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I know we shouldn’t complain as it’s our decision to work outside, but today really was exceptional, think we experienced a wind chill factor of -15! Anyway, whinge over it was a really good day apart from that…

We eventually got back to see Pauline this morning in Birmingham who was needing a heater control valve, found on our last visit to be faulty. We managed to get hold of a couple of these seemingly rare parts (no longer available from new) from the lovely Mr Bell.

Once fitted we filled up the coolant only to find it leaking from the thermostat housing. We pressure tested the system and found the heater inlet/outlet hose to be leaking too. Unfortunately, Pauline had been topping the car up with water rather than anti-freeze and it had frozen the front hoses solid, including the radiator.

New thermostat housing and new hose fitted. Then with a couple of electric fans we set about defrosting everything. Eventually after a couple of hours we managed to get flow in the system. Using neat coolant to replace.

Some photos below show an icicle from the heater control valve! Car up and running nicely again and Pauline is so happy to have heat in her heaters again. Couple of other things done.

Then on to Holbrook. Really lovely to see Ruth again and see what was occurring with Destiny, her fab TF 135.

Door lock mechanism replaced as the current one was on its way out. We went armed with a ignition barrel as she had been experiencing a problem with it not turning, but on inspection the problem seemed to have rectified itself, Jon’s magic touch!

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Local call in Harrogate this morning for head gasket and cambelt service and great to meet John with his TF 135.

We managed to get into a very snowy and frozen car with a flat battery.

From John’s description of the symptoms, before starting any work, we pressure tested the expansion tank cap and as we suspected this was found to be the culprit!

Cambelt service carried out and new alternator belt fitted and of course a new cap. Very tidy car with a lovely interior.

Bit of a shorter day than expected, but just as well as it was a bit tough on the digits! 🥶

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Thank you, so much to the lovely Susan for the fab pressie in our new fleece delivery! They’re great and will look fab in ‘Bunny’! 😍

#annethomasworkwearltd

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

A busy couple of days for Jon, in particular, in Carshalton for work on Mark and Jamie’s collection!

First up was some wiring on Mark’s V6 ZT. Which was interesting as something different to do.

Then on to Jamie’s Midget, ‘Betsy’ for some welding. While the inner and outer sills had already been repaired it left a lot still to do around the engine bay and foot wells. All day spent on her today and still more to do, so a date to be arranged to return. Jamie is undergoing a major conversion with this car having bought her 3 years ago when only 15 years old. Absolute credit to him for his enthusiasm and insight on his ideas. Head brought back with us for Jon to port match.

I on the other hand had an easy couple of days and only carried out the minor service on Mark’s lovely looking MGF 143 ‘Big Ears’ yesterday morning!

Always so lovely to see Mark and Jamie, such great company. Having a very large garage to work in was good for keeping our distances. Hopefully next time we see you we can hug each other!

The two hotels we have stayed in have been amazing in the way they are coping with everything, they’re ones that we have stayed in many times and after speaking to the proprietors they are just managing to keep running at the moment. Both normally so very busy, with a buzzing atmosphere, they were eerily quiet. Let’s hope they can keep going and make it through this. In particular ‘The Ship’ in Weybridge is lovely, but the two sister hotels in the area have shutdown sadly.

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

A Freelander in Hoxton required our services on Tuesday morning. Terry had contacted us back in October as his Freelander had unfortunately suffered head gasket failure. All back up and running again for him.

Over to Welling on Tuesday for work on Larry’s really fab looking MGF 120. Big brake upgrade on the fronts. Braided brake hoses all round. We had sourced him a set of 11 spokes to accommodate the bigger brakes so took these down with us. Underfloor stainless steel coolant pipes fitted, heated glass screen wired in. Hydragas pump up and car looking even smarter now. Great to meet Larry and Sheila. Despite the grotty weather it was a really good morning.

Weybridge this morning for full cambelt service on Andy’s TF 135 that he had bought himself in the first lockdown, but the car came with no service history. Heater control valve replaced as his had seen better days. Couple of other bits sorted for him. Date to be arranged to do some further things when we’re back in the area again.

Covid-19 restrictions adhered to by everyone.

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

It was supposed to be a day off…

But this lovely MGF needed to be reunited with its owner in Ilford, Essex. After a couple of quotes from couriers they were a tad out of both of our budgets so we returned her ourselves, and glad to do so.

Great to meet David finally, after all these months and he was pleased to see POKO safely returned with a new lease of life. Respray is planned next and she will be back to full spec (along with her mods). Look forward to seeing the finished result.

We were supposed to be collecting another from Col, in Braintree, to share the travel costs, but unfortunately he had broken his shoulder! So we made our way back home.

At least my TF 160 gets to spend a couple of nights inside the workshop, with some company, after failing her MOT on Friday! Oops, my poor neglected car will get some attention tomorrow, while we continue work on the steppy and get prepped for the week ahead in London.

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As good progress had been made on the stepspeed and the welding on TF 135 was complete we went on a relatively short trip down to Clarborough near Retford this morning, where it was lovely to meet Mike.

Mike had previously owned from new back in the day a MGF, but unfortunately it had been written off after only 5 months, and ever since then he wanted to find a, near as possible replacement, and he found himself this one a few months ago. So we were asked us to come and carry out a full cambelt service. Including removing a squirrels old nest and belongings!

Mike had changed the underfloor coolant pipes and was having a problem with bleeding the system and getting the required amount of coolant in. We found there to be an air lock, which was stubborn to remove, system all bled, ran up to temperature and radiator getting nice and hit, which it previously hadn’t been.

Fab looking car, and low mileage which had obviously been very well cared for with the previous owner. New exhaust to be sourced and the back window is currently getting sorted with GE Fittings in Ireland, then the car will be back to full spec again.

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Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Brake upgrade on Sean’s TF 135 (in Sonic blue) this morning, nice to do some more work on this lovely looking, very low mileage car.

Sean had treated himself to some new wheels and wanted the bigger brake kit to go with them. So we fitted a TT brake upgrade and 2 pot AP calipers. Looks really good.

Cracked on with the list on the steppy we have in, some very stubborn bolts, but making good progress.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.