Year: 2021

That was a busy and very productive week, with bit of a swap around in the plan…

Saturday didn’t happen due to storm Arwen, we had intended to collect a TF 135 from Grimsby, but weren’t allowed to cross over the Humber bridge with the trailer. So we went back over on Sunday when things had settled down a bit! This car had recently had some MOT fails, so Julie asked if we could take it away and get everything sorted for her.

DiDi had brought her MGF 1.8 mpi, in Alumina, up from Brighton, for what was a planned as a double subframe swap. Once up on the ramp we found the subframes to be some of the best condition ones we’ve seen, so a phone call made to the owner to basically say we would feel guilty taking her money! Underfloor treatment carried out instead and also a brake upgrade fitted, all round, with one of Will Naylor’s conversion kits. A few other things sorted and MOT carried out today.

We’re now just waiting the return of the rear window from the company that we use in Ireland. That is due back on Monday so the return trip to Brighton, planned for Sunday, will have to be delayed.

Julie’s TF 135 had the following done; welding to the sills, nearside wheel bearing, full clutch replaced, slave cylinder replaced, gearbox support arm replaced as the one we took off was well past its use, wheel and tyre replaced to the rear, new backbox and CAT fitted, underseal and then finally an MOT carried out today. We will be returning the car to Julie in Grimsby tomorrow.

Trevor popped over this morning with his TF 160 that had recently been throwing up error codes. We had previously fitted a sports cat, which would account for this, so we swapped it out for a regular cat and this will resolve the issue. Good to see him and have a chat.

Simon came over in his TF 135 as had been experiencing occasional hesitation while accelerating hard. Could be due to a possible Lambda fault, but no error codes were showing, so advised fitting a new Lambda sensor. Great to see him too and have a chat.

Bit on the chilly side this week what with Arwen and then quite a dump of the white stuff, so it was good timing to be in the workshop. 🥶 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

On our way back home now after a long, but enjoyable day…

First of all we went over to Dorridge, near Solihull, where it was lovely to meet Andy, who had got in touch to ask if we could come over and check out his 1999 MGF Mk1 VVC as it had been stood for a while and he was unsure whether to save it or call it a day.

List made of everything that needs to be done to get this fab looking car back to rights and date arranged to be taken to the workshop next year. Once that’s all sorted Andy will arrange for the bodywork to be done by a local chap he knows. Definitely one worth saving, looking good in Old English White with a red interior.

We then headed over to Stockton, Southam to meet Mick who had asked if we could pump up his suspension, next time we were in the area, on his fab looking Mk1 MGF VVC. Had a chat with him about an engine swap in one of the others that he owns, a TF 135, a possibility for next year. Great to meet him, lovely chap.

From there, we went over to West Haddon for work on a TF 135. Steve had got in touch as the head gasket had gone, so arranged to fit him to get him up and running. He then asked if we could also do the cambelt service and underfloor coolant pipes too, but given the other jobs, time of year we didn’t think we’d have chance to get everything done in daylight. As it turns out, the engine had suffered quite a bit of heat damage and had melted the seal on the water-pump, which was subsequently leaking. So this was replaced plus the cambelt and tensioner too.

Great to meet Steve when he got home from work, few other issues discussed with him, which we will return to sort out once the car comes out of its winter hibernation in the spring.

Weather was horrendous on the way down this morning with lots of hold ups, but thankfully it cleared when we got to the first call giving us blue skies for the rest of the day, well until it got dark anyway!

Bit of a stop start one on the M1 again now on our way back home, and the weather is turning really bad again, guess this is the arrival of storm Arwen. Batten down your hatches everyone! 🥶💨 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

Keith and Sara had driven over from West Ashby near Horncastle to drop off their TF 160 with us.

Keith had been noticing a problem with selecting gears and had asked if we could swap out the gearbox, having sourced himself a PG1.

Old one taken out and all the ancillaries transferred on to the new one. Refitted along with a new clutch kit, gear box oil and fluid.

On removing the old gear box it was evident that CVT fluid had been used in the gearbox instead of the correct gear box oil, this may have accounted for the problems Keith had been experiencing.

All back up and running nicely again. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

A chilly start and a local one in Preston on Monday morning, for cambelt service on James’s TF 135.

When refitting the timing belt we noticed the key way on the bottom cam pulley had been sheared off previously, this can allow the outer pulley to spin free.

