Year: 2024

Cars in from both ends of the U.K. this week from Brighton to Glasgow…

Saturday morning saw us on with both the cars left with us from Scotland. Aldo’s TF 115 was originally booked in for underfloor treatment, but had encountered a non-starting issue, having been stood over the winter months. So instead of the planned drive down in convoy with Glenn he had the car transported to us a couple of weeks ago and Jon has been working on diagnosing the problem in between other jobs. Whilst Jon carried on with that I got cracking on Glenn’s 85th Anniversary, that he had left with us, having driven down from Glasgow on Friday. Full rust conversion carried out and left to do its thing.

Chris popped over to see us from Wirral whilst en route to Nottingham to have his alternator belt replaced as it was squealing a tad on start up.

Work continued on Glenn’s TF on Monday morning, which included full underseal, replacement of all 4 subframe mounts with stainless ones, gearbox oil change, replacement reverse light switch, service items and replacement of the windscreen washer bottle as it had been pittling all over the floor and that’s this one all sorted and ready for collection.

It was good to meet Gary on Tuesday morning who had driven up from Brighton, the day before, to bring in his W reg MGF for its cambelt service. He was definitely living on borrowed time with the alternator belt! At first glance it looked like the wrong belt was fitted, but when we removed it only half of it was left, how it didn’t give way we’ve no idea! Yikes that could have been nasty. It will take place on our exhibit of carnage.

The inlet manifold had a snapped breather pipe, which was causing the car to have an erratic idle. So we fitted an alternative connector, which resolved this issue. All sorted for Gary to drive back down to Brighton that afternoon.

Jon very gladly solved the non-starting issue on Aldo’s TF after chasing faulty wires over a total of two and a half days and chats with Mark Stacey (Kmaps), Chris Flanagan (Retro cars) and finally getting to the route of it with the help of Paul Brown (Technozen).

Now that this was sorted we continued on with the list of things that Aldo had asked us to do whilst we had the car.

Central locking motors fitted, new door handle, window adjustment plus a few other things we came across. Full underfloor treatment carried out and that’s this one all ready to go too.

We look forward to seeing Glenn and Aldo tomorrow as they make their way down to us to pick them up and drive them back home to Glasgow. Let’s hope the sleet and snow don’t cause too many disruptions for them. – https://ift.tt/VlFzPpK

One of jobs we had in the workshop this week was this fab TF 160 that Andy had recently taken ownership of and had transported up to us at the weekend from Hertsfordshire. Already an owner of various other models of MG now and in the past he fancied owning a 160.

Having got the cambelt service done on Sunday, we cracked on with removing all the old Schultz from underneath, most of it falls off in chunks, but the rest has to be laboriously scraped off. Once this was removed, everything fully coated with rust-converter and left overnight to do its thing. Then fully coated with Upol Gravitex the following day.

Andy had treated himself to a Mike Satur ‘Daytona’ back box and quad tail finishers, plus a new CAT, so these were fitted. Both front wishbones replaced. Both front track-rod-ends replaced, the rears were on the list, but were still in good condition.

On running up to temperature found that the thermostat was stuck open and the gauge was reading low. So we replaced both the PRT and the sensor and subsequently everything behaving as it should. Car then sent round to the garage we use on site for 4-wheel alignment. Couple of other things sorted and she’s good to go.

Really great to meet Andy when he came up this afternoon to pick her up. We look forward to seeing him later in the year for some other things. Hope he enjoys a cracking weekend in the area whilst staying over with friends and the drive back home.

One of the other projects we have in is John’s ZR 160 race car. Clutch replacement carried out along with the cambelt service. Coolant flush, brake fluid change, engine oil and filter change. Then brake pads all round. A couple of other things added to the list as we went along, such as the rear calipers need replacing, so these are duly ordered. Andy’s left the car with us to get her ready for the coming season. Another one that would be brilliant to have a blast in!

