BMW K series bike cylinder head conversion kit

[sowden]

Hello all,

blimey - just found the above on ebay for £240 Buy-it-now. For someone looking to upgrade, it sure attracts the attention. Does anyone have any experience of the kit? (Does it even fit on a Mog?)

Cheers Russ

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... =p3907.m29

The Company is called Motorworks, ebay shop is Motorworks LLP. It looks like they might be in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. If the link fails, for posterity here's the write up and below, the picture:


Mini cylinder head kit (K100 8 valve)

The picture shows a Mini engine with a kit installed.

<br><br>

This kit contains all of the used BMW motorcycle parts usually required when converting your A series engine to the BMW K series DOHC cylinder head and fuel injection, eg: head, cams, valves, rocker cover, injectors, throttle bodies, throttle position switch, fuel rail etc. Kits can be tailored to your requirements eg. with different cams, or without injectors if you are using carbs. Please call to discuss your requirements. Parts are supplied in unmodified, used condition with a limited 6 month warranty. We can also supply any additional new BMW motorcycle parts you require for the job e.g. valve stem seals, shims, studs etc. A 10% discount will apply to any new parts bought at the same time as the kit. We offer full after sales advice and support in regard to the BMW side of the project. Companies such as Specialist Components can supply the special (non BMW) parts and Mini expertise required to complete the project e.g. cam pulleys, seals, belts and head gaskets of varying thickness to alter compression. All of the combustion chambers were designed to work with flat top pistons. All heads have valve seats suitable for use with unleaded fuel. This is the two valve per cylinder head. It was designed for a 67mm bore. Advantages over the 16 valve kits include low cost, simplicity and ready availability. Valve clearances can be adjusted without removing camshafts (shims on top of buckets) using valve shimming tool our part no. TOA14020. This head may be better suited to road cars and turbo or supercharged applications. The bike engine it comes from is rated at approx. 90bhp.


Our part number ENK00001. Please ring us on 0845 458 0077 (+44 1484 353600) for further information if required, and then order via Ebay. This is the only way to find out more information about the product. Due to workload it is not possible to respond to e-mail enquiries. Will post overseas (not USA/Canada), please contact us for cost


Motorworks BMW specialists. Mail Order BMW parts. New and used motorcycle spares.

Ride Magazine Mail Order Company of the Year 2005

[sowden]

PS - this guy is an expert fitter (albeit to Minis) - in Wymondham, Norfolk.

http://www.specialist-components.co.uk/ ... lcome-null

Apparently theres quite a bit of work involved in a fit but still...I have sent away for an FAQ sheet, which I will post.

Any copyright breaches will, I am sure, be moderated!

Cheers,

Russ

[paulhumphries]

Auction is a little missleading in that it's just the BMW parts parts used - not a conversion kit.
Complete engine are FROM £4695 so reckon it's going to be a very expensive conversion even if you have a good A Serries to adapt and the bike parts.
I can easilly see a couple of thousand needed to get one running.

Paul Humphries

[sowden]

Here's the text of the FAQ that Specialist Components sent (very quickly!):




Specialists Components Twin Cam Conversion-BL ‘A’ Series Engine

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is it?
By changing the cylinder head and retaining the ‘A’ series block, a reliable and tractable ‘fast road’ engine can be
achieved for a relatively low outlay.


2. Tell me about the cylinder head that is used.
The head is that used on the BMW ‘K’series (K100 onwards) motorcycles that were introduced in 1982 and produced until around early
2000. It is an all alloy twin cam construction and both 8v and 16v versions are useable – the conversion being the same whichever option is
taken.

3. What sort of power increase can be expected from the conversion?
This depends on a number of factors but based on a standard 1275cc block expect at least 105+bhp from an 8v conversion (as shown in the
pictures) and 120+ from the 16v. A good guide being that a 1000cc ‘K’ BMW engine in a bike produces approx 100bhp – hence a 1275cc ‘A’ series built “correctly” could be expected to produce:
100/1000 = 0.1(bhp/cc) x 1.275(A series engine cc in litres) = 127.5bhp – this is just a basic estimate. If ported cylinder heads and custom cams are used these figures will increase dramatically.


4.What do you mean by a ‘relatively low outlay’?

This again depends on what level of power you want to ultimately achieve! Our basic conversion kit has been used on the 8v ‘fast road demo’ Clubman with no serious upgrades to the block or
basic BMW head – all standard parts reconditioned. However our 16v 1380 ‘drag racer’ has required some quite costly additional strengthening and development in many aspects to produce
163bhp and run to nearly 9000rpm!!

5.Where can I get the ‘K’ heads from?

Many thousands of these ’bikes where produced by BMW and searches around motorcycle breakers and the internet should produce more information. Look for the K100, K1100, K1200. Expect
to pay between £250-£400 (head & cams only) depending on age and condition. High mileages are not usually a problem, they are, after all, BMW ‘quality’. You will need the complete head to
include the camshafts, throttle bodies (including position sensor & mounting rubbers), fuel injectors (and supply rail) and the water outlet from the head. There are numerous specialists who can


supply all consumables and spares for these heads via mail order.

6.How much work is needed to the block?

This is covered in our ‘build guide’ but it is mainly basic machining work.

7. Does the head require any modification work?
Similar answer to number ‘6’. This work is mainly to accommodate our conversion kit to change it to a ‘dry’ toothed belt
drive.

8.Will the head fit my ‘bored block’?

Yes, but you will still need to undertake the machining work described in the ‘build guide’.

