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Another short commute from our digs in Prestwick to Dalrymple, Ayre for work on another great example of a 1995 MGF 1.8 mpi, again with loads of original features, and with very low mileage at 28k. The car had been purchased about 3 months ago through Mathewsons, and delivered to its new residence.

Really good to meet Mike, his wife Traute and their lovely woofer, Rufus. What an interesting day in Mike’s company, with lots of stories shared between us.

Work carried out today; head gasket replacement, cambelt service, alternator belt, hydragas top up, 52 mm throttle body fitted and health check. Also booked in was replacement of the underfloor coolant pipes, but stainless ones were already fitted, so a bonus for Mike. New stainless exhaust back box fitted, which really suits the car.

Thank you, Mike, for your great company, hospitality and keeping us warm with the heaters and lots of cuppas! What a beautiful location, thanks for the tip on the viaduct/sunset opportunity for a photo. We look forward to seeing you again next year.

Back to our fab digs for the last night here, and yes steak is on the menu for Jon again and the Strictly final! 😅 🥩 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

We departed from Stirling this morning, what a great city that is, and headed over to Kilmalcolm…

Bob had got in touch to see when we would be next in the area, for some work on his very nice looking 1999 MGF 1.8 mpi. Having obviously been very well cared for with the previous owner, Bob wanted to keep it in the same way.

New exhaust back box, cat and exhaust flexi section fitted. Spark plugs and all filters replaced, gear box oil drained and refilled, new brake fluid bled through. We gave the car a health check/pre MOT check too and found a couple of minor issues. One of the top ball joints replaced.

Date booked in next year for a couple of other things, and we look forward to our return visit. Good to meet Bob, who makes a cracking brew! Our visit was made more special meeting Brodie, a very huggable Highland Sheepdog, what a lovely chap!

We then headed over to our next place to lay our heads in Prestwick. Bit of a detour on the way to Kilmarnock to pick up some brake pads for the camper, as they were found to be wearing a bit thin with all the hills. Essential running repairs carried out at the digs. Fantastic self contained place I found, so Jon’s happy that I will be cooking him steak this evening. 🥩 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

Our first call of the day was in Coatbridge for work on Russell’s TF 1.6. We had last seen him in July for a couple of things and the plan was to come back and carry out the cambelt service on this visit. But, only a couple weeks ago we got a message from him to say that the car was losing coolant, so could we prioritise this problem.

On pressure test, we found a couple of leaks coming from the thermostat housing and the inlet manifold.

The bolt holding the thermostat housing to the block was completely corroded, so took a bit of persuasion getting it off, with the added fear of it shearing. The thermostat housing had broken off inside the back of the water pump, so this was all removed.

The inlet manifold was held in with all the wrong nuts, none flanged and incorrect sizes, so once this was removed and cleaned up the correct ones were fitted. Unfortunately, k-seal has been added to this car, we removed the expansion tank and cleaned that out, but it remains to be seen what with the other issues that nothing else major will come to light, hopefully not!

From there we went over to Polment, near Falkirk for work on a 1997 MGF 143.

Billy had got in touch a few months ago to see when we were next in the area as the car was due it’s cambelt service.

Both belts replaced, plus water pump, tensioner, alternator belt and all other service items. The Hydragas was pumped up too as the car was sitting a little bit low. The offside track rod end had gone, so this was also replaced.

Great looking car with lots of original features. Lovely to meet you Billy, thanks for a cracking brew and choccie bics!

Back to Stirling, for our last night here, and managed to get a passing quick pic of the Kelpies, looking amazing, all lit up. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

A short run to our job today from our digs in Stirling to Kippen, where it was good to meet Des for investigation of a problem with his TF 1.6, that he and his wife have owned for the last five years.

Unfortunately, the alternator belt had given way, taking the tensioner and cambelt, which subsequently resulted in 14 bent valves. After a discussion, it was decided that the car was too good to let go and Des wanted to save the car, so we have taken the head away with us to fully refurbish.

Good decision, as the rest of the car is in really good condition. Really felt for Des, but it’s nothing can’t be fixed, it will be good to get this one back up and running again. 🐝

Having an unexpected afternoon available to us I had a walk to the Wallace Monument, when I got back we just had enough time for a tour of Stirling castle. Both really interesting places. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

After leaving our digs in Dundee this morning we found ourselves in Idvies, Forfar for work on this fab looking MGF 143, Japanese import in Amaranth (KMN).

