Category: News & Updates

Monday morning found us at the workshop to start work on Claire’s TF 160, that Claire and Andrew had brought up to us from Porthcawl…

– Front subframe replaced with a galvanized one as the one on the car had certainly reached the end of its time.

The other components replaced were; crash cans, anti-roll bar, cross brace, rear front subframe mounts.

– Cambelt service done and all other service parts replaced.

– Front brake lines and one flexi replaced.

– Two front shock absorbers replaced.

– Clutch release arm very stiff, so this was freed off and slave cylinder replaced as the seals had blown.

– Rear caliper nearside replaced and offside cleaned up, plus new pads fitted.

– Full underfloor treatment done.

All done this afternoon and ready for collection.

Really nice to have this car in the workshop, having done the cambelt service and other things over the years, at its location in Porthcawl, especially given the history with it.

Andrew had bought it for Claire for her 40th birthday present as a complete surprise. She had always wanted one, and when sat with her friends and family on a spa weekend away, Andrew not only had a replica cake made of the car he arranged for the car to be delivered to where she was staying!

Just another fab MG story 💚 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

What a great weekend at the workshop…

A bit of a busy one, but it was really good seeing everyone and their cars for various things.

Peter came over from Leeds with his TF 135, that he had noticed had developed some clunks when out on a run recently. Date arranged to get them remedied, plus some other things. Nice to have a catch-up with Peter over a cuppa.

Ian came down from Durham to pick up his TF 160, (details on Friday’s blog), great to meet him finally and nice that he bought one of our t-shirts!

Andy then came over from Skipton with his fab looking MGF VVC (in NNX) for replacement of the underfloor coolant pipes, hydragas pump up and a health check. Great to meet Andy, who had only recently bought the car and had got chatting to Mark & Alan at Gaydon, who suggested he got in touch. He and his wife had been after one in this colour, and they have found themselves a gem.

So this morning we were back there bright and early to move things around…

Our first visitors were Andrew and Claire, who had driven up from Porthcawl in order to leave their TF 160 with us for a few things next week. We last saw them and their car 4 years ago, in Porthcawl, so it was lovely to see them again.

Stephen and Marie brought over their LE 500 ‘Ellie’ for the minor service. ABS light had recently come on, on code reading found to be the offside rear drive shaft ring. Tried cleaning it up, but may need replacing. Always lovely to see them both and have a chat.

New MG owners Diane and Gary had got in touch asking if we could have a look over their recent purchase of a TF 135 Spark to reassure them that they hadn’t bought a money pit, so they drove over from Scarborough this morning. Good to meet them both, date arranged to come back and sort a few things.

It was great that Stephen and Marie were there for them to meet and enjoy a chat about all the foibles of MG ownership! 😀

Our last visitor was Jim, who had driven over from Harrogate, and lovely to meet him with his also newly acquired TF 135.

Jim had thought that the heater control valve was faulty. We found to be the cable to the clamp at the top end that had become detached. This was duly repaired, not as simpler a job as the valve itself, as all the console has to come off in order to get to it. He’d also noticed the heater switch wasn’t working, so a new resister pack was fitted. Underfloor coolant pipes replaced, as his were showing signs of rot and bulging in one area. Couple of other niggles sorted out.

On carrying out a health check it was found that 3 of the 4 bottom shocker bushes had gone plus a rear offside control arm. Jim has decided to go for a soft-ride-kit to resolve all of these, having already discussed the merits of it anyway.

So all in all a fantastic weekend with lovely people all getting to meet each other and enjoy what’s so good about MG ownership.

The sun made intermittent appearances for some top down drives at least. ☀️ And I’m pleased I found the emergency tea bags, that would have been a disaster not having any!

We’re a bit tired now, but a nice kind of tired. ☺️ – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

Back in the workshop this morning and set to work on Ian’s TF 135, that he had left with us yesterday.

Head gasket replaced and cambelt service carried out. Things were a little cooked, but fortunately, for Ian, there was no damage to the head. A number of missing and incorrect bolts found so these were replaced, as not only some of them are essential, it just makes us feel better seeing everything as it should be. 😊

Great to see, another Ian, who brought his MGF 1.8 mpi over for a health check this afternoon. Ian was concerned he had bought something that wasn’t worth spending any money on, if it was found to be too far gone underneath.

