Author: Facebook Posts

Head gasket replacement in Cleobury Meadow, just near Kidderminster this morning and lovely to meet Tony.

On doing our usual checks we found that the outlet hose to the radiator had been rubbing on the exhaust heat shield causing it to split. So while the head was off we replaced this. What a very tidy car inside and out. All back up and running again nicely.

From there we went over to see Pauline in Birmingham to fit her a new expansion tank on her fab Trophy 160, as the old one had sprung a leak. We also replaced the back window (by torch light!) as hers had a massive split across it. Car now looking a lot tidier.

Unfortunately, she encountered a new problem this morning with no heat in the heaters, on investigation we found that the heater matrix had also decided to spring a leak. So a date to be arranged to return and replace this for her too.

Fab day with lovely company. Plus the rain held off until the very end!

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

A couple of fairly local calls today and great to meet two new owners, that, fortunately for us, both had garages to work in as the weather was a tad inclement.

Haxby was our first call, and good to meet Phil, who having owned an MGF some time in the past, decided to get himself another, and a couple of months ago found himself in possession of this lovely looking MGF 120 mpi. So Phil asked us to come over and carry out a cambelt service, hydragas pump up and give the car a good look over to check for anything that required attention.

From there we went over to Selby and good to meet Mark whose tidy TF 135 was slightly overdue for its cambelt replacement, only by 11 years. Alternator belt had split, so a timely and lucky replacement of that too.

Back to the workshop to have a restock and collect some things for the next couple of days. One of which is a rear window for Pauline’s Trophy, that we popped in to see yesterday in Birmingham on the way back from Gloucester, we will be going back to see her tomorrow afternoon after our call in Kidderminster in the morning.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Back in Bristol today, to carry out the cambelt service on a Rover 216 Cabriolet.

The car belongs to Mark Ford and his lovely wife. They had won the bid on our auction item for the charity supported by ‘Topless Around the Peak District’, in aid of ‘UK Homes for Heroes’.

So cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced and car nicely up to date with its servicing to give them peace of mind to drive this fantastic looking car. Bet it will look fab on a sunny day, top down!

Big thank you to Matt Harris at ‘MG Obsession’ for tracking down the water pump that had proved difficult to find.

Shame not to see Mark today, but look forward coming back in the spring for more bits to his MGF.

Bit of a contrast in the weather too, which was very welcome.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

A very wet and windy day in Upton St Leonard’s today, but good to get the car done ready for Steven to put back through the MOT.

Front top suspension arms replaced as they had a load of movement on them, and when we removed them discovered that the pin bushes weren’t actually there. So replacement ones duly fitted and all good again.

Found some fantastic digs in Cheltenham ready to head down to Bristol in the morning.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

What an enjoyable day on the road today…

Darlington was our first stop and really lovely to see Terry and Craig for some work on ‘The Chairman’, their very tidy MGF mpi 120 75th Anniversary.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner replaced with a service too. Terry had got himself a stainless steel backbox so this was fitted also, with a bit of persuasion, as on this type there isn’t any adjustment on the hangers. Looks really good and suits the car.

Great to have a chat and catch-up, missed seeing you both this year at the meets and events.

From there we went up to Coxhoe as the annual service on Jason’s, also very tidy, TF 160 80th Anniversary, ‘Little Annie’ was slightly overdue. Good to have a chat and catch-up there too.

Massive “Thank You” to Terry & Craig and Jason for the very thoughtful Christmas presents, what a lovely surprise and really appreciated 🎁

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

A very worthwhile three days spent in the workshop breathing some life back in to this TF 135 ‘Spark’ in Nightfire red…

We had spotted this car on our travels in and out of the village where the workshop is based and always wondered about it. By chance, some months ago, relatives of the owner were visiting our neighbours at Black Sheep Customs, for another car related matter, so whilst Maxine was waiting she popped over to have a chat to see if we would be interested in taking on a project and it so happens that it was the very same car.

The car had been sat for many years following a bereavement, but they didn’t want to let it go, so Maxine and her family decided to recommission the car as a surprise for their Mum.

So following delivery of the car on Sunday we set to work on Monday morning.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner replaced. Full service carried out. Back box, flexi and cat replaced, underfloor coolant pipes replaced, front subframe mount replaced, new PRT fitted, new boot hinges fitted (colour coded), brake pads and discs, alternator belt.

A few other things done that weren’t on the list, that we felt compelled to do, because that’s what we do! Underfloor wire brushed and treated, full valet, under bonnet clean up and shiny pack fitted, wheel arch liners removed and crud cleaned out, wash and brush up!

Fantastic transformation, some work to be done on the bodywork, we look forward to seeing that completed. Then the car will be returned to its rightful owner to carry on on more adventures, with +127,000 miles on the clock already its already had a few!

Another saved with a happy outcome 💝

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

It was great to reunite Jane and Graham with their TF 160 today when they drove down from Gosforth to collect it after a bit of refurbishment in the workshop over the last couple of weeks…

Unfortunately, the car had sustained some damage following an incident on some black ice earlier in the year. Sadly more damage was sustained when being pulled out of the hedge it ended up in.

Having previously worked on the car they asked us, when we were next in the area, if we could come and inspect the car and discuss the viability of repairing it. So arrangements were made to get it in to the workshop.

The offside sill was pushed in all the way along, so Jon set about cutting out the worst affected area and slowly pushing out the section and realigning the sill, initially we were going to transplant the sill from our donor car and then have to get the sill resprayed. This then only needed a small amount of filler and then sanded back and sprayed in colour match paint. Lower sill section fully replaced and seem welded in.

The front bumper was beyond repair, and we were pleased to be able to source one of the same colour from Matt at MG Obsession. Both fog lights were broken so these were replaced. Wheel arch liner replaced. The radiator had been damaged too, so this was replaced.

A few other things done for them to get this car back to looking how it should. Under bonnet shiny pack, valet, bit of a tidy up underneath.

We then had the MOT carried out yesterday ready for Jane to drive her car back to its home.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Always lovely to go and see Alan, in Nottingham. Can’t believe it’s cambelt service time again, time does fly!

As well as the cambelt replacement Alan had treated himself to a Mike Satur Slick-shift, so this was fitted too today.

A very wet and cold day, but a productive one and pleased to have got all this done.

Thank you, for the very thoughtful Christmas presents, Alan and Mary, they will go down very well, cheers to you both 🥂

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.