Category: News & Updates

Desborough was our first call this morning and great to see Marcus again for full cambelt service on his TF135. We were due to go in March but Lorraine asked if we come a bit earlier as the alternator had completely seized, snapping the alternator belt. Fortunately, no further damage done! New alternator fitted. Had a bit of soaking, was a tad chilly but at least everything behaved itself and we soon got thawed out in the trusty steed en route to the next call.

From there we went back to Roger’s MGF in Northampton to change the heater matrix that had sprung a leak. System bled and back up and running nicely again.

We received a phone call first thing this morning regarding the Rover 45 that we had done the head gasket on a couple of days ago, saying that the car was misfiring. So, for our own peace of mind we tagged it on to the end of the days work so ‘popped’ down to Amersham, where it had been driven to work. After code reading and listening to it misfiring, the customer admitted it was no where near as bad as it had been. We narrowed it down to coil pack number 1. It is quite common with coil packs when they go when warm, they tend to run a lot more rough than on cold starting. As a precaution, we also changed the full set of plugs, together with replacement coil pack. Instantly ran a lot smoother. Bit of a longer day than anticipated but that’s what we do!

Bit of a late start also due to massive hold up on the M1 this morning. Had a wave and a hello from Mick Welch whilst stuck though, great to have a chat at the services, look forward to seeing you at Blythe services for the run down to FRL 😀

Great to receive a visitor at ‘Norris Garage’ this morning and lovely to meet Peter. He had recently bought a TF135 and wanted us to carry out a health check and discuss any issues that needed addressing if any.

Couple of bits needing doing and date booked in to get everything done and make the car sound.

You’ve got a good one there Peter. Sorry we were late! Hope you had a good topless run back to Leeds.

A few more bits completed on the steppy we have in, not too much more to do now and then all complete ready for return to its owner.

Absolutely brilliant service from Steve and Taryn at Black Sheep Customs. What great neighbours to have at the workshop. Their attention to detail and hard work really shows. Can highly recommend them.

Thank you, to you both for putting the finishing and much needed touches to the TF. ‘Madam’ looks stunning!

New decals arrived today! Bit of a modification to them, which looks great. Sorry to everyone that we didn’t have them on stock for, if you could send me a message I will get them posted out to you. Still waiting for the Chrome ones.

A nice little article in this months Classics magazine, courtesy of Simon Goldsworthy. It was an interesting and enjoyable day working on his lovely looking TF135.

🎄🎄 MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄 🎄

We would like to wish each and everyone of you a truly great festive season, wherever you are and whatever you may be doing, and to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you for your support throughout 2019.

It really has been such a great year, with many adventures throughout the U.K. and this year as far as Mallorca. We enjoyed seeing our overseas visitors from Norway, Ireland and meeting new ones from Sweden.

We were fortunate to make it to quite a few of the MG and other car events and have some fun. It was also so great having our first trade stand, which was at the Harrogate MG club’s annual show at Pateley Bridge.

We are also so pleased to have taken on our workshop at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor which has, so far, we’re very relieved to say, been a success, with quite a few projects completed, others in progress and many more booked in for next year.

Health and prosperity to all for 2020,

Our thanks & warmest wishes,

Jon & Claire.

🎄🎄🎄

Pilling in Lancashire was our destination this morning for head gasket and cambelt service on another MGF in alumina. On pressure testing the system we found that the radiator was also at fault, and could have been the possible cause of the head gasket failure.

Lovely to meet Chris and Sarah who provided us with plenty of warning cuppas. Fortunately, the rain ceased and the sun came out.

Now we can actually put away the spanners for five whole days and enjoy the festive season.

What a brilliant few days with Mark and Jamie in a garage in Carshalton. Mark’s very tidy MGF 143 VVC wanted a few things doing and Jamie wanted a few pointers on his fab project.

So on ‘Big Ears’ (Mark’s car) the following was carried out; replacement of refurbished hydragas spheres, fitting of lowering knuckles all round, new drop links, Schultz underseal after wire brush and painting with anti-rust paint, minor service, fit glass rear window, heater controls replaced, fit reprogrammed ECU, fit front and rear anti-roll bar polybushes, hydragas lift.

Some time ago Jamie had bought himself a Midget (Betsy) as a project and was only 14 at the time. He is now at Brooklands college and as a project is going to transplant a k-series engine complete with a ford sierra gearbox in to it. He bought Alan’s written-off MGF 143 VVC (Peppa) in order to do this. So they had wanted Jon to help him remove the engine and impart his knowledge on how it’s done. So the pair of them set about with the removal and also advising on which bits to keep as spares etc.

They also removed the bell housing today and clutch to see how the other gearbox will fit. Ford Sierra gearbox is interesting as it has also got a full hydraulic integrated slave cylinder that’s mounted inside the bell housing and around the drive spigot. The gearbox that Jamie got has also been adapted to be a slick-shift so as not to have the old Sierra massive movement on the gearstick. From mounting the bell housing it will have to take a smaller flywheel and possibly something like a Steptronic starter motor which is mounted just underneath the exhaust manifold and alongside the engine block, rather than the starter motor being on the other side of the engine and over the top of the gearbox. We look forward very much to seeing how this develops, it’s so great seeing Jamie’s enthusiasm and it was fab watching him get stuck in with his fab set of spanners despite feeling under the weather.

Great to see Alan again on Wednesday afternoon and have a catch-up, then all of us enjoy a lovely evening with the best curry ever!

Thank you so much Mark and Jamie for your lovely company, enjoying lots of chats and laughs, accompanied by festive tunes and a cracking brew!