| Interesting Times
Adam & Roland I look forward to seeing how your respective conversions workout.
My only concern with these conversions is the cost. While both will undoubtedly offer major improvements how much are people prepared to spend on a Mini?
In the 944 world Jon Mitchell will build a big-bore 3.2 litre 500 bhp/500 lb/ft Porsche 944 turbo engine for £10.5k for the engine & piggyback set up plus about £1.6k for a Garrett hybrid ballbearing turbo. For this you're getting a replacement block & crank, wet-liners with ceramic bores, balanced assemblies, carillo rods, Mahle pistons (I think), heads, engine management etc all backed by ex-factory Porsche engineers & a few guys in the F1 industry.
I'd expect any engine work on a Mini to come in a lot cheaper than a basically new 500 bhp Porsche crate motor.
Even if you can pick-up secondhand Cooper S's cheaply, I'm sure cost will be the key factor. | 