9. Are any subframe modifications needed?
No. but removal of the engine from the car is needed to undertake the work.

10.Are any bodywork modifications needed?

Not on a ‘Clubman’. A small part of the bracing on the ‘round nose’ model bonnets needs modifying to avoid fouling the
head on one corner only but fibreglass/composite bonnets will clear it ok. The ‘A’ series head is approx. 185mm high from
the block face and 100mm wide (rocker box width) compared with the ‘K’ series head approx. 195mm high and 200mm


wide at its widest point.
FAQv5-21/05/07


11. What exhaust will I need?
Our manifold has been designed so that any performance exhaust designed to fit onto a conventional LCB will fit ours also.

12.What other parts are required?

We suggest that you now consider purchasing our ‘build guide’ as you are now very keen to take matters further!

13.Will this conversion work in other cars?

Whilst we have not undertaken conversions in other types of vehicle too date, we can see no reason why it would not work in say an MG Midget, AH Sprite, Austin A35/A40, Austin Allegro,
Austin 1300, Marina, Minor, Metro in fact anything with an ‘A’ series engine! We would be pleased to discuss this with you.

We believe the above covers
most of the questions that you
will want covered but
inevitably there are some
people wanting greater
technical information. Our
build guide should answer
such questions but after
studying this please contact us
if you are still not sure of
anything.

Thank you for your interest,
from all at Specialist
Components.


A copy of our 8v
Clubman Dyno
Chart 18/05/07

FAQv5-21/05/07

[plastic_orange]

I really can't see the point of this conversion as there are better and cheaper ways to make your minor go faster. In fact why not spend £3k for a twin turbo rover V8 engined minor - ready to use currently on NSRA site, or £4.5k on a big block chevy engined one on the same site.

Pete

[bmcecosse]

The advert is indeed mis-leading - there is a LOT more to it than just bolting on the Beemer head. It's really only useful for racing - where the engine block must be original to the car - and capacity limited by class. This one was done by Morspeed on a 970 engine I sold to him.
<br><br>

[minor_hickup]

I'm sure there's something to be had from BMWs though for performance minors. The gearboxes tend to fairly slim (steering rack clearance) and some of the engines are a reasonable size. I've been eyeing up the engine in my 318iS and having these thoughts. 140+bhp minor with a cone filter and decent exhaust! I've yet to find out how much they weigh though, but my 1,000kg+ beemer certainly shifts ok with one.

[JB]

you need plenty cash and time..but it does look good.


http://www.efiminis.olicentral.com/inde ... topic=31.0

http://www.miniman.com.au/bmw.htm

http://www.lojomo.com/

hope the links work, and they help anyone interested.

Ta
Jon

[youngun]

I like the idea of "working with what you've got". I assume that certain other mods will need to be done to a minor if you wanted to run a K series headed A series in it considering the power increase! Would be a nice project though. Plus with the V8's and chevvy stuff you need to start looking at building a chassis etc, which is not an option for many, plus at the end arent you just left with a Minor body and not a minor?

YG

[linearaudio]

I like the idea of "working with what you've got". I assume that certain other mods will need to be done to a minor if you wanted to run a K series headed A series in it considering the power increase! Would be a nice project though. Plus with the V8's and chevvy stuff you need to start looking at building a chassis etc, which is not an option for many, plus at the end arent you just left with a Minor body and not a minor?YG

I think you have hit the nail on the head with the "working with what you have got" comment. After all, by the time you modify an "A"series to get 100+bhp you could end up spending more than dumping a (Leyland) K series, or Fordy thing in and having reliability factored in for free!
Just like the old Beetle engine, there is a certain kick to be got from getting silly power from a basic cooking engine, which can transcend the cost matters! I did a trick 110bhp 1600 beetle engine years back, and felt much better for it than if I had just dumped a 2litre transporter lump on the end. Humans don't work by logic (except for my wife ), thank God!

[youngun]

Great comment there linearaudio!

If we all worked on logic everything would work and never break etc and there would be no fun in life!

YG

[jonathon]

So..... you prefer fixing to using then ehh!!!!

[superchargedfool]

I personally think that a fast minor with an a series under the bonnet is haed and shoulders above other minors without an a series.

I know zetec, duratec, k series, v8 minors are cool but they are not a true minor.

I think to be 100% cool in a fast minor it needs to drip a bit of oil and rattle a little.

As for the bmw bike haed its a lovely option if you want to spend a lot of money that is spare and not needed.

Just put a supercharger on and make the same sort of figures, with more torque probably.

[jonathon]

I personally think that a fast minor with an a series under the bonnet is haed and shoulders above other minors without an a series.

I know zetec, duratec, k series, v8 minors are cool but they are not a true minor.

I think to be 100% cool in a fast minor it needs to drip a bit of oil and rattle a little.

As for the bmw bike haed its a lovely option if you want to spend a lot of money that is spare and not needed.

Just put a supercharger on and make the same sort of figures, with more torque probably.

So an A series with a BMW supercharger, or 16V head ,Ford gearbox,axle and brakes plus uprated suspension is 'a true minor ?' I think not. But I know what you mean.
I'd rather go for large reliable amounts of power from a more modern engine designed to do exactly that, and return excellent mpg and be friendly to our planet in terms of emmisions.

[youngun]

So..... you prefer fixing to using then ehh!!!!

Ayye, the odds are once my Mog is finished ill get bored and sell it and move onto the next thing!

[wanderinstar]

There is a thread I started a while back all about this. It may be of use to someone.
http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... inder+head