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What Is A John Cooper Conversion?

Started by lawrie124 , Jun 14 2016 05:24 AM

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30 replies to this topic

#16 lawrie124

Camshaft & Stage Two Head

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Posted 15 June 2016 - 07:39 AM

.. and the penny has dropped; certificate says 0011 Si so that'll be number 11 and an Si conversion! Genius me!

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#17 Guest_minidizzy_*

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Posted 15 June 2016 - 08:51 AM

The head would be just a standard head worked on by Janspeed to improve flow. The main distinction was that it would be painted blue. I think later heads had Cooper stamped on but my very early one does not have any such markings.

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#18 lawrie124

Camshaft & Stage Two Head

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Posted 15 June 2016 - 09:38 AM

The head would be just a standard head worked on by Janspeed to improve flow. The main distinction was that it would be painted blue. I think later heads had Cooper stamped on but my very early one does not have any such markings.

ok. other than entire engine and head have been painted by previous owner, so that doesn't help me tell if it's a Janspeed-worked one.

struggling to know where to go with this car; it's been heavily butchered by previous owner (MK1 grille, big boy arches and 13's).

I was going to get it running, MOT, and drive it for a bit while I tackle the van bodywork, then flog it as-is, but I am open to advice about returning it to SPi (12" wheels, grille etc) and removing the HIF.

I would be too ashamed to post up any pics of it's current look!

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#19 Guest_minidizzy_*

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Posted 15 June 2016 - 01:34 PM

Personally I would try and restore the 'Si' conversion if that is feasible. It is not necessarily an issue if the rest of car has been modified. It seems unlikely that the head would have been changed unless it was damaged. If it were me I would ask Janspeed or either of two ex-John Cooper Garages experts, Tony Franks at Mini MotorSport Centre in Shoreham-by-Sea or Kevin Fulbrook at Sussex Road and Race in Littlehampton if they can recognise it as genuine.

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#20 lawrie124

Camshaft & Stage Two Head

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1,710 posts

Location: Reading

Posted 15 June 2016 - 08:39 PM

Personally I would try and restore the 'Si' conversion if that is feasible. It is not necessarily an issue if the rest of car has been modified. It seems unlikely that the head would have been changed unless it was damaged. If it were me I would ask Janspeed or either of two ex-John Cooper Garages experts, Tony Franks at Mini MotorSport Centre in Shoreham-by-Sea or Kevin Fulbrook at Sussex Road and Race in Littlehampton if they can recognise it as genuine.

I will send you a PM

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#21 Fast Ivan

Up Into Fourth

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Posted 15 June 2016 - 08:43 PM

On an spi the head would be stamped

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#22 mk1leg

Crazy About Mini's

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Posted 15 June 2016 - 09:43 PM

there were head kits done by dealerships and there were head kits fitted at JC garages its hard to tell which ones were but some customers took their mini's to JC garages and that was the preferred way here in jersey we have in out club 5 JCWs mini 3 JCWs Sis 2 JCWs 5S works (5speed Boxes)

Edited by mk1leg, 15 June 2016 - 09:44 PM.

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#23 Guest_minidizzy_*

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Posted 11 July 2016 - 12:07 AM

The head would be just a standard head worked on by Janspeed to improve flow. The main distinction was that it would be painted blue. I think later heads had Cooper stamped on but my very early one does not have any such markings.

I need to correct this in the interests of factual accuracy as this is the Mini Technical Section.

It has now been pointed out to me that my early Cooper 'S' pack head does have stamped markings. I just could not see them before without sufficient light.

There is a small long rectangular raised surface to the right of the rocker cover and behind the thermostat with a four digit number stamped and with the word COOPER stamped below.

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#24 lawrie124

Camshaft & Stage Two Head

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Posted 11 July 2016 - 02:20 PM

I have 9936 COOPER stamped on the head.

sound about right?

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#25 Guest_minidizzy_*

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Posted 11 July 2016 - 03:05 PM

If that is the head to the engine that came with floor plate and certificate then you have struck gold.

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#26 lawrie124

Camshaft & Stage Two Head

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Location: Reading

Posted 11 July 2016 - 06:49 PM

If that is the head to the engine that came with floor plate and certificate then you have struck gold.

Nice to know. Shall I hand in my notice tomorrow ?

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#27 lawrie124

Camshaft & Stage Two Head

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Location: Reading

Posted 13 July 2016 - 05:01 AM

If that is the head to the engine that came with floor plate and certificate then you have struck gold.

More seriously, I am not sure where to go with this now.

Sell head and plate/paperwork, or entire engine, with or without car.

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#28 Guest_minidizzy_*

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Posted 13 July 2016 - 02:06 PM

I do not think I can give you a definitive answer on this. Every potential buyer has their own objective.

I know of one or two 'S' pack converted cars that are missing their heads and I am sure their owners would love to get hold of one. However those are carb versions but there may be others out there missing 'Si' version heads.

I think the problem with selling it with the engine is that it appears the injection system and ecu are now missing. The engine will just be the same as any other SPi engine and anyone wanting to upgrade to an Si would not necessarily want to change the lump unless yours has done considerably less mileage or is in any other way better than the one they have.

As far selling the car complete there will be some who would be happy to restore it knowing it had an original conversion. Others might already have a nice SPi they would like a certified period upgrade for. I know several who have done this with the carb version.

It is worth saying that the 'Si' conversion was introduced in 1992. In 1995 John Cooper Garages started customising Minis and selling them. The standard model they produced was called the "Mini Cooper S" as a tribute to the original and there was also a limited edition of 35 called the "Grand Prix". The first JCG Mini Cooper S was on the Mini Spares stand on Madeira Drive at this year's L2B: reg M111OWW. These JCG cars have a special appeal and should probably be kept intact. However I understand they had slightly different floor plates with a car number rather than conversion number

I am guessing that with a low number like Si-11 yours is earlier than any of these cars. There was no particular sequence to the numbering of the conversions but the lower numbers tend to be earlier. 42-Si was fitted to a new car in 1984. 40-Si was fitted to a 1982 car but I do not know if it was a new car at the time or a retro-fit.

I haven't really answered your question but I hope I may have given you something to think about. Your main market will be those looking for genuine John Cooper history and memorabilia rather than just extra performance, which can be done just as easily other ways.

Edited by minidizzy, 13 July 2016 - 02:07 PM.