Crossflow

[faversham999]

has anybody made a standard engine into a crossflow engine or fitted overhead camshaft

[Alex'n'Ane]

The mini forum would probably be better for this. And for the costs involved...............

[bmcecosse]

The crossflow head is available in both 7 port and 8 port versions for the 1275 engine. I was closely involved in one of the very earliest 8 port engines of this type - with a friend's Works supported Cooper S , some 45 years ago now.... there is a LOT more to it than just bolting on a head. Budget for several thousand pounds to do the job - and that's on top of a Race Standard engine rebuild...... It does GO very well though - fantastic torque on twin 40 DCOEs - even with a 649 (type - it needs a special version with the lobes re-arranged) cam. There are also various firms willing to sell you the BMW TOC head conversion. Not cheap either!
Here's the 8 port link....... http://www.minispares.com/Articles.aspx?ty=ad&aid=583

[Troutrunner]

Here is one just fitted and ready to fire up by my son Richard in a mini though

[bmcecosse]

Lovely!!!

[Troutrunner]

It has taken him quite a long while and I think he's a little nervous about the start up, I think I would be to, cost is over £2000 so far but I sure it will be fine

[bmcecosse]

V jealous......

[don58van]

Roy, or whoever may know the answer ...

I have seen a reference here and in a couple of other places about putting a BMW TOHC head on a 1275 engine.

That raises the question in my mind ... is there a BMW TOHC engine that would fit nicely in a Minor?

Cheers
Don

[bmcecosse]

I suppose the engine that ^^^^^ head came from must obviously be pretty much the same size...... It's a popular conversion because the cylinder spacing is very close to the 1275 cylinder spacing.

[don58van]

Hmmmm

Now I'm getting really interested.

Can anyone tell me what engine these heads come from?

Don

[Troutrunner]

Roy, or whoever may know the answer ...
That raises the question in my mind ... is there a BMW TOHC engine that would fit nicely in a Minor?

I think Richard refers to this head as a K1000 and I think it is from a motor bike engine, I can find out more if you wish.

I do know that the cylinders match pretty well with the valve set up but some head bolt holes and waterways need welding up in the ally head and redrilling in new locations. The instruction manual for the conversion is about an inch thick and the size of a normal bmc type manual, quite a complicated job, not for the faint hearted.

[chrisryder]

the other day i saw a minor with that kit fitted. apparently a £3500 job, which included the necessary engine work. i presume he was doing the labour himself.

Specialist Engine Components (if i recall, could have been Specialist Performance Components) do the conversion kit, normally for minis.

Fuel injected 1430 marina engine with 16 valve twin cam bmw head. ~140bhp. 40mpg!

[bmcecosse]

But it will be a very 'fragile' engine at that capacity....... I reckon anything over 100 bhp has crossed the threshold of what's sensible from an A series - time to look at more modern engines such as JLH Zetec conversion.

[chrisryder]

i agree bmc. that engine was displacing 1430 as it had an ital crank with the big end journals reground off-centre down to the smaller big end diameter. hence increasing the stroke. so he's getting a lot of power through a weaker crank!

[bmcecosse]

He could just have used a 1098 'big mains' crank - in fact - you sure that's not what it is ?

[chrisryder]

i recall he said it was a remachined ital one.