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BMW K1 Head conversion
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Author:  moke007 [ Sun May 08, 2005 10:38 pm ]
Post subject:  BMW K1 Head conversion
Hi All,

Has any one yet completed a K1 head conversion in Aust. I have read through a few threads and it looks like Miniman must be pretty close.

I have a good friend who has just started the conversion and we are putting together a website so people can track the progress. If I had to guess you would think heaps of people are doing it because when he rang around the wreckers to find a head they all asked if it was for a mini as heaps of people have been asking about them. All those enquiries also seemed to inflate the price some what, fortunatly he found a wrecker in Sydney that was more reasonable.

Just having trouble finding anyone else that has done it. I have searched heaps and only found the guy in Canada, miniman and someone in europe. I wouldn't mind some more links if anyone knows of any.

Cheers

Jim
Author:  supercharged 850 [ Mon May 09, 2005 12:35 am ]
Post subject: 
I hate to be a pessimist, but I very much doubt there are any others at all.

Considering the comparative cost factor and power availability with hybrid engine swaps, I dont know why people would actually bother with the K1...

Still a nice little conversion 8)
Author:  Maxi23 [ Mon May 09, 2005 7:05 am ]
Post subject: 
http://www.miniman.com.au/bmw.htm
Author:  Metalfab_101 [ Mon May 09, 2005 10:28 am ]
Post subject: 
supercharged 850 wrote:
Considering the comparative cost factor


It would be interesting to see the comparison between a BMW head conversion and say a GTi swap. I think the GTi swap would end up costing more. Granted you get the 5 speed etc etc.

For me the biggest plus for the BMW head swap is that the car itself remains basically unmodified. Thus no stuffing around with engineering and the associated insurance and rego dramas.
Author:  fuzzy-hair-man [ Mon May 09, 2005 11:30 am ]
Post subject: 
I figure a mini engine with a K1 head is still a mini engine, sort of like putting a KAD twincam head on a mini engine.

I like the fact that it is still a mini engine, not giving up on the mini engine yet :D

there are no body mods (but I had read that there is not a lot of clearance between the head and the bonnet)

You could then set up either carbs or EFI AFAIK

you get twin cam 16 valve crossflow head (triple cam really :P :P ) on a mini engine.

All the mods are kept more or less local to the head, There is not the flow on kind of effect. ie not the steering, brakes, subframe, suspension body modifications that I assume are required for fitting another engine.

It would be really good to know more about this particularly how hard / complicated it gets re oil galleries and the pulley arrangements. and the water / coolant holes.

What is a K1 head worth? are there any other heads that are a close fit to the mini block ?
Author:  awdmoke [ Mon May 09, 2005 12:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
I was interested in doing this a few years ago, & possibly making up a kit, but could not even find ONE head (but Perth is a small town).
Just did a search on ebay: none in Oz, none internationally! Could try the local wreckers again I suppose :(

If someone knows of a reliable source (even importing) and there is enough interest, I might look at doing a batch through my engineering company at cost... :?:
Author:  9YaTaH [ Mon May 09, 2005 1:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Canberra
A fella here in Cranberry says he has done one, I saw the head a couple of years ago....must go look him up again.... :idea:
Author:  moke007 [ Mon May 09, 2005 1:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the replies so far, I would have to agree that it seems a lot less work and cost than a motor swap. In saying that my mate who is doing the mod is very clever with this sort of thing and to a layman like me he makes the hardest job look easy. He has the equipment and knowledge to make a lot of his own parts so this saves money over paying a machine shop to do it.

It seems to be comming together reasonably well so hopefully it will be up and running before summer comes around.
Author:  drmini in aust [ Mon May 09, 2005 1:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
There'a a lot of mods to the block deck. Most of the head studs need to be moved, ditto the water holes. So it's not a drop on job.
Author:  awdmoke [ Mon May 09, 2005 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: BMW K1 Head conversion
moke007 wrote:
.... he rang around the wreckers to find a head they all asked if it was for a mini as heaps of people have been asking about them. All those enquiries also seemed to inflate the price some what, fortunatly he found a wrecker in Sydney that was more reasonable....


Jim, what is reasonable these days?
This mob in Adelaide http://www.showandgo.com.au have one, but want $1,200 for the head c/w throttle bodies.

Mike
Author:  Anto [ Mon May 09, 2005 5:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
I recall there was a wrecker somewhere in Aus trying to get rid of some K series motors - 8 valve and 16 valve, selling the whole motors for under a grand. Can't remember where it was in Just Bikes.

Good luck finding K1 parts, not many of them found their way to Australia (not many produced in total). There was a K100RS 16 valve and a K1100RS/LT 16 valve, should be the same head I think. Lots of early 8 valve heads but that seems a bit pointless really :)
Author:  Rupert [ Mon May 09, 2005 6:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Lots in Qld sold as Police bikes.
For the cost involved, efi or carbs, exhaust extra, I rather have the supercharger kit.
Author:  moke007 [ Mon May 09, 2005 6:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
<<<<Jim, what is reasonable these days?
This mob in Adelaide http://www.showandgo.com.au have one, but want $1,200 for the head c/w throttle bodies.>>>>


That seemed to be the price being thrown around. But he found one in Sydney, for the head only $400 or complete motor $800.
Author:  Anto [ Mon May 09, 2005 6:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Rupert wrote:
Lots in Qld sold as Police bikes.
For the cost involved, efi or carbs, exhaust extra, I rather have the supercharger kit.


Do you mean lots of actual K1s sold as Cop bikes, or just the K100TIC etc? If they are actual K1s that makes my job of finding one easier.... just respray it and go :wink:
Author:  Meck [ Mon May 09, 2005 7:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm interested in going down this route in the future... EFi Turbo :P
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