Year: 2021

A very tidy, low mileage MGF 143 VVC in Desford, Leicester this morning…

Great to meet John who had got in touch, back in January, asking if we could come and work on his car. He has owned for the last couple of years, but recently had noticed oil in the coolant.

Head gasket replacement done and cambelt service carried out. A Mk II elastomer gasket had previously been fitted with plastic dowels.

All sorted ready for John to enjoy some days out when the weather improves again.

From there we went headed north and went over to Sprotbough. Steve and Marie had got in touch as ‘Ellie’ had decided to spring a leak. As suspected, from Steve’s description of where the drip was coming from, it was the spring clip on the PRT that had lost its spring. This was duly replaced and on subsequent pressure test no more leaks.

Another enjoyable day with fab people and cars, despite the very chilly conditions. We drove back through quite a few bad squalls on the way back. The old bus was rocking about a bit! 💨

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A snowy start to the day, but fortunately it didn’t hang around long…

Although it was a bit of a biting wind in Sharlston Common, this morning, for full service on Chris’s TF 135.

Cambelt, water pump etc were all well overdue, so these were all replaced, plus alternator belt that had seen better days. A few things advised on to get the car sorted and made sound for use throughout the summer.

We then headed over to Harlington, where it was lovely to meet Keith, who had been experiencing problems with his TF 135, with the emissions light being permanently on. The local garage had changed the post-cat Lambda sensor and the cat, but had failed to clear the error codes. Error codes now cleared and they didn’t return. Checked the voltages coming out of the Lambda sensors, all found now to be ok. Good news for Keith as no major issues to be dealt with today.

Date booked in, at the workshop, later in the year, for underfloor treatment and a service.

Nice to meet Elsa and Bob too, I was happy share my mug of tea with Elsa, and play ball with Bob, a dachshund with a fab personality!

Earlier than expected finish, which was nice as it made up for the early start, in order to replenish the stocks in the camper, first thing this morning. A chilly but enjoyable day 🥶

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Well that was a good finish to a long week…

Wolverhampton this morning for clutch replacement on Nathan’s lovely TF 135, that was originally owned by his dad.

Nathan had heard a bit of a bang,
when driving the car home one day and lost all drive, so wasn’t sure whether it was the clutch that had gone or a seized release arm.

It was quite clear what it was, once the old clutch plate was removed!

New one fitted and all back running again nicely.

We then headed north and towards home, with a call in our village, North Ferriby, to see Alister and Bob for hydragas pump up on their MGs, handy that they’re neighbours! Both super condition and looked even better sat waiting for us in the sun.

Trip to the local co-op to get some food, yep you guessed it, steak for tea for Jon! 🥩 The eye is healing very well I’m pleased to report.

Good to be home after a long and interesting week away. Great people and great cars. ☺️

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this morning, bit of a change to the original plan, we were supposed to be there yesterday afternoon…

Yesterday mornings job, in Cardiff, took a lot longer than anticipated. We had priced up the job with Chris a few months ago, as he was unhappy with the repairs that had previously been done elsewhere.

So, as planned, we returned to carry out the job yesterday. Chris had sourced two replacement front sills. These were to be cut up to make into rear sills, which was handy, as the more the sills were cut into, the worse the problem got.

The thing to bear in mind is that the sills, when new, are only 0.8 mm thick. So if you can imagine, after nearly 20 years even a quarter of a mm of rust leaves you with just over half a mm of steel, which makes it very awkward to weld to.

Long, full day spent, with Chris being happy with the result. Chris will be carrying out the filling and spraying on this very nice looking, original 1995 MGF.

Unfortunately, poor Jon ended up suffering from Arc eye. We found the nearest A&E in Cardiff and, after the usual waiting time, got him sorted with drops etc. and eventually got back to our digs at 1:00 am. Thanks to Jan & Andy for the caring offer of picking us up 🤗

It was lovely to meet Mike (and Bella), in Pontarddulais, this morning where we diagnosed and replaced a leaking water pump, which sorted the coolant loss issue, he had been experiencing on his very tidy TF 135. Whilst there, we noticed that the alternator belt had definitely seen better days, so this was replaced. Minor service carried out and code read and clear of error codes. A few other checks done.

After a call in to see Jan & Andy in Pontypool and have a bit more of a catch-up and a cuppa, we now find ourselves in Droitwich for the evening, with today’s job being put off until tomorrow…

Good luck if you followed all that! 😳

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What a really good day, bit of a late blog…

We left Bath this morning and headed over to Burnham-on-sea, where it was lovely to meet Nigel for cambelt services on a couple of stunning cars from his fleet, a TF 135 that he had owned from new, sold to a friend and then bought back. Plus a MGF Trophy, that he had recently purchased.

Thank you, to Nigel for the many cuppas and treats, very welcome.

We then went over to Pontypool, for replacement of both rear subframe mounts on a TF 135 that Andy has in, good job Jon enjoys a challenge! As is usual, a couple of the bolts sheared off. So the welder etc was deployed to sort. Working by torch light, but at least it can go for its MOT tomorrow.

Really great to see Jan and Andy for a much needed catch-up. 🤗

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A very tidy TF 135 to work on this morning in Warminster…

Phil had bought the car at auction last year and wanted everything sorting to make it sound, plus he had noticed signs of head gasket failure.

So head gasket and cambelt service carried out. Underfloor coolant pipes replaced with stainless as his were a bit on the rotten side.

Fab car with lots of great additions and in super condition and low mileage.

We then went over to Trowbridge for cambelt service on Matt’s TF 160. When we got there discovered that the head gasket had gone, so after a phone call to Matt, it was decided that we would return to get everything done all at the same time, including underfloor pipes etc. Another very good looking car with very low mileage.

Last night in Bath tonight and then heading over to Burnham-on-sea in the morning.

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We went supplied with a TT exhaust for Mark’s fab MGF in Bristol this morning…

Rear brake upgrade from Will Naylor fitted, ABS mounting bracket fitted, passenger side door hand replaced and some other bits and pieces. Exhaust fitted and looks very nice and shiny!

Shame not to see Mark though, as he had to go into work. Thanks to William for the tea and biscuits.

Weather a marked improvement, which is always good ☀️

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First call this morning was in Conventry, where it was great to meet Richard, for what was originally booked in as a head gasket replacement, on his MGF 143, which looks fantastic after its recent respray.

Richard has done a load of work on the car, all credit to him, but unfortunately the PRT and the hoses were fed in such a way that they would have caused the car to overheat again and cause the head gasket to fail once more. So with our supplies on board we managed to get everything reinstalled.

Old thermostat also removed and replaced with a straight through disc.

A few final sensors to replace. ECU coolant temperature sensor and an oil temperature sensor which Richard will do. Car now running nice and smooth. Just a bit annoying that the radiator fan is permanently on.

Great to meet you Richard, thanks for the steady stream of cuppas and cake! Plus thank you for buying one of our fleeces 😀

We then ventured further south, to Bicester, where it was great to finally meet Phill, for head gasket replacement on his fab looking TF 135.

All gaskets replaced, and, after sorting out a sticking throttle body, car up and running nicely again, much to Phill’s relief as it’s his daily runner.

Now on our way to our digs in Bath 🛀

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