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A couple of real pea souper mornings on our way up to the north east, which made for late starts so far this week…

Monday was spent working on a Rover 218 VVC coupe ‘Tom Cat’.

The car hadn’t turned a wheel for 12 years, but nevertheless was still a runner. We carried out head gasket replacement and a cambelt service, plus replaced all filters, spark plugs and alternator belt. We removed the thermostat as it was hanging lose anyway, good job as it was well gunked up with rust. The car had evidently been topped up with just water in its past life due to this and the state of the water pump. A bit more work to be done, but a very good save of this fab car, complete with low mileage and really good body work.

Our first call of the day today was in Bishop Auckland, where it was lovely to meet Tom and his MGF 143 (in CAQ) that he had recently bought. The slave cylinder needed replacing and the hydragas pumping up.

All done there we then continued on to Durham, to meet Luke for check ups on his two cars.

Of which, one is an MGF Mk 1 mpi (in COF) that was still in good original condition, apart from the roof that had been replaced prior to his ownership.

And a 1.4 ZR in Ignition Blue, that was also in great condition.

Great to meet Luke and have a chat, as there wasn’t a great deal of history on either of them when he bought both of them from Mathewson’s a year apart from each other. Date to be arranged for next year to get a couple of essential service items carried out on them.

We had an enjoyable day on Sunday, Ruth and Mark came over from Belper to collect ‘Destiny’ her fab TF 135. Great to see them as always. Big thanks to Ruth for more potted plants, grown by her own fair hand, to continue to brighten up the front of the workshop. (Forgot to get a pic, will feature in future posts). Pleased to hear they had a good run back, with a few subtle pops along the way!

Adrian drove up from Leigh on Sea, and called in on his way, to a run in North Yorkshire, for a few things to be sorted on the very well travelled ‘Pearl’ his TF 160.
Great to see Adrian and have a catch-up. Thanks so much to him for the selection of teas and tin of biscuits, always very welcome! – https://ift.tt/fFBsX0p

Simon drove down from Kilwinning at the weekend to leave his TF 135 (in FAR) with us.

Before we got cracking with that we headed over to Slaithwaite on Monday morning to fit stainless underfloor coolant pipes and carry out a minor service on Jill’s TF 135 (in LQW). We didn’t see Jill on this visit as she was away working. All done and sorted for her and just in the nic of time before the heavens opened!

Work then commenced on Simon’s TF, all 4 sill corners required quite a bit of welding. The whole of the underside was given a good sort, with everything required to get it back to rights. Chunks of old underseal removed on the subframes and rust cured. The wheel arch liners were in a bit of a ropey state with splits and cracks and not held in very well, which were catching on the tyres. Replacement ones fitted from our stock. We gave her a bit of a wash and clean up today and are pleased to say she’s looking a little better and all ready for collection on Monday.

We had another visitor from Scotland on Thursday, Robert drove down from Glasgow in his TF 135. The heater control valve appeared not to be functioning, but on inspection it was the outer casing that had slipped, all now sorted and full heat in the heaters again. New alternator belt fitted while he was there, as his was squealing a bit.

A real shame I was feeling crook and didn’t get to see him and go out for tea, all of us, as planned. Sorry, Robert, you had to enjoy the delights of Market Weighton on your own! Will make it up to you next time. Enjoy the rest of your road trip, and your night in Hawick tonight. (Thanks for letting me pinch a pic from your archives with me not being there to take a new one). Have a great run back home tomorrow morning.

Steve came over from Hull to leave his MGF 1.8 mpi (in CMU) with us on Thursday evening. So this morning we carried out the minor service and took it over for the MOT. We gave the car a bit of a clean up too as it was a bit of a muddy road to the estate this week with all the rain, now all ready for collection on Monday too.

A productive week, even though I ‘milked it’ yesterday, (ha you knew I’d get that in Jon 😆). A ‘no show’ yesterday for a check up on a ZR, just hope all is OK.

