What does the Fastest Supercharged MINI in the UK and Team TSW have in common?
They both use a Thumper Head or Head Cam Combo.
Click here to see Testimonials
Disclaimer and Myth Buster
Porting and Cams do the same thing in every motor. There’s nothing magical about our MINI Cooper’s. They all give you more power. The issue is how, when and where does that power come from and does it need other hardware or software to make it work?
If you want a detailed understanding of the Thumper philosophy check out http://minicooperheadporting.info and http://www.wighat.com/fcr3/camtruth.htm
There’s lot’s of smoke and mirrors in the head and cam business. Please do YOUR independent research and be careful of vendors selling hardware that only they can tune. Click here to see Testimonials
Installing a Crower Nitrostick Cam
BANG for the BUCK mod
For ANY 1st Gen MINI.
Crower’s decades of quality are well known by the thousands that have installed them. Cut and modified by Crower Cams in San Diego CA. Thumper bought his FIRST Camshaft from Crower in 1972 yes he is that old. The NS1 and NS2 are good for 10 plus WHP and even more TQ on bone stock MINI’. Many have shown 18-22 HP and 20+ TQ with a Tune.
The NS Cam is designed for how you drive your MINI MOST of the Time. Most other cams are designed to run and give power at or above 6500 RPM’s. The NS Cam is designed to give power from idle to redline.
Crower NS1 is a mid performance cam great for the daily driver and part time track MINI. Will work on Bone Stock MINI or with your mods. It Will out perform cams costing much more. Just bolt on. No tune or special hardware or software requirements like many other cams.
Crower NS2 cam is just more power and works better with an ECU tune but not always needed. This is a great cam for Track MINI’s and anyone looking to make more power in higher RPM’s.
If you have questions please email Michael with the following information. Year and model of MINI. List of Mods, current and future, tell him how you plan to use the MINI, your timeline, any questions. Michael works a Ported Head or cam to YOUR needs and goals, this is custom work, with customers needs our highest priority.
FREE SHIPPING in the lower 48
Core Fee $50.00
Ported and Polished Heads for ALL MINI Coopers
A Labor of Lust. Lust for more POWER!
Heads are reconditioned to Performance specs listed below one at a time by hand, the hands of Michael Schultz, a MINI Owner. Michael’s porting cylinder heads for over 40 years, and thru this experience He has developed a powerful addition for our MINI's. He treats each head as if it going to be installed on his MINI. Michael is an active member of www.sunshineminis.org , a MOTD veteran and retired US Navy.
If you have questions Please email Michael with the following information. Year and model of MINI. List of Mods, current and future, tell him how you plan to use the MINI, your timeline, any questions. Michael works a head to YOUR needs and goals, this is custom work with customers needs our highest priority.
Thumper Ported Head Info
Heads are pressure tested, cleaned and ready to install. Be make sure your work area is 100% clean before unpacking and installing your new investment.
Intake and Exhaust Bowls have gone thru extensive Bowl work, smoothing and blending, modifying the Valve boss to direct and increase air flow, with attention to the short radius.
- INTAKE ports are PORTED out to gasket size. The roof of the port is raised for better fuel distribution and smoothed into the throat/ bowl.
- The EXHAUST port is Ported and blended deep into the Bowl opening the pocket and runners, and then Polished.
- The Stock valve size is retained for minimum of low and mid range power loss when off boost in daily driving.
- A Performance Valve Job is done with a "Flow" back cut on the valve to increase low lift flow at the valve for higher velocity and cylinder filling.
- Combustion Chambers worked to remove any hot spots.
- The now PORTED Head is surfaced flat to insure proper seal.
- Great for a Daily Driver looking for an edge in traffic and an aggressive day at the Track.
- Add $150.00 for the following set of gaskets; Head, intake manifold, exhaust manifold and valve cover. Why buy new gaskets when you might be able to use some of the old ones? It’s cheap insurance to cover labor costs. It’s a bummer to install a new head to only find out after it’s all back together that you have a gasket leak. You will have 1-2 hours of labor to then replace a given gasket. Please protect your investment and get a NEW set of Gaskets.
