Month: January 2023

This week at the workshop found us with another of John’s fab fleet in for some work. His TF 160 in the ‘1 of 1 paint’ was dropped off with us on Sunday and we ran John back to Selby.

Full underfloor treatment carried out, brake flexi hoses fitted all round, and a service. There was a bit of a bigger list, but not as much of it required in the end. Gave her a bit of wash today for some pics, and now all ready for John to collect on Monday.

Great to meet Connor who had bought himself a Rover 25 1.4 to use as his commute car for his new job that he starts on Monday. A lovely looking and very low mileage car with only one previous owner, Connor wanted peace of mind knowing that the car was sound. The cambelt service was overdue, so we replaced the belt, water pump, tensioner, aircon belt and alternator belt, spark plugs, oil and all filters.

Connor also wanted to know the emergency access code, so we hooked up the p-scan and downloaded it for him. A real pleasure to meet him and have a chat.

We had prepped for a Rover 75 Tourer coming for a full engine swap, but this is postponed for now. So amongst other things, not the usual crazy full on week we’re used to, just a full on one.

Looking forward to a weekend off to spend with family for a special occasion, which will make a lovely change being clean and scrubbed up!

Then we look forward to seeing Tim again on Monday afternoon, when he delivers his TF 160 to us from Cornwall for a few things next week…

Weather was a bit kinder this week. Have a great weekend everyone. 😀 – https://ift.tt/keFBs1j

HELLO! 👋

For all recent enquiries sent via EMAIL could you please check in your JUNK or SPAM folder as it has become apparent that that’s where our replies have been dropping into! 😫

A tad frustrating for both parties! 🙄😲😵‍💫

🤷‍♀️🤷🏼Don’t know why, a peculiar anomaly it seems, so apologies for any seemingly long delays in anyone receiving their replies. 😮‍💨🧐 – https://ift.tt/UkAsh5w

Our last call of the week was in Darlington, yesterday morning, when we returned to get Nev’s 160 sorted, that we assessed a month ago, when we were in the area.

Nev had bought the car from a dealer that had intended doing it up, but then the cambelt went and subsequently had been left sitting for 3 years. Nev, having owned MGs in the past and currently owning a TF 135, spotted it and thought it was maybe worth a shot to see if it could be saved, despite not knowing the extent of the damage. It had 4 bent valves, and a heavily skimmed head, but fortunately no damage to pistons or liners etc.

So yesterday we fitted with a replacement 160 head, plus a new thermostat and housing as the one on it was leaking was a bit gunked up. All gaskets replaced along with all belts and water pump.

New flexi section fitted too as the old one had certainly seen better days.

The car fired up on first turn of the key. But, when running up to temperature there wasn’t any warm air coming through from the heaters. Traced back to the oil cooler being blocked, so a bypass was put it in, which solved that. What a great result in a very smooth sounding engine, definitely worth investing in. Nev will sort out the underneath and then next will get the bodywork done and he’ll have himself a pretty decent 160.

Great to see Nev and Carolyn as always. Big thanks to them for a steady stream of warming brews, along with butties, biscuits and muffins to keep us going on another long and nippy day. Another one saved, which is fab!

Lovely to see Bob today who came over to the workshop to collect his TF 135 and also John who dropped off his TF with us for work next week. – https://ift.tt/nFZbTwO

Our work took us over to Fotherby, near Louth, this morning where it was really great to meet Colin for work on his TF and his ZR race car.

Colin had rescued this great looking TF 135 Anniversary (in HQM) from a scrap yard in Southampton. He’d realised it was something special, despite looking in a bit of a sorry state, so brought her home and fixed her up and asked if we would come over and carry out the cambelt service.

Next up was his ZR 160, that he’s enjoyed racing over the last 5 years, throughout the UK, which was also requiring new belts.

What a really interesting and enjoyable day chatting to Colin and working on his cars. We’ll hopefully get a plan together to see him on track this year.

Another Baltic day, but so glad of his fab workshop to work in that’s got a ton of history in it, accompanied by gallons of tea! Thanks, Colin. Great to meet puss too.

An amazing sunset on the way back, but not enough daylight to do my usual walk back over the Humber Bridge to home, roll on lighter nights and warmer days! – https://ift.tt/qzkwSoH

Monday morning and we got started, bright and early, on these fab three that were dropped off with us at the weekend.

Graham brought his TF 160 (in MNX) down from Gosforth for a full cambelt service, underfloor treatment and a remote battery isolater to be fitted. Great to see this car again and also to see Graham who travelled down today to collect. We waved him off for a top down run back to the north east.

Bob brought his TF 135 (in JGY) over from Beeford for full underfloor treatment. Good to see this car in again with us, and we look forward to seeing Bob and Lis at the weekend when they come over to collect. Let’s hope there isn’t a huge dumping of snow for them.

Simon brought his TF 135 (in MBB) over from Howden. Good to see this one in again, and also to see Simon and Sal this afternoon, when they came over to collect, following welding to the offside sill, replacement of the alternator, minor service and an MOT.

