24 replies to this topic

[r3k1355]

Mini Sport and coopercarcompany.com share the same address which is the dead giveaway.

[Screwdriver]

Better heads than Minisport? Which one? 

 

 

No essentially in it, they are the same kit! That's a weighty price for a name and a slightly remastered mini sports calliper!

As said, minisport now do the engineering for the cooper garages. Their heads are the blue painted Ines under the cooper name. However, you can get the same head or better from other venders!

 

[Steve220]

Better heads than Minisport? Which one? 
 
 

No essentially in it, they are the same kit! That's a weighty price for a name and a slightly remastered mini sports calliper!

As said, minisport now do the engineering for the cooper garages. Their heads are the blue painted Ines under the cooper name. However, you can get the same head or better from other venders!
 

Turbo Phil
Minispares
Benross
MED

To name a few.

[Screwdriver]

Thanks! I suppose I should have asked what makes these better? Has a comparison test been done?

[Carlos W]

Thanks! I suppose I should have asked what makes these better? Has a comparison test been done?

I don't know if any comparisons have been done, but the likes of Turbophill and AC Dodd have far better reputations.

 

Phill did my head and was an absolute pleasure to deal with, helped me with spec, gave me loads of advice, our PM conversation is 3 pages long.

 

AC Dodd did all the rest of the work on my engine and saw where I was going wrong on pics I published on Facebook, phoned me up and talked me through stuff.

 

A head isn't a bolt on mod, it needs to suit the application and using one which has been modified to your specific will give better results

[absx2]

 The carb conversion also had a 3.44:1 final drive but was not included with the SPi kit probably because fitting this involved taking the engine out of the car.

and that made all the difference effectively bringing the gear ratios closer together and still good for 100+ mph which is 30 more that you should be doing on the public highway 

 

when MG Metro`s were plentiful and about £50-£130 on average ( those were the days ) you could chuck the motor in your mini and you had a quick motor all down to that diff ratio.

 

Check out Guessworks speedo ratio calculator and you can check diff ratios against road speed.  

[Shep76S]

If I remember correctly, my 96 Cooper S, 80bhp used to return 36-38mpg.

[Shep76S]

If I remember correctly, my 96 Cooper S, 80bhp used to return 36-38mpg.

John Cooper Spi

[Black.Ghost]

I have no idea what the MPG of my GP is but it had a reported 86hp. I've never had it on the rollers to confirm this and it's currently in pieces. Once it is all back together it will be going for a run to see what it actually produces. There was a kit you could get which along with a 1380 block would up the power to 115hp (claimed). I'd love to do this, but the genuine parts are as rare as rocking horse manure and very expensive if they appear as a result. Given it's a GP, I'd only want to use the parts that were originally used.

With its standard power, it was very usable daily. It has a claimed 0-60 of 8.9 seconds, and felt very quick through the usable speeds (namely 30 through 70). It was a tad loud on the motorways but I think the FD was in the 2.7 park. It was designed for back lane blasts rather than 100 mile cruises.

I absolutely love the little car and would definitely recommend the SPi Cooper S cars (the GP is essentially a S Works). So much fun, and it came with a unique leather interior, walnut trim all over the place. I can't wait until mine is back on the road!