So knowing that I'll be coming back to the states, could be soon, could be July, what are some parts I should be looking to bring back.

Just bring 2-3 entire cars.... you know, just to be sure.

I'd love to. I may talk to a shipping company and see how much they charge to ship a mini. I know the goverment pays for one, so atleast one is coming back with me.

Heavy stuff. If you're shipping a Mini back, fill it up with parts. A lot of parts are reasonable here, but the suppliers here who keep limited stock on hand are having to raise their prices due to the free-falling US dollar. I found it worthwhile buying suspension components (cones, shocks, trailing arm rebuild kits) and some of the body seals from the UK, even with the shipping costs.

Thats the catch 22, with the shippers the gov't uses, the car has to be spotlessly clean, and they give you a box about 18" x 12" x 12", in goes anything important in your car, or that you want to send with it. You tape the box up, they put a mark over it, so they know, and you know if its been tampered with, and thats all you get.

i know some one who brought back two roof racks....he had the one mounted normally and he fliped the other one on top of it and zipp tied it together.....no-one questioned it.....lol......

Contact Phoenix Cargo in Southampton tey can assist in containerizing a shipment, or in adding your bits to a container, or palletizing stuff. They are very knowledgeable on how to get it done. Ship big stuff. Extra 1275 powerplants. rims tires, etc.

Yep, Emma is wonderful. I'll never use another shipper.

Here is what you do. Put all Mini parts in your house-hold goods (HHG) if your shipping it through Uncle Sam. In my HHG, I shipped a complete 1275 Metro engine, roll cage, extra seats and three bonnets.

Now what you will need for emergencies is … coil, started solenoid, head gasket, points, dizzy cap, dizzy rotor, upper radiator hose, 8mm leads, timing belt. There items I carry in all my Minis everyday, plus the tools to change them out with.

LOL That's the way to do it. Just bring back another car in pieces. (Do you really keep all that stuff in your car at all times?!)

Uhmmm, yes (and more) But, I can do all my own repairs. He forgot the tool kit, cell phone, fuses, a continuity tester, assortment of 14, 16, 18 ga wire, wire ends, a 30' tow strap, lower radiator hose, 2 water pump bypass hoses (don't leave home without it), a gallon of premixed coolant, 2 quarts of oil, scissors jack, tire plug kit, fuel pump, etc.

Now for a long trip (out-of-state) I take a lot more.... Compact floor jack, jack stands, torque wrench, large sockets for hubs, flywheel, etc, flywheel puller, extra clutch plate, etc....

It seems a lot but you'd be suprised how it packs neatly away in two rubbermaid snap lid containers that fit under the rear seats and in a milk crate that goes in the boot. The tool kit that I carry is one from Lowes in a small plastic folding case. For longer trips I leave it and toss all my tools in a large zippered tool bag that also can fit under the rear seat.

DONT FORGET BLINKER FLUID.......always goes low on long trips

you must have liked that one Norm...

lol.....

Yes, I do carry all that, plus more as I forgot to mention the toolbox. From time to time I have been known to replace a head gasket on the roadside. But going deeper than the head gasket is for Roadside Assistance. Working on classic Minis is a snap. Heck, my wife can set both the points on the dizzy along with the rocker tappets on our Minis.

And Elbow Grease. LOL

kitchen sink?

Ok, what is the head gasket??

Use your imagination!!!

LOL. for the car :P I have an idea of what it is i just want to make sure i'm right

Item # 32

This is usually the main problem in most 1275cc engines. Lots of Minis have been upgraded to the 1275cc Metro engine. These Metro engine require a much thicker head gasket than their Mini counterpart. Make sure you buy a valve compression tester, before you hit the road.

And save up money to take a automotive course at the community college?

Ashley, how often do you blow head gaskets? In all the Minis I've owned, I've only had to replace 1 head gasket. Rocker cover gaskets a couple of times, but the only head gasket was on a daily driver that I was doing over 1000km per week in, half of it up and down a steep mountain.

So far I have only replaced the head gasket Once for each of my three classics... knock on wood. Two were due to engine swaps and I didn't know the condition of the old head gasket, so I replaced them. And the other was on the London to Brighton Run.

Most of my experience with head gaskets troubles comes from helping other members of the Tyred & Exhausted Mini Club in England.

Cheers,

Ash