Does anyone do a Mini specific Tap & Die Set?

If not, what would people recommended?

1/4, 5/16, 3/8 UNF
1/4, 5/16, 3/8 UNC

These would be my most commonly used sizes. Intermediate taps are fine for most sizes, although I would get a finishing tap in time for the UNCs and 1/4 UNF as they are good for cleaning out drilled stud holes of crap before assembly. You won't use the larger UNCs very often however, except for studs.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Cheers Mick,

My main reason for a Tap & Die will be for cleaning out stud hole. How can I tell if I need UNF or UNC? Should I use a drilling oil or just blow the crap out with compressed air?

You can tell UNF from UNC just by looking at the thread in the hole. The UNC will look a whole lot more coarse than UNF.
Compare one end of a head stud with the other end and you can compare the two threads.

Blowing htem out helps, so does a little lubrication through thread cutting compund or oil in a pinch, but the tap or die does all the work of removing the junk from the threads that compressed air won't touch. That way your studs screw in with two fingers all the way home on assembly.

Bolts going into aluminium are UNC, the head studs are UNC, the manifold studs are UNF. I think the thermostat threads are also UNC.

Gotta be careful though, they are cutting tools, you you can cause some damage if you don't go carefully. They are also HSS material, so they will snap off if you drive the smaller ones too hard. Very difficult to remove and nearly always causing damage as retrieved.

Do a little googling on threads, you might need a few pointers involving a few pictures to understand what is going on, how to pick a thread and simple fixes for deburring damaged threads.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Cheers again Mick,

Googling I shall go, might also try the University of YouTube

Marty I will show you my kit when you come to collect the manuals, I have never had to use anything not in it.

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1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

Cool, I text ya' tomorrow to organise a time

I'll bring the Bini

I would perhaps add a 7/16" UNF tap for the main bearing bolt holes...

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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.

Especially in blind holes, one tiny twist, then snap

(I haven't done that of course, just seen it happen )

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"Show me the Mini!"

Your gonna have a mechanics workshop full of tools by the time your finished marty

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The best part of fixing your mini is the test drive

Minis..

1976 van daily drive
1975 van
1968 deluxe in the shed
1967 deluxe high strung 1310
1959 austin healey sprite

Heaven

Based on advise I made this purchase today



Made by Kincrome its a 24 pieces set I guess it's a good start! Also brought myself some big arse spanners

I hate to sound anal but I have only ever used ISO recognised type brands like P&N or Sutton etc

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It's easy once you know how.

Great advise thank you. I just picked up a cheaper set to start off with if I start using it a lot I'll upgrade as required. I do like Sutton drill bits

Same here, recognised brand (eg P&N, Sutton, etc) taps and dies are thread ground to size after heat treatment, and made from quality tool steel or HSS. The el cheapo ones are not.
Quality costs money but for cutting tools, is worth it.

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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.