25 replies to this topic

[conrad]

Hi Guys,

Long time no post! Strap in this could be a long one. (Skip to bottom if you have no interested in my life story )

Haven't posted or used the forum much since unfortunately the mini suffering some bad damage, which at the time I had neither the money, time or know how to fix. It was then sold off and with the money I got back bought myself a Rover Metro 1.1C 1991. Great little car 30K on the clock. Never taken out in the rain and 1 lady owner and the back seats were never used. Perfect little car for a run around and occasional long journey as it is cheap to run fix and insure.

So 6 months has passed driving the Metro and although I have come to love it, it is no mini! I have been suffering from withdrawal symptoms .

I have been putting some money away for another mini. Just a small amount each month kinda thing. The plan is to try and continue doing this till about May coming and purchase another Mini/Project. It will become my summer project (and what ever time and cash I have for it) for the next 3 years. I aim to make a real beauty so when I leave uni I have a great usable stunning little mini.

I am realistically a novice with cars in general. Yes i have a basic knowledge and know a little bit more here and there with what my dad has helped me with on the last mini and metro, but realistically not a great deal. The mini would be staying as my uncle's workshop where I have all the tools I need and can keep the car dry etc. I will of course have help and advice from my uncle when needed, but really i am aiming to make this a personal achievement and learning experience.

This brings me on to the whole point of this post:

How did you guys learn what you know about fixing, maintaining, modifying and restoring minis? Or cars in general.

Would really love to hear from you guys and of course any words of wisdom are always welcome! Any advice on things to read up on, that kind of thing would be really helpful!

I hope I haven't bored you completely!

Cheers

Conrad

[bcjames]

Owning a mini can be very expensive if you don't know the basics, especially as they need more attention than a modern car. That's really how I learned, through necessity, working through the Haynes manual as and when things wore out. 4 years ago I didn't know much beyond checking the oil, these days I am happy to take on most tasks and help other people with theres too. Once you do a few big jobs and get a feel for the car and your tools, things aren't so intimidating.

This site has been a huge, huge help, not just in the vast amount of information it contains, but also for inspiring me to get out in the garage and get on with my own car!

[maggies_minder]

as above i think most on here have a "give it a go" mentality, or if they are like me "not paying someone else" mentality.

ill do little things alone, bigger things, well almost anything with help.

thanks to this place we managed to setup a local club which is hugely useful, especially with the "oldies" (they know im joking), they tend to know their way around a mini.

[conrad]

Thanks for the advice guys!

It is like you both said really I am really after the self sufficiency root! I hate seeing my dad root his way round any car like no ones business before I can say 'Whoaaa! slow down i have no idea what you just did!'. It is that jealousy which has really inspired to go for it! Of course he has helped me and always will, but sometimes ends up being a little more he does it and i watch LOL!

Keep it coming people!

Edited by conrad, 27 August 2011 - 10:31 PM.

[mike.]

I've got the 'not paying someone else to do it' mindset really.

Most jobs are pretty simple on minis once you give it a go, even if they're daunting at first.

I'd never seen the inside of an engine until I bought a 1275 to rebuild for mine, and it all went pretty smooth really.

I've learnt loads of the forum as well. Getting help off experienced people and even just photos and diagrams of how something comes apart has been essential to me.

Its just welding and spraying I can't do - and on a mini, its pretty vital knowledge

Edited by mike., 27 August 2011 - 10:38 PM.

[MaxAndPaddy]

We're complete noobies to the mechanical side of things, I think its about being brave enough to have a go. The Haynes manual is the got to have buy on your list. We tended to use garages for everything but we're slowly getting more confident about doing things ourselves. Get the manual, open up the bonnet and look around.

[conrad]

Its just welding and spraying I can't do - and on a mini, its pretty vital knowledge

Good to see someone else braving it I thinking the welding is something i will need to get practising as soon as possible!

Cheers!