A busy and productive three days. Great to get everything completed this afternoon and good to be in the shelter of the workshop on another very chill cold spell. Hope everyone has stayed safe on the roads. – https://ift.tt/uVf7pYO

Dursley was our first destination yesterday after departing from our really fab digs in Saint Mellons, near Cardiff.

It was great to meet Rod who had got in touch to see if we could come over work on his TF 160 (in HFF) that he’s owned for the past 10 years and enjoyed many trips around the UK and abroad in.

We replaced the head gasket, and carried out the cambelt service for him. Really nice car to work on with no issues. Plus we were so pleased to find when we arrived that he had a garage as we weren’t looking forward to another soaking!

From there we went on to Gloucester where it was lovely to meet Jack who was needing the hydragas pumping up on his fab 1.3 Metro, that he had learnt to drive in and had kept hold of. Now the car is back to the correct ride height, he will be getting out in her once more.

On to our next digs a few miles along the road, another great spot that we last stayed in during lockdown when we got back on the road again.

I had a cracking walk first thing to our call this morning, but unfortunately when we got there the chap wasn’t in as there had been a bit of confusion over dates. Not to worry these things happen, at least it we had an earlier than planned trip home, which was good to get back and see our very chatty cat! We’ll see Brian later in the year when we venture down that way again. A good few days on the road to kick-start the year.

Looking forward to seeing a few people tomorrow for drop-off day at the workshop. – https://ift.tt/SXkKLfp

We left our digs in Worcester yesterday morning, and headed to Kingstone, near Hereford to see what was happening with Keith’s MGF 120 mpi (in JRJ).

The car had suffered from a blown cap and after replacing with a new one the car then overheated, so Keith erred on the side of caution and left it until could take a look.

After all our checks the cap that he replaced it with was good, but when he’d filled the coolant back up hadn’t bled the system fully, which had caused an airlock and restricted the flow of coolant. System subsequently bled and ran up to temperature, and all good. Shame not to see Keith on this visit.

We then ventured further south west to our next digs just outside of Cardiff.

A short commute to our work this morning, where it was great to finally meet Geoffrey, and his MGF 120 mpi (in JRJ). He’d only owned the car for 5 months before experiencing issues with overheating and had to be recovered home. Following a recommendation from his friend he had got in touch to see when we could get over to see him.

So this morning we replaced the head gasket, the water pump and fitted a 52mm throttle body. Unfortunately, the car had at some point had the dreaded k-seal added, so this was cleared out as best as we could.

Bit of a challenge given the conditions, rain, sleet, thunder and lightning! We got the main bit done before it really chucked it down! After sheltering in the van a few times we finally got everything done.

Geoffrey had wanted a remap carrying out too, but wants to wait until he gets used to the car once more, now that the head gasket etc has been sorted. It’s a cracking car and he will now carry on with the things on his list of things to do.

Thanks to Geoffrey for lots of tea, well needed. Good also to see Ian for a quick chat too, mid storm!

Back at our really lovely digs for a second night, and time to get everything dried off. Room service steak may well be needed tonight.

Photos aren’t the best due to the inclement conditions, but they’re virtually the same car on both days anyway! – https://ift.tt/u1TbeWw

Back to it and on with 2023 and back on the road at very early o’clock this morning…

Our first call of the day, with a late start due to an absolute load of holdups, simply due to traffic volume, despite putting in a contingency of an earlier departure time, was in Kingswinford where it was great to meet Richard for work on his fab looking TF 135, (in JFV) that he’s owned since June of last year. The car developed an issue where it would turn over briefly but then cut out, on our investigation we found that both fobs needed reprogramming to the alarm unit, once this done it fired up straight away and stayed on running. Great result for Richard. Minor service was carried out too and a date to be arranged for cambelt service and a couple of other things.

We then headed down to Redditch where it was great to meet Richard! His fab looking MGF 120 mpi (in GUF) was in need of a head gasket replacement. He’d bought the car last year, but then found that it was over-heating so tried replacing the cap and the coolant expansion tank. All up and running lovely again this afternoon. Date to be arranged to replace the radiator that was looking a bit suspect. So pleased that Richard and his wife can get out and about again and enjoy some top-down runs, having both been bikers in past.

Apart from replacing the head gasket on Paul’s car, in Hull last Tuesday, we enjoyed a week off to recharge our batteries. A really nice break it was too, well apart from servicing the van for Jon and doing some maintenance on it, a load of cleaning and sorting for me in the house, and what is now finally ours, we’re so pleased to say, we found out just before Christmas, (after a fair amount of faffing), yippee and phew equally.

All went smoothly on Paul’s TF (in MNX), so he’s pleased to have that sorted and is now looking forward to having some fun over the summer months, then coming over to the workshop at the end of the year for underfloor treatment and a remap. Thanks Paul for the endless supply of tea you supplied, very appreciated on a pretty cold day!

Now tucked up in our first digs of the week, in Worcester. A fab airbnb complete with microwave for Jon’s tea! – https://ift.tt/xAWm8YU