Not the case at all, this lovely Wedgewood had obviously well cared for, mechanically, with the previous owner. It was looking a bit on the low side, and Ian had been struggling with the speed bumps where he lives, so we topped up the hydragas. He had also noticed an intermittent coolant loss, when stuck in traffic, on pressure test of the expansion tank cap it was found to be duff so a new one fitted.

Date booked in for for a couple of other things to be sorted.

Good to be back at base for a change, with some sun thrown in too, and catching up with our fab neighbours. ☀️ 🐑 – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

Back to ‘local’ calls today…

First call in Wilberfoss.

Always lovely to see Derek and Margaret, and their fab looking 80th TF Anniversary, which had failed its MOT on steering rack play and track rod ends, plus rear top ball joints. All replaced and car going back for its retest tomorrow.

Sorry, we took so long to get to you to sort! Great to catch-up though. Thanks for the cuppas and bacon butty. Looking forward to hearing the message tomorrow, with the ‘one word’!

We then headed over to Halton, near Leeds, for work on a TF 135 Spark.

Cambelt service carried out, plus all other minor service items replaced. Terry had given it a go, replacing the slave cylinder, but asked us to finish it off. The clutch release arm was very stiff, so we freed this off, replaced the slave cylinder, refitted the air box and repaired the coolant temperature sensor.

Shame not to meet Terry, but thanks to Nicola for the cuppas.

Quick call in at the workshop, on the way home, to secure Ian’s TF that he had dropped off for some work tomorrow. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

What an enjoyable last day of our trip to the south west of the country…

We left our digs and headed over to Longrock, near Penzance, for some work on a TF 160. Really lovely to meet Roger finally, who had contacted us many months ago to ask us if we could come and see him when next in the area.

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner replaced and full service carried out on this very good looking, and obviously well cared for car, with the previous owner that Roger had bought it from in Norfolk last year.

Thank you Roger for all the Cornish treats! 😋 We shall enjoy munching on those over the next couple of days. The pasties were delicious today along with lots of cracking brews. 🥟

Great to meet you and have a good chat. We look forward to seeing you again next year. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

First head gasket replacement of the day in Looe, this morning on Hugh’s TF 135 (in LEF).

Hugh hadn’t owned the car for long when the car overheated and it was evident that the proverbial had occurred. So he had got in touch with us back in February and asked to be added to the list when next in the area.

On removing the head there was quite extensive fire-ring damage to it. Despite trying to clean it up, it was too far gone. Fortunately, we had with us, on the van, a refurbished 135 head. All ancillaries swapped over and head refitted.

Thanks to Hugh’s lovely wife for the tea and cup-cakes. 🧁

We then headed over to Plymouth, for the second head gasket replacement of the day on Al’s TF 160.

The expansion tank had certainly seen better days, so replacement secondhand one off the van fitted.

Shame not to meet Al, but glad to get his TF back up and running again for him.

A very drizzly day, all day today, it was that fine rain that gets you wet!We got finished in good time though, and headed back up the road to our digs.

I’m almost sorted on the admin, while Jon has a look to see what delectable delights are available on ‘Just Eat’! – https://ift.tt/363HZbI

We left our fab digs in Fareham this morning and headed west, through some beautiful places to another lovely village called Child Okeford.

Tim had contacted us to see if we could replace the window on his MGF 120 mpi (in HFF). While we were there we pumped up the suspension as the car was sitting a little low.

Really good to meet Tim, Zandra and Sparky, their gorgeous greyhound. They were really happy to see the transformation that these two things have done to their F. Really nice looking interior on this one too.

Making the most of an early finish, we headed over to Lulworth Cove, a place we have always wanted to visit. It certainly didn’t disappoint, what a stunning place. Just enough time for look around, enjoy an ice cream and purchase the requisite fridge magnet, before heading a bit further west.

More beautiful scenery on our run over to our digs just outside of Plymouth. Admin almost done now. What a good day with the sun making a welcome appearance. – https://ift.tt/363HZbI