Why This 50-Year-Old Cylinder Head Is Perfect for a Supercharged Mini

This week I’ve taken a short break from the really messy jobs and focused on some properly exciting progress on the supercharged Mini build. 📩 Contact & Links 📧 E-mail: [email protected] 🛒 CMW Online Store: https://logothatpolo.co.uk/store/cmws/ ☕ Buy Me a Coffee Want to offer a quick thank you? Have I helped you out or do you enjoy the videos? If you’ve ever thought “I’d buy that guy a beer” — now’s your chance 🍺 👉 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cmwkeith I take a detailed look at the reworked cylinder head, comparing the original 998 head with a 12G295 casting that’s been fully worked by Stuart Gurr to suit a boosted setup. We go through exactly what’s been done — porting, skimming, valve sizes, combustion chamber work, and why a lower compression ratio is essential for supercharged engines. There’s also a great bit of Mini history behind this head, donated by a subscriber who pulled it from a Morris 1100 back in the early 1970s — proof that some of the best upgrades have been around for decades. As well as airflow, cooling is critical when you add power, so I also show an OEM-style solution using a 1275 inner wing fan to keep things under control while maintaining a factory look. I test it, clean it up, treat the rust, and talk through how it’ll be wired into the car using a later radiator with a temperature switch. 00:00 Introduction & Project Update 00:50 Raptor Liner Results & Application Advice 02:45 Comparing the 998 vs 12G295 Cylinder Head 04:26 Cylinder Head Porting, Valves & Compression Explained 08:20 Cooling Upgrades – OEM Inner Wing Fan Solution 10:50 Cleaning, Rust Treatment & Final Thoughts Along the way I also: Answer questions about applying UPOL Raptor over painted and stone-chipped surfaces Share my honest thoughts on rust treatments (what works… and what doesn’t) Show a cost-effective way to clean old components using engine degreaser Plenty of useful info in this one if you’re building, modifying, or restoring a Classic Mini — especially if forced induction is on your radar. If you enjoyed the video, please give it a thumbs up 👍 Don’t forget to subscribe — over half of you watching aren’t subscribed and it really helps the channel. As always, I read and reply to all comments. Cheers, Keith 🍻