Month: March 2024

Denton & Failsworth, near Manchester…

The usual slow, stop-start journey that is the M62 this morning, and despite a contingency of an added hour to the ETA we were still 15 minutes late!

Anyway we got there eventually for work on Steve’s ‘02 TF 135 (in HFN) that we had last worked on 7 years ago at another garage.

Full cambelt service carried out, along with alternator belt. On firing it up the car had a rough and lumpy idle. This was located to be due to very old and corroded coil packs and HT leads, so these were swapped out for decent secondhand ones. Plus there was no return to the tank as a couple of the return hoses were well gunked up with k-seal. I’d already cleaned out the tank that was full of the stuff! Car now running nice and smooth with a healthy return to the tank.

Great to see Steve and have a chat, who made us a few welcome and cracking brews.

From Steve’s we headed a few miles along the road to Failsworth, where it was lovely to meet Darryl and her ‘02 TF 135 (in JRJ) that she’s owned since 2007, but unfortunately hasn’t had any use out of it for a couple of years.

We went over today to replace the slave-cylinder and free off the clutch release-arm, to get her moving again. We discussed everything else that needs doing to bring the car back to rights, despite her being told by another garage that it should just be scrapped, which is a shame as there’s nothing that can’t be done to save it.

Jon popped over to the workshop yesterday, as Steve came over from Hull to collect his MGF that had been in with us for the subframe swap. Plus Pete came over from Barton with his TF 160 for a check over of a couple of things ahead of his track day at Silverstone today.

The van is all stocked up and ready for our trip south in the morning for a few days… – https://ift.tt/FvJfZIt

Rear subframe replacement…

Steve left his MGF 1.8 mpi (paint code CMU) with us for replacement of the rear subframe. Steve had sourced his own subframe and not gone for one of our galvanized ones. Steve had sourced a secondhand frame and had prepped and painted it up himself in Hammerite paint.

The usual crusted and corroded bolts removed and replaced along with gear-box oil change, clutch fluid and hydragas lift. The flexi-exhaust section had certainly seen better days and fell to pieces, so this was replaced, along with one of the ball joints. Car all now sorted and ready for collection.

It wasn’t the week we had planned, we had to do a bit of a switch around with the away jobs last week that should have been this week and the subframe last week done this week, due to personal family circumstances. Big thanks to everyone for their understanding and being so accommodating. Although, instead of the contingency of a 3-4 day plan for a rear subframe swap, doing it in 2 days is doable, but we’d not like to do it that way all the time as a bit stressy, all doors firmly shut, radio off and heads down, but we got the job done! 👊🏽 – https://ift.tt/jLRCgNI

Just back home from three days away taking in Mansfield, Ludlow and Alcester…

The first call on Wednesday morning found us in Mansfield, where it was great to meet Phil for work on his ‘04 TF 135 with 26k on the clock, in paint code MBB.

Low level coolant alarm fitted, Pektron key fob supplied and programmed. Plus investigation of a misfire, this was found to be down to an inefficient CAT, this is the third cheap and nasty one this week, these things seem to go in spells. Phil is considering a stainless exhaust back-box at some point so a date is booked in to return with the correct CAT and maybe fit the new exhaust.

We look forward to seeing him again, with thanks to him for the Tunnock’s and a cracking brew (he said he reads our blogs!) From there we headed west to Ludlow for the night.

With possibly the shortest commute yet, on Thursday morning, we were pleased to meet Malcolm and his ‘04 TF 135 in paint code MBB with 41k on the clock.

Head gasket replaced and underfloor coolant pipes replaced with stainless, plus a flush of the clutch fluid.

An interesting morning chatting to Malcolm, while we worked, who used to work for MG Rover and met his wife Elaine there. What an incredible time he had, for many years, as a rally driver, his garage was full of plaques showing his many accomplishments.

Our next digs found us at a fantastic place called The Stag, with its accompanying pub The Pit Stop, in Alcester, definitely recommend a visit there, full of everything to interest the petrol heads amongst you!

With another very short commute, this morning, we met with Joe for work on his ‘03 TF 135 with 60k on the clock in paint code LEF.

Head gasket replacement carried out along with cambelt service. The engine mount bolts refused to budge, so Plan B was opted for, the bottom casing bolt was stuck solid and couldn’t be removed, so we had to lever the casing out of the way and slip the cambelt out of the side, this added on about an hours work, a couple of the hoses were completely blocked with a solid oil and coolant mix, and a couple of the hoses needed replacing due to splits and holes. The HT leads also fell to pieces, so these were replaced with new. Pleased have this one all back up and running again for Joe.

Despite all that, it was a good day chatting to Joe while we worked, his late father worked for Rover for most of his life, and a load of car history to chat about between us all.

A really interesting three days away, albeit we’re a bit tired now, with great people, their fab MGs and so many stories to tell. – https://ift.tt/5LU7EvQ