Know your mini!

Rear bleed nipple size, 1979 Mini 1000

1/4" x 28 UNF x 27,3
The original had 1/4" nut. The replacements had 8mm nut. Much easier to undo.

                     Dry boiling point       Wet boiling point

DOT 3		     401F                    284F
DOT 4		     446F		     311F
DOT 5		     500F		     356F
DOT 5.1		     518F		     375F

Crank bolt head size (Verto)

Its 30mm, as reported by Phil Sullivan from the Mini Mailing List. There have also been talks of 32mm and 23mm, and 15/16th in. The 30mm seemed the only definite YES-type answer though. Upon this Micheal Heinzelmann commented that they are actually 32mm, and that the 30mm must have been ground down. 32mm would be 1 1/4in probably (since that's 31.25mm). And to add confusion, Scott Beavis said: Verto = 30mm

Pre-verto

Pre-verto equivalent should be 1 5/16th inch (33.5mm), so it should be using 34mm socket. This is also from Micheal's comments (look above). And Scott continued to mention that pre-Verto was 1 1/2 in.

Spark plug interchange (by vendor)

Haynes only talks about Champion RN9YC and Champion RN9YCC plugs for your Mini (at least my copy does). My local shop's catalogue said Minis eat NGK BP6ES plugs. These are the same as the Champion N9YC plugs, so you should set the gap to 0.6mm. Others are Bosch W7DC, though another source says Bosch W7CC and that the W7DC are actually the same as NGK B6ES.

Alternative alternators

The following non-standard alternators are know to fit the Mini just fine: For UK listers some Rover 820/827/Sterling alternators fit too, these are 65 Amp ones and just need a bit grinding off the pulley face and the plug connectors taking out of the other side of the plug!

I personally run some sort of Iskra /Yugoslavian/ alternator, which is a remake of some Bosch part. It can put up 55Amps, so should be good for most applications. Check with Bosch for fit/part numbers.

Removal

Unlike what Haynes suggests, you will be able to remove the radius arms without taking the shock off. Its a bit more difficult, but it saves having to remove the fuel tank to access the top shock nut.

Nuts and bolts

If you are having trouble using new bolts to attach the radius arm bracket, maybe you should check your are using proper size. They were not M8 on my mini as I first though, but some darn inch size. You will be able to force M8 in, but you will ruin the thread on the nut inside, and its a lot of fuss to get those replaced.

Steering wheel nuts

The steering wheel nut is 34mm or 1 5/16th inch. But earlier Minis had a smaller one [I belive]. At least the Inno had a smallr one. Perhaps 32mm? Reported by Michael Hainzelmann.