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Bit of a late finish tonight at the workshop, we wanted to get the work completed on a couple of the cars we have in.

We picked up Rob’s TF from Hartlepool (please see previous post for info) on Monday as planned, bit of a slow journey up with long hold ups. Jon set about revalving the head and fitting new stem seals for it, as well as doing the same on the other head we’d had skimmed, yesterday morning. I had the day off, fab day with my daughter. Initially this week was planned for a double subframe swap, but it was cancelled and postponed until next year, so at least we were able to get a few other things done in its place.

This morning the sump was removed, as planned, so we could check for any further damage to the oil pick-up and oil pump etc., fortunately nothing else untoward found there. Engine rebuilt and car fired up, still over heating after being left on test for quite some time. The bottom of the radiator wasn’t getting hot, and on inspection it was found to be bloated and cooler in the bottom channels, so this was replaced for a secondhand one, finally the problem was solved with an oil-cooler bypass and new PRT, which were completely blocked with k-seal! We’d found traces of it anyway, but this bloomin stuff gets into everything, please please don’t be tempted to use it, it’s absolutely the pits on these engines! Many have been scrapped because of it.

We’re pleased to have a quick turnaround on this car for Rob as it’s his daily commute, and look forward to seeing him at the weekend for collection.

We’re pleased also to report that ‘Princess’ (please see previous posts) was finally sent for the MOT this week.

This car has been enjoyed for many charity runs, days out with her owners and is well known, along with her owners, Leona and Laura in the MG community, but unfortunately hadn’t been out very much over the last year due to commitments and was looking a bit sorry for herself. So we were happy to take on the task of giving her a new lease of life.

Full cambelt service carried out, welding to three of the sills, full underfloor treatment done. New clutch-line, clutch-slave cylinder, clutch-flexi fitted. Window surround repair, as it was letting water in quite significantly. Replacement of; carpets, soft-top, hard-top, dipstick bracket, wiper blades, squib ring, battery, air pressure temperature sensor, reg-light holder, wheel-nuts.

Good old clean up and sort of lots of other bits (long list, because that’s what we do) and she’s ready for collection.

They have plans to do the NC500 next year in her and we look forward to hearing all about it, along with her other adventures to be had. – https://ift.tt/i5vsVR8

Day 6 of 6 – South Coast & some other places too…

After departing from our last digs of this trip we headed further north to Desborough.

Marcus’s 2006 TF 135 (in paint code JFM) was due its cambelt service. Only a short one carried out for him this time as he’s not really been doing many miles in the car this year.

Great to see Marcus and have a chat while we worked. Thanks to him for the cuppas and bacon sarnie.

A decent run back home and good to be back. It’s been a decent week weather wise for the time of year, I was a bit concerned when I had to rebook it. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality this week and their understanding with the date changes. So not a bad week all in all, 626 miles, 5 hotels & 9 MGs. – https://ift.tt/igkXpLf

Day 5 of 6 – South Coast & some other places too…

After departing from our digs in Fleet, this morning, we headed a bit further north to Farnham.

Robert had got in touch with us as his 1996 MGF 1.8 mpi (in paint code HAM) had been given an advisory at the last MOT, on both headlights, the tester thought they were actually at the edge of a fail.

So today we replaced them with two new units, given the astonishing price that they are they don’t even come with any bulbs! Ride height set to the correct height too, as they were finding it slightly uncomfortable. Hopefully this will improve it and they’ll be able to see where they’re going again, not that they ever use the car in the evening, not the point I know, but at least it does make this already tidy car look a lot more tidy, and it will be comfier too.

Very nice to see Robert again and have a brief chat before we were on our way again.

Next stop was in Aspley Guise, Liz and Phil had got back in touch as Liz’s 2001 MGF 120 mpi (paint code COF) had sprung a bit of a leak.

On pressure testing we found the culprit, so this was replaced with new hoses from our stock on the van. Well Jon did all the work as I was temporarily incapacitated by my annoying recurring inner ear prob and could barely stand up. 😵‍💫 Bit frustrating as I’d left my meds at home as not needed them for yonks. Liz directed us to a local pharmacy for a get-me-by.

It was really lovely to see them both again, (sorry both I was not my usual self), and pleased that it was a relatively simple fix and not some other underlying issue on their fab looking MGF.

We’re in our last digs of this trip, near Bletchley, for the night, before heading further north in the morning for our last call. Can’t believe it’s Saturday again, getting a bit late now and just realised Strictly Comes Dancing is on the telly! Got to go. Have a great weekend everyone near and far. – https://ift.tt/igkXpLf

Day 4 of 6 – South Coast & some other places too…

Might be the shortest commute yet, 1.1 miles (5 minutes)!

We left our curious digs in Worthing and headed along the road and round a corner where it was great to meet Ron and Su for work on their two MGs.

Su’s 2003 TF 1.6 (in paint code FAR) and Ron’s 2006 TF 1.6 (in paint code HFF) were both in need of a cambelt service and new alternator belts. All went really well on both cars, with the usual awkward bolts not causing any grief, but one bolt sheared off on each of the water pumps! Darn it. But, not to worry, the fantastic gets you out of the crap and a load of pain trusty ‘Irwin’ bolt removers worked a treat, plus the added help of the blow torch. New bolts duly refitted.

Couple of other little bits sorted for them and these two very tidy cars are good to go. What an enjoyable mornings work, plus Ron makes a cracking brew and the weather was perfect again. Thanks to them both for the pressies, after a chat we were on our way to start heading back up north.

