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After leaving our lovely digs near Ross-on-Wye this morning we went over to Brecon to meet Anne, who had been experiencing overheating problems with her lovely looking TF160. After pressure testing and investigation it was evident that the head gasket had gone, so this was replaced and whilst there we carried out cambelt service. We were told that unfortunately the local garage had put steel seel in it!! After doing the head gasket it was apparent that it had blocked the radiator. So after enquiries with our contacts and resources we have managed to locate a rad and will be taking a planned morning off on Sunday to fit.

Following this we headed back to Gloucester to see Alex again as after we replaced the head gasket yesterday the car was still having temperature issues, as the car was bought as a project with known problems we had narrowed it down to a circulation issue which had caused the head gasket to blow. So after replacing pipe clamps on some of the hoses and replacing the thermostat the car is now behaving nicely.

What an absolute continuous deluge we had all day, soaked to the skin, but thankful of a steady stream of cuppas and lovely homemade scones from Anne and offers of food.

Gloucester was bathed in sunshine again which gave us chance to dry everything out! Plus charge my phone, thank you Alex to your lovely grandparents. Really fab to see their cars and have a chat.

A good start to the day seeing Kevin in the hotel car park in Pontypool for replacement underfloor pipes on his TF135, a good bit of planning! All went well with no awkward bolts. Great to see you Kevin, shame we couldn’t get Marcus sorted!

Having sourced a radiator for Anne we went up the hill to remove it from a car, thank you so much Andy for letting us do that!! You will make someone very happy tomorrow!

On our way home now after a long but successful day. We went to see Terry’s TF160 in Braintree again. He had had a lucky escape when his bottom pulley had come undone causing damage to both bottom cogs allowing the cambelt to cut through both upper and lower covers but miraculously not slipping a single tooth! The bolt had obviously not been tightened fully when the car had had a cambelt service elsewhere in the past. We fitted new bottom pulleys and new covers. All back up and running nicely again.

From there we went to see Andy again in Sudbury following diagnosis of the problem last week on his friend Claire’s TF135. We fitted a new fuel pump and problem solved, car sparked in to life having been stood for 2-3 years. Cambelt service also carried out and a couple of other bits. Really great to get the car back to rights again, now time for the MOT. Thanks for all the cuppas and yummy cakes!

We then went over to meet Stewart in Leavenheath near Colchester whose recently acquired TF115 had started having problems with a slow & clunky window. We went armed with a new window mech but after Jon spent some time doing some adjustments problem was solved. Whilst there, Stewart asked us to see where a weird squeak was coming from. Previous owner had obviously had a problem with the bonnet release and had not refitted the bracket underneath the radiator cover, so this was duly fixed and annoying squeak gone! Great to meet you Stewart, don’t forget to do the wave 👋😃

Some pics below of some quite remarkable damage to the timing covers and pulleys.

So the trusty steed of the van has finally gone in to be rescued and have a new engine fitted.

Not bad since doing 378,000 miles and visiting quite a few countries!

Once we got back from our fab visit to Bakewell we picked up the hire van, went home, loaded all the kit into it and then took the beasty over to the Hull Engine Repair Centre.

So if you see this arriving down your street soon you know it’s us!

Bakewell, Derbyshire today, what a fantastic day it was meeting up with our friends from Norway & meeting new ones too from Sweden.

Cambelt service carried out on Steinar’s TF160 Anniversary, two full cambelt services with aircon alternator belts on Tore & Svein’s TF135’s and a short cambelt service on Ewa’s MGF mpi. Everything went so well, no awkward bolts and good weather.

Really great to enjoy everyone’s company throughout a long day & so lovely to round it off and have an evening meal with everyone at the Packhorse Inn at Little Longstone. Really good fun with truly great company.

Have fun on the rest of your tour to the Dales and the rounding off trip to Goathland. Wishing you all safe and beautiful travels.

Spalding was our call this morning initially for suspected head gasket, this was confirmed so whilst there it was decided to do a cambelt service also, as this was overdue, on Dave’s TF135. Beautiful location and fab weather. All bolts etc behaved. Hope we didn’t annoy the locals too much with the van sticking its nose in to the road!

From there we went over to see Brian in Market Deeping for some bits on his beautiful Abingdon. His central locking mechanism was sounding like a machine gun so Jon replaced both sides. Drivers door needed adjustment too so this was sorted with a few adjustments. All brake hoses replaced with braided ones. Hydragas pumped up to a better ride height. All top arms topped up with grease. Lovely to see Brian & Karen, thanks for all the cuppas!

Saltburn-by-the-sea was our destination today and really great to meet Karl for cambelt service on his TF135 and possible HGF, but on pressure testing the system it was found to be all sound. Water pump replaced and found that this had been leaking.

The back box was replaced as his old one had certainly done its time.

Whilst there, Karl asked if we could change the underfloor coolant pipes, so these were replaced with new stainless ones on stock. Unfortunately, as does happen now and then the M8 bolt on the front part of the pipes sheared off, so the welder made an appearance and Jon made a threaded sleeve to tighten on to the thread that had sheared off and then allowed the fitting of a small M8 bolt to clamp the coolant pipes to the sleeve.

Karl had wanted a coolant flush anyway so this took care of that. Coolant bottle removed and cleared of lots of sludge.

New alternator adjuster bracket fitted and new cover supplied.

Thank you for the cuppas, all the food and the home brew!
Lovely to have cuddles with Gizmo too.