Since day one, Haynes has been all about helping you, the home mechanic, to carry out your own repairs on your vehicles. Here, we celebrate those who use their spare time and Haynes Manuals to repair and improve their pride and joy.
Reader: Ian Ward
Car: Austin Healey Sprite restomod
One person taking full advantage of the Haynes knowledge is Ian Ward from Surrey. He’s mid-way through a restomod of his 1966 Austin-Healey Sprite Mk3, which he’s fitting a tuned 200bhp Rover K-series engine to.
The body has been fully stripped, acid-dipped and seam-welded, and when finished the interior will feature Mazda MX-5 seats and a Momo Eagle steering wheel and a rear roll cage.
Underneath, there’s a reconditioned Ford Type 9 gearbox, plus uprated transmission to fit the K-series motor, as well as lowered, stiffened suspension including anti-tramp bars.
Minilite wheels with knock-on centres will sit at each corner.
Ian says: “I used the Haynes manuals for the Sprite and Rover for the base mechanicals and the engine rebuild. Whilst I have a number of other manuals the Haynes are the most practical and useful in my experience.”
We’re glad he thinks so. And if for any reason his manuals become worn out from all the use, he’ll be able to replace both the Haynes Sprite book and Rover 25 manual, which is available as both a printed product and online manual.
Every single manual and Autofix procedure is thoroughly researched, and every step-by-step guide tried and tested so that you can rely on it when you’re carrying out a fix at home.
We know all this, because we enjoy sorting out our cars and motorcycles ourselves, and we want to see how you get on, too. And the good news is that lots of you enjoy twirling a few spanners (and the occasional hammer) while repairing and restoring your pride and joy.
We can’t wait to see (and hear) Ian’s car when it’s completed, and we’d love you to follow in Ian’s footsteps by showing us what you’re working on and how you’re using Haynes to help you out.
Just send us a few details about yourself and your vehicle, let us know about any issues you’ve encountered or any problems you foresee, plus a few pictures, and we’ll feature you on our website and social channels.
