They could well have been supplied on that engine about a year before I started... and ironically, the engine was probably built by Mike Kearney, with what was available back then. That was right around the time MM left the San Jose area and moved up to the current compound in the foothills. I'm not "with" Mini Mania but I stop in almost every week for something or other, as I usually have Minis around. My own 'compound' is less than a mile away where I provide an alternative for the serious Mini owner.

I should go back and look at the motor receipt. I know your name was one of the MiniMania receipts. I have no reason to believe that you were involved with the addition of these valve rockers or the springs. I'd wager they were an after purchase add on. The p.o. gave me a stack of receipts from MiniMania and these two items (valve train) were not represented in that pile. Full disclosure. 

I'm very grateful for the advice and will be looking at the Calver rockers.  These look to be similar to the ones on offer from Swiftune. 

Are you still with MM? 

Hahaha Amazing! I've worked for Mini Mania twice! I probably dealt with that customer after he purchased the engine because I started in July 2001 and built engines through June 2008.

So.... those Isky springs may have been used back then and may not actually be as heavy as the current ones... a lot can change in 20 years, and back then there may not have been that many choices that wouldn't coil-bind in those heads. The very best ones to use now are the C-AEG526 from Mini Spares, and absolutely, use the Calver 1.4 rocker set. I just installed those springs in my own head (with an old Keith Dodd forged 1.5 rocker set), I used them on the Mighty Moke (with the standard A+ "sintered" rocker set), and would probably use them for all out racing with this head if I had to use standard length valves.

I've shown that the Pierce head can be built up for all out racing, but what's happened is that the new Mini Spares alloy race head is that good right out of the box! I detailed how I built one (before the new one was available from England) on my YouTube channel that made 117+ HP at he wheels, was class champion into it's second season when the engine ingested something. I rebuilt with the Mini Spares race head and got 121+.

I do come by here now and then. Made a lot of friends here, and it's nice to see that most are still at it! Sometimes I post or bring back an old thread to answer a question for someone! I've worked from home for a couple of years while my little guy went from toddler to starting Kindergarten next week!!

Oh let me know if you'd like to send me that head! Mike Pierce himself will tell you probably nobody in the world can make them work better than I do.... in the low-overhead Cooper Road Mini R&D basement! At the very least, show your machine shop the video I posted in the "valve guide seals" thread...

Jemal, your name is on the receipt.

Glad to see you are still around. Those rockers are going in the bin along with the springs. Good point about the cylinder not being able to eat any of the debris from the valve tip. I was thinking about that very thing this afternoon. I can assure you that the exhaust valves did not have valve seals on the guides. I regret not taking a photo of that before sending it out. I will look at my camera to see if I have any photos of the head. Keep in mind this motor was purchased in 2000 and then only run for a very short time before being put up for many many years (15-18 years).

I will have to buy a complete new rocker assembly. Currently looking for suggestions. Thinking about the Swiftune 1.4 and dual road springs. Thanks for stopping in! How often are you on the forum?

Nah, there's no way for anything in the valve cover to get into "the bores"! A bigger problem will be your cam and lifters! Whether that engine goes back to one I did, or in recent years one of Tony's, I doubt Mini Mania would use those springs unless they were SPECIFICALLY ordered by the customer. They are insanely heavy, particularly with those rocker arms.

Watch the video I posted in the other thread, and listen closely to what I say about valve lift with those heads and rocker sets. I do know that the cam makes about .425" of exhaust valve lift with 1.5 rocker arms. Unfortunately, the standard head only allows about .410" before the bottom of the spring retainer hits the seals. Those heads have bronze guides and DO have seals on the exhaust valves.

I do not recommend that rocker set for those heads. The valves are spaced different to allow room for seats - and to fit enormous race valves if you know how! All too often people try to space the arms over the valves, and end up bending pushrods, flexing the rocker shaft (particularly with those ridiculous springs!), snapping the tips off the arms, breaking valve springs, and what happened to you... the roller tip DIDN'T, and messed up the valve.

See if the car came with another rocker set from the seller. If it's the standard A+ "sintered" type, use it! Those are the most durable reliable ones for street use, and would have been supplied standard on most 1275HP engines.

I don't think any stock rockers actually were 1.3  As I recall, S rockers were the lowest ratio, sintered next, pressed steel the best stock ones....something like 1.25 at the most

Good luck on the inspection, I hope the bores and pistons are ok.

I found that the motor is one of their 1275 "High Performance" models. 

Marketing info lifted right here from this site:

 

1275cc motor includes:

• high compression (9.75:1) performance pistons.
• Aluminum cylinder head.
• a fast road camshaft (276 degrees duration).

Someone fitted the 1.5 ratio roller rockers and springs. 

Unfortunately ( as posted in the other thread ) I found one of the valve stems has gone wonky.

I'll pull the head tomorrow and see what I can make of it. I'll ship it to the shop on Monday. 

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDGE.

I hope the bore looks okay. Worried a fleck of that stem may have wondered down into the motor. 

Or maybe a 1380

Good idea to talk with MM.

They could advise better on the rockers but 15 thou would be good to start.

As MM gets some of their products from Mini Spares in the UK you may find some information on the rockers on their site.

I would directly speak to Mini Mania about this lovely engine. .. they may have records of the exact motor build based on the engine numbers. or a stamp identifying things..  They may directly know ALOT or a little about the build.   Was it bored?   you may have a fire breathing 1310 - or a powerhouse 1280.... all good things!

I did a wee bit of digging and found this:
https://www.minimania.com/part/C-AHT446/Classic-Austin-Mini-Cylinder-Head-Roller-Tipped-Rocker-Assembly-15-Ratio

It appears the purple ones have roller tips and bronze bushings, opposed to the red ones with roller rockers and bearings. 

and if I'm just going by the MiniMania catalog...

https://www.minimania.com/part/VWE-005SP6/Classic-Austin-Mini-Valve-Spring-Dual-Isky-260lbs

or

https://www.minimania.com/part/VWE005-116/Classic-Valve-Spring-Dual-Isky-320lbs 

I also found this:

https://www.minimania.com/Valve_train___Setting_valve_clearances__lash_ 

So, it seems you are right about the ratio.  I'll need to figure out which springs and/if there is any benefit.  They are already on the car so no sense in going back to stock, is there?

.015 valve clearance for both intake and exhaust?

Ted

They are usually a performance upgrade, on a 1275 i would think they are the 1.5:1 ratio the stock ratio was around 1.3:1.

I was asking questions about valve seals in a separate thread and received some good information from a few members here. Thank you!

While investigating what sort of rocker shaft and spacers I have on my motor I looked inside the valve cover and discovered the motor on my Mini was sporting some unique looking valve components. The motor is a 1275cc / S gearing, purchased from MiniMania prior to my ownership.

When I looked in the valve cover I saw purple anodized roller rockers with orange valve springs. Are these common components? Common upgrades? How would I find more information about these items? 

Thank you,

Ted Pierson
Morgan Hill, CA