Year: 2020

Bit of a slow run down to Gloucester this morning, but great to meet Pete when got there. The head gasket had gone on his MGF 120 mpi. So we replaced this and carried out the cambelt service too. All back up and running again. Few other essentials replaced.

We then went a few miles down the road and fab to see Jon again, who had been shopping on eBay, as you do, and got himself a TF 135. He contacted us asking when we would be nearby to carry out a cambelt service. The car had been stood for approx 4 years, but with a full service history. It had obviously been well maintained in its previous life, just had quite a bit of dust over everything.

Jon had replaced the underfloor coolant pipes and will do a service over the winter months. He’s got himself a good one so it seems. The radiator bleed screw had snapped when Jon was bleeding the car and testing for leaks so we found a cure for this (last bleed screw we had was used last week and more on order!) a trimmed down coolant sensor and a rubber washer did the trick.

We were just finishing up at Jon’s when realised had a missed call from Pete. He had taken the car for a run out, unfortunately, the radiator bleed screw decided to give way. So we went over to meet them in Sainsbury’s car park, in Stroud, armed with one of Jon’s rubber washers, which sorted the issue.

What a sociable and enjoyable day we had with fab weather too. Great to see everyone.

Plus we were so pleased to hear the news today to say that we are ok to travel on to South Wales. (Thanks Steve Gibson for your message, appreciated).

Now on a campsite in Tewkesbury with a great view.

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Busy day getting The Beast restocked for next week, limited space makes for strategic packing, especially when the welder has to come with us on this trip and a whole load of stock!

Accommodation problems overcome and a suitable digs sourced (hopefully these won’t be cancelled)!

Adam had called us, on the off chance, this morning to see if we could help him out. So he had a run out to the workshop this afternoon to get the alternator belt sorted on his new purchase, a TF 135, that had been waking the neighborhood up in the mornings for the past few days! Bit of a faff getting the bolt out, but now all sorted and squeal free.

Looking forward to heading down to Gloucester in the morning.

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Just on our way back home now, after a couple of local calls today.

Good to see Gerald again in Featherstone for some work on his TF Spark. All brake lines replaced front to back and both rears. Rear calipers replaced. Clutch slave cylinder replaced and an extremely stiff clutch release arm eased off. Minor service carried out too. Really glad to get everything sorted for Gerald who is looking forward to taking the car for the MoT tomorrow.

We then went over to Eckington, near Sheffield to meet Peter, who wanted a few things carrying out on both of his MGFs that had been stood for quite some time.

Both needed hydragas fills. Clutch slave cylinder replaced. The clutch release arm was extremely stiff, so took some time to ease off. Our cocktail of oils etc worked finally. Few other bits done.

Really great to meet Peter and have a a chat. (So lovely having cuddles with Rosie, sorry Jon I was distracted again)! Peter had seen the van some time ago, when we were in Sheffield, didn’t have a pen with him to write down the details, but remembered the name!

Thank you to Gerald and Peter for many cuppas and your company today.

Day off tomorrow to pack for our next week away. Unfortunately, we had a phone call this afternoon, from where we had booked to stay in South Wales, to say they were having to cancel our booking due to the latest Covid-19 travel restrictions.

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Aidan was very pleased to see us this morning, in York, for work on his MGF 1.8 mpi.

Cambelt service carried out, plus replacement of slave cylinder and free off of a very stiff clutch release arm. New discs fitted to the front and caliper clean up. What a fab car and a real bargain. MOT to be done next.

We then headed over to Swillington near Leeds, to carry out another cambelt service on Stan’s TF 115.

Great to meet Aidan and Stan and have a chat. Went over in The Beast so we could be self sufficient again. Home in daylight too 😊

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Lotus Elise ‘05 160 VVC today in Albrington, West Midlands.

Great to meet Mark, finally, for work on his fab car. Cambelt, water pump, tensioner and alternator belt replaced.

We have both hankered after owning one of these, so it’s always great to work on them. Access is a bit more awkward, but we have sockets etc adapted for the job.

Thanks for the cuppas Mark and lovely to meet Tiggy.

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Bryony had contacted us a few months ago asking if we could breath some life back in to her beloved TF 135.

So we went over to Buerton, just south of Crewe this morning. The car was owned by her Mum who passed it on to Bryony. Unfortunately, the head gasket went so the car was put into storage for 5 years, whilst Bryony got on with more important things!

Head gasket, cambelt and water pump replaced and a few other things to put the car back to rights; new battery, air filter, alternator belt. We noted that the underfloor coolant pipes were looking a bit suspect and sure enough when we started to add the coolant it came out the bottom! So these were replaced with stainless ones.

When it came to firing the car up the immobiliser wouldn’t turn off. The key fob battery had gone flat, so we had to re-code another key fob and it still didn’t want to play. Eventually managed to spark it into life enough to get the car running!

MOT day tomorrow and then she can take an excited little 5 year old out for a drive!

These cars often have so many familial connections, and are cherished, it’s always great to see. A bit of a wet and chilly day, but a good one in the end!

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Received a visitor to the workshop this morning. Good to meet Mark who had come over from York to have the roof seals replaced on his TF 115.

Mark is quite happy doing any mechanical stuff, but door seals etc he didn’t fancy tackling! Totally understand. Jon managed to get them sorted, 3 hours later, now to see if they survive the test! Unfortunately, the windscreen surround replacements were two of the same side so these couldn’t be done.

The Beast restocked for the rest of the week!

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Loftus, Saltburn-By-The-Sea and great to meet Andrew, finally, who had called us back in July as the head gasket had gone again on his TF 135, and everyone was telling him to scrap it, but he couldn’t bring himself to.

Poor car had been a bit brutalized, previously, so it was in need of some tlc. Head gasket replaced and cambelt service done. Lots of things replaced and put right. Nice to see Andrew so happy about the car sounding good again!

Date arranged for further tlc at the workshop in the spring.

Thanks for all the cuppas and the wedge of lemon cake!

Fantastic run back over the moors.

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