"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
03/03/2016 at 08:09 • Filed to: Mini, Classic Mini, beer, chicago, fourvalleys
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"fourvalleys" (fourvalleys)
03/03/2016 at 08:09 • Filed to: Mini, Classic Mini, beer, chicago, fourvalleys | 8
| 15 |
Get your mind out of the gutter. Lots more info below.
I’m very fortunate to have a neighbor who is very familiar with the Classic Mini 998cc engine. In fact, his old Mini !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He sent me a message that he was looking to get rid of his old cylinder head from his new toy, a supercharged Austin-Healey Sprite.
Pretty incredible timing, as I hadn’t even mentioned to him that I was planning on ordering a head gasket earlier that day. In fact, I hadn’t spoken to him at all since last summer. Weird timing.
So why is this head a big deal? It’s a highly-coveted 12G295 cylinder head from a Cooper, and it’s had all the work I need done already.
It has a larger combustion chamber than my stock head, but it’s already been skimmed so that it matches the compression ratio of my 998. It also has hardened valve seats, which means I can start running unleaded gas! He had it in his Sprite for about 3000 miles after it was machined so it’s got some signs of use, but it should bolt right up.
This also matters because my Mini is way way down on power. They say the 998cc had 38hp from the factory. I can barely scratch 60mph downhill, so something isn’t right. Hopefully a quick once-over of the top half should get me back into shape.
I’ve got a new intake and exhaust planned in addition to the new head. A cleaned and re-tuned carb alone should get me back a lot of what I’m missing (hopefully), but the claimed power gains from the new parts are not insignificant:
- 12G295 cylinder head and high-lift rockers - 8-10hp (and significant improvement across the powerband)
- “Stage One” kit (intake/exhaust manifold, full exhaust, carb needle) - claimed 20% power increase and 12% torque increase.
(I’m very seriously considering taking it to a local dyno day once I get it out of storage, but before I do the work. I’m so curious to know exactly how much power it’s lost in 40 years. Plus, that’ll give me a nice idea of how worthwhile the work I do this year is.)
I’ve got a friend who’s finishing a VTEC B18 Mini, which should be incredible. I was initially planning the same thing, but after hearing some of the issues he ran into (plus the cost), I’m content keeping the 998 for awhile and seeing what it can do.
My goal for 2016 is to not have the slowest time of the day at an autocross event. I was close in 2015!
I am very excited.
As an aside, here’s a picture of my neighbor’s Sprite:
And a video of it running with the 295 head is below. It has a more aggressive head and cam now, but it still sounds fantastic. He’s put a decent chunk of change into the new head this winter (well actually, two of them since one wasn’t quite what he wanted) and this car is just fantastic.
Oh, and the beer is New Glarus Two Women. I’ve made the joke before about having “Two Women, Totally Naked” before but I didn’t have any Totally Naked lager on hand last night. Apparently it was a limited-run. Oh well.
vondon302
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 08:24 |
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Your scratching the table! Just kidding nice mini and that’s a sweet sprite.
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fourvalleys
> vondon302
03/03/2016 at 08:28 |
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Haha, thanks!
And as for the table... my whole house feels like a workshop anyway, it doesn’t matter.
My office has a motorcycle in it, my spare bedroom has BRZ/Miata/Honda/Mini/Fiesta parts in it, as well as a few sets of wheels and tires. I’m no Caswell, but I’m getting there.
Funny though, this is the only table/desk in my entire house that isn’t from IKEA or a dumpster. I probably should take care of it. Oh well!
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vondon302
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 08:31 |
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Enjoy that now before you get married. Lol
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fourvalleys
> vondon302
03/03/2016 at 08:40 |
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Haha, you actually wouldn’t even know it right now unless you went into the spare bedroom. I had an inspector come by yesterday, so everything looks normal. The bike is tucked into the garage at the moment.
Fortunately all of my projects are relatively cheap. Every part I mentioned on this page totals less than $500. It’s the track that gets expensive - but I’m off that boat for now. I’m not into shaving tenths at autocross, so even that’s pretty cheap.
AuthiCooper1300
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 09:10 |
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It is a very nice head indeed, but not a “Cooper S” head (castings 12A185, AFG163, 12G940). It is a Cooper (998 cc) head, also used in some Midgets, Sprites and the MG 1100 (1098 cc).
For even better performance it would be possible to fit a Cooper S, Metro MG etc head to a 998 engine but you’d have to pocket the block first so that the valves do not hit the deck.
I suppose you already have Vizard’s book? If you don’t, find a copy...
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fourvalleys
> AuthiCooper1300
03/03/2016 at 09:26 |
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Yes, you’re right! I knew it, too - just wasn’t being careful with my typing early this morning. I’ll blame the Two Women. ;)
And are you referring to his Mini book, or the A-Series book specifically? They’re out there for not TOO much money, but since I don’t plan on doing much beyond getting it running “right,” I’m not especially concerned about trying to eke out every last bit of power.
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AuthiCooper1300
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 09:34 |
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Let it be known that I don’t have all the casting numbers in my head but “12G295" sounded odd for a Cooper S. I went and checked it asap just in case you were going to inadvertently damage your valves.
I have both. The A-series one is extremely detailed and if you are handy with a dremel you could probably extract a few more poneys (or more torque) out of your engine by tweaking the head.
“How to Improve and Modify your Mini” is extremely old and I don’t think he has ever updated it. But it is full of interesting advice (even if it is straight from the early seventies!) covering not just engine but suspension, steering etc. Well worth a read if only to get an insight of what it was like to have a Mini in the early days.
I’d suggest you buy them second hand.
Incidentally, 998 engines are extremely sweet. Although 1071s (let alone 970s...) are probably sweeter!
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fourvalleys
> AuthiCooper1300
03/03/2016 at 10:04 |
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The only other thing I’m really thinking about at this point is 1.3 rockers, but I’m not sure if I’ll (1) get much performance for the price and (2) clear my existing rocker cover.
Specifically, I think my only cost-effective option is to get a set of the 12G1221 rockers and rebuild the shaft. I’m just not as familiar with what else I might need to replace... the shaft, bushes, etc. I worry about going down a rabbit hole to try to squeeze that last bit of performance. It isn’t a race car!
uofime-2
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 10:26 |
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It isn’t a race car!
*gasp* You bite your tongue, everything is a race car!
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fourvalleys
> uofime-2
03/03/2016 at 10:46 |
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Haha. It will never see W2W action, nor anything competitive beyond autocross. It’s not a race car.
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uofime-2
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 11:17 |
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With the right attitude anything is a racecar!
(improvised internet sarcasm font for clarity)
WiscoProud
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 11:31 |
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Hello fellow Wisconsinite (I presume), Where are you located? I like Totally Naked, but I wasn't crazy about Two Women. My wife likes it though. Big fan of Staghorn when they make it in the fall.
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fourvalleys
> WiscoProud
03/03/2016 at 11:48 |
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I’m actually not in WI, I’m just a bootlegger.
My car does spend a fair bit of time in WI, when I’m able. The following pictures were all taken in Wisconsin:
(My old BRZ on the day I picked up the Mini)
(Don’t let my license plate fool you)
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WiscoProud
> fourvalleys
03/03/2016 at 11:50 |
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Sneaky sneaky. When we lived in Chicago, my wife would sell cases of Spotted Cow to her coworkers whenever we would go back to see family.
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fourvalleys
> WiscoProud
03/03/2016 at 11:52 |
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Haha, it isn’t illegal to bring them over state lines, as long as they’re sealed.
It is illegal to re-sell them, though. ;)