I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have a "spare" engine incase the engine was ever to blow. If there was some sort of salvage company that sold reliable used MINI engines for reasonable prices, I would be interested in buying one. Also, you could gradually build your spare engine with upgraded internals and P/P parts.

After seeing the 295hp dynos from spillman and tuls, I suckered into buying a ZEX wet-shot nitrous system with 70hp nozzle on my MINI. Once I get some larger 400cc injectors I will install it, hopefully before MOTD 2006. I am already running 17% reduction, I/H, and a hand full of other small mods. If my engine were to blow anytime in the next couple of years, I don't want to have to pay 8 grand on spot for a new engine, or be stuck with the car on blocks for half a year. I think that buying an engine now and slowly pieceing it together would be a better alternative.

Is this a good idea or not?

 

http://car-part.com has got some. I would think it is a good idea if you are going the extreme route.

 

Yeah a back-up block isn't a bad plan. Join some of those "parts finder" websites that comb bone-yard part resellers. The leads may be few and far between but you can get a feel for used engine pricing. Shipping will be the shocker.

NOS might spank the internals and I'm guessing is a motivator for a spare. Limited use of spray or bagging the idea might be a bit more cost effective. But then again, a stand mounted complete engine decorating your garage is great eye-candy.

 

Rats. I thought some enterprising visionary was going to twin-engine his MINI like this guy did with his Scirocco.

http://www.durocco.com/story%20photos/page1.html

 

Check with JeffS (I think that's his handle) out of Raleigh NC, he can be found on the m2c2 club part of this board. He was selling a engine awhile ago he might still have it.