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What a busy week that was, didn’t even get chance to do a daily blog! So here’s a weekly one instead…

Monday was spent at the workshop, on Paul’s TF 135, he wanted us to check over to make sure that it was viable to spend money on. We found it to be a very sound car and well worth keeping on the road. Head gasket replacement and cambelt service carried out, radiator replaced, heater control valve replaced and a few other bits sorted.

A visit to Peterborough on Tuesday as ‘Meg’, Simon’s TF 135 was having some issues, on investigation we found it be a faulty alternator, so we replaced the regulator and all good to go again.

Back in the workshop on Wednesday for head gasket replacement and cambelt service on Arif’s striking looking TF 135 that he had inherited from his father.

A very windy day on Thursday near Barnsley, where it was great to meet Pete for cambelt service on his very tidy TF 135. Date booked in to the workshop for some further work later in the year.

So that brings us to today, and a trip over to Binbrook, near Market Rasen, for head gasket replacement and cambelt service on Dan’s fab looking TF 135 that he had recently acquired from a friend. Date booked in at the workshop later in the year for some other work.

The first few days of the week were originally booked out, and had been for many months, for a whole list of things, but we found out last minute that the car had been sold and the owner hadn’t let us know. At least we managed to get through some more of our waiting list and make some others happy!

Storm Kristoff was a bit of a challenge at times 🥶

Back in to the workshop tomorrow and Sunday to finish off the welding on the TF 135, and to make a start on the next big job on the Stepspeed we have in, that made it’s way from Scotland.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

A very busy and a very cold week, and a bit of a change to what was planned.

A localish call on Monday to meet Ruben (beyond the garden wall!) who had taken on an MGF that had been stood for 12 years, as a project during the first lockdown, his mum bought for him the ‘MGF Manual’ and he set about putting the car back to rights, having never worked on a car before. Absolute credit to him for what he’s done to give this car a new lease of life, not least in first removing the 7 dead rats in it! So we went over to carry out the cambelt service for him. Found the fault that he and others had been struggling to find, which on code reading was found to be the cam position sensor, so Ruben will be on with sorting that next. We look forward to seeing it once it’s been for it’s full respray. The interior is lovely.

The LE that we had in before Christmas was returned to Alan on Tuesday as he wasn’t able to get his train that he’d booked before new year. Great to finally give him his car back!

Our donor car finally got taken away, there wasn’t a great deal left! Many other cars have benefited from this one though that wasn’t viable enough to do up. So, this freed up the space for another one to save that we brought back with us.

Wednesday and Thursday spent at the workshop welding up sills on another TF. Plus sorting out the none running issue on the new ‘doer upper’ and cleaning up the carpets and seats to go back in.

Friday found us in Broseley to fit internal coolant pipes to Grant’s MGF mpi 120. Always a long fiddly job, but well worth doing as his had certainly seen better days. An interesting hose configuration found in the engine bay, which would have been causing an air lock. Correct hose duly fitted.

More work on the TF at the workshop today while we waited for a steppy to be delivered from Scotland for drive plate replacement.

Bit tight for space at the moment, but have to do what we can in these turbulent times.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

PROJECT MGF 143 VVC

We collected this very forlorn looking car up, back in August, having been recommended to Adrian by many lovely people on his Facebook post. Adrian knew we wouldn’t be able to do anything until January and he was happy to wait.

What a great way to start the new year getting this car put back to rights.

• Full cambelt service
• Welding to both rear sills
• All brake pipes replaced plus flexi hoses replaced with braised hoses
• Clutch line replaced plus flexi
• Front and rear discs and pads
• Exhaust flexi
• Front and rear fog lights repaired
• Coolant flush
• New tyres all round
• Indicator repaired
• Washers repaired
• Boot release repaired
• Underfloor rust proof and sealant

Lots of other things done to give this car a new lease of life.

Big thanks to our fab neighbours at ‘Black Sheep Customs’, Steve & Taryn for sourcing, fitting and balancing the tyres, plus giving the alloys a much needed spruce up.

Having had quite a few cosmetic mods prior to its visit to us, it’s next step, once back with Adrian, will be to go for a full respray. We look forward to seeing this when it’s done.

But for now it certainly looks a lot less forlorn 😎

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Well it’s certainly been a busy old start to the year. Hit the ground running on the 2nd of January, tax returns done, that’s always a joy!

Then into the workshop on the 3rd to commence work on the project that we had booked in, having collected the car a few months back the owner knew we couldn’t even look at it until now. So we set about a long list and are pleased to have everything done, will post a full update on everything tomorrow once we can get some good pics.

