The answer to that is easy...Parts are cheaper as there are more floating around in the aftermarket arena then what there is for minis. Secondly, people have more experience building Windsor and Clevo motors than they do the A-Series.....Supply is greater than demand so the prices are lower whereas for Minis 'tis the other way around!

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

i could be completely wrong but............

i get the feeling most mini mechanics/specialists are all a bit over working on them and dont really want to take on anymore work so they'll quote higher prices hoping you won't keep bothering them.

like i said i could be wrong.........there are some who are really nice guys out there, i just dont understand how some people who work only on mini engines seem to get some stuff completely wrong??

maybe the guys who frequent the forum who run their own mini businesses can enlighten us with their daily dilemas so we can gain an understanding of what running a mini shop is all about.

What's the going hourly rate these days for a good mini mechanic? $88 per hour?

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

Yesterday $60 got poeee an oil change (he supplied oil), check of the clutch (since new gearbox was put in 1500km ago), 2 new "cotton reals" for the mounts on the rod change (including install of them, which needed the late model clubby seats out!).

I don't know how much you people are paying for your Mini specialists, but ours is a winner!

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Introducing 'LITE'. The new way to spell 'light' with 20% less letters!

I don't know my name anymore.

he couldn't do that himself??

Or why didn't you do it Adeee ???

You could have got back 60 bucks of what poeee owes you

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Too many cars, and too little time.

What it's cost you Doc sounds more akin to what I'd be expecting to pay. Mini's ain't exactly rocket-science.....a black-art, maybe.



I don't think it's as easy as that. Based on what we've been TOLD (rudely, I might add!) at a northern Melbourne Parts place a rebuild would cost TWICE that of my mustang's engine....aka 5k plus. Figuring that me and a mate did the assembly, it'd probably come down to the same if I were to pay someone to do the work...maybe. If you take that one step further, we're essentially saying that mini parts set cost TWICE that of a Windsors's.....a bizarre thing considerably there's really HALF as many bits.

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72 Clubman and a 75 Van.

PEDDRO, I reckon some of these Mini places (not all) have had it too good for too long...

A set of 73mm Hypatec pistons (1360cc) can be had for under $300, dearest single item- none of the other parts needed for a rebuild are near that, provided crank is still in one piece..
I doubt Mini parts are really dearer than corresponding Ford ones, Mustang or not!

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I can get parts at wholesale and all the parts for a rebuild a 1098 came to less than $400
(I've got a mate who's an engine rebuilder). Not hot parts mind, but decent quality - and you can knock $60 off that cos I got a gasket set cheap on the net.

Doc: do you mind if I ask your preferred supplier of rebuild parts, preferably Oz-based?

Will be interesting to see the pricing comparison between NSW and Vic, as we get into sourcing parts.

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72 Clubman and a 75 Van.

PM sent.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

First oil change after the gearbox rebuild, the mechanic wanted to check everything was ok!

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