Month: June 2023

Our first visit of the day was to Woodford Halse, not far from Daventry where it was great to meet Pete for work on his newly acquired ‘02 TF 135 in paint code JRJ.

Not long after taking ownership the proverbial occurred. So today we replaced the head gasket etc, initially we were just going to get him up and running again, but then found out that the cambelt service was well overdue, so we did this for him too. The alternator belt was old and cracked and the coolant cap was faulty, so these were duly replaced too.

One of the coolant hoses, the heater inlet/outlet had been a little bit bodged, so this was also replaced with a decent secondhand one, that we had with us, fortunately.

The dreaded k-seal had been added somewhere along the line in the past which has made a bit of a mess, so everything all cleaned up and put back together resulting in a decent sounding engine.

An enjoyable morning spent chatting while we worked, with a constant supply of welcome tea and a bit of sun thrown in too.

Pete will be having a trip up to the workshop in Holme on Spalding Moor at some point for some other things to be done.

From there we headed over to Stockton near Southam where it was lovely to see Mick again and his ‘97 MGF 143 in paint code COF.

Last time we were in the area he asked if we could diagnose the non-starting issue, which was found to be down to the fuel pump having packed up. So today we returned to replace it with a secondhand one. Car back up and running again, which brought a smile to Mick’s face. He’ll get the car MOTd and taxed now and get her back on the road.

On our way home now back up the M1 on a beautiful sunny evening. – https://ift.tt/vrSw9te

A reluctant departure from such fantastic digs this morning, near Brackley, and headed over to Aspley Guise, east of Milton Keynes.

We were met with a very warm welcome from Phil for work on his wife, Liz’s 2001 MGF 1.8 mpi (in paint code CMU) that they’d owned from new.

Head gasket replacement and cambelt service carried out for them, along with new alternator belt and expansion tank cap, as theirs was one of the dodgy ones.

They has asked if we could look at the clutch because the pedal was getting lower and lower, but it was still engaging. On removing the cover under the bonnet, we found that the plate on to which the master cylinder attaches to was suffering from some serious corrosion, we’ve seen them looking a bit rusty before and we’ve cleaned them up and rust cured them etc. but this was so extensive that the master cylinder was out of alignment, so would, therefore, account for the problem at the pedal end.

We are in the process of sourcing a replacement mounting for them. Other than that it’s immaculate and has been Liz’s pride and joy. Good to meet her briefly, (her homemade flapjack was a winner). Lovely hospitality from Phil, great to meet him and have a good chat while we worked.

From there we headed along to Willington, near Bedford, for a hydragas pump up on another MGF 1.8 mpi of the same year and paint code as the one earlier.

Tony owned the car for 2 years and had a local garage carry out all of the essential things when he bought it. Another very good example, but again, when we removed the under bonnet cover the bracket on the clutch master cylinder was completely corroded, which he was a surprised about. So that’s another one that we will source and send down to him. He’s got a very ‘handy’ neighbour who will help him to fit, as it’s a bit of a fiddly job, plus you need an extra pair of hands to bleed the system, unless you’ve got an Easibleed to hand of course.

It was lovely to meet Tony, who also gave us a warm welcome with a tray of tea and biscuits on our arrival, and so good to have the chance for an interesting chat with him.

A hassle free run back home this afternoon after a really interesting few days work away, taking in Solihull, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Brackley, Aspley Guise and Willington. – https://ift.tt/AiSFXjx

Monday morning found us in Solihull for clutch replacement on John’s ‘97 MGF VVC (in paint code HAM). Having owned the car from new and with only 44k on the clock the clutch had definitely done it’s time unfortunately, a little earlier than is usual.

The car has never been driven in the wet and lives in a garage, so with absolutely no corrosion every nut and bolt came undone with ease, including removing the fuel filter bracket in order to take out the resonator box, which normally involves a grinder to remove it, resulting in a long pain staking process and lots of pieces of plastic! The drive-shaft oil seal wasn’t great so we replaced this with a new one.

We had a chat with John about the cambelt service etc, as it had not had one in ten years, but he wasn’t convinced that it was necessary. Some good weather while we worked and finished in good time to head over to our digs, just near Brackley, for the next couple of nights.

