Category: News & Updates

An interesting few days at the workshop…

Jim dropped off his LE 500 (number 356 in paint code 108) with us at the weekend. So we cracked on with that first thing on Tuesday. We had Monday off for a few things, but most importantly it was my lovely Dads 82nd birthday so we had a visit over to him.

Jim had bought himself a front and back set of Mike Satur subframe mounts. So these were fitted, no old subframe bolts sheared off, but one new one had to be tapped out from an M8 to an M10 thread for a bigger bolt to be fitted, so on the whole not too much of a nightmare! New Mike Satur rear heat shield fitted too. Plus a full cambelt service carried out as this was due from the last time we did it 4 years ago.

We then took the car round for the MOT, but unfortunately whilst in there it became apparent that something was amiss! Despite us running the car up to temperature, when obviously under load being driven the short distance to the MOT station the pressure had caused the bleed bolt surrounding that a attached to the heater matrix to become detached!

So we set about, with probably one of the most labour intensive and frustrating jobs on these cars, with replacing the heater matrix. Fortunately, we have a few of the original MG Rover ones on stock. There’s a big difference between the two, in the quality of metals and fabrications.

We set about removing everything in the interior barring the seats, and a day spent today replacing it all. All finished this evening and running, ready for Jim to collect.

Good to see Tony again yesterday, who came over to us from Mattersey near Doncaster, with his TF 135 for minor service, wishbone replacement and top ball joint and then the MOT.

Lovely to see Mick and Sammy who came over to collect their TF. Good to have a catch-up with them. Plus I managed to get a ‘nice’ shot of the car after all the nitty gritty ones! Great to have future proofed this car for them, that they will be traveling throughout Wales this summer in on their hols.

Gary came down from Darlington this morning in his TF 135 that we named as ‘Madam’ when we rescued her and Gary bought from us 3 years ago, and has had much fun in since. The heater matrix was leaking again, unfortunately the one we fitted a few months ago that Gary had sourced had also failed. Let’s hope 3rd time lucky this one does the trick! Great to see Gary and have a catch-up and a cuppa. Not that we were putting off getting on with the other task at hand!

Silly me forgot to order in a soft ride kit for Nick to be fitted today, but he’s happy to wait until it’s in and have the MOT and other bits done at a later date. Thanks Nick for your understanding. I must try harder!

Tim’s TF 160 finally got picked up by courier and taken back down to Redruth, in Cornwall at the weekend.

Van stocked ready to head off on the road for the next couple of days. – https://ift.tt/yaIkoDZ

A busy weekend, we headed over to Chesterfield this morning as Stephen’s TF 160 had been recovered home a couple of weeks and left on the busy road outside his house, so asked if we could come over and see what the problem was and get the car onto the drive. We went over armed with starter motor and an alternator. Turns out the spade connector on the starter motor solenoid had become corroded and therefore not making a connection. Jump pack on and got the car moving. Connector cleaned up, tightened up and copper greased and and now starts first turn of the key. While we were there we carried out the minor service. Good to see Stephen again who made us a cracking brew and bacon buttie. Pleased we’ve got his car sorted for him.

We then went over to Wirksworth where it was lovely to see Pam and Tony again whose TF 135 had developed a problem with the clutch. The car hadn’t been used very much at all over the past year so the clutch release arm had seized up. Fortunately, the slave cylinder hadn’t gone too. So a good one a half to two hours later the arm was lovely and free again. When easing off the clutch arm there’s no point in just doing it for only 20-30 minutes when it starts to feel a little easier as it will just seize up again. We have a combination of lubricants that we apply which does the trick. When replacing a full clutch we would take the arm out fully and clean it up, unless it was replaced with one of the uprated ones with a grease nipple. Pleased to have got them mobile again and good to catch-up with a brew.

Bit of a slight change to our plans yesterday, we headed over to the workshop bright and early to get everything finished on Mick’s MGF. The gear cable end had disintegrated so new end and gaitor fitted. There was quite a lot of play on the clutch pedal and when we removed the clevis pin, found that it was a bit on the worn side! New clevis pin fitted and the clutch now feels really good. The drive shaft oil seals that we had been monitoring were still weeping so both of these were replaced. Front bumper back on, wheel arch liners back in, realigned the steering wheel and underseal done. Pleased to have got her all finished and ready for Mick to come over and collect on Tuesday.