- Add Stainless Valves, email for prices.
- Three Heads for every driver and every MINI.
Head Cam Combos
Click here to see Testimonials
When you are ready to have Thumper port a Head, your NS cam will work great with it too. If you are ready to invest in a Thumper Performance Ported Head, check out the Thumper Head Cam Combos below.
TPR-1 Ported Thumper Head
Head/intake/valve cover/Header GASKETS
Performance NS1-NS2-Crower Camshaft fitted
ARP Head Studs
TPR-2 Ported Thumper Head
Head/intake/valve cover/header gaskets
Performance NS-2-Crower Camshaft fitted
ARP Head Studs
TPR-1 $1800.00 FREE Shipping in the Lower 48.
TPR-2 $2300.00 FREE Shipping in the lower 48.
$500.00 refundable Core fee.
I don’t like Core Fee’s. Please understand we NEED your OEM head/cam for the next MINI owner just like another MINI owner did for you. Your Core Fee will be refunded when you return your useable OEM head/cam within 21 days of getting your new Thumper head.
Do you already have a Cam on your OEM Head? Take your Cam to the next level with a Ported Head by Thumper!
Thumper TPR-1 Ported Head with stock size valves to maintain the low end when you are OFF boost. Usual mods are the exhaust/ pulley/ CAI this head is perfect for the spirited drive, the occasional Track day!! Many report improved MPG.
$1195.00 plus small core fee $500.00 which will be refunded when we receive your core in useable condition.
FREE SHIPPING of Thumper Head in Lower 48.
$1195.00 + $500.00 refundable core fee w/ FREE SHIPPING
Thumper TPR-2 Suggested Mods 17-19% pulley/ CAI/ exhaust / camshaft and a tune... we have that covered. Great power mid to top end. This Head combo is showing More Torque and HP under 7150 revs than many BV Racing Head. High flow larger stainless valves with the under cut stems.
$1695.00 plus small core fee $500.00, which will be refunded when we receive your core in useable condition.
FREE Shipping of Thumper Head in Lower 48.
$1695.00 + $500.00 refundable core fee w/ FREE SHIPPING
Click here to see testimonials.
Thumper Performance Racing Head Custom built to order email us your specs for pricing.
- The above PORTED Head is more aggressively worked in the Throat and Bowls
- Oversize Stainless High flowing Valves with undercut stems are added for increased air flow
- Valves sizes as large as +1.5 mm.
- Deeper bowl porting, and roof re-contour for the Higher Flow and RPM potential.
- Advise us on RPM and Camshaft specs
Plus $500.00 refundable core fee will be added to ALL Heads ordered. Core fee is REFUNDED if core is received in good and useable Condition within 30 Days of delivery of ported head to customer. Some Chambers have shown cracks. Refund will be declined if cracked.
If you have questions or are Ready to Order? Please email Michael with the following information. Year and model of MINI. List of Mods, current and future, tell him how you plan to use the MINI, your timeline, any questions. Michael works a head to YOUR needs and goals, this is custom work with customers our highest priority.
See details regarding the above Dyno
Now the Legal Stuff.
Disclaimer; AutoXCooper.com, Dustin Etheredge, Thumper of Orange Park and Michael Schultz do not in any way guarantee any specific gain of Horse Power with the use of our heads.
We stand behind our work and are proud that 100% Customer’s would buy another head from Thumper. However due to the nature of our business and use of products we service, we can only offer the below Workmanship Guarantee. It is the sole responsibility of the Customer to ensure that the use of their vehicle and products and or services purchased comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
30 Day Workmanship Guarantee
- PROOF OF PURCHASE - Proof of Purchase is required for any repairs to be covered by this guarantee. The owner of the cylinder head must present the original purchase invoice. The repaired of replaced parts shall be covered by this Workmanship guarantee for 30 days beginning from the day that the head is delivered.
