Year: 2023

Colchester and surrounding area…

Clive had got in touch back in August following the purchase of a ‘96 MGF 143 VVC (in COF) and wanted the main things sorting to give him peace of mind and enjoyable motoring.

We left our digs in Colchester and went over to Great Cornard where we carried out head gasket replacement, cambelt service and replaced the underfloor coolant pipes. Whilst in there noticed that one of the cam seals needed to be replaced, and the VVC plunger gasket needed replacing too. Few other bits sorted for him and advised on. Very quiet sounding VVC mechs, at 72k miles he’s got himself a really great car. Thanks to Clive and his lovely wife for all the tea and chocolates!

From there we went over to Halstead, where it was good to meet Eamonn and his TF 160 (in HFN) that he’d owned for many years. Just recently he’d noticed a strange noise coming from the back of the car. On our investigation found it to be the engine mount bolts that were the culprits, one was wobbling about and the other wasn’t tightened down enough. Duly copper greased and tightened down along with exhaust manifold heat shield bolt replaced all now strange noises and rattles eradicated. Thanks to Eamonn for the tea and huge chunks of cake!

We then went over to Feering, where it was lovely to meet Susan, for investigation of an intermittent issue with the ABS light on her Stepspeed (in JRJ).

On code reading the ABS unit no errors were found. Looking at the live data there appears to be an open circuit on the brake light switch, although the brake lights are all working fine. Investigation is required into the wiring diagram. Susan will be coming up to spend a few days in York while she leaves the car with us at the workshop.

We got back to our digs for about half seven, so not our latest finish! Time now for me to crack on with the admin after I’ve posted this.

We traveled down yesterday, which included a call in to Hartest, near Bury St Edmonds, for pump up of the hydragas on Sylvia’s Metro 1.1. A very long and tedious trip down with a load of roadworks and hold ups. Great digs though, last night tonight, then we set off to venture further south in the morning. – https://ift.tt/ogBipau

A long day today, hooked up the trailer at the workshop early this morning and delivered Bills MGF back to him in Wolston. Absolutely brilliant to see how delighted he was with the results on his pride and joy.

From there we went over to Desborough, to see Marcus and his TF 135, that had a problem with the clutch, initially they thought the clutch itself had gone, but, as we thought, it was the slave cylinder that had gone due to the release arm being seized. Marcus had tried to replace the slave, but unfortunately this had only blown the seals again. Release arm duly freed off this afternoon and new slave cylinder and clevis pin fitted and she’s good to go again.

Pleased to have finally managed to fit them in, we had planned on going on Monday when we picked up Bills MGF, but we encountered a problem with the lights on the trailer, so we were 2 hours late setting off anyway, with a repair, only for the lights to go out again on the M1 in torrential rain. So we made a diversion and called in to a ‘local’ Halfords, near Chesterfield, to purchase a light board and hook that up to continue on. Therefore, we had to let them know we couldn’t make it as we still had to get to Wolston and get the car back to the workshop. Which resulted in another long day in the life and times of a mobile mechanic! 🥴

Came through a few storms and floods on the way home too, albeit in some beautiful countryside. – https://ift.tt/mnGvo7g

Monday found us collecting Bills MGF VVC from Wolston, near Coventry to take back to the workshop for a few things…

We’ve been looking after this car for many years now, so now everything mechanical on it is sorted, Bill had the car resprayed a few months ago and has also been collecting all the pieces for an interior he has been wanting, over the past few months.

We set to first thing on Tuesday morning with removing the complete interior. An amazing array of items from carpets all the way through to console! Turning it from black and grey to cream and tan. What a really fantastic transformation it has undergone. Gear surround and petrol cap etc all replaced in chrome. Under bonnet cleaned up and tidied with new bolt pack.

We then carried out full underfloor treatment. Refit of bumper and bonnet as they were slightly out of alignment.

It really does look a different car, we’ve kept Bill posted with progress pics, just hope he’s pleased with the final result when we return his car to him tomorrow. Really looking forward to seeing his reaction. ☺️

It was lovely to see Noel and Mervyn who drove down from the north east on Tuesday to collect Noel’s TF 85th. Good to have a cuppa and catch-up with them before they headed back home.

Work all completed on Bills MGF this afternoon and loaded up ready for the return trip in the morning.

Some pics below of everything rather than a list that would turn this into a bit of long read! – https://ift.tt/Y2NcSfe

A trip over the snowy wolds to Norton near Malton this morning as it was cambelt service time again on Rodney’s two fab TFs, the years have flown by!

First up was his ‘02 TF 135 in JFV. Cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced, plus alternator belt. Then next up was his ‘02 TF 160 in JFV for both cambelts, water pump and tensioner. The alternator belt had done it’s time so this was also replaced.

This one was found to be randomly adjusting its own tic over to 15000 rpm, which tells us there is a fault with the VVC actuators. By moving the wiring the engine ran normally. So Rodney is going to have a run over to see us at the workshop to get this fixed where we have 160 wiring looms on stock.

Good to see Rodney again, who made us a cracking brew, plus weather was certainly a bit more bearable. ⛅️

We got Noel’s TF 85th and Paul & Olivia’s stepspeed both completed yesterday. Full underfloor treatment and new brake lines on Noel’s and the new back-box and other bits fitted on the steppy. Both cars looking and sounding great and all ready for collection. – https://ift.tt/xqjPfyQ

Harrogate and Bramham today…

It might have been a very cold one, but we had very warm welcomes on both of our calls today.

