Mini Twin Cam 8V & 16V conversion details

A close look at my mate Anthony’s Twin cam 8v cylinder head from a BMW K series motorbike for fitment to an A series engine and what is required to make the conversion work.
Conversion parts available from specialist components

[@TheCell-vx3pk]

I'm always surprised how many head to block combination just work.
Sure Mini is owned by BMW for decades now, but I wonder if they worked together with Rover on the K series engine, or if it is just pure coincidence for the head to fit. And even if they did, it isn't quite that common to take exactly that engine to work together on without major changes.

[@performanceclassics1986]

I’ve often wondered the exact same. The head pattern is soo similar that it seams too much of a coincidence that they fit soo easily. I do wonder if they maybe used part of the A series design specification when producing the bike engine 🤷‍♂️. We will never know but I’m sure pleased it works 🤣

[@philtucker1224]

Hi Craig I know this video is a few months old now but I really enjoyed watching it. (I served my apprenticeship purely on cylinder head development for race and rallying back in the 1970s and am still very much an anorak on the subject. Your explanation of this conversion was excellent. Live long and prosper 🖖

[@performanceclassics1986]

Thanks very much phil. Appreciate that comment👍

[@zigandemeistree13]

hi craig....is there any different head gasket between 8v & 16v?

[@performanceclassics1986]

Hello, as far as I’m aware the head gasket for both 8v and 16v are the same 👍

[@TT3.2]

The collaboration whilst designing the Rover K series of engines was with Honda 👍🏻

[@philtucker1224]

Craig at the end you mentioned the lower end plate has a seal “ for the original camshaft to go through” so I assume the original cam gets left in the block - to maintain oil pressure through the original oil galleries in the block?

[@performanceclassics1986]

That’s right phil. The original cam is only used as a shaft to drive the oil pump. You can just machine all the lobes off a standard cam and fit that to drive the oil pump only.

[@bernardwarr4187]

Many thanks for the info. Very much appreciated