15 replies to this topic

[087dave]

Hi all

I have freshly rebuilt a mg metro engine but I have been offered a Mini Cooper s engine.

Does anyone have any information on the cooper s engine?

Are they as good as the metro engine?
Thanks

[The Matt]

Depends what Cooper S engine it is. Get pics (or engine age) and get back to us. Real Cooper S engines are wort a dmfair bit now.

[The Matt]

A real Cooper S engine wpuld be pretty old too...different in a few ways to the Metro one. Check that it's not just an A+ Mini Cooper (mainstream) engine

[087dave]

It's green in colour and the head has a lot of material behind the thermostat

[brownspeed]

Cooper S has an extra cylinder head stud near the thermostat housing

[087dave]

So are they meant to be an 11 stud head?

[nicklouse]

So are they meant to be an 11 stud head?

Yes all Cooper S had 11 studs ( well 10 and a bolt) but having that does not make it an S though.

[KernowCooper]

Bear in mind if its just power your after the claimed output of both engines was very similar 72bhp for the MG Metro and 75bhp for the original A series 1275 Cooper S, If you have a freshly built MG Metro engine then unless the Cooper S is rebuilt already your swapping like for like power outputs if standard spec, and then having to rebuild the S Unit.

 

If its a genuine S 1275 engine as matt said its worth a lot of money, yes the S has lots of internal differences but in every day motoring is that worth it in your fitment ?

[nicklouse]

Also consider the ancillary differences.

[racingbob]

when I was at slarks I'm sure he said he had never seen a standard mg metro engine

make the power it claims on the dyno

 

I know that because when I took mine up ( mg metro engine standard )

I said should be 72 plus as maniflow and KN filter fitted, hopefully about 75 +

 

I remember him smiling, oh and it didn't make it

[Spider]

Bear in mind that the original Cooper S (MKI and MKII Blocks) were the first in the evolution of the 1275 engine range.

 

Unless you need a Cooper S engine for say a period restoration, I wouldn't hesitate to walk over it to take the A+ Engine.

 

However, from my experience, I've found the blocks in the year ranges leading up to the A+ (aprrox 1974 to 1978) to be the pick of the bunch, mind you, if it's been mistreated or was in the first group off the line on a Monday Morning, then even the 1959 vintage 850 engines were better,,,,,,

[087dave]

Thanks for the replies was there a front engine mount on the cooper s engine?

[Cooperman]

The 'S' block will have removable cam chest covers on the back face of the block and the crankshaft will have nominal 1.625" big-end journals as opposed to 1.75" big-ends with the non-'S' engines.

The crankshaft of the 'S' is made from drop-forged EN40B steel and that is stamped on the crankshaft.

A true 'S' engine, in complete form, is worth a LOT of money these days - possibly as much as £1400. Someone restoring a Mk.1 or mK.2 's', or using one for competition and needing a spare engine would willingly pay that or more.

[nicklouse]

Thanks for the replies was there a front engine mount on the cooper s engine?

No Mini engine (engine not power unit) has a front mount.

Later minis had a gearbox mount that went to the front of the subframe.

Some A series engine had a different front plate which allowed a front mount as required for that car. I forget which it was though.

[KernowCooper]

Morris 1000/Marina/Ital mount each side ?

 

Quoted bhp and actual is still with us even today, renault were exposed some years back when Tiff Nedell drove a Clio 182 and said it did not feel like that power, when tested it was 22bhp short at the flywheel

Edited by KernowCooper, 25 June 2015 - 08:41 PM.