We look forward to greeting Adrian and ‘Pearl’ at the workshop in the morning, for a couple of things, as he heads up to North Yorkshire for a run over the weekend. The van will need a re-stock and prep for next week too. – https://ift.tt/jluVTDG

Cadwell Park – Stage Rally 2022

A cracking way to spend a weekend and have a bit of downtime.

We finished off getting ‘Dirty Nancy’ track ready. Some of you may remember her as Ruth Evans’ previous MG 135. Having not turned a wheel in quite a few years and a bit of a list to get through when we had the odd moment spare, she let lose out on the track yesterday! 💨💨💨

Absolutely brilliant fun, the track was a bit wet due to the rain throughout the night, which made for some interesting moments. Amazing being on track with some of the Class B rally drivers. Jon was let loose on his own for the last couple of laps and span off on Hall Bends, meeting with the tyre wall! Jon was fine, but the bumper sustained a bit of a dent, and the new exhaust was bent over. Oops. 🫣

Today was spent spectating the stages, which was so entertaining, with such awesome drivers and their fantastic cars. We made it through to the last stage this year, but gave the fireworks a miss as the cold was beginning to get to us. Great to catch-up with a couple of pals too. – https://ift.tt/9mIUKOF

Up bright and early on Monday morning to set off in very dense fog which was with us all the way to Tydd St Giles.

It was cambelt service time on Claire’s TF 135 (in HFF). Great to see her sister, Emma, and have a catch-up with her and their mum and dad.

From there, we headed down to Burwell near Cambridge where it was lovely to meet Bill and his wife, whose fab looking Trophy was sitting a little bit on the low side. Really nice looking car that they have owned for about 20 years, but will soon be going up for sale, somewhat reluctantly. We’d have bought it, but we don’t have the space, unfortunately.

One of the jobs was canceled last minute, so with an early finish we headed over to Little Thetford, near Ely, where we had some really fantastic digs, definitely one to go back to, could have happily moved in!

On Tuesday morning we left our digs and headed over to Thrapston for work on Matt’s TF 115 again. This time it was for the cambelt service, cambelt, water pump, plugs, oil and all filters replaced. Absolutely tipped it down all morning so the gazebo was duly deployed! The job went well fortunately, but we were a bit damp as the rain was coming in sideways.

Heaters on full blast to get dried off as we ventured on to our next stop in Grantham with a stop at a butty van en route for a warning brew.

The weather was still looking bleak when we arrived at John’s house, who said we could come back another day if we preferred, but we saw a bit of a break in the clouds and got cracking on his 85th Anniversary, TF 135 (paint code 297).

Cambelt service carried out and investigation into a misfire. The misfire was down to a coil pack and a plug lead that had burnt out. Coil pack and lead replaced, along with a new set of spark plugs. Engine now running nice and smooth.

It was interesting to meet John, and have a chat while worked, who has owned various models of MGs over the years. Date to be arranged for him to visit us at the workshop for a remap.

This morning found us in Sleaford, where it was good to meet Kev and his son. Kev had fancied owning another MG, having had an MGBGT in the past, so spent a bit of time searching for the right one. He eventually found this TF 1.6 (in JGY) that had little service history. So to be on the safe side he booked us in for the cambelt service, and some other things, including preemptive head gasket replacement. What a fab car he has found himself.

A bit of a drier day and an enjoyable morning chatting to Kev about all things MG. Thanks to them for the brews and the butty and we look forward to seeing them again, next year, for a few more things to get her just as they want her, as she is to be a keeper.

An early finish so enough time to walk back home, with a fab sunset seen from the Humber Bridge. Workshop day tomorrow for a few things, which will include finishing off the track car ready for the weekend! – https://ift.tt/yje4Afb

🙄🥱 SPAM 🥱🙄

As seems to be the way of things at the moment people are being hacked and spammed and generally mucked about.

We have a problem with our emails being sent into SPAM folders or being rejected either inward or outward. We’re looking into this with our tech support.

Can anyone who has emailed us recently please check your folders for our replies that may well have fallen into your SPAM/JUNK.