Plenty of them on stock in the workshop, so picked one up when we headed over there in afternoon to crack on with projects, with a welcome warming cuppa from McDonald’s on the way. 🫖

Popped back on Tuesday morning to fit. All sorted and good to go again.

From there we went over to Barmby on the Marsh, where it was lovely to, finally, meet Paul, who had got in touch to ask if we could discuss the viability of getting his Abingdon back on the road. The car had been stood for a while due to lockdown etc.

Definitely worth getting back on the road again and date booked in next year to sort. Once we’ve done the work and had it MOT’d Paul will be having it resprayed. Great car, look forward to seeing it all sorted and back on the road again.

We did have a chap booked in for clutch replacement at the workshop yesterday, was booked in since April, but he forgot.

Another local one, in Leeds, this morning where it was lovely to meet Jack, who had got in touch some time ago for work on his MGF 120 mpi in Wedgewood that he’d owned for the last 5 years.

Head gasket replacement and cambelt service carried out. Really nice car to work on, which hadn’t been touched in his ownership, a few small niggles sorted to get this fab looking car back to rights.

Thanks to Jack for lots of welcome cuppas. Talking of warming, we popped in to Mountain Warehouse at The Springs, on our way home to make the most of the ‘Black Friday deals’ and purchase some more essential thermal layers. 🥶

Back at the workshop in the morning for work on Keith and Sara’s car, that they dropped off yesterday. Busy week so far. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

What an absolutely brilliant day for the Stage Rally and Fireworks at Cadwell Park.

The rally itself was over subscribed and there were 49 cars on track yesterday, including us!

For example some of the cars taking part today were, Ford Escorts Mk2, Renault Clio, Suburu N12, Peugeot 208 R2, Vauxhall Chevette, Mazda MX5, Austin Mini, MG ZR, Mitsubishi Evo 6…. etc

Such great competitors and sportsmanship, which was a joy to watch, and great to walk along the paddock and have a natter with a few people.

One of which was Sean Stanfield yesterday whose ZR sadly developed a problem after the sighting lap and was unable to compete. Despite attempts at diagnosing the problem by several people, including Jon he had to call it a day. Good to meet him and his ‘pit team’ though!

Fab weather, despite it being a bit on the cool side, saw a fantastic turn out of spectators. Great to see lots of people we know too for a chat. 😀

An enjoyable and welcome weekend off. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

Cadwell Park track day today and what a fantastic way to spend a day off!

Really missed doing this last year, along with everyone else, which was noticeable by the amazing turnout!

Our, much neglected, TF 160 did not disappoint and again gave us so much fun on this brilliant track.

Some amazing cars out and some brilliant drivers, that we will get some photos of tomorrow, whilst we spend the day as spectators of the rally stages.

Such good fun and fantastic weather too. 😃 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

A morning away from the workshop and an early start as we headed down to Turves, near Peterborough to see this fab looking TF 135 for a few things.

Supply and program a new Pektron key fob, replace both front top ball joints, front discs and pads and carry out the annual service. All sorted without any issue so we headed back to the workshop as needed to pick up a few things and finish off a couple of other bits.

Mick and Linda had got in touch a few days ago as the window mechanism had given up the ghost on their lovely TF 1.6 and the window decided it didn’t want to go back up again. So we asked them to pop over to us given we had a slot and it wasn’t raining! Window mechanism replaced and now back in working order. Nice to see Mick and Linda again.

Weather so mild given the time of year. 🍁 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

So far it’s been a good couple of days, early starts and late finishes and not a tea break taken…

Garry & Diane’s lovely looking TF ‘Spark’ is all done and ready for them to collect tomorrow.

Offside front top ball joint, offside rear top ball joint, soft-ride kit fitted, new key fob supplied and programmed, new door handle fitted (thanks Andy Partridge for the part), new slave cylinder fitted and full underfloor treatment carried out.

Paul’s TF 135 required a new alternator and a new Lambda sensor. We also fitted another 52 mm throttle body. The car now sounds lovely and smooth.

We returned the car to Paul this afternoon, date arranged for underfloor treatment next year.

Great to see you Paul and get your fab car sorted and running lovely. Thank you, for the tub of Roses chocs, they won’t last long!

One of our doer uppers is in with Black Sheep Customs having a new wing fitted and resprayed. Will be good to get this one finished and sent to her new owners! Full up date on this fab looking car when all done.

Peter’s Rover 75 sent round for the MOT this evening ready for the test in the morning. Full details on this good looking beast tomorrow. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI