16 replies to this topic

[danny_]

Hey guys i have a 1993 SPI Rover mini in automatic and i would like a little more power from it. So what can i replace to give it that little bit more power?
I have already done these mods to it:
K&N filter
Lighter alternator
Alloy Rocker cover
RC-40 Exhaust (from the cat back)
Specialist components ECU (faulty from new and they don't seem to want to replace it. I can't upload a new bit of firmware)
Thanks.

[Sheikh Pip]

Put a decent cylinder head on it, I went for a really wild one as it's only a summer weekend car, best £350 I ever spent on it, it's a 93 auto the same as yours though not an SPI, goes really well when I floor it and rev it hard, (0-60's around 8/9 seconds now) not much torque down low mind you, but then it never did have.

Hey guys i have a 1993 SPI Rover mini in automatic and i would like a little more power from it. So what can i replace to give it that little bit more power?
I have already done these mods to it:
K&N filter
Lighter alternator
Alloy Rocker cover
RC-40 Exhaust (from the cat back)
Specialist components ECU (faulty from new and they don't seem to want to replace it. I can't upload a new bit of firmware)
Thanks.

[AVV IT]

A modified head and uprated cam would be the next obvious steps. Have you read the Stages of tuning for the a series mini engine guide on the TMF front site?

[danny_]

Put a decent cylinder head on it, I went for a really wild one as it's only a summer weekend car, best £350 I ever spent on it, it's a 93 auto the same as yours though not an SPI, goes really well when I floor it and rev it hard, (0-60's around 8/9 seconds now) not much torque down low mind you, but then it never did have.

Hey guys i have a 1993 SPI Rover mini in automatic and i would like a little more power from it. So what can i replace to give it that little bit more power?
I have already done these mods to it:
K&N filter
Lighter alternator
Alloy Rocker cover
RC-40 Exhaust (from the cat back)
Specialist components ECU (faulty from new and they don't seem to want to replace it. I can't upload a new bit of firmware)
Thanks.

Do you have any links to this head that you purchased?
What percentage power increase do you think you have?
This looks to be a fairly cheap and easy way to get a little more power.

Edit: I forgot to add new spark plugs and leads.

@AVV IT, Thanks for the link ill give it a read.

Edited by danny_, 19 June 2011 - 01:54 PM.

[Sheikh Pip]

I brought the head off a guy retiring from racing, don't know much about it except it came off an A-series 1500cc Mini autograss race car.

As for gains you can judge for yourself, I think the unmodified versions 0-60 is something like 16 secs, so anything under 10 seconds is a big improvement.

Put a decent cylinder head on it, I went for a really wild one as it's only a summer weekend car, best £350 I ever spent on it, it's a 93 auto the same as yours though not an SPI, goes really well when I floor it and rev it hard, (0-60's around 8/9 seconds now) not much torque down low mind you, but then it never did have.

Hey guys i have a 1993 SPI Rover mini in automatic and i would like a little more power from it. So what can i replace to give it that little bit more power?
I have already done these mods to it:
K&N filter
Lighter alternator
Alloy Rocker cover
RC-40 Exhaust (from the cat back)
Specialist components ECU (faulty from new and they don't seem to want to replace it. I can't upload a new bit of firmware)
Thanks.

Do you have any links to this head that you purchased?
What percentage power increase do you think you have?
This looks to be a fairly cheap and easy way to get a little more power.

Edit: I forgot to add new spark plugs and leads.

@AVV IT, Thanks for the link ill give it a read.

[brivinci]

There have been lot of posts about this topic. I'm sure a search would yield tons of info.

That said, a head is the single most important change to make if you really want to see an improvement. A call to some of the big name dealers (mini spares, Minisport, etc) might also get you some answers. I can tell you that a cam will help as well. To do a cam you have to remove the engine from the car so might as well try and do everything at once. The Swiftune SW5 cam is what I am running and it seems great so far.

[Ethel]

A good head is the way to go.

You have to be more careful with cams on injection cars, emissions, but the SW5 shouldn't be too bad. It's also an engine strip down job to fit; you could look at high lift rockers as an alternative.