Please send any enquiries at the moment via our other formats; text message, personal message or WatsApp. I’ve been monitoring our email replies and resending via text.

Mobile number: 07766993717.

Many thanks for your patience!! 😳 – https://ift.tt/PF3oiDJ

An enjoyable social Sunday spent at the workshop for drop off and collection day!

Steve came over from Keighley with his TF 160.

Peter came over from Leeds with his TF 135.

Adrian came over from Beverley with his TF 135.

Bob came over from north Ferriby to collect his MGF.

Ruth and Mark brought Destiny over from Belper, her TF 135.

Looking forward to our week at the workshop working on all of these fab cars, with a couple more drop offs through the week.

Big thanks to Ruth for her thoughtful gift of a potted plant to brighten up the outdoor space, love it!

Exhaust fitted to ‘Nancy’, another step closer to track day.

All tucked up safely for the night, best get the alarm set for an early start tomorrow… – https://ift.tt/wZAfP9e

An early start yesterday morning to head down to Great Leighs, near Chelmsford, where it was lovely to meet Pat for work on her really nice looking MGF 1.8 (in HFF).

Pat and her husband had previously owned a Metro and a Rover 200, both of which the head gasket had gone, so they just wanted this one sorting for peace of mind. New head gasket fitted, cambelt service carried out and new alternator belt fitted.

While we were there Clive Walsh popped over to meet us, we already had him booked in next March for some work, so it was great to put a face to a name, we look forward to seeing him again next year and working on his MGF.

After leaving our digs this morning in Braintree we headed over to Kelvedon, near Colchester where it was great to meet Vince.

Vince has owned his TF 135 (in JFV) for a number of years, which unfortunately had been stood for most of that time after suffering from some issues. Vince set about replacing one of the valves and refitting the head etc a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, after all his work and effort the heat activated bonding agent had not taken, resulting in failure of the gasket. So he asked when we would be in the area, as he didn’t fancy doing it all again.

On starting up though, with it having not run for a few years the fuel pump had seized. Eventually we got it running, but will definitely need a replacement pump, which Vince will source and sort himself.
It was really good though to get it up and running again for him after so long. Vince can now have some fun. Good reg plate!

Decent run back home, and a quieter night ahead. City centre pub on a Friday night in Christmas party season wasn’t the best choice, but really good digs all the same, in budget and Jon gave his steak a 10/10.

Looking forward to seeing everyone dropping off and picking up at the workshop tomorrow. – https://ift.tt/ytZhjl2

A very busy and productive few days at the workshop, getting everything done on time and a vision in red awaited us on Tuesday morning…

Steve’s low mileage MGF 143 VVC that he had brought over from Scotter on Sunday had its minor service done and replacement of underfloor coolant pipes followed by an MOT. A really nice example that we had previously replaced the head gasket on. Good to see him again today when he came to collect.

Patrick’s very tidy TF 115 (in CMU), also dropped off on Sunday with us, from Harrogate, and came in for underfloor treatment, check over of a few things, followed by an MOT.

We refitted the rear screen with his original that we received back from Ireland, Patrick said not to go to any extra bother, but us being us just felt it should be back with its original hood. It’s just what we do! 😀

Bob’s lovely MGF 1.8 mpi ‘Muffle’, also left with us on Sunday, came in for underfloor treatment and replacement of the underfloor coolant pipes. Once up on the lift we noticed that both front forward sills ends were pretty rotten, so Jon set about refabricating them. Everything looking really good again and ready for collection at the weekend.

We’ve still not been able to get the second lift installed, due to one thing and another, so it’s been a game of musical cars, shuffling them in and out!

A bit of time too today to get started on getting ‘Dirty Nancy’ track prepared, a full update on her when she’s ready to go!! I’m sure a few of you will remember her as Ruth Evans’ previous MG. We’re very excited about giving her a new lease of life.

Van stocked up with what we need, ready for a couple of days away, with an early start in the morning as we head down to Chelmsford. – https://ift.tt/H1D5ylj