So a productive weekend, a shame we missed FRL this year, but needs must. Looks like it was a good turnout and some great pics of the event. We look forward to finding out who won our auction donation of a cambelt service. – https://ift.tt/bwmP2z0

Back out on the road today, it was a tad windy in Wakefield and not so sunny in Sheffield…

Great to see Tom again, whom we last saw a number of years ago with his previous MG. He bought himself this TF 160 (in JFV) in the summer, of which he uses as his daily runner. Full cambelt service carried out for him today.

Then we headed a few miles along the road where it was lovely to meet Steve who between him and his son had bought this ‘98 MGF 1.8 mpi (in MNX) to have some fun with over the summer months. What an absolute gem they have found themselves, with one previous owner and with still a low mileage and all in the original spec. The car was sitting quite low so Steve had asked if we could pump up the hydragas.

From there we on to Sheffield, where it was great to see Tony again whose MGF 1.8 mpi (in JRJ) was having an issue with rough running. Tony had replaced the plugs and the cat as this was found to have collapsed. On investigation and code reading it was found to be the rotar arm and distributor cap that both had minor corrosion. As we didn’t have these on stock we cleaned these up and reset the throttle body plus the stepper motor, which has resolved the issue. Although Tony is going to get hold of some new ones and replace them for good measure.

Some cracking cars today and great people, not too far from home. – https://ift.tt/GRNQDvT

Mick dropped his MGF 120 mpi (paint code originally MNX but resprayed Rover to BRG 3) with us over the weekend.

Monday morning found us at the workshop bright and early to crack on and replace both the rear and the front subframes etc…

A timely change too, to preserve the life of this car as both subframes had certainly done their time. Galvanized ones fitted, plus all galvanized ancillaries.

Whilst we had the rear subframe out we replaced the clutch, freed off the release arm and replaced the clevis pin as it was a bit dented in, a dent here results in excessive play on the clutch pedal, so always a good idea to fit new when replacing the slave cylinder too.

We replaced the head gasket on the car a few years ago, so that wasn’t required. Full cambelt service carried out, with a bit of a challenge with the bottom pulley bolt! Eventually after some time and lots of grunting it came undone with a torque-multiplier. Once removed we found that the washer was missing on the main pulley bolt, this had allowed water to get in and seize the threads, also when the bolt came undone it had dragged the outer pulley shearing the inner pulley key-way, so both the pulley and cog were replaced.

On the front subframe new wishbones fitted, galvanized anti-roll bar fitted, too ball joints, track rod ends and forward mounts on both subframes replaced with stainless steel ones.

New clutch line and clutch flexi fitted as the old one was hanging on in there.

We should have finished the car completely today, but it’s been a bit of a challenge as everything was so corroded, which is expected of a car of this age. We’re not complaining of course (much, haha) but every nut and bolt required the use of the brilliant Irwin nut removers, and where they failed, and our stamina, the grinder came out!

Really good to future proof this fab car for Mick, thanks to him for sending it over to us for some TLC, which is always great to know that it’s another one that will live to tell more tales and bring their owners tons of fun.

Almost done, another half a day to finish her off next week ready for Mick to collect. So no glamour shots, just the nitty gritty ones!

Back on the road tomorrow in Wakefield and Sheffield with a few to get sorted. – https://ift.tt/GRNQDvT

Departed our really fab digs reluctantly at Hadley this morning, wish we could have stayed much longer.

We went over to Stockton, near Southam to see Mick again and his MGF VVC (in COF). He’d got in touch a few days ago, asking if we were in the area, as he was told by the recovery driver that the fuel pump had packed in and the car was on a main road and the MOT was due to expire, having a bad back he wasn’t in a position to move the car himself. So with a bit of easy start we managed to get the car off the road. Sure enough it was the fuel pump so we removed the cover to check out which connector it is on it, we know a man who has one so will return to fit it. There’s no point in keeping these on stock as they dry out and just end up failing, plus with having the two different connectors you won’t know until you remove the cover.

We decided to go to the MG & Triumph Spares day at Stoneleigh as we had missed going there over the past few years. Never seen the place so packed! I think a lot of people had definitely missed it too. Really good day to catch up with everyone from near and far and meet some new people too.

