I'm resigning to the likelihood that I will need to replace the head on my 2002 R53; though I am waiting on some of my tools to arrive so I can try to determine what's wrong before I pull the head.

In the event something is wrong with the head, I am of the mind that it will be easier and less time consuming to get a replacement head to install. I've been researching options, just looking to get opinions and to see if there is something I have missed.

I don't believe I will ever do any track time, thought I would very much like to either have more HP from the new head, or to have the option of not being limited i the future. But for the most part my Mini will be nothing more than a daily driver that is more fun to drive than my truck. Mostly I'm looking for a slight to moderate increase in performance while maintaining the best amount of reliability.

So far I've looked at the following heads:

Thumber TRP-1

Mini Madness

Out Motoring

Way

Of course there's the RMW, but that seems way out of my price range and not really built for what I am looking for. Any thoughts and/or additional considerations are appreciated.

 

I am currently looking, mine is an R53 too. I was looking at Sneed and Thumper. Didn't see the other. What did you go with?

 

I diagnosed the issue as aN exhaust valve. Sure enough, once I ended up pulling the head, exhaust valve 3 was fully blown apart.

I ended up getting a used (original) head with about 80k on it as per the seller. Price was right, about $350 shipped. Still have the old head, to be used as a core in the future.

Been driving it for roughly three years now with no issues at all.

 

Nice, they found my crack in the head after the second time taking the head off. I went with Sneed because of budget and they might give my 1/2 of the core charge off. They told me my cam is worn too so I am getting a Cower NS! to go along with the Sneed head.

 

Some people just take a used stock head and have it port and polished. Its a lower cost option.

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ya, I have a guy I work with who says he has a friend that will port. but I don't know if he can screw things up so didn't want to go that route. my neighbor says take a drimmal but I think there might be more to it than that lol

 

No dremel, just get a good hot rod shop they work on heads and will know what to do.