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We bid farewell to Wales this morning, hoping everyone will be ok with the latest lockdown starting this evening.

Headed over to Cheltenham, to see Steven again for some work on his TF 135, which had quite a list of MoT failures to sort.

Both rear brake lines replaced, both rear calipers, discs and pads replaced. One of the discs completely split apart on removing, so the grinder came out to remove the rest! Rear subframe mount replaced with stainless. Front headlight replaced. Handbrake adjusted.

We went prepared for top ball joint replacement, but on inspection it was both front upper arms that the bearings had gone in (of all the things we usually carry we don’t carry these, as normally only very minor wear and need greasing at worst) an awful lot of movement in them, weirdly though, only one side picked up on at the test. So we will return with ones on stock and replace.

Cambelt service carried out plus a couple of other things done.

Fab weather all day with lots of brews from Steven.

Now back at Tewkesbury Abbey campsite and hooked up for the night.

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Back to Cardiff this morning to meet Philip and his new acquisition which is a very good example of a stepspeed.

Philip wanted us to give the car a good check over and replace the cambelt as was unsure when anything was last carried out. The inlet manifold was found to be leaking so the gasket was replaced. Full cambelt service carried out, plus some other things sorted. Some very good features on this car, he’s got himself a gem.

Lots of great chats and fab weather. Look forward to seeing you next year Philip for some further work.

Made the most of the early finish, due to change of plans, we went over to Pontypool to see our friends, Jan and Andy. So good to sit in their beautiful garden, amongst all Jan’s plants, in the sunshine and have a catch-up over a cuppa. Plus great to meet gorgeous puss Poppy.

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Porthcawl this morning,supposedly for clutch replacement, head gasket and cambelt service, but unfortunately, the chap we were going to see hadn’t let us know he was self isolating so we couldn’t do any work. To be continued…rainy horrible day anyway.

So we brought forward our visit to Chris, in Cardiff, who had wanted us to assess his very tidy MGF mpi for welding up of the sills.

We then enjoyed a semi day off with a bit of shopping, mainly to find a carpet for the camper, as I hadn’t shut the loo door properly yesterday and whilst in transit the barrel of oil in there fell out and landed upside down! Oops!

Jon then had a snooze while I went on one of my favourite walks up to the folly in Pontypool.

We’ll be going to see Philip a bit earlier than planned in the morning to see his new acquisition, which is great and then get to go and see our friends in the afternoon (at distance of course)!

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Good run over to South Wales this morning and on to Risca, where it was great to meet Alex who needed some work on her TF 135.

Head gasket replaced and cambelt service done. Couple of other bits to put the car back to rights. MoT to be done next.

We then went over to Newbridge to meet Steve who had bought Frank and Lesleys old TF, thanks to them for passing on our details. Steve wanted us to give the car a check over and sort out a stiff accelerator. I forgot to pack a pedal so a message to the lovely Andy Partridge this morning and a liaise with Steve to collect and one sourced! So this was duly fitted and we’ve not heard anything from Steve since his test drive! He’s got a gem of a car with only a couple of minor issues noted.

Lovely day and company, complete with decent weather.

Thanks to Andy for putting Alex in touch with us and getting the part for Steve sorted so quickly with your contortionist abilities! Bottle of red coming your way 😊

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Bit of a slow run down to Gloucester this morning, but great to meet Pete when got there. The head gasket had gone on his MGF 120 mpi. So we replaced this and carried out the cambelt service too. All back up and running again. Few other essentials replaced.

We then went a few miles down the road and fab to see Jon again, who had been shopping on eBay, as you do, and got himself a TF 135. He contacted us asking when we would be nearby to carry out a cambelt service. The car had been stood for approx 4 years, but with a full service history. It had obviously been well maintained in its previous life, just had quite a bit of dust over everything.

Jon had replaced the underfloor coolant pipes and will do a service over the winter months. He’s got himself a good one so it seems. The radiator bleed screw had snapped when Jon was bleeding the car and testing for leaks so we found a cure for this (last bleed screw we had was used last week and more on order!) a trimmed down coolant sensor and a rubber washer did the trick.

We were just finishing up at Jon’s when realised had a missed call from Pete. He had taken the car for a run out, unfortunately, the radiator bleed screw decided to give way. So we went over to meet them in Sainsbury’s car park, in Stroud, armed with one of Jon’s rubber washers, which sorted the issue.

What a sociable and enjoyable day we had with fab weather too. Great to see everyone.

Plus we were so pleased to hear the news today to say that we are ok to travel on to South Wales. (Thanks Steve Gibson for your message, appreciated).

Now on a campsite in Tewkesbury with a great view.

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Busy day getting The Beast restocked for next week, limited space makes for strategic packing, especially when the welder has to come with us on this trip and a whole load of stock!

Accommodation problems overcome and a suitable digs sourced (hopefully these won’t be cancelled)!

Adam had called us, on the off chance, this morning to see if we could help him out. So he had a run out to the workshop this afternoon to get the alternator belt sorted on his new purchase, a TF 135, that had been waking the neighborhood up in the mornings for the past few days! Bit of a faff getting the bolt out, but now all sorted and squeal free.

Looking forward to heading down to Gloucester in the morning.

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Just on our way back home now, after a couple of local calls today.

Good to see Gerald again in Featherstone for some work on his TF Spark. All brake lines replaced front to back and both rears. Rear calipers replaced. Clutch slave cylinder replaced and an extremely stiff clutch release arm eased off. Minor service carried out too. Really glad to get everything sorted for Gerald who is looking forward to taking the car for the MoT tomorrow.

We then went over to Eckington, near Sheffield to meet Peter, who wanted a few things carrying out on both of his MGFs that had been stood for quite some time.

Both needed hydragas fills. Clutch slave cylinder replaced. The clutch release arm was extremely stiff, so took some time to ease off. Our cocktail of oils etc worked finally. Few other bits done.

Really great to meet Peter and have a a chat. (So lovely having cuddles with Rosie, sorry Jon I was distracted again)! Peter had seen the van some time ago, when we were in Sheffield, didn’t have a pen with him to write down the details, but remembered the name!

Thank you to Gerald and Peter for many cuppas and your company today.

Day off tomorrow to pack for our next week away. Unfortunately, we had a phone call this afternoon, from where we had booked to stay in South Wales, to say they were having to cancel our booking due to the latest Covid-19 travel restrictions.

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Aidan was very pleased to see us this morning, in York, for work on his MGF 1.8 mpi.

Cambelt service carried out, plus replacement of slave cylinder and free off of a very stiff clutch release arm. New discs fitted to the front and caliper clean up. What a fab car and a real bargain. MOT to be done next.

We then headed over to Swillington near Leeds, to carry out another cambelt service on Stan’s TF 115.

Great to meet Aidan and Stan and have a chat. Went over in The Beast so we could be self sufficient again. Home in daylight too 😊

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