It’s been a busy time with bookings and not least rearranging them! The week we had planned in Scotland at the end of January has had to be postponed. Unfortunately, due to the latest lockdown the hotel we had booked for 7 nights had to be cancelled, due to legislation. So, sadly for all the people we had booked in we have had to let down, totally understandable, of course during this difficult time for us all. We really look forward to seeing you all soon when we can travel to you!

A couple of socially distant visits to the workshop. Lovely to meet Nick who came over from the village next to us, on Tuesday, for us to carry out our health check on his TF 135. Date booked in to carry out the work required and MOT later in the year.

Derek came over for an inspection of the subframe and viability inspection on keeping their car this morning. Nothing that can’t be sorted and well worth doing on their TF 160 in Sunspot. Date booked in for later in the year to carry out the work required and MOT.

We can’t always get to the phone during the day or respond to messages due to being under a car and clarted up! But we will always get back to you as soon as we can.

Stay Safe everyone and Happy New Year. 🤗

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

An enjoyable day today and got everything done that we set out to do…

Lovely to meet David, this morning in Wooton, for work on his wife Janine’s fab TF 135 that they had almost given up on, but pleased to say they didn’t as it has been in their ownership for many years.

Head gasket replaced, with all bolts behaving well. Quite a decent amount of sludge drained off. Car all running lovely again. Only other thing required was a new coolant cap. Thanks so much David for the very welcome flasks of hot drinks and box of choccie bics.

From there we ventured on to Tingewick, good to see Elton again to find an oil leak and adjust the alternator belt on his Steppy. Thanks for the cuppas and cake.

We then headed north and went over to Godmanchester. Lovely to meet Lorna whose TF 135 had a corrupted Pektron unit. Thanks to Andy Partridge for sourcing us one. This was duly fitted, and we’re so pleased for Lorna that her car is now running again.

Finished by torch light, really pleased we got everyone sorted. Good weather too. Great way to spend our last day on the road of 2020! 😃

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Well that turned into a bigger job than what we had it booked in for…

After collecting Alan’s, very lovely looking LE500, from Cramlington just before Christmas, we had got it up on the ramp to set about the list of things to do. But, on first inspection of the car we discovered that the crash can on the nearside had all but disappeared and that the front subframe was crumbling away!

So after ‘the phone call’ to Alan, to explain the state of affairs, he gave us the go-ahead to put the car to rights.

So front subframe dropped and refurbished one fitted. New crash cans fitted. Front brake lines replaced as these were also rotten. Offside hub, top ball joint, track rod end replaced. Lots of other things done to the front end to get it right. How this car got through an MOT for the last 2 years is unbelievable, but ultimately unsafe!

Cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced. Alternator belt replaced.

Underfloor stainless steel coolant pipes fitted.

Full underfloor treatment carried out etc.

MOT done today, and now looking forward to Alan and his car being reunited. I’m so glad he let us do the work as it is a fab looking car.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

🎄🌟🎄🌟 We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a lovely festive season, however and wherever you may be spending it this year 🌟🎄🌟🎄

It had certainly been a different year for everyone and a very difficult year for many.

🙏 We would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone for your support. We were glad we took the plunge and got the camper, which enabled us to get to those of you at distance and keep us and everyone else safe. So lovely seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones too.

Our thoughts are with those who have lost family and friends throughout this year.

Let us all continue to look after one another, stay safe and hope for things to get a bit better in 2021.

“Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021.”

🤗🎄🌟 Jon & Claire 🌟🎄🤗

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Busy, but really enjoyable day in the north east today. We went to Cramlington and lovely to see Jim and his wife again in their gorgeous new home. Jim’s very tidy new acquisition, a TF 135 in x-power grey, needed some work.

Head gasket replacement and full cambelt service carried out. Couple of things sorted, he’s certainly got himself a very nice car. Bit of a soggy day, but we were very lucky to have Jim’s garage to work in.

While we were there, Steve and Michael (Steve having purchased Jim’s previous car that we worked on a couple of years ago) popped over to say hello and to have a chat about some work they are needing on their respective TFs. Date to be arranged to return next year, before they all head off on the NC500, planned to take place in June, all things being well.

From there we headed just a couple of miles up the road to collect Alan’s LE500, in order to take back to the workshop for a few things over the next couple of days.

We then headed south and called in at the Skate Park in Jarrow and great to see George and his latest purchase, a TF 135 that he wanted us to have a look over and check out a couple of issues. His TF 160 is currently in the body shop having modified side skirts and front and rear bumper and full respray. Date to be arranged to return for work on both cars, so will be great to see the finished result of the 160 then.

A lovely social day, great to see some friendly faces and have a chat (all at distance of course). Our penultimate road trip of 2020! 😯

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.