13 replies to this topic

[The Reverand]

Hi all. Soon i'll be doing some repair work on the car and hopefully a fresh build. I've never done this before and I'm thinking that the 'Haynes Restoration Manual' would be a good investment.

Has anyone got this book, and how good is it?

thanks in advance.

[DAVEY_C]

yea i have 1 and refere back to it every now and again.... its a good starting point and and explains a bit of everything.... i'd say get 1 because the info is usefull..... as you prob already know a mini is never finished and always a project but the bodywork is suprisingly handy but time consuming.

good luck when you start it and don't forget to post it up in the projects part mate....

[The Reverand]

Nice one. Thanks for the reply.

Does it cover all aspects like panels replacements, sub frame restoration, and painting, etc?

[mab01uk]

I agree its a good quality book with good clear pictures.

Dubbed 'Car of the Century' the evergreen Mini, with its spares availability, unrivalled economy and usability, is the ideal restorer's car. This book - covering all models including the Mini-Cooper - details how to renovate bodywork; renew interiors; give new life to mechanical and electrical components including engine overhaul and suspension subframe renewal; and modify the car for improved performance and appearance, including engine swaps and wider wheels. The text, supported with nearly 900 illustrations, chronicles the history of the Mini, and advises how to find a good example for purchase.
http://www.haynes.co.../...1&langId=-1

[The Reverand]

I agree its a good quality book with good clear pictures.

Dubbed 'Car of the Century' the evergreen Mini, with its spares availability, unrivalled economy and usability, is the ideal restorer's car. This book - covering all models including the Mini-Cooper - details how to renovate bodywork; renew interiors; give new life to mechanical and electrical components including engine overhaul and suspension subframe renewal; and modify the car for improved performance and appearance, including engine swaps and wider wheels. The text, supported with nearly 900 illustrations, chronicles the history of the Mini, and advises how to find a good example for purchase.
http://www.haynes.co.../...1&langId=-1

Cheers for that. I think i'll treat myself a copy for my birthday (in about 53 minutes anyway )

[WRLondon]

yeah haynes manual is an essential starting point
and always a brill refrence even for the experienced mechanics
what video is your sig from?
its bl***y funny!

[The Reverand]

yeah haynes manual is an essential starting point
and always a brill refrence even for the experienced mechanics
what video is your sig from?
its bl***y funny!

lol. I found it on an VWdub forum

[shaun617]

Happy Birthday

[Kerrin]

Practical Classics magazine did / do a mini restoration guide book, which I found better than the Haynes book, the photographs and general guidance is simpler but also more logical and easier to follow.

Get both if you have the funds.

[The Reverand]

Happy Birthday

Ta dude. I'm off now to get drunk and eye up that defrosting gateau in the kitchen......hehehhe


Thanks for the replies. I'll deffo look into it, and hopefully get a project thread going.

Edited by The Reverand, 07 October 2010 - 08:15 PM.

[mars red mike]

Happy Birthday old timer hahaha

Aint you at work tomorrow then?

[The Reverand]

Happy Birthday old timer hahaha

Aint you at work tomorrow then?

Cheers bud.

Nah mate. Got today off and next week off

[lolly]

We stood reading it in Halfords for about an hour - looks a good manual!!!

[tomgale]

its not brilliant, i got one with a magazine subscription, it has some advice but the text is very old, the advice 'from your local austin rover unipart' is pretty useless as are brand names from 15 years ago. only tells you how to do certain things too, we spent ages trying to make sense of the clutch removal instructions untill we realised that it only has pre-verto clutches without any mention of the later type but for an overall impression, its not bad