We’re now in Fleet for the night, in a nice spot that we stayed in last month. – https://ift.tt/pRK3bCU

Day 3 of 6 – South Coast & some other places too…

We left our digs in Sarisbury, near Southampton this morning and headed over to Fareham, where it was really good to meet Mark. Having previously owned an MGBGT earlier in his life Mark fancied owning another MG and, after a search, found this one for sale on the Isle of Wight, a year 2000 MGF 1.8i (in paint code GUF), having previously been in the possession of one lady owner from new.

Today we carried out a full cambelt service, along with alternator belt, full coolant flush, new coolant cap and a couple of other bits sorted out for him.

He wants to bring it up to full spec, where possible, and asked if we’d give it a good inspection, we then discussed all the options for future work, such as brake upgrades, cold-air-induction etc. He’s done quite a lot of work on the car himself so far such as replacing the underfloor coolant pipes, swapping out the interior, fitting a snorkel and a few other things.

Thanks to Mark for the tea and offers of breakfast and lunch, plus it was lovely to have fusses with his very sweet woofer Snow. We look forward to our next visit.

We’re now a bit further east along the coast, in Worthing, for the evening. We had a short walk along the prom this evening hoping to have a cuppa on the pier, but unfortunately it was closed due to needing repair following the recent storms that have sadly given it a bit of a battering. Still it was a lovely sunset.

Hope you all have a good All Hallows’ Eve! 👻 🎃 – https://ift.tt/pRK3bCU

Day 2 of 6 – South Coast & some other places too…

Southampton this morning and only a few miles along the road from our digs. Really lovely, as always, to see Mark on our annual visit to him for work on his very well kept 2001 MGF 1.8 mpi (paint code CDX).

Minor service carried out along with hydragas pump up. Good to have a catch-up with Mark before heading on our way. Big thanks to him for all the bakery items, that will keep Jon quiet this evening.

Fishbourne, Chichester was our next location this afternoon. Geoff had got in touch with us as his 2001 MGF 1.8 mpi (paint code LQW) had over heated when having the MOT test done in the summer, and was losing its coolant, the tester suspected that the head gasket had gone. Having then carried out our head gasket calculator it seemed likely that this was indeed the case.

On removing the head this afternoon, we noted that it had been fitted with an MLS gasket, but that the saver-shim was missing, this has the heat-activated bonding agent on it, and without that is pretty much rendered useless.

It was quite some time since the last cambelt service was done so this was also carried out today. Plus a new alternator belt and expansion tank cap, and the car is almost back to rights.

Geoff had been planning on replacing the radiator and now needs an exhaust flexi as he suspected this was on its way out too, sure enough on firing the car up that was the case.

On one of our checks after replacing the head gasket is to check and see if there are any error codes that need clearing. One of these this time was for the radiator-fan control, the fuse had blown in the forward fuse box, so this was replaced, and then we disconnected the ECU temperature sensor, this should automatically put the fan on at the front, however it just blew another fuse. After checking the relay was ok, and unplugging the radiator-fan itself, then running the test again the fuse was fine. So it’s the radiator fan that’s at fault, so Geoff will replace this too when he replaces the radiator.

Once that’s all done he can continue to enjoy using the car on the track and have some fun again.

Great to meet Geoff and have a chat, thanks to him for the cuppas and biscuits. Oh and not forgetting fusses with his lovely woofers when we first arrived.

We’re now tucked up in some very nice digs for the night, got a bit of bargain here and forgotten that I’d booked it, so a nice surprise as we came down the drive this evening. – https://ift.tt/EafpV7w

Day 1 of 6 – South Coast & some other places too…

We find ourselves in Southampton for the evening, having travelled down from sunny Yorkshire this morning.

We had a call on the way to pump up a very tidy and low mileage, year 2000, MGF 1.8 in paint code CMU belonging to Colin. The car was very low on its stops, and Colin had been unable to find anyone in the area with a pump, a common problem these days, sadly.

It was lovely to meet Colin and his wife have fusses with their beautiful woofer Jas.

Next call, in the morning, not too many miles along the road. – https://ift.tt/7NkAxjr

A very foggy run up to Butterknowle in County Durham today, where it was good to see Ken again, who had got in touch as he’d found an issue when servicing his TF 160, unfortunately, one of the spark plugs had stripped the threads in the cylinder head. So we removed the head and will take it back to the workshop to heli-coil it. We’d replaced the head gasket on this some years ago and it was interesting to see that the heat-activated saver-shim had adhered evenly to the head, thereby doing its job perfectly. Date booked in to return and refit next month.

A productive day yesterday on ‘Princess’ (MGF – see previous blogs) and pleased to say she’s almost there, couple of other tweaks and she can go for her MOT.

We also had chance to sort the two cylinders heads we have in that required skimming. One from Roger’s MGF in Haytor and the other from Rob’s TF 160 in Hartlepool. They were ready this afternoon, so Jon will set about replacing the valves and new stem-seals. Dates arranged to refit both of these. As mentioned in a previous blog, we’re bringing Rob’s 160 back to the workshop as we suspect there may be other problems, hopefully not, but makes sense to get it all done in one go.

There’s another week that’s flown by!

Hope a good weekend is had by all, wherever you may be, near and far.

Talking of far, it’s been interesting following the latest travels of Adrian Clifford and his lovely wife, Dawn, this time to Australia to visit their son, (obviously not in the also well travelled ‘Pearl’ this time) and setting a challenge for the furthest, highest and longest that a Rough Luck Racing baseball cap has gone! – https://ift.tt/jRkBceI