- INSTALLATION - Our guarantee only applies if the cylinder head is identical to the original cylinder head, which it replaces, by a qualified mechanic representing the standards and installation procedure shown by approved manuals carefully installs it. The MINI Head goes on one way and ONLY one way.
- USE - Our guarantee only covers normal use. Damages to the cylinder head attributable to improper installation, misuse, improper use, alterations, modifications or accident will cause the guarantee to be null and void. There is a break-in guideline that must be followed to the letter to protect YOUR investment.
- HEAT LEVEL INDICATOR - A "Heat Level Indicator" is installed on each of our cylinder heads. Should the center part of such indicator melt or be modified following engine overheating, or should it be removed, this guarantee shall become null and void.
- PRIOR NOTICE - In case of any defect, please contact us immediately at the number indicated on this website in order to receive the proper instructions PRIOR TO REMOVING THE CYLINDER HEAD. Any repairs done without our prior authorization shall cause this guarantee to be null and void. All claims must be submitted within FOURTEEN (14) Days of the cylinder head failure.
- TRANSPORTATION - Following obtaining a "Return Authorization Number", the defective cylinder head and the gaskets shall be forwarded to us with the UPS ARS shipping label provided with the invoice.
- EXCLUSIONS - Except to the extent of Prohibited by Applicable Laws, no other warranties whether expressed or implied, including guarantee or warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, shall apply to the purchased cylinder head. Under no circumstances shall AutoXCooper.com, Dustin Etheredge, Thumper of Orange Park and or Michael Schultz be liable for consequential damages sustained, including towing, vehicle rental, hotel accommodations, meals, lost time, damages caused to engine parts other than the cylinder head, etc.
BRISK Silver Racing Spark Plugs
BRISK PLUGS
Prevent detonation and improve performance!
ALTA performance is finally offering what customers are asking for! Spark plugs! High performance spark plugs go hand and hand with high performance cars, and we can now satisfy the customer’s needs!
When searching for the ultimate spark plugs we looked to an industry leader Brisk! Brisk offers many types of spark plugs ranging from copper to Silver electrode. Most people are familiar with the Iridium, or platinum electrode spark plugs, but Brisk specializes in something no one else offers, Silver Electrodes!
Silver is the best thermal (heat) conductor of all metals
- Allows for a wide spark plug heat range
- Excellent heat dissipation under max power
- Excellent resistance to fouling under light load operation
Silver is the best electrical conductor of all metals
- Most free electrons
- Best power delivery
- Most powerful spark
Material |
Thermal Conductivity W/(m*K) |
Electrical Conductivity MS/m |
Silver |
407 |
66 |
Copper |
384 |
57 |
Gold |
310 |
45 |
Iridium |
147 |
18 |
Platinum |
70 |
10 |
Nickel |
59 |
10 |
Construction:
- 1.5 mm Silver Fine Wire Center Electrode
- Reduces stress and wear on your coil and other ignition components
- Fires properly even if partially fouled, where standard plugs will fail
Excellent for:
- Standard and High compression engines
- Forced induction applications
- Nitrous applications
- Methanol/ethanol injection
- LPG
- Any hard to ignite type of fuel applications
- High RPM race engines where a short time for the ignition coil saturation is
- Beneficial even for old vehicles with a weak ignition systems and/or excessive oil consumption
Tapered or Cut-Back Ground Electrode:
- Provides sharp edges for easy spark discharge
- Excellent spark exposure to the air/fuel mixture
- Faster flame front propagation in the initial stages of ignition due to reduced ground electrode obstruction
High dielectric strength:
- Fine wire center electrode (not just tip) increases the thickness of insulator between the center electrode and the spark plug shell for higher mechanical and dielectric strength.
