[quote="Mike_Byron"]Please do - but bear in mind that we havn't seen the car either. Do you have phots of it as well .[/quote]

Mike....this may not be all that fair to Cono We don't know what sort of inspection (s) or knowledge he has of the car (maybe previous owner etc). He may have quoted on what he feels is the safest way to go in all instances (for example, remove and replace brakes shoes and wheel cylinders, size the drums and maybe skim ridges off etc)

Maybe PM the quote to you or me migt be better

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"Show me the Mini!"

Gee - if the car in the photos was in similar condition when you took it for the inspection then he certainly tried hard to find fault.

A lot of those things he mentions are important
You said your a young apprentice - apprentice what ?? Do you have another car ?? How much did you pay for the mini ???

Its virtually a full mechanical restoration being asked of you

[/b]

Well I pmed Mike and you (9YaTaH)

Thanks for the assistance guys...

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Ian - My Ve SSV Ute - Looking for a Mini

Mick - point taken but I wasn't going to be critical of the inspector just give a bit of a guide as to how he can save some money and do a bit of the work himself. It is a virtual restoration that is being requested and at some point the car would almost be best taken of the road and being restored over time.

It must also be a safe driveable vehicle at the end of the day.

Well in my opinion!

With an inspector like that who needs enemies ...

Did he also check to see if the heater was working and if the air vents were connected ?

Some of these inspectors are over the top. All they want to do is look for problems so they can make money from you! Especially if you dont know much about cars. Fair enough when major things need fixing but to mention minor things that you have mentioned is ridiculous.

Seen it before and no doubt will see it again!!!

BTW can you not get help from anyone over your way with fixing some of these things? Dont get ripped off by dodgy mechanics..

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http://sexyurl.no-ip.org/mod3l0

[quote="Mike_Byron"]Mick - point taken but I wasn't going to be critical of the inspector just give a bit of a guide as to how he can save some money and do a bit of the work himself. It is a virtual restoration that is being requested and at some point the car would almost be best taken of the road and being restored over time.

It must also be a safe driveable vehicle at the end of the day.[/quote]

Mike....I'm on the save wavelength and agree....just that we don't know the unsafe bits onboard Ians car and what logically needs to be done and in what order.

PM sent

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"Show me the Mini!"

Actually the quote is quite fair and reasonable. I have now seen the quote and the parts are basically at list and each of the jobs is quoted as separate jobs , which means two things
1. That if they were all done at one time it would be a bit cheaper.
2. That the jobs can be done over time, one at a time.

I dont believe that Cono is a dodgey mechanic and as one 9y pointed out its unfair because we dont know the car and the type of inspection required.

yes I lot can be done at home too.

[quote="Kinkabell"]Well in my opinion!

With an inspector like that who needs enemies ...

Did he also check to see if the heater was working and if the air vents were connected ?

Some of these inspectors are over the top. All they want to do is look for problems so they can make money from you! Especially if you dont know much about cars. Fair enough when major things need fixing but to mention minor things that you have mentioned is ridiculous.

Seen it before and no doubt will see it again!!!

BTW can you not get help from anyone over your way with fixing some of these things? Dont get ripped off by dodgy mechanics..[/quote]

Settle petal ....only Ian knows what was said between him and Cono (the inspector). The car obviously has multiple problems (as does just about any 30-40 year old unit )

I would prefer that inspectors erred on the side of overkill rather than do the absolute minimum just to get a pat on the back for not asking for a bunch of dollars to achieve "roadworthiness". Its often false economy to fix some things in one area of the car and ignore others.

The main thing is that Ian has a way ahead for getting his Mini on the road.....then the fun starts

Mick Out: Driving lessons for the son

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"Show me the Mini!"

He is a good mechanic, he said he did a saftey inspection, with ment he looked over the whole car and list everything, some major and some minor, he has said to me he can get it roadworthy for $1000, but in a few months brakes and suspension will need doing...

Please understand Cono, is good at his trade and he isn't trying to rip me off, thats just what happens with an older car, now I understand $3500 isn't alot to get what needs to be done.

To be honest at the begging I was like @#$%, so I wanted to know if that is alot for what needs doing, and now I have found out it's a fair price, and I don't need to do it all at once...

Once again I would still recommend Cono at MiniCraft...

Thanks Mick and Mike...

Ian

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Ian - My Ve SSV Ute - Looking for a Mini

Cono's pretty good (though he's been a bit condescending when I've asked him about doing various bits and pieces). Bear in mind though, that some of what's on the list is doable yourself/doesn't have to be done by Cono. My biggest problem with Cono is he's so damnably busy and he's not that close to me (none of the Perth mini garages are, dagnabit). On the other hand, I'm five minutes away from Cannington/Albany Hwy.

I can recommend Vic Park Radiators for the radiator (I have two spares - I got a spare done while I drove around on the one in it - which is in pretty good condition anyway). They recored mine for $250 overnight, and I fitted it myself. I had a couple of screws missing too, but my Dad managed to find a couple from somewhere.

I got my master cylinder from Perth Brake Parts 'cause Cono didn't have one in stock. It cost me about $10 more than it would have if I got it from Cono, but no wait, and a much shorter drive *shrug*. I think they're just parts though..

Whoever had the car before me had the clutch redone at automasters, although given that's one of the things on the top of my to do list now, I wouldn't say they did the shiniest job.

I can personally recommend Cono at Minicraft. I got a $4500 engine rebuild done by him (a lot was on unnecessary upgrades heh heh) and I have to say the engine is solid as a rock. And now that he did the entire engine, if anything goes wrong, I know (and he knows) who to blame.

Cono is just very, VERY thorough with his inspections and evaluations, so you need to keep that in mind. It's mainly a good thing though. And he knows what he is doing, unlike all of the other general auto mechanics around the place.

I know first hand what it's like to have an engine built by an idiot, so it's worth paying extra to have stuff done by Mini specific enthusiasts/mechanics.

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Jonathan
http://photobucket.com/albums/y64/FatMaserati/

Hey, I wasn't bagging Cono's work, I'm more than happy with everything he's done for me in the last three months (Brake cables, Carburettor & Gauges).

For some things though (like my brake master cylinder), I don't see why I should hike out to Bayswater to get it ordered in from a mini specialist when my local brake specialist has the exact same part in stock for almost the same price. Same for the radiator - they're not mini specialists, but they're radiator specialists, and they're familiar with minis.

I was more saying that if cost is an issue, you can do some minor jobs yourself. Just make sure you know what you're doing and you do your research first.

Ian get a a quote from Al Munday at Mini Central in Rockingham , he does a great job for a good price . he's usually there on Sunday , so give him a call and discuss it on 95913307 ...cheers Alan

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1965 Morris 850
1966 Morris Mini Minor
1967 Morris Cooper 'S'
1977 Leyland LS

I can't drive my mini needs to be towed and rockingham is like an hr drive....

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Ian - My Ve SSV Ute - Looking for a Mini