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Well that turned into a bigger job than what we had it booked in for…

After collecting Alan’s, very lovely looking LE500, from Cramlington just before Christmas, we had got it up on the ramp to set about the list of things to do. But, on first inspection of the car we discovered that the crash can on the nearside had all but disappeared and that the front subframe was crumbling away!

So after ‘the phone call’ to Alan, to explain the state of affairs, he gave us the go-ahead to put the car to rights.

So front subframe dropped and refurbished one fitted. New crash cans fitted. Front brake lines replaced as these were also rotten. Offside hub, top ball joint, track rod end replaced. Lots of other things done to the front end to get it right. How this car got through an MOT for the last 2 years is unbelievable, but ultimately unsafe!

Cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced. Alternator belt replaced.

Underfloor stainless steel coolant pipes fitted.

Full underfloor treatment carried out etc.

MOT done today, and now looking forward to Alan and his car being reunited. I’m so glad he let us do the work as it is a fab looking car.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

🎄🌟🎄🌟 We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a lovely festive season, however and wherever you may be spending it this year 🌟🎄🌟🎄

It had certainly been a different year for everyone and a very difficult year for many.

🙏 We would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone for your support. We were glad we took the plunge and got the camper, which enabled us to get to those of you at distance and keep us and everyone else safe. So lovely seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones too.

Our thoughts are with those who have lost family and friends throughout this year.

Let us all continue to look after one another, stay safe and hope for things to get a bit better in 2021.

“Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021.”

🤗🎄🌟 Jon & Claire 🌟🎄🤗

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Busy, but really enjoyable day in the north east today. We went to Cramlington and lovely to see Jim and his wife again in their gorgeous new home. Jim’s very tidy new acquisition, a TF 135 in x-power grey, needed some work.

Head gasket replacement and full cambelt service carried out. Couple of things sorted, he’s certainly got himself a very nice car. Bit of a soggy day, but we were very lucky to have Jim’s garage to work in.

While we were there, Steve and Michael (Steve having purchased Jim’s previous car that we worked on a couple of years ago) popped over to say hello and to have a chat about some work they are needing on their respective TFs. Date to be arranged to return next year, before they all head off on the NC500, planned to take place in June, all things being well.

From there we headed just a couple of miles up the road to collect Alan’s LE500, in order to take back to the workshop for a few things over the next couple of days.

We then headed south and called in at the Skate Park in Jarrow and great to see George and his latest purchase, a TF 135 that he wanted us to have a look over and check out a couple of issues. His TF 160 is currently in the body shop having modified side skirts and front and rear bumper and full respray. Date to be arranged to return for work on both cars, so will be great to see the finished result of the 160 then.

A lovely social day, great to see some friendly faces and have a chat (all at distance of course). Our penultimate road trip of 2020! 😯

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Dunholme, Lincoln this morning for work on an extremely tidy Stepspeed and lovely to see Brian again. We did some work on his previous TF earlier in the year so it was nice to return to work on his latest acquisition.

Soft ride kit fitted, plus cambelt replacement, water pump, tensioner, plugs and all filters changed.

Good to have a chat (at distance), and a fab garage to work in, although typically the sun shone all morning.

Have a great Christmas Brian, look forward to seeing you in April, at Brendan’s, for the gearbox service. 🎄

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Some work on the recent acquisition of Paul and Alison’s TF 160, and great to meet them both, this morning in Chesterfield.

A very tidy car, that didn’t have any service history, so we carried out a full service, including both cambelts, water pump, tensioner, plugs and all filters. Underfloor coolant pipes replaced with stainless. We gave the car a good check over and reassured them that they had a good one!

We didn’t manage to dodge the rain and got a bit soggy, but managed to dry out on the way to the next call over in Barton-on-Humber.

Chris had swapped the engine on his MGF and wanted us to check out the problem with the idle. After code reading and clearing error codes it seemed a little better, but sounding slightly rough so probably needing a new Lambda sensor. Hydragas fill carried out also as it was sitting a tad low.

A really good day despite the grotty weather! Thanks Paul for a fab cuppa and Jon’s first mince pie of the season 🥧

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Head gasket replacement in Cleobury Meadow, just near Kidderminster this morning and lovely to meet Tony.

On doing our usual checks we found that the outlet hose to the radiator had been rubbing on the exhaust heat shield causing it to split. So while the head was off we replaced this. What a very tidy car inside and out. All back up and running again nicely.

From there we went over to see Pauline in Birmingham to fit her a new expansion tank on her fab Trophy 160, as the old one had sprung a leak. We also replaced the back window (by torch light!) as hers had a massive split across it. Car now looking a lot tidier.

Unfortunately, she encountered a new problem this morning with no heat in the heaters, on investigation we found that the heater matrix had also decided to spring a leak. So a date to be arranged to return and replace this for her too.

Fab day with lovely company. Plus the rain held off until the very end!

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

A couple of fairly local calls today and great to meet two new owners, that, fortunately for us, both had garages to work in as the weather was a tad inclement.

Haxby was our first call, and good to meet Phil, who having owned an MGF some time in the past, decided to get himself another, and a couple of months ago found himself in possession of this lovely looking MGF 120 mpi. So Phil asked us to come over and carry out a cambelt service, hydragas pump up and give the car a good look over to check for anything that required attention.

From there we went over to Selby and good to meet Mark whose tidy TF 135 was slightly overdue for its cambelt replacement, only by 11 years. Alternator belt had split, so a timely and lucky replacement of that too.

Back to the workshop to have a restock and collect some things for the next couple of days. One of which is a rear window for Pauline’s Trophy, that we popped in to see yesterday in Birmingham on the way back from Gloucester, we will be going back to see her tomorrow afternoon after our call in Kidderminster in the morning.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.

Back in Bristol today, to carry out the cambelt service on a Rover 216 Cabriolet.

The car belongs to Mark Ford and his lovely wife. They had won the bid on our auction item for the charity supported by ‘Topless Around the Peak District’, in aid of ‘UK Homes for Heroes’.

So cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced and car nicely up to date with its servicing to give them peace of mind to drive this fantastic looking car. Bet it will look fab on a sunny day, top down!

Big thank you to Matt Harris at ‘MG Obsession’ for tracking down the water pump that had proved difficult to find.

Shame not to see Mark today, but look forward coming back in the spring for more bits to his MGF.

Bit of a contrast in the weather too, which was very welcome.

Posted today to the
Rough Luck Racing Facebook page.