Glenn drove down from Glasgow this morning to leave his 85th Anniversary TF with us for a few things. Really great to see him as always and have a quick catch-up before he headed back home. Big thanks to him for the huge bag of everything Tunnock’s! So thoughtful. We did share the love with the garage on site and our fab neighbours at Black Sheep Customs.

Another busy week with lots going on and here we are it’s Friday again! We’ll be back at it in the morning. Hope everyone has a great weekend. – https://ift.tt/ZDr8Mx2

What a windy week, glad it was spent in the workshop!

Ted and Debra had left their ‘04 TF 135 ‘Spark’ in Firefrost with us, when they drove over from West Yorkshire at the weekend, of which they had taken ownership of last year.

Head gasket replacement and cambelt service carried out along with all filters and plugs. When it came to running the car up to temperature we discovered that the heaters weren’t working properly. On inspection found that the cable to the back of the heater was faulty, it had snapped off on the control dial side, so we set about the fiddly, time consuming, but ultimately essential job of replacing it. Car ran up to temperature and all good to go.

We collected Adam’s ‘04 TF 160 from
Leconfield on Sunday, a car that we’d last seen a few years ago when owned by his parents. It was in need of a bit of TLC as hadn’t turned a wheel for some time, and Adam wanted to get it back on the road again.

Full cambelt service carried out, ball joints replaced, wheel bearing replaced, exhaust flexi section and Lambda sensor replaced, full underfloor treatment carried out, pre MoT check done and then finally the MoT and she is all good to go. I did give her a bit of wash and scrub inside and out as was looking a bit forlorn, but she’s now got a smile back on her face ready to enjoy some time back on the road in Adam’s ownership. We look forward to seeing him tomorrow morning when he comes over to pick her up.

The other car we collected on Sunday was Steve’s ‘02 TF 160 in Trophy blue, that we’ve looked after for a number of years now. On a run out he had thought that one of the gear cables had snapped.

On inspection we found that one of the central pivot points had sheared on the slick-shift. So new part duly ordered from Mr Satur, which arrived today, despite Mike sending it first class, our postal service isn’t the best at the moment, so we’ll get that fitted on Sunday.

Whilst with us the cambelt service was due, so full service completed, along with alternator belt. Steve had mentioned that there was a leak into the boot, we found that one of the gaskets on the back light surround hadn’t been seated correctly, so we sealed both sides up. Once the slick-shift is sorted she will be good to go again and ready for some trips abroad this year with Steve and Concetta, we look forward to seeing him again when he comes over to collect.

We’ll be back at the workshop in the morning for collection and drop-off, one out and three in. Busy week on the admin too, I am trying to keep up with it, might be a late night tonight.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, let’s hope it’s a little less windy than it has been! – https://ift.tt/6KtgmPJ

A couple of very productive, albeit it very cold, days at the workshop.

Stephen’s ‘00 MGF in Nightfire red (CAQ) was back with us from Selby for undersealing. We’d seen the car last summer for service and MoT.

Car all fully rust-treated and fully protected underneath now and pleased to have it ready for his son, Simon, to collect. Shame we didn’t get to see them both this time.

Chris had driven over from Wirral to leave his ‘04 TF 115 with us for some further work.

The car had failed its MoT on a couple of things and the cambelt service was also due.

Full cambelt service carried out, unfortunately the engine mount bolts both decided to put up a fight, which resulted in them both shearing off. We keep replacement mounts on stock in the event of this happening, so old one removed and replaced.

The offside wishbone had corroded so this was replaced. Initially it was thought that the handbrake cable was at fault, but turns out it was the nearside caliper, so this was replaced. Unfortunately, one of the subframe mount bolts sheared off, so this was retapped and then the car was taken round for its MoT. All now sorted and ready for Chris to collect tomorrow, when we look forward to seeing him again, it’s been a few years since we last caught up with him.

