Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
-
- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 680
- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:44 pm
- Location: The Netherlands
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 11 times
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
Minispares just posted this on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPIxkonDjWx ... _copy_link
Their alloy 1275 block running on one of Swiftune's engine dynos. Good to see some progress on this.
Their alloy 1275 block running on one of Swiftune's engine dynos. Good to see some progress on this.
Of course I know what a dipstick is, you get called something often enough you look it up!
- Exminiman
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 3104
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
- Location: Berkshire UK
- Has thanked: 58 times
- Been thanked: 56 times
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
Think this is on KADS Dyno - oddly with a BMW head
https://www.facebook.com/11187466730827 ... 9224447354
https://www.facebook.com/11187466730827 ... 9224447354
-
- Basic 850
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:12 pm
- Location: Northern Ireland
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
It was designed from the ground up to run the BMW bike head as far as I am aware.
- Mini-geek
- 850 Super
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:54 pm
- Location: NW UK
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
It would be odd not to have a BMW head on...
I was surprised to see KAD involved as it competes directly with the KAD 16v head...
Good to see it running proved me wrong for sure, still sceptical of a few things though and no mention of price...
I was surprised to see KAD involved as it competes directly with the KAD 16v head...
Good to see it running proved me wrong for sure, still sceptical of a few things though and no mention of price...
- Exminiman
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 3104
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
- Location: Berkshire UK
- Has thanked: 58 times
- Been thanked: 56 times
- timmy201
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 2022
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:57 am
- Location: Australia
- Been thanked: 42 times
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
He’s also designed a “normal” version for 5 port heads. I don’t think any have been made yetcolinmac1330 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 5:15 pm It was designed from the ground up to run the BMW bike head as far as I am aware.
-
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1259
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: East Cumbria
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
Correct, last pictured being machined on the 5 axis.timmy201 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:33 pmHe’s also designed a “normal” version for 5 port heads. I don’t think any have been made yetcolinmac1330 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 5:15 pm It was designed from the ground up to run the BMW bike head as far as I am aware.
Wanna see what I'm playing with? Youtube Channel
Caution
may contain 8 Ports, Xe's and VTec's, I don't do standard!
Caution

- Mini-geek
- 850 Super
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:54 pm
- Location: NW UK
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
Just to save you having to watch it, all you see of it is the picture above... It's not running in the car or anything...
-
- Basic 850
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 5:34 pm
- Location: California, USA
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
I've heard around the £16.5k ex-VAT mark for the block/crank/rods/pistons/flywheel kit.
- Mini-geek
- 850 Super
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:54 pm
- Location: NW UK
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
- Exminiman
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 3104
- Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:59 am
- Location: Berkshire UK
- Has thanked: 58 times
- Been thanked: 56 times
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
Quite a nice one

Think it must be pitched at the £20k to £25k engine, Miglia type market, not sure where you could you actually use one now?
-
- Basic 850
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 5:34 pm
- Location: California, USA
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
And the rest. KAD head, injection system and ECU, etc. Probably over £30k would be my guess. Approaching Millington Diamond territory.
- Mini-geek
- 850 Super
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:54 pm
- Location: NW UK
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
My understanding is it won't qualify for the Miglia/Libra as it's not really an a series anymore..
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19835
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:30 am
- Location: Away with the Faries
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 10 times
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
This has always been my biggest question over this entire project. Where can you use it?
Fastest Mini in the world's about it.
Fastest Mini in the world's about it.
- Mini-geek
- 850 Super
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:54 pm
- Location: NW UK
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
Can't see it being much use there because it won't run in an A series class and the others are free choice so why run that..
Unless some rules are going to change to allow it... Maybe masi is involved in it

On the subject of price I believe a BTCC engine is about 25k (probably plus vat and that was a few years ago) and that has a warranty for race use

-
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1294
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:55 pm
- Location: Tasmania, Australia
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 23 times
Re: Alloy Blocks & Unicorns
David Brown Minis are something like £98,000 and people have the money to spend on them. They have new heritage body shells, so why not fit a shiny new engine at the same time?
Tim
Tim
1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian