I'm looking at buying an engine block and head from a 1st gen. What is the best way to determine if it is an R50 or 53? It has no obvious (to me) parts still bolted on. Has the oil filter housing, valve cover, oil pan, crank pulley...
The R50 crankshaft pulley has longer spokes and less rubber. The impressions on the intake side of the head are different, if the gasket impressions surround each intake port, it is an R50.
quick ways... the valve cove has tag "MINI" on the Valve cover.. the r50 doesnt have the badge.. just "1.6 LTR" The heads are the same from outside. with the HEAD off.. then look at the piston at Top Dead Center the r53 will be approx .145" in the hole, where the r50 will be closer to the top of the bore. Also, yes... the r50s use individual gaskets for each intake runner ( as the Mani is plastic) the r53s use a one piece gasket for the intake. There are major difference in the compression height and the deck.. so they wont interchange from one induction to the other... cool?? OK-OK.. they will physically interchange.. but!!! Just saying........................... Thumper
So, if there's a MINI badge on the cover it could be either, if there's no badge it's an R50...maybe.
The location of the block's coolant jacket port cover plate is another external indicator of model. Facing the engine, R53 is on the left, R50 on the right.
Ok, it has the crank pulley from an R53, and the coolant cover plate is on the left, but no external oil cooler.
That is an R53, I can see where a supercharger and R53 belt tensioner have been in the past, and the idler would not have been used on an R50.
Looks like you got an interesting mix there. The head looks like it was from a cooper non S as the intake looks like it had the individual gaskets and it's only got 3 studs there?? But it looks like an S block, then you have the the cooper oil filter housing. I'd be suspisious of what you got and take it apart before using it.
Weird huh? I only picked it up for parts, so not going to use as is. Oh and I took the intake studs and used them to "hang" the header on my MINI. Started a few bolts, then pulled the studs out, put remaining bolts in.
Picture of valves....? R50/R53..? Someone mentioned "dimples" for an R53. Only thing I found/read was inconel exhaust valves are on an R53. I don't know if one can tell by just looking so any help is appreciated.
those are the valves from a r53 !! the r50s are smooth with no "l" or dimple. just saying........................... Thumper