We also went over to Northampton to see Julia and her ‘96 MGF VVC (in paint code COF) that hasn’t turned a wheel for 10 years and she keen to have it recommissioned. Having already got her booked in later in the year at the workshop we said we would call by when in the area to have a chat. Great to meet her and we look forward to having the car in with us.

This morning, Tuesday, found us on a short commute over to Brackley itself where it was great to meet Matthew and his fairly recent acquisition of a TF 160 (in paint code IAK). He’d bought it as a project car, and was gradually getting everything it needed doing to get it back up to full spec.

Today we carried out a full cambelt service for him, code read the car and had a chat about the other things he’s done and plans on doing. We wish him well as it’s a bit of a rare one!

We were just down the road from the home of Mercedes Benz F1, now that would have been an interesting place to visit, if we could, got a photo of the sign though.

We then headed over to Milton Keynes, where it was good to see Stephen again for work on his TF 115, (in paint code PBT) that we’d last seen a few years ago for the head gasket replacement.

New starter motor fitted, drivers door window mech needed repairing as it had jumped the rear window stop, and the front needed adjustment too. Oil and oil filter change and Stephen’s very happy that he can get out and about again. Date booked in for next year at the workshop to have underfloor treatment carried out.

Thanks for the eclairs Stephen, they didn’t last long on the drive back to our digs!

Found a really great spot to stay again whilst we’re down this way, with the one the best views out of the windows. 🐴 – https://ift.tt/WArEQZL

A return to Kevin’s in Broomhill, Northumberland this morning for some further work to his Trophy. We didn’t start at our usual time as it was planned as a day off, but wanted to get this sorted for Kevin and with our busy diary it was the only opportunity.

The car was bought with various cones put into the spheres and with the addition of multiple washers. However, even with the correct cones put in the car was still sitting low at the back end, more so on the passenger side than the drivers side. After several attempts to cure this, it was decided to individualise the spheres so that we could control the ride height separately on each corner. Car now sat at the correct height all round and looking a lot better.

On our way home we met up with Caroline and Tony at Scotch Corner, as ‘Sparkles’, Caroline’s TF 160 had developed an annoyingly squeaky alternator belt. So this was swapped out for them. Great to see them both as always for a quick catch-up.

Back home in time to make the most of the fab weather and go for a walk. Admin all caught up on on the way home. We do have the day off tomorrow, so hope the sun comes out again. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/37nUIbg

A couple of productive days, yesterday and today at the workshop…

Diane and Gary travelled over from Scarborough at the weekend and left their ‘05 TF 135 in paint code JHG with us.

So yesterday morning we set on with cambelt service, new HT leads, brake fluid change, alternator belt and an MOT, which we arranged to have done on site. ‘Alfie’ is all done and ready for them to collect.

Alan dropped off his TF 160 in paint code JFV over the weekend too, having driven over from Filey.

So we also got to work on this yesterday morning too, for head gasket replacement, full cambelt service, full underfloor treatment, soft-ride kit fitting, rear discs and pads, alternator belt, supply and code new key fob.

Anthony drove over from Barnsley yesterday afternoon for a health check on his fairly recent purchase of a ‘02 TF 160 in paint code JFV. Couple of small niggles sorted for him, and a date booked in to sort the other things needing to be done.

Work continued this morning on Alan’s TF. Ray & his wife came over from Hull this afternoon in their ‘03 TF 135 in paint code JFV for the minor service and replacement of the heater control valve, which had been leaking quite a bit. Lovely to see them both again, date booked in for the cambelt service next year.

Great to meet Gary, who drove up from Grantham in his recent purchase of a ‘03 TF 160 in paint code MBB.

Health check carried out for him and a minor service. The health check found a couple of things; the offside rear wheel bearing had gone, so Jon replaced the bearing, don’t think he would have made it back home on it. Reverse light switch repaired as the lights were permanently on and a couple of other small things sorted. Date booked in for later in the year to have the cambelt service carried out and underfloor treatment.

Diane & Gary’s and Alan’s TFs all ready for collection, shame we won’t see them again, as we’re back on the road tomorrow morning.

Pleased we got through everything, as the lists kind of grew as they can do! But, we got our heads down and didn’t speak for almost the entire day yesterday! A very nice sociable afternoon today though, whilst we worked.

A bit of sunshine thrown in too for top down drives home. Let’s hope it stays for the weekend. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/37nUIbg