BRISK SILVER RACING SPARK PLUG Low Required Supplied Ignition Voltage - is achieved by utilization of optimized diameter Silver enter electrode, along with tapered ground electrode. Silver is the best thermal and electrical conductor of all metals and provides far superior electron flow for best possible spark plug spark delivery. This spark plug feature is beneficial in forced induction applications, or applications where the ignition system is pushed to the limit in modified power applications and applications with hard to ignite fuels such as alcohol, LPG, Nitro methane and other. Brisk Silver Plug Lower Required Supplied Ignition Voltage is also beneficial for easier cold starts and operation under partially fouled spark plug condition caused by A/F management problems, oil consumption and other. Small diameter of the spark plug center electrode allows for thicker ceramic insulator walls and increased distance between the spark plug center electrode and spark plug shell walls. Increased spark plug center el. to spark plug shell distance, and spark plug special thick design insulator provides exceptional spark plug dielectric strength, and keeps the spark plug from dielectric breakdown in the most extreme working environments.
For Cooper’s and Cooper S Models w/std. S/C Pulley use BRSK-DR14S
For Cooper S Model’s w/15% or larger S/C Pulley Upgrade (or JCW Cars) use BRSK-DR12S
$43.99 + $10.00 Shipping
8mm Performance Spark Plug Wire Set for R53/52/50
8mm high performance spark plug wire set. These are custom made for the Mini not adapted from another car. You can't see it in the picture but each wire is numbered. These are the highest quality and use Behru components. Blue is our standard color. Also available in red, black, and purple for $4.00 more.
$28.00 + $10.00 Shipping
$32.00 + $10.00 Shipping
8mm Performance Spark Plug Wire Set for R53/52/50 with "fire braid" Covers
Each wire is covered with a nomex type seath that is good for 1200 degrees. Each wire in numbered. These wires are the highest quality and use Behru components. Blue is our standard color. Also available in red, black, and purple.
$52.00 + $8.00 Shipping
R56 Panel Filter AMP-INT-106
High Flow Foam Filter for your R56!
The ALTA panel filter is not just a normal panel filter replacement like many others. The older R53 Mini air box was made pretty well in that the portion above and below the filter is very open. The New R56 filter is much different!
The lower portion of the R56 filter has very little room for air to travel across the entire filter. We saw room for improvement in this filter by making it slightly offset and slightly thinner. This simple change allows for more air to be drawn across the entire filter. Besides that, it is a high flow foam filter, which like all our other filters provides less restriction, and the ability to clean it for the life of the car.
From the above diagram you can see how much thicker the OEM filter is and how far it hangs down. The Alta filter provides roughly 2 times the volume of air under the filter. Dyno results will follow very soon! Installation of this filter can be done in 5 minutes of work and be clean hundreds of times before needing replacement.
R56/55 S Only
$47.99 + $7.50 Shipping
Panel Air Filter
Introducing the ALTA Performance™ dual stage, “Open Cell” foam, drop-in Panel Filter.
Instead of clogging up the landfills with yet another paper air filter, try the ALTA option. Introducing the ALTA Performance™ dual stage, “Open Cell” foam, drop-in Panel Filter. The more you use it, the more it defies dirt and let’s air in. Rinse clean and re-oil for nearly unlimited re-use. Now that’s environmentally friendly.
The ALTA Performance™ dual stage foam drop in panel filter provides maximum power gains while still removing harmful particulates from your intake air charge. Paper and gauze filters only trap dirt on the surface of the filter. As the filter gets dirty the surface will begin to restrict the airflow to your motor. The ALTA Performance™ foam filter will trap dirt in the air charge on the multiple different levels of the 3 dimensional foam matrix. As the filter gets "dirty" it will not restrict airflow. The ALTA MINI Performance™ panel filter has a large surface area and is produced in a vivid blue to visibly show the user when the filter needs to be cleaned. Easy to clean and re-oil for years of use.
$45.99 + $7.50 Shipping
Testimonials
NOW The MINI ( R50 and R52 NON-S) Have a PROVEN Performance Mod!! No Longer do you need to listen to the reply...." buy a MCS!!"
