Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: GNAT - The Resurrection

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  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #357 Nathan, Apr 18, 2012
    A little light on the subject

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #380 ScottinBend, Apr 19, 2012
    Huh.....what......too loud.......sorry, couldn't hear ya!
     
  3. BlwnAway

    BlwnAway Well-Known Member

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    #399 BlwnAway, Apr 21, 2012
    Myne Too, I'm just so "over" it all, I've decided to take the *"High" road this time.

    * It's still 04/20 to me, I'm still working. :lol:
     
  4. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #420 Nathan, Apr 22, 2012
    Chad sent me more pictures...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  5. old81

    old81 Club Coordinator
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    #427 old81, Apr 22, 2012
    Very nice, break it in as you will. That is one raspy exhaust as I noted it was going to be. :biggrin5: :cornut:

    I will pack ear-plugs for MOTD. :)

    Don
     
  6. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #443 agranger, Apr 24, 2012
    After several rebuilds, perhaps Gnat should be renamed to Phoenix as he has come back from ashes a few times... :D
     
  7. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #447 Metalman, Apr 26, 2012
    Yeeeee Haaaaaa...... I'ma Sponsor......:D
    Vroooooom, Vroooooom, Vrooooooom

    [​IMG]
     
  8. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    #451 KittyMini, Apr 26, 2012
    Nathan, you need to rename this thread to "Gnat- the rebirth!" :cornut:
     
  9. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    #453 KittyMini, Apr 26, 2012
    OMG I just pee'd myself!!!!!

    :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
     
  10. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #460 Nathan, Apr 30, 2012
    Ran great on the way down, no issues at all in getting here.
     
  11. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    #463 DneprDave, May 1, 2012
    Eww, butt smile? :D

    Dave
     
  12. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #467 BlimeyCabrio, May 10, 2012
    I witnessed that it has power and is drivable. Which is better than before the rebuild.

    :lol:
     
  13. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #469 Nathan, May 10, 2012
    Before the rebuild the car was no slouch, even low on compression it was strong, just not reliable. Every time I drove it there was always the fear of being stranded in the back of my mind.

    There were a few teething pains after the rebuild. First the timing chain tensoner went at about 500 miles. It was brand new, just a faulty part. It was replaced and all was good. In fact I gave the "bad" one back to Chad so he could parts warranty it, turns out that someone needed one at MOTD and Chad was able to bring the "bad" one back to life and rescue the other person.

    Then there was a MAP sensor that went bad one day on the Cherahola Skyway. Who would have predicted that? It was 1000+ miles into the rebuild. Hendricks MINI saved the day and brought a new one up to Fontana from Charlotte.

    Since then all has been fine.

    The car is very strong now, pulls very hard and is really fast. In fact it's like learning to drive a new car all over again. Mash the gas in the 3rd or 4th and the car leaps forward. Rolling on at 70 in 6th to pass others on the highway and the next thing you know 100+ is staring you in the face.

    The exhaust is very Jeckel / Hyde like. Tooling around town it is louder than a stock MINI with a very different note. But it's not in your face loud like it was before. But hit the gas and oh my, small children cower, animals flee, and I cackle with glee... Overrun sounds like small arms fire, it sure does keep tailgaters at bay.

    The suspension is softer now too. It's no longer the track beast it once was, but then again, I live in Central Ohio where the road quality is not like that of Dallas. For this part of the country it is a heck of lot more comfortable to drive.

    I'm very happy with the results of the rebuild. Chad and his Detroit Tuned team are to be commended for building such a fun MINI and delivering it on time and within budget. And for putting up with me and my sometimes whiny self.
     
  14. yellowbritishrocket

    yellowbritishrocket Well-Known Member

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    #474 yellowbritishrocket, May 16, 2012
    lol i can attest to the loudness of this exhaust as i was behind him during the Midnight run, and after reviewing the video from my gopro you can hear his exhaust over my car...at speed...over the wind...and i was using the sealed back not the skeleton back
     
  15. FUEGO

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    #475 FUEGO, May 22, 2012
    Congrats Nate! I haven't spent much time here lately and just caught up on this entire thread. Glad to hear the Gnat is Back and better-n-ever thanks to Chad, Jan and local support.
     
  16. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #476 agranger, May 23, 2012
    Heh... if you trust Nate, you can use his downshifts as an aural indication of how hard the next bend is. :D

    I did a hard run down to Highlands when at MOTD a few years ago and a friend followed. When it got dark, I'd sometimes go into a turn too hot and get a bit squriley on the way out. He always seemed perfectly composed through the same turns. When I complimented his driving skill, he said that he was cheating a bit... when he heard me throttle-blip & downshift hard, he'd give the brakes a good squeeze to shed speed while in a straight line before the turn to go in slow and come out fast.
     
  17. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #485 Justa Jim, Jun 28, 2012
    Back when I had a Harley, motorcycles weren't cool, I couldn't afford leather and you always ripped the sleeves off your cut off. :lol:

    Jim


    [​IMG]
     
  18. Mr. Jim

    Mr. Jim Mudshark
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    #486 Mr. Jim, Jun 28, 2012
    Hey, it's Easy Rider!!! Nice picture Jim!
     
  19. DixonL2

    DixonL2 New Member

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    #488 DixonL2, Jun 29, 2012
    I think I'm in that now... with my loud pipes on the Mini!

    (I'd better keep my "go gnats" to myself from now on...)
     
  20. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

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    #496 k-huevo, Aug 6, 2012
    I suggest visiting a shop with GT1/BMW scan tool to see if the ECU/DMU is communicating properly with the DSC module.

    Keep this resource in mind RPM MOTORSPORT LTD. ONLINE STORE
     
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