[Blatherskite]

Spi 1996 - went from a (book) BHP of about 53 to 74 by getting a Minisport Stage 3 head kit fitted (K&N cone air filter, valve springs, 1:5 roller rockers, Maniflow LCB, valves resized), and added a really mean exhaust note. To boot, latest MoT emissions check (about 6 months ago) and the emissions were spot on the spec! Minisport did the work & put the car on the rolling road to check the improvements. Wasn't too pricey either, despite the cost of getting the work done. Can recommend this; easy job yourself, too, as no engine-out experience.

Edited by Blatherskite, 22 June 2011 - 08:19 PM.

[liam_italian]

Stage 3 Cylinder head (Ported and polished and bigger inlet valves etc)
Ported and polished Inlet manifold and matched to head
K&N filter or similar
Maniflow exhaust system including LCB Manifold - Could fit a decat pipe to free the exhaust up more.
1. 5 Roller tip rockers
Fuel pressure regulator

Should produce about 80 - 85BHP

[danny_]

Spi 1996 - went from a (book) BHP of about 53 to 74 by getting a Minisport Stage 3 head kit fitted (K&N cone air filter, valve springs, 1:5 roller rockers, Maniflow LCB, valves resized), and added a really mean exhaust note. To boot, latest MoT emissions check (about 6 months ago) and the emissions were spot on the spec! Minisport did the work & put the car on the rolling road to check the improvements. Wasn't too pricey either, despite the cost of getting the work done. Can recommend this; easy job yourself, too, as no engine-out experience.

Sorry for the late reply guys i forgot my log in details.
Ahh i wish i lived in the UK so mini sport could do all my mechanical work.
I don't think the K&N cone will fit on an automatic mini :/

@liam_italian
Bit of a silly question but what is a "stage 3 head" Searches on mini spares have not come up with nothing.

Ill have a look round for some roller tip rockers.


Has anyone recently done a head change to their SPi or MPi mini and have links to to the parts they bought?

[Samini86]

Spi 1996 - went from a (book) BHP of about 53 to 74 by getting a Minisport Stage 3 head kit fitted (K&N cone air filter, valve springs, 1:5 roller rockers, Maniflow LCB, valves resized), and added a really mean exhaust note. To boot, latest MoT emissions check (about 6 months ago) and the emissions were spot on the spec! Minisport did the work & put the car on the rolling road to check the improvements. Wasn't too pricey either, despite the cost of getting the work done. Can recommend this; easy job yourself, too, as no engine-out experience.

Sorry for the late reply guys i forgot my log in details.
Ahh i wish i lived in the UK so mini sport could do all my mechanical work.
I don't think the K&N cone will fit on an automatic mini :/

@liam_italian
Bit of a silly question but what is a "stage 3 head" Searches on mini spares have not come up with nothing.

Ill have a look round for some roller tip rockers.


Has anyone recently done a head change to their SPi or MPi mini and have links to to the parts they bought?

http://www.minisport...nder_Heads.html

[Cian 'the pain' MPI]

Hey Danny i went down the stage 3 head and rockers route, big difference in power! Wants to rev more and is happier at higher revs. I put a 3.4 diff ratio in aswell which does change things dramatically too but this is an engine out job

[danny_]

Hey Danny i went down the stage 3 head and rockers route, big difference in power! Wants to rev more and is happier at higher revs. I put a 3.4 diff ratio in aswell which does change things dramatically too but this is an engine out job

Ahh i wish i could afford out of engine mods then i would do all kinds of stuff to it!
I might also strip out my A/C as i don't use it and there are too many A/C pipes in the way.
Hopefully i can do this over a weekend.

@Samini86 thanks for the link. OUCH! looks a bit expensive but i guess thats the way some things are.
I am going to place an order for new gaskets and 1.5 rockers and that head next week.

Edited by danny_, 07 July 2011 - 02:34 PM.

[Cian 'the pain' MPI]

Yeah get rid of the AC! Remember the old saying 'less weight equals more speed'

[Blatherskite]

We found another benefit of the Stage 3 is absolutely spot-on emissions come the test Magic!