TPR-1 and the Nitrostick NS2 or NS1 camshaft... equals....
"Still breaking things in, so I'm taking it a bit easy for now, but I've gotten on it several times and it's very, very nice. It actually chirps the tires shifting into 2nd at WOT and redline, which it never did before. One of my biggest complaints with the Shrick cam was the peakiness of it - nothing below 4000 RPM's, then all the power from there up and then falling on its face above 6400 RPM. And, a major, major dip in power between 3K and 4K rpms. While Jan's tuning did take some of that out and improve driveability, it couldn't take it all out.
With the current setup (TPR-1 and NS2), the dip between 3-4K RPM's is gone. It keeps pulling all the way to redline - and I think it would keep going, so I'll need to get that bumped up. No more drop off! Part throttle acceleration is crisp - full throttle is greatness. It actually pulls everywhere, even down low, although the fun really starts at 4000...." Team TSW
Dyno coming soon.
Thumper TPR-2 Head with NS2 Cam combo
“Installed the TPR-2 Head Cam combo last week and OMG! The MINI pulls so hard from 1000 RPM to and above Redline. I can SPIN the tires power shifting into 3rd gear WOW! Plus as my daily driver it’s totally happy stuck in traffic too. Doesn’t load up or kick me for not keeping it at redline. I also down shift less to pass too. Now that I have all my hardware done I’ll get an ECU tune and let you know what happens then. 2002 MSC owner GH”
Thumper Performance (TPR-1 just head)
Mileage with heads is BETTER
“The mileage, when I keep my foot out of it has gotten better! The first week I had it I saw about 23mpg, naturally because I was beating on it. However: On the way up to Thumper's, I saw 27.3 mpg from Tampa to Jax. That was with many (5 or 6) 75-120mph passes. On the way back, between Orange Park and Ocala, I saw 28.7mpg (calculated by filling up and dividing the distance) Between Ocala and Tampa, According to the OBC I saw 28.1 That is better than the car was stock.”
Posted SSM 12/06
Thumper Ported Head even works UPSIDE Down !!
(Aussie Dynos read extremely low as to the Dynos in the US!)
Hi Mike,
I went to another dyno day and wow it must be the Aussie dynos!!!!!
My car was putting out 140kW (without meth injection), there were other cars there with after market heads and they only managed around the 130kW mark!!!!! With the meth my car is putting out mid-high 140's. One person in particular only put out 133kW and he had spent 3 times as much as me and has a full racing set up!!!!!! So this makes me feel much better! LOL!
Sorry to stress you out!!!!!!!! Your head rocks and all is good!
Thanks
... few days later...!!
Hi Mike,
I found out what the other heads were at the dyno day and I have included 2 of their dyno graphs, the third guy would not give me a copy because he had the shits! There was a Cosworth stage 2 head, a mini madness stage 2 head and a local job polished and ported with 1.5mm oversized ultric valves. All had shrick cams. My head kicked ass and at half the price! ( Thumper Performance Head TPR-1) Check out the torque curve of mine compared to the 2 others! No wonder mine pulls like a bloody elephant!!!! One very happy Aussie!
Thanks Mate!!!!
... and finally…
Hi Mike,
I thought I would let you know what is happening down under! I got my car tuned by some guys who finally know what they are doing and the car is putting out 163kW (without meth). The guys at the shop think that with larger injectors and the water meth on and running properly that 170kW is possible....(the water/meth jet is too big and I need to get a smaller one but that is another story) WOW!
Here is the dyno graph attatched....
So 163kW equates to about 220hp and this is on an Aussie dyno!!!!!
On one of your American ones it would be putting out a lot more probably more than a RMW head!!!!
YOU ARE A DEAD SET LEGEND MIKE!!!!!
Supporting mods will help make more power.