We're complete noobies to the mechanical side of things, I think its about being brave enough to have a go. The Haynes manual is the got to have buy on your list. We tended to use garages for everything but we're slowly getting more confident about doing things ourselves. Get the manual, open up the bonnet and look around.

I'm pretty certain i still have my Haynes manual from the last one, although i have a horrid feeling i may have left it in the boot when i sold it

Cheers

Conrad

[mike.]

The mini haynes manual is the best haynes i've ever read.

On some cars, particularly more modern cars, the haynes are useless and tell you nothing more than what you can see by looking at a part.

There also things like the 1380 engine builder DVD if your trying your first engine overhall. It helped me a fair bit with mine and it'll apply to pretty much any A series engine really.

[yousmeg]

I knew next to nothing when i got my mini, and learnt everything while i did an overhaul. my father seems to know everything about cars and has every tool i could need so he explained things to me and i did them.

[scrog]

when i was about 13 i went with my dad to the local dump where i found a honda graduate twist and go moped did'nt run but could pedal it around

my dad ask if we could take it

anyhow when we got home we cleared out the shed and he got me some spaners and a socket set
and a manual and left me to it

week a few weeks later with the biggest grin in the world i was riding it round the garden

thats what got me hook on being a grease junkie

[conrad]

I knew next to nothing when i got my mini, and learnt everything while i did an overhaul. my father seems to know everything about cars and has every tool i could need so he explained things to me and i did them.

That sound very similar to me. I'm sure ill manage fine then

when i was about 13 i went with my dad to the local dump where i found a honda graduate twist and go moped did'nt run but could pedal it around

my dad ask if we could take it

anyhow when we got home we cleared out the shed and he got me some spaners and a socket set
and a manual and left me to it

week a few weeks later with the biggest grin in the world i was riding it round the garden

thats what got me hook on being a grease junkie

Awesome! What a great way to get someone in to it!

Keep it coming guys!

Conrad

[olds_kool_lews]

i started when i was 13, when you could pick up minis for £50 or less, just started tinkering and taking them apart, then eventually i started putting them back together and selling them, or if they were to bad, id break them for parts, 1st mini cost me £25, and i have never bought a mini for more than £1000 until my lastest purchase (mini number 61! ), and i have ALWAYS made money on them, started with a £25 banger, 12years later im onto cars that sell up to and over £3500 and the missus knows my car money is my car money

[conrad]

i started when i was 13, when you could pick up minis for £50 or less, just started tinkering and taking them apart, then eventually i started putting them back together and selling them, or if they were to bad, id break them for parts, 1st mini cost me £25, and i have never bought a mini for more than £1000 until my lastest purchase (mini number 61! ), and i have ALWAYS made money on them, started with a £25 banger, 12years later im onto cars that sell up to and over £3500 and the missus knows my car money is my car money

if only they were still so cheap

at least you have the lady in line, makes things much easier!

Conrad

[asahartz]

When I was young, cars were still a bit of a luxury, so few young people could afford much more than an "old banger". And unlike todays cars, they rusted badly and needed constant repairs - I'm talking Marina/Viva here! So you learned to fix them. I had my Haynes and Autodata manuals (still prefer Autodata), plus a serial magazine - don't remember what it was called. A bit of advice from my dad, and I could keep a car on the road and fill the rust holes! I could change a Marina head gasket in 45 minutes.

Then I did a factory apprenticeship during which I learned to weld.

Then I got married and grew up and had modern cars and grew old and went back to cars I can have fun with. The difference now is that I can afford the tools and facilities. I have the time to do the jobs properly because I have more than one car and I'm not desperate to keep it on the road.

But the advantage youngsters have now is the wealth of information & advice here on the internet - well those that will listen to it anyway!

[sonikk4]

Being brought up on old bangers makes you learn very quickly how to repair things and i suppose from there it was going deeper and deeper before learning to weld and then rebuild engines etc.

I then took the leap of faith in welding other peoples cars and then onto restoration for other folks whilst restoring my Mk2 RS2000. Now Project Erm and Project Paddy.