the line somewhere, but i would still like something to "tweak" it.
Can i still use a maniflow with a cat taffy
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DaveShreeve
Administrator
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Posted: Thursday July 5th, 2007 09:47 am |
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If you're speaking to Maniflow the rule is 'it's up to you'! They'll provide exactly what you want, in whatever material you want. So, manifold to cat on its own, cat back on its own, full system less cat, or full system with cat replacement pipe if you want to run without but need the option to refit.
I'd keep clear of LCBs on Ebay unless new old stock. You don't know what your getting and cheaper versions have a tendancy to 'relax' once fitted so that refitting and sealing becomes very difficult.
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special k
Member
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Posted: Thursday July 5th, 2007 10:11 am |
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Thanks for that Dave, that is very helpful info.
I know this seems very ignorant of me, but i did'nt realise that all this was going to possibly alter the "tone" of the exhaust.
I have to say i have always wondered why some mini's sound how shall i put it "meatier" than others, now i understand why.
Can you tell i'm a complete novice at this sort of thing?..lol
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