What does everyone think about this? Ebay head, P&P, stock valve size.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...akeT rack=true

Straight from England. . .

 

I've never heard of those guys (though that doesn't mean much). They talk a good game, but if no one else here can help I would at least look around a bit and see if you can learn something about them.

Wait a minute, it comes with two camshafts? Since when does a MINI Cooper engine come with both intake and exhaust camshafts? Hmmm, either that's just a typo or maybe they aren't really very familiar with this engine .....

 

http://www.spperformance.com/

Despite that the UK tuner community seems to know them. Google them and there is plenty of positive 2nd hand buzz. Perhaps they are better in the shop than on the net?

 

Aha! Then this head might be a good deal.....though shipping almost 50 pounds from overseas could be pricey. I would ask them a few questions first, like:

Ad doesn't say stock valves, it says stock sized valves - so, are they actual stock valves? Are they S valves or something else? If something else, what are they and how do they compare (durability, etc)?

Can they estimate shipping? Or maybe it says something about shipping in the eBay ad and I just don't remember.....

A leading question or two like "Which model would you say this head is best optimized for (i.e., MINI One, Cooper, or S)?" Why? [ask this one before telling them which model you own] Since they use stock sized valves, they're really not focusing on max high end so it might be well suited to improve things for a Cooper, etc, but their explanation should give you some good fodder for evaluation.

Why does the ad talk about two cams? Stock?

Etc.

Anyway, I'm probably feeding you stuff you've already thought of so I'll quit rambling. Choosing a head is really a crap shoot unless you at least have a reason to trust the builder so I figure the more chances you give them to impress you the better.

fwiw

 

$570 US ( the cost of a core here) and "no exchange needed"

A bit over $600 and you'd have a head to play with.

 

Any word on this cylinder head? I just read everything and this is interesting....
YakiMini

 

I don't know about this particular head but for what it's worth I had a new head shipped to me from England and it cost $120 US.