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A little more oomph

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texas_bugeye

texas_bugeye

Jedi Knight
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I’m thinking about upgrading my 948 with a head that flows better than the stock unit I have now. Do I have someone port it or go with something new? I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg and I don’t think I need some exotic fire breathing monster. I have a fresh engine and just want to get a little more oomph out of it. Who should I contact and what can I expect as a performance gain?
 
Get yourself a 12G295 or 12G207 head off of a 1098 Spridget or MG1100. If you were to do a first class porting job on yours then these two are what you would have, and they are factory done and not too expensive.
Bill
 
Chris,
I've got a 12G295 that was going on a 10CC (2" mains) engine I was going to put in a '66 Sprite; sold the car and now have both the spare engine and head. The head has been rebuilt; Sunnen 3 angle cut. PM me if interested:

12G295.jpg


Ray
 
Sounds like a plan, I was told that the cam I have is not working to its full potental with the stock head.Is this true? Its a Isky MM32 torquer cam (came with the engine Was still in the box never used) And why do they have different valve lash settings between the Intake and the exhaust.
 
A few years back I bought the aluminum head from moss. It has been working fine even with the push rods not centered on the rocker levers. just never took the time to shim things up to get them centered if that is even possible. Just have the factory cam but the new head did increase HP . What more torque and HP buy the header like the one from moss. With a better cam watch out for snapping half shaft. Just stock and I can spin wheels with out much effort.
 
I believe uprated axles can be had for under $500 a pair unless you have wire wheels. Then you have to order from the UK and pay shipping, duty and deal with the currancy exchange rate. Ask me how I learned this........
 
Or you can look at moss and winners circle as well for the half shafts (it is on my to do list).

Looks like you guys will be doing some decking as well.

Pat
 
If you want more power, it is hard to beat a 1275. You will find a later spridget, have a better tranny, the 1275. and also the better axles that will stand most any power upgrades you are looking at. Do not spend 500 for the better axles, you can get the car for less than that. Just my thoughts, a little patience.
 
I wound up doing (and am in the process of doing) what kcbugeye suggested. Picked up a 74 Midget project, and took the entire drivetrain and most of the brake bits. 1275 is being built up right now, and the brake bits will go on later this winter.

The nice thing about these updates is that they are all reversible if wanted. I'll still have the original 948, which might be rebuilt in the future as a spare. So far the only real non-reversible modification was re-boring the brake master cylinder for the disc brakes. I'll keep all the old bits, so the car could be returned to a completely stock config if desired.
 
When I bought the BE back in 73, it had something I'd never seen before, Pockets!
What were they for? How about a 1275 head, 12G940. The exhaust valve otherwise interferes with the block.
On the Mini forum minifinity.com they discuss using the 1275 head without pockets by sinking the exhaust valves. the 1275 head can be bought cheaper than most others, and breathes much better. (only a bit better than the 12G295
 
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