One cancellation which meant we had an easier day today, just as well as we’ve a busy weekend ahead with collections, drop-offs and a couple of small jobs over the two days.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and keeps wrapped up warm and safe during this cold snap 🥶 – https://ift.tt/gSnb5VD

Bromsgrove & Kingstanding…

Up and on early yesterday morning to head down to Bromsgrove, only to get held up multiple times in traffic so it was mid morning before we arrived at Keith’s house.

First job of the day was to fit a soft-ride kit to his friends and neighbours, Wayne and Claire’s ‘02 TF 135. They took it out for a test drive and came back to report how great it was and a big difference to the comfort. The front nearside shocker bush had totally gone so they will notice a difference with the handling. Great to meet them both.

Next up was to program a new key fob for Keith’s MGF 1.8 mpi, (in Volcano) he had wanted a remap on it, but as it’s a MEMS 1.9 they can’t be done by k-maps.

Remap carried out on his ‘04 TF 135, and plus programming of a new key fob on that one too.

As always an enjoyable day in Keith’s company, with lots of warming cuppas and good chats. Thanks to him and Karen for the huge box of chocs, that was Jon happy for the evening!

A stay overnight just along the road from Keith’s and not far from our call this morning, in Kingstanding, where it was good to meet Gary for work on his ‘02 TF 135.

We set about replacing the head gasket, and found a few odd things whilst in there. What should have been a 135 head had at some point had 120 cams put in it. One of the cams actually had a smaller thread size for the pulley. It had been converted to have an aluminum manifold on but instead of exchanging all the studs for bolts it had just been left with all the studs which makes it very awkward tighten everything up properly. Everything where possible put back to rights. Unfortunately when it came to filling back up with coolant discovered that one of the hoses was split, so this was swapped out. Couple of other bits sorted and Gary was very pleased to have his car all back up and running nicely again.

Thanks to Gary for many welcome cuppas on a bit of a chilly day, fortunately though we didn’t get the snow that was forecast.

Heading home now, bit of a slow one on the M1 at the moment. Back in to the workshop in the morning to get cracking on the cars that have been delivered to us while we’ve been away. – https://ift.tt/JIkRCvt

Back to it!

Monday morning found us in the workshop first thing to get cracking on Stephen’s ‘04 TF 115 that he’d dropped off yesterday, when he drove up from Milton Keynes. Full underfloor treatment carried out over 2 days to give it full protection and preventative maintenance. A bit of welding needed and all ready for when Stephen came back on Tuesday afternoon to collect.

Sally had driven over from Skelton to drop off her ‘03 TF 135 for MoT and minor service. After a pre-mot check it required a bit of welding and new wipers. Minor service carried out and all ready for Sally to collect.

Paul drove over from Barmby on the Marsh on Tuesday morning to leave his Abingdon with us for its MoT and check over of a couple of things. Good to see him again and have a cuppa and a chat.

The cars rear high-level brake light wasn’t working, which was found to be due to faulty wiring, which Jon set about fettling. The SRS light kept coming on, which we found to be a problem with the rotary coupler/squib, this was swapped out with a replacement and problem solved. Couple of other bits sorted, including hydragas lift and the car all set ready for Paul to pick up.

Lovely to see Gerald again who brought over his MGF, in Wedgewood, from Horsforth for the minor service. We’d worked on the car when it was previously in his ownership, he’d then sold it and when it came back up for sale again last year he decided to buy it back, and a good decision too as it’s a cracking example.

After taking a few well needed days off over the festive season to recharge the batteries we thought we would hit the ground running with a fairly big list of a job booked in for 3 days, only for the car not to appear. At least I managed to get a couple of others booked in in its place so not a totally wasted week. Let’s hope this isn’t indicative of the year ahead! 😕

At least we had time for a well needed clean up of the fleet so it looks less like a scrap yard!

Hope everyone had a good festive season wherever you may have been and are looking forward to what lies ahead for your MGs in 2024. – https://ift.tt/anNHOvi