Too busy chatting to take any pics, but spotted this fab car in the car park as we left, so grabbed a pic, it looks even better in the flesh!

Mick and Steve drove over from to the workshop today to drop off Micks MGF that’s in with us for a few things next week… – https://ift.tt/8Dx7ecI

A short commute this morning from our digs along to Droitwich, where it was great to see Steve and his latest acquisition…

Having owned many MGs over the years, three of which have been LEs, he fancied owning another one to have some fun in again, and a few months ago he came upon this cracking example and wanted to get it fully up to spec to just how he wants it.

So today we removed the hoops and glass wind stop and replaced with a new t-bar and mesh wind break. The side windows were a bit scratched, Steve managed to find a new pair, so these were replaced. The grills on the front weren’t looking too good, so new black ones were fitted, which really suit the car. A few other things were done, a good check over and also a minor service.

Next up will be a full detail and then will be all good to go to enjoy runs out, club meets and events throughout the year.

An enjoyable day in Steve’s company, with a constant flow of welcome tea, and we look forward to catching up with him again at an event later in the year. – https://ift.tt/oDlR4YA

We headed off bright and early to Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales this morning, where it was great to meet David and his son for work on David’s TF 135 Sprint (in LEF), that he had bought in the summer last year, but when they were heading over to Castle Coombe a few months later, for a track day, the head gasket went.

All gaskets replaced this morning, including a new thermostat and housing, as it looked like it was leaking from there also, sure enough when we took it off, it was showing evidence of k-seal having been added, as had the expansion tank bottle. All cleaned up and everything replaced, resulting in a very smooth sounding engine.

Good to meet David, who provided us with a nice big garage, which was certainly welcome on a bit of a damp day and an endless supply of tea too.

Long drive down this morning, but a shorter trip to our fab digs tonight, near Droitwich, ahead of our visit in the morning.

We ventured over to Alsager, near Stoke-on-Trent on Monday, where it was lovely to see Paul again for some work on his MGF Trophy (in JFV).

The VVC plunger, of which we had previously tried to seal last year, having found at the time that the threads had been stripped on one of the bolt holes and left prior to us seeing it! We had made as good a seal as possible replacing the plunger gaskets etc, but the leak became evident again when at very high revs whilst Paul was out on a track day. We returned this time to drill it out and helicoil it and replacing the gaskets again for good measure. Hopefully this will have finally fettled it for Paul and he can have some fun on track again.

We had a couple of days off after that mid-week for Jon’s birthday, thought maybe he deserved a bit of a rest to enjoy some cake and steak! – https://ift.tt/oDlR4YA

Tim brought his TF 160 (in LEF) up to us from Cornwall on Monday afternoon for a few things, so we set to first thing on Tuesday morning to swap out the rear subframe with a galvanized one.

Whilst we had the engine out we replaced the head gasket, the clutch, slave cylinder, cambelts, water pump, tensioner, alternator belt, starter motor, engine bay fan.

New stainless steel subframe mounts fitted, all brake lines and flexis replaced, underfloor coolant pipes replaced, window mech replaced, fuel cap replaced. Then finally an MOT done today and she’s all good and ready for collection to return back to Cornwall.

Prior to the car coming to us Tim had replaced the front subframe himself and had the car resprayed. Now a really fantastic solid car to bring them tons of enjoyment.

Jon came over from Rotherham on Sunday to drop off his TF 160 (in NDJ) with us for us for head gasket replacement, cambelt service and underfloor coolant pipes replacement. We had to revert to our plan B on the cambelt service as the engine mount bolts didn’t want to come out! Full check over of the car too and advised Jon on things to be done next. We look forward to seeing him for collection.

Warren popped over yesterday from Market Weighton, whilst visiting the paint shop next to us, as he was having trouble with the battery losing charge due to the alternator voltage regulator not supplying enough charge on his TF 160 (in LEF). He left the car with us to fit a new alternator, and check everything else over. All sorted and good to go.

It was good to see Les yesterday who came over to see us for a chat and a cuppa, long time no see and a welcome brief distraction from an engine bay!

A full on productive and busy few days, with some really fab looking cars. – https://ift.tt/K6A5WIx