One of the reasons why you see manufactures show a range of power estimates. Look at it this way: Lets say you bolt on one of his heads to a stock motored mini. Lets entertain ourselves and say he picked up 12whp on the dyno. OMG this head must not be that great only 12whp. What you have to understand is that when someone like Thumper says his product will make 18-30hp, its pretty much implied these days that you have the supporting mods to take full advantage. Since this head breathes better, the engine is now being limited in power production because of the exhaust / intake and tuning. So take the same scenario, but the next car has headers, cat back a cold air intake and a 15% pulley. Lets say they pick up 20whp. Now this same head rocks because the person was able to take advantage of the extra flow that a head provided. Lets change it up a bit. Lets say you were in the stock mini that now has the head added. You go out and see the pulley claims a 7-10whp increase. So you add the pulley and dyno again and pick up 15 whp. Wow how did the pulley do so much? It is because the head took advantage of the extra air you were putting in the motor. If I had to do all of this over again, I would have done the head first. Even though its not the cheapest mod, it is one of the best for the money. Aside from the pulley or nitrous will you not find a better bang for the buck for this car. The bottom line is that the head will make the most of any mods that you do. If you start with that, you will see much higher gains for each mod you do since those mods will likely work better with the better head.
2004 MINI Cooper “S”
Here are the results of Ported Thumper Performance Head on my 04 Mod’d MINI. Quarter mile time dropped from 15.4 et’s @ 93 mph to a 14.9 @ 96 mph. Of course the 60 fts were as usual.. bad!! (edit: Wheel HP went from 187 WHP to over 211 WHP ( 240+ BHP !) see Dyno run. ) Thanks Thumper.
Thumper performance head installed - Wow!
Yesterday I had a new head installed on my 06 Cooper S, and the shrick swapped over to it. The car is freaking unleashed! The seat of the pants dyno says that this thing is unreal. Prior to getting the head done my best pull was 196.4whp/173tq with the following mods: JCW injectors/ecu software, shrick cam, megan header, milltek exhaust, Random Tech cat, Alta CAI, IC, 17%, 0% lw crank pulley. Next weekend I plan on getting it dynod at my usual dyno just to see what kinda numbers it is putting down. I can happily/sadly say traction is an issue in first gear! ( Those results were 225WHP )
Post on NAM 12/06
All I can say is that the car is unbelievable now.
I already had the laundry list of mods and just wanted to be above the 200whp net. I definitely think I have surpassed this, but we will see next weekend. 2nd gear has crazy pull now, and 5th and 6th on the interstate will get you around just about anything. I cant wait till the next track event to see how the low end jump helps pull out of the corners in 2nd!!!
Posted SSM 12/06
Some Info on the TPR-2 Ported Head.
TPR-2 VS a RMW Head ...... The TPR-2 head with 15% pulley, Janspeed manifold, JCW CAI,stock cat back and newman cam - generated the same hp/trq curve as : RMW head Janspeed JCW CAI 15% stock cat back newman cam combo.
***** Independant Dyno run in the UK, by an independant Shop (1320 Auto )
TPR-2
Independent dyno UK 05/11/09
"just letting you know, your head made 276bhp with a 17% pulley with ambient temps of 22c. don't have all the figures. i've asked them to see the difference with a 15% pulley, may get more power at the top end and still have pretty good torque.
one of the dyno runs made 287bhp but was never reproduced due to temperatures going too high. { This is more again than the results posted against the BVH shown on graph}
About the Attachment...
"As some of you aware Mike sent us a head to do some testing and see what we can get out of it in the way of performance on the dyno and on the track. As you can see from the dyno sheet comparing the RMW head and tune on Big Shows car and the Thumper head and a Chris tune on 1320’s Mini. We still need to do some more testing off combos as and when we can but we have achieved the following so far." (Note: these numbers were with a bad ECU!)
******This car has gone 11.70's on a 80 shot of Nitrous
UPDATE: Car Has NOW Gone 11.16 @ 123.10 MPH and is the Fastest "Super Street" MINI in the United Kingdom
As you can see.. the power is right were we want it.. " the Sweet Spot" HP- 2500 to 7100 revs/ Torque- 2100-6800 revs