Good to see Karen again in Harrogate and her MGF 120 mpi (in JBH). The cambelt service was already booked in, since our last visit, but in the time between the head gasket had failed. It had been replaced once before many years ago and had a Mk 1 elastomer gasket fitted with plastic allocation dowels. Everything sorted for her today and got her fab car, that they have owned from new, back up and running. Plus we replaced the rear screen as hers had a split in it.

Grateful of the garage to work in while the snow fell, with a continual steam of warming tea.

From there we went along to Bramham where Les greeted us with tea and cakes! Really good to see him again and his MGF 120 mpi (in CBH).

Full cambelt service duly carried out. We were supposed to fit new GAZ shockers, but given the grotty weather and that Les was needing a couple of other things sorting on her, it was decided that he would have a trip over to us in the workshop.

Heaters on full blast and a hassle free, relatively short run home. Thawing out now. 🥶 – https://ift.tt/iHOu4g9

Sunday found us at the workshop when it was great to meet Paul & Olivia who came over from Widness to drop off their ‘03 Stepspeed (in LEF) with us.

After purchasing the car last year it, unfortunately, only lasted about 70 miles before experiencing a misfire and a metallic grating sound. Paul took it over to the local garage and whilst just being moved on the forecourt the diff then exploded. He then got in touch with us to see when we could fit a new gearbox, Paul having sourced a brand new one from Brown & Gammons.

We then cracked on first thing on Monday morning to drop the subframe and swap out the gearboxes. Over the next couple of days we carried out a full cambelt service, replaced the underfloor coolant pipes. We noticed that the head gasket had also gone, so replaced this along with all the other gaskets, as they had definitely done their time. Few other things sorted. Now there’s just the fitting of a new stainless back-box and new reg plates that will be done on Friday. The list kind of grew, as they can do!

Good to see Mervyn and Noel who drive down from Darlington, on Monday, to leave Noel’s TF 85th (in paint code 107) with us.

Full underfloor treatment carried out and replacement of brake lines. What an interesting life this car has had, with Noel owning from new, having done hill climbs and auto-testing, amongst other activities, in. It’s fitted with upgraded anti-roll bars, Bilstein shockers, and modified control arms. Will post pics when all completed on this one.

Full on few days, looking forward to getting the last couple of things done, particularly on the Stepspeed, which has turned into another save! Great to know that it will be enjoyed for many years to come. – https://ift.tt/VZCe36A

Work today on a couple of the Charlton’s fantastic fleet…!

We ventured up to South Cleatlam this morning, where we were met with a warm welcome as always from Tony, Caroline and Joe.

First up was Caroline’s TF 135 (in MBB) for full cambelt service and alternator belt, we had to revert to Plan B as the engine mount bolts did not want to come undone. The slave cylinder was replaced too and free-off of the clutch release arm. Initially they had thought the clutch line had gone, but fortunately it was just the slave that had gone, due to the clutch pedal being a tad stiff. So she’s all ready for the spring and getting back on the road again.

Minor service carried out on Tony’s MGF 120 mpi (in JRJ).

What a fab day, lots of laughs and such great hospitality. Jon was a happy man with Colin the Caterpillar cake and big breakfast buttie! Thank you, all.

We look forward to seeing you in a couple of months on the Highlander. ⛰️

Photo credit: Joe & Caroline 😃 – https://ift.tt/hPrAvdn

Travels through Lincolnshire and a little bit further…

Yesterday morning, Thursday found us back in Spilsby for work on Denis and David’s MGs.

First up was Denis’s stepspeed (in MBB) for it’s minor service and then next up was full cambelt service on David’s TF 135, (in LEF) plus gearbox oil change, brake fluid change, and coolant flush. Always a pleasure seeing these two gents, their cars are all now ready for their runs out this summer, which includes a trip over to France later in the year.

Their friend Richard came over from Grantham for us to check out the oil pressure gauge on his TF 135, one of the post LE run cars, the gauge was found to be faulty, so this was swapped out with one Richard had managed to source.

From there we called in at Goulceby as Francene had recently bought a ‘99 MGF 120 mpi (in COF) and had got in touch as the suspension was a bit on the low side. Duly pumped up to the correct height now. Great to meet her and have a chat about her very tidy looking MG.

Then back to the workshop to get restocked on oils and things ready for today…

Set off this morning, with a slight diversion to the local shop to purchase bananas, as we’d not had chance the night before, good job we did as whilst parked in the shop car park noticed we had a coolant leak on the van, so limped steadily back home, set to and got the trusty steed repaired, and set off once more, to Bardney, arriving only just over an hour late, not bad going and saved by a banana!

Great to meet Colin for work on his TF 160 (in PBT) that he’d owned for the past couple of years.

Cambelt service carried out, we had to resort to our Plan C as one of the engine mount bolts refused to come undone. We carry spare engine mounts anyway as standard. The bolt sheared off so we were able to go with our contingency of removing the mount complete with sheared bolt and fitting the replacement mount.

Underfloor stainless pipes fitted too as his were starting to show signs of corrosion.

From there we headed over to our next call of the day, but with a slight confusion on postcode we eventually got over to Bilsthorpe, near Newark, where it was good to meet Ray and his wife for work on their MGF 143 (in JPJ), with thanks to Dave for the recommendation.

Minor service carried out, underfloor pipes replaced and hydragas pump up.

Bit of a later than planned finish, but we got there in the end and did what we set out to do.

Good couple of days, despite late finishes, with some very warm welcomes wherever we’ve been, with lots of warming cuppas, biscuits and cake, not to mention some fantastic MGs!

Not far from home now, and managed to dodge the road works as they were just putting out the cones, another lucky escape! 🍌

Not forgetting our furry friends it was lovely to meet Archie the neighbourhood cat yesterday and Ollie this afternoon. – https://ift.tt/pX16rwU