16 replies to this topic

[kappa]

Hi all,

What is better a 7 port head from SC Components or Med or a Minispares Arden 8 port head?

This will be going on a 1293cc bottom end and in my mk1?

Cheers

Bobby

[Noah]

Arden 8-Port.



http://minispares.co...|Back to search

Edited by Noah, 16 April 2013 - 08:54 PM.

[Artful Dodger]

An SC or MED head. Ardens are cast iron so are heavy and the new 7 ports have been developed a huge amount more

[kappa]

Thanks ArtfulDoger

[summs116]

Ardens are alloy.

The only difference between my race 7 port and rally 8 port is the torque really,apart from an extra 2.5k for manifolds cams rod mods and other parts
7 port needs lots of revs for good power,and not very drive able
8 port is smoother and nice to drive compared to my 7port and full race 5 port. It idles well and picks up from 2.5 rpm to 7500

If its for track only/ minimal road use 7 port is the better option really and far cheaper

[Sam Walters]

Get an SC one. The MED ones are a Pierce casting. Designed years ago.

[cradley-heathen]

i dont really think the extra port in an 8 port is really worth the extra problems it brings with it.

and as someone up there also said, the s.c. head has had allot more development on it than any of its counterparts, which i think counts for a hell of allot.

using a 7 port will allow you a much wider range of cams as any conventional 5 port cam can be used (8port have to have 8 port specific cams, and profiles are much more limited) as well as this you can still retain your existing tubular manifold too.

finally, the s.c. head is beautifully made from an alloy billet, rather than a cast iron jobbie which is good for obvious reasons.

on top of all this i think the price from s.c. is very reasonable, especially as it includes a full engine management system and throttle boddies.

[JustSteve]

Ardens are alloy.

The only difference between my race 7 port and rally 8 port is the torque really,apart from an extra 2.5k for manifolds cams rod mods and other parts
7 port needs lots of revs for good power,and not very drive able
8 port is smoother and nice to drive compared to my 7port and full race 5 port. It idles well and picks up from 2.5 rpm to 7500

If its for track only/ minimal road use 7 port is the better option really and far cheaper

Exactly what I would of typed, however you can get cams made fairly cheaply (cant remember what Kent quoted) for an 8 port. Infact you could spend more on a 7-port than an 8-port.


I'm going to be building an 8-port. Although there's only a small amount of performance increase, I want the smoothness.

If you check out some of the youtube video's, you can see the diffference massively. They pur like a cat, rather than barking like a dog, as a 5/7 port does at idle with a hot cam.

[YIANO]

I'd say 8 port . I looked at mini sports 7 port head a while ago and didn't like the typical power gains which were impressive at the flywheel yet poor at the wheels so.... I put an r1 lump in instead :)
If I was mad enough tho I'd go Arden 8 port on Amal carbs

[Vipernoir]

Comparing an Arden to a 7-port directly isn't really fair as they don't use the same cam profiles.

Personally, I suspect an Arden will ultimately give more power (I know they've been re-engineered and developed), but will cost a LOT more to get there than with a 7-port.
7-ports are a fantastic halfway point, with all the advantages of port injection and no charge robbing but without the need for massive internal modifications and unique fittings.

Of the 7-ports available, I'd spend my money on a SC one.

[minilee94]

8s and 7s don't produce a lot more than a 5 port head to be fa my 5port engine got estimated of 100-115 with a hiff 44 but I have a 45 weber and a straight manifold and a 7 port etc only produced about 10 -15 Bhp more and for all of like 5k I wouldn't bother super charge a 5 port heavily tuned will be much quicker

[Vipernoir]

Bare numbers don't tell the whole story though.

The manner in which the the power is delivered and the smoothness of an engine cannot be quantified on paper.
The tech article in Mini Mag about the CSI distributor only shows a couple of bhp difference, but I can assure you it drives like a different car.

[mini13]

8 Port is often a hassle to do as the 8 port cams hit the rods so you either need to go with a cooper S crank and rods or get some H beam rods.


the SC head is very good, unlike the Pierce/Minisport/AKM head it has sensible port sizes so will be good low down.

The arden head is good too, but what are you going to do about fueling? stick some crappy carbs on or put together your own FI system?

The SC head and injection package really is a good price in my opinion, plus... a turbo manifold will bolt straight on... a very easy way to get imense power with relative reliability and good road manners.

[YIANO]

I don't really think its fair to call carbs crappy , the mini was born with em won a gazillion titles with em and yes while modern fuel injection offers a precision of fuel metering unrivalled by carbs carbs still sound much nicer.
Given the choice I'd still go with the Arden and Amal carb setup which would easily draw a bigger crowd any day when you pop your bonnet up than any other combo .
Just my personal opinion and yes I'm on carbs ... 4 of them 40 mm mikunis I also have 8 ports oh and 20 valves etc lol

[mini93]

Carb's are simply old hat now, It baffles me why people would spend thousands on a shiney billet 7 port head or the like n throw a set of carbs on it.
I actually dont think that carburettors sound better than throttle bodies...