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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