Eddie had got in touch earlier in the year as the service history on the car was a bit sketchy. We therefore replaced both cambelts, water pump, tensioner, plugs and all filters, plus the alternator belt.

Really great to meet Eddie and his wife Ewa, and their lovely dogs, Poppy and Chewey. I was also treated to a visit over the road to his mate Ameretto!

Eddie asked if we wouldn’t mind popping along the road to Kingsmuir to see his friends TF 1.6. Barry wanted a check over on a couple of things and a chat about whether it was worth doing the work necessary and keeping the car. Very nice example in Le Mans Green. Couple of things to sort and get the timing belt etc replaced.

Some very interesting conversations today, and a couple of cracking cars.

Thank you, to Eddie and Ewa for your hospitality, it’s really appreciated. We look forward to seeing you all again next summer. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

A very nice commute this morning over the Tay bridge and on to Cupar.

Ewen and Craig’s LE 500’s were both due for the cambelt service, all carried out without any issues on these fab looking cars. Ewen’s needed a new alternator belt, all the LE’s are fitted with aircon as standard.

The ‘red’ one belonging to Craig is paint code 111, which is Scorched Red and the ‘blue’ one belonging to Ewen is paint code 110, which is ‘Intense Blue’ just for those interested in the factoids.

Good to be able to have a chat and a catch-up with them both. Plus the added bonus of a garage, although the weather wasn’t too bad today at all. Thank you, to Ewen for many welcome cuppas and chocolate biscuits. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

Our first call of the day was in High Felling where as always it was lovely to see Rachael and Tony and to see what their TF 160 in Firefrost ‘Katy’ was getting up to with her intermittent none starting issue.

Diagnostics of the ECU and alarm unit, then reinitialised both key fobs, then checked all fuses, then set about checking the relays. The fuel impact relay was, although found to be working, had poor/corroded connections. Once cleaned up everything sprang back into life!

Thanks to Tony for a great cuppa and Jon’s big breakfast! See you later!

We then went over to Gosforth to carry out the minor service on Jane and Grahams TF 160. Nice to have a catch up with Graham and chat about the car. Date to be arranged for the cambelt service next year.

Now at our digs in Whitley Bay. Time for Jon to have a quick snooze ahead of tonight’s fun and I enjoyed a walk up to St Mary’s lighthouse that looked great as it is all lit up for the festive season. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

What should have been a simple day turned into a not so simple day, but as we all know that isn’t the case is it with these little cars…

It started out really well, nice early start at the workshop, with a welcome change in the weather, to move everything around and get ready for our first visitor of the day.

Great to see Alan and his LE500 that he had driven down from Cramlington in yesterday for a minor service and check over of the brakes. The discs were still in good condition, but the pads were sticking and corroded. An MOT was planned, but unfortunately our tester that we use had a very rare day off, they work the same silly hours that we do seemingly. Lovely to see Alan as always and have a chat.

Jim then came over from Harrogate. Having seen his TF 135 earlier in the year for a ‘health check’ he had asked if there were any things that could be done to improve the ride and had heard of the soft ride kit, so this was duly booked in for today, more of that later.

The TF 135 that we had in from Derby was collected this afternoon, by Jim the owner and his friend Steve, who had driven him up. Really great to meet them both and have a chat and a cuppa.

On fitting the soft ride kit to Jim’s TF, the first corner went as it should, but on the nearside front the shocker bolt decided to shear off! Great. Isn’t that a joy when that happens. Having fitted countless of these kits and what should be a 2-hours-tops job turned into an all day one. Grinder, welder, tapping device, help from our neighbour Steve all deployed!

Jon’s perseverance, technical knowledge and patience paid off eventually. All other corners replaced without any issue.

Offside rear control arm also replaced as this was found to be faulty on the health check. Reverse light switch replaced too.

Despite the wait and the cold Jim was great company and has a good sense of humour. Date to be booked in for some welding work to the sill.

Whilst Jon was cracking on with many hours on that annoying bolt I set about restocking the camper. We’re heading off to the north east in the morning for work and a stop over, before heading further north to Scotland. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI