Year: 2020

Back in Bristol today, to carry out the cambelt service on a Rover 216 Cabriolet.

The car belongs to Mark Ford and his lovely wife. They had won the bid on our auction item for the charity supported by ‘Topless Around the Peak District’, in aid of ‘UK Homes for Heroes’.

So cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced and car nicely up to date with its servicing to give them peace of mind to drive this fantastic looking car. Bet it will look fab on a sunny day, top down!

Big thank you to Matt Harris at ‘MG Obsession’ for tracking down the water pump that had proved difficult to find.

Shame not to see Mark today, but look forward coming back in the spring for more bits to his MGF.

Bit of a contrast in the weather too, which was very welcome.

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A very wet and windy day in Upton St Leonard’s today, but good to get the car done ready for Steven to put back through the MOT.

Front top suspension arms replaced as they had a load of movement on them, and when we removed them discovered that the pin bushes weren’t actually there. So replacement ones duly fitted and all good again.

Found some fantastic digs in Cheltenham ready to head down to Bristol in the morning.

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What an enjoyable day on the road today…

Darlington was our first stop and really lovely to see Terry and Craig for some work on ‘The Chairman’, their very tidy MGF mpi 120 75th Anniversary.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner replaced with a service too. Terry had got himself a stainless steel backbox so this was fitted also, with a bit of persuasion, as on this type there isn’t any adjustment on the hangers. Looks really good and suits the car.

Great to have a chat and catch-up, missed seeing you both this year at the meets and events.

From there we went up to Coxhoe as the annual service on Jason’s, also very tidy, TF 160 80th Anniversary, ‘Little Annie’ was slightly overdue. Good to have a chat and catch-up there too.

Massive “Thank You” to Terry & Craig and Jason for the very thoughtful Christmas presents, what a lovely surprise and really appreciated 🎁

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A very worthwhile three days spent in the workshop breathing some life back in to this TF 135 ‘Spark’ in Nightfire red…

We had spotted this car on our travels in and out of the village where the workshop is based and always wondered about it. By chance, some months ago, relatives of the owner were visiting our neighbours at Black Sheep Customs, for another car related matter, so whilst Maxine was waiting she popped over to have a chat to see if we would be interested in taking on a project and it so happens that it was the very same car.

The car had been sat for many years following a bereavement, but they didn’t want to let it go, so Maxine and her family decided to recommission the car as a surprise for their Mum.

So following delivery of the car on Sunday we set to work on Monday morning.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner replaced. Full service carried out. Back box, flexi and cat replaced, underfloor coolant pipes replaced, front subframe mount replaced, new PRT fitted, new boot hinges fitted (colour coded), brake pads and discs, alternator belt.

A few other things done that weren’t on the list, that we felt compelled to do, because that’s what we do! Underfloor wire brushed and treated, full valet, under bonnet clean up and shiny pack fitted, wheel arch liners removed and crud cleaned out, wash and brush up!

Fantastic transformation, some work to be done on the bodywork, we look forward to seeing that completed. Then the car will be returned to its rightful owner to carry on on more adventures, with +127,000 miles on the clock already its already had a few!

Another saved with a happy outcome 💝

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It was great to reunite Jane and Graham with their TF 160 today when they drove down from Gosforth to collect it after a bit of refurbishment in the workshop over the last couple of weeks…

Unfortunately, the car had sustained some damage following an incident on some black ice earlier in the year. Sadly more damage was sustained when being pulled out of the hedge it ended up in.

Having previously worked on the car they asked us, when we were next in the area, if we could come and inspect the car and discuss the viability of repairing it. So arrangements were made to get it in to the workshop.

The offside sill was pushed in all the way along, so Jon set about cutting out the worst affected area and slowly pushing out the section and realigning the sill, initially we were going to transplant the sill from our donor car and then have to get the sill resprayed. This then only needed a small amount of filler and then sanded back and sprayed in colour match paint. Lower sill section fully replaced and seem welded in.

The front bumper was beyond repair, and we were pleased to be able to source one of the same colour from Matt at MG Obsession. Both fog lights were broken so these were replaced. Wheel arch liner replaced. The radiator had been damaged too, so this was replaced.

A few other things done for them to get this car back to looking how it should. Under bonnet shiny pack, valet, bit of a tidy up underneath.

We then had the MOT carried out yesterday ready for Jane to drive her car back to its home.

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Always lovely to go and see Alan, in Nottingham. Can’t believe it’s cambelt service time again, time does fly!

As well as the cambelt replacement Alan had treated himself to a Mike Satur Slick-shift, so this was fitted too today.

A very wet and cold day, but a productive one and pleased to have got all this done.

Thank you, for the very thoughtful Christmas presents, Alan and Mary, they will go down very well, cheers to you both 🥂

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Since having our new website and Facebook etc done by the fantastic Chris Hathway, we have just reached a thousand likes today! The 1000th person being Mandy Grant! 🎉

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Yesterday morning found us in Selby, and good to see John again for one of his fleet that needed looking at, his ZT (in Mirage) 120. He was having starting issues and on our investigation found that, sadly for John, it has serious valve damage. Nothing that can’t be fixed though! So date booked in at the workshop to be sorted with a couple of upgrades while we’re at it.

Back to the workshop to continue with the TF 160, which is just about done.

We were very pleased to meet Steve and welcome him to the workshop, who had driven over from Chesterfield, in his fairly new acquisition, a TF 115 ‘04 plate (in an unusual paint code, that I don’t recognise, expert advice to be asked for). Steve wanted the underfloor coolant pipes replaced with stainless, plus checking up on a misfire, which after some diagnostics was found to be the Lambda sensor, and the tapping noise from the engine proved to be a loose spark plug. Car given a thorough check over and all issues found were advised upon.

Looking forward to the final touches to the 160 and getting the MoT done ready for the owners to be reunited at the weekend.

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