I'm an owner of a '78 moke and I've had the orange Leyland MINI workshop manual (Publication No. AKD4935 (9th edition)) and while it's great for telling me what to do, I'm usually sitting there reading it scratching my head as it's layout tends to be

1. do this to xxx part.

2. take xxx part off, check xxx part for cracks etc.

Fine if I know what it is i'm looking for but up till now and repair work i've done has been a fair bit of guesswork and trial and error as to just what the hell the manual is telling me i'm looking at.

I get the feeling this one's been written for mechanics (or mechanically minded people) which while I'm learning, i've got a hell of a way to go before I can grasp mech lingo. I'm after a workshop manual aimed at the guy that knows enough to get him by, and isn't afraid of the work but just needs a bit more instruction and guidance then simply a numbered list of what to do.

I'm looking at Gregory's Mini workshop manual http://www.pitstop.net.au/pitstop/prog/OpenDocument.cgi?id=V0X7S13PUM&PLU=6667 and am wondering if that's more what I'm after. I'll still keep the Leyland book (it's huge) but I really need something a little more basic written that the Leyland can be used for as a more technical supplement with.

Any ideas?

I have a zillion manuals and none have XXX in them......

Seriously though, I know the one you are refering to and I think the gregorys manual is probably a goer for you.

I tend to use the Gregorys a lot while I am working on the car (I don't care if it gets dirty) and I use the big Leyland manual for research before I do the job

Yeah I find the Gregorys manuals are OK, I've got both the early and later (Clubbie etc) ones.
The Haynes book I don't really like- there are too many errors and it' doesn't really cover Oz cars.

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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.

The one I've got has an Australian supplement which tends to have a fair bit of moke specific information in it. Unfortunately the information also tends to be the numbered layout list which assumes you know where everything is and what its called.

Ok, so I'm getting the Gregory's one. Second question time: anyone know a bookshop in Melbourne that carrys it. Tried the tech bookshop site (where I bought the leyland book from) and they don't seem to have it listed. Prefer to just drive somewhere and pick it up tommorow rather then order it from perth and pay shipping.

Thanks for your help guys, I've got a heap of problems I've got to work on (speedo seems to be 10k's under, fuel guage stopped working a month ago, suspension, trailing arms, etc.) but want a manual I can understand before starting what I hope becomes routine weekend touch up work .

Taking it to Northern Miniparts on Monday to get a quote on rear/front alignment, my rears are out by 7-8 degrees and the car likes to pull to the left, have been meaning to get it fixed for a while heh. Local alignment places (pedders, beaurepairs) haven't been much luck, pedder's wanted to charge me $80 just so they could be sure what was wrong before starting any work even though I told them beaurepairs had put it up on a computer and given me a readout of the alignment errors. Anyone got a ballpark figure for rear/front alignment (spacer alignment on the rear I've been told).

Shard

My local tyre place put it up for nothing. Charges $35 for full alignment.

There are shims in there (sometimes) to adjust the rear, but if it's crabbing down the road it may have something bent, like mine when I got it. I had to file the left outer bracket hole forward so I could get it adjusted...

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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.

Dunno about Melb but in Syd I have seen that manual in K-Fart, Robbo's Spares, Repco etc.... Let your fingers do the walking and ring some places like that near you.

Haynes is indeed full of errors and you'll find a part being called 3 different names within one paragraph but I find it more hands on than Gregory's and it does not advise you to take the bonnet of to change the air filters unlike Gregory's.

As someone who;s still learning (and will be for decades) I reckon a combination of both with reference to the Leyland Manual (which is the best) is the best way to go. I know it sounds like lots of reading for a small job but anyone will tell you how better you work when you know exactly what to do and I find the 3 can be used to complement each other.

Buy them off Ebay they are always copies of varying condition on offer - this way you can buy both for the price of Gregory's.

yeah i have the gregory's clubman one and it's heaps better than the leyland workshop manual if u aren't a mech.

It's got lots of good diagrams that the leyland one seems to be lacking. i got mine for $10 from morris mania in pretty good condition so you might be able o find a second handie somewhere pretty cheap

-jimmy

oOoOoOo... just going back to that point about wheel alignment etc...

If the front passenger side wheel seems to be "wobbly" on a Mini, and the lock nuts are all tightened correctly, an alignment has been done and it seems fine until you hit about 75km/h, what would be the answer to getting this bugger to stop "wobbling"

I am a little scared the little wheel will just fall off when I am driving..!!!

Could be lots of little things- worn ball joints, a worn wheel bearing or swivel hub, out of round (steel!) wheel, out of round tyre (1 once bought 4- Yoko A008s...!), bad wheel balance, loose shock absorber, etc.

The dude doing the alignment should check all this stuff, it's his job- take it back...

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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.

thanks again guys.

Rang around the local repcos/autobarns/kmart with no luck. One repco shop said they were placing an order on Monday and could order it in so I went with that option. Also ordered a copy of another photo heavy guide, was on special else I probably wouldn't have got it. http://www.pitstop.net.au/pitstop/page/ ... /8766.html

Now let's hope the weather clears up by next weekend so I can perhaps start my work.

*looks outside and shakes fist at sky*

Shard

Maybe its just me, but i use the old Scientific Publications manual....
has everything in it....

Anything it doesnt have, Kev has !

Cheers
J

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Gregorys manual IS the old Scientific Publications...

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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.

That Porter service guide is for a Rover mini isnt it?

I have three manual's. I have the SP manual in the house. I have the Gregory's in the car. And an original BMC Mini workshop manual. For researching all the original Guff

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"He's always been a dickhead, He always is a dickhead, He will always be a dickhead. So stop complaining when he acts like one."