I have access to a milling machine. Is there any reason why I couldnt find a solid lump of metal and make my own head? it would still be OHV but with 8 ports.

I have had a look at the waterways inside the head and from what I can gather could be basically replicated by boring holes lengthways down either side of the head then inwards at various points so they mesh with the holes in the block. (obviously theres more involved)
.

I know there is tonnes more variables to take into account



Is there a simple reason as to why it cannot be done?

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In theory and simple terms , yes it's possible , just a hell of a lot of work and time . To most people it's uneconomical to put the time into it if they are doing it commercially when an existing cross flow head can be bought for a couple of thousand but if it's a spare time project and you don't put a dollar figure on your labour and design time then it's fine .

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Anything is possible given enough time & resources.
Getting a billet/ingot is going to be your first major hurdle.

If I had access to a mill, I would do my own Bimmer conversion.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

I know there is 1001 measurements to take into account, But at the end of the day I would just be copying a standard head appart from the port routing.

I am going to make one out of wood first. just to get an idea.

Its cool if it takes a year as I am not doing it for profit.

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Would you hand cut all the intake and exhaust ports? If they're not optimised for air flow, it may work worse than a standard 5 port head. Getting a five axis mill head into a confined space is going to be a physical limitation, I'd have thought. That's why heads are cast.

I reakon I will bore them and then just blend the pockets and slightly elongate them.

I would try and incline the inlet ports as much as I can so it will flow directly into the back of the valve. In this case a fairly straight and round port should flow well.

The exhaust ports are of lesser importance, IMO

I will do most of the work by hand, I have a set of burrs with a 6inch shank so reaching is no problem.

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Interesting! you may want to cut up an old iron head first, I think the waterways may be more complex than you think?

Having said that, it would be easy for say a drag race Mini, they don't have to run for that long!

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

Just as a side thought to this , I have often wondered if it would be possible to make a head from shaped alloy and alloy pipe (of some form , I know distortion would be a huge problem ) and weld it all together . Probably have huge reliability issues but for a short run engine (drags , hillclimb etc) it might last for a little while .

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I think it would be possible. A standard head is pretty crap really. Once you port it etc etc it ends up thin. Also the iron that these things are made from isnt the greatest either.

in regards to the water routing, it seems as though there is basically a gallery that runs either side of the chambers to a large open area where the thermostat is. There also seems to be short gallerys that extend a inch or so inwards between the chambers.

the corresponding water holes in the block and head also run up and down the outside of the head. Join em all up and bobs ur aunty.

who knows if I think about it I could try and improve the gallerys around the exhaust valves guides to keep em cooler.

No reason why not......

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Just borrow a CNC machine & make it 2 piece, bolt together (top & bottom halves) just like the one that`s on the program we have right now,,,oh!!! did i say that out loud?

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

i once gave a piece of a head away for analysing. its not that bad you may think.
all parts i had analysed are up to do the job they are designed to

i've cut a head open, maybe i can make some pics of it

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Rover 214 atm ....

You're not the first one to think of making a better A series head.
Have a look at some of these classics:
http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk/mk1_classic_tuning.htm

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Too many cars, and too little time.

I thought this post was going to about a Tasmanians sister

How long till its ready matt?

we only live for 100 years

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thats interesting mate,

If you do post some photos I would appreciate it. I still think the water routing is not "that" critical.

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