Month: November 2025

Workshop week and a bit of a chilly one…

Not the week we had planned as we were going to have a break away somewhere, but decided against it and thought we’d best get cracking with work instead, plus couldn’t keep putting off those essential DIY jobs.

Chris had brought down his 2003 TF Stepspeed, in xpower grey – LEF, all the way from his home in Acharacle, that we’ve enjoyed a few visits to now. He and his wife Sam made a trip of it and visited family and friends in the area. They picked a bad week weather wise as one of their stops was in Scarborough, where there was quite a big dumping of the white stuff! Glad that they made it over to us safe and sound to drop off the car and are now back up in the Highlands.

The car was booked in for replacement of the drive-plate, Chris had sourced the plate from DMGRS, who stock the correct one for this model. So we replaced this, which went well considering the gearboxes on this model weighs so much more than the standard PG1 boxes, so aligning it to go back on can be a bit a challenge.

Unfortunately, on Chris and Sam’s epic journey down they noticed that the temperature gauge had risen in traffic, with no significant loss of coolant. On pressure testing the system found coolant to be coming from the block and the thermostat housing. So we replaced the head gasket along with a new thermostat and housing.

Chris had also mentioned another strange noise from the rear. When it came removing the hub and drive-shaft the hub fell straight off the drive-shaft, the retaining C-spring on the end of the drive-shaft was in two halves. So we replaced this with one we had on another secondhand drive-shaft off a spare CVT gearbox.

The CV boot on the nearside rear also had a split in it and had deposited a load of grease in to the rear wheel. New CV boot fitted and grease cleaned up.

Couple of other small things to sort and then all ready for Chris to collect in a couple of weeks time.

Leona had brought over their MGF 120 ‘Princess’ for some further work, as she had been given a couple of advisories on a recent MOT. Welding carried out to the inner sill/floor area, replacement of the Lambda sensor and an MOT carried out by the company we use on the site. Pleased to hear that Laura is now fit to be able to drive her again, and they collected her last night. Let’s hope both Laura and Princess are able to get some miles done between them finally.

Terry came down to the workshop today to collect his MGF 75th Anniversary, that was in with us a couple of weeks ago for welding, as mentioned on previous post, and then it had gone round to the paint shop next door at AM Paintworx. The work was finally completed on the car yesterday and does look pretty good! Well done to Aaron and his team for more of their sterling work. Really great to see Terry as always and meet his pal Dave who had kindly driven him down from Darlington.

Have a great weekend everyone near and far, weather is a bit of a mixed bag, but at least it’s no longer in the minuses… for now. 🥶 – https://ift.tt/sjkuO5m

SOUTH CAOST (etc) TRIP – 10th – 16th NOVEMBER 2025…

Monday 10th – Southampton
Our first call of the trip was for the minor service on Mark’s 2001 MGF 120 mpi in Copperleaf (CDX). Nice to see Mark as always for a quick chat before heading off to our digs, for an overnight stay, on Hayling Island.

Tuesday 11th – Hayling Island
A very short commute along the road where it was good to meet John and his 2002 TF 160, in Trophy Yellow (FAR), for replacement of the head gasket. The radiator bleed-screw was snapped off in the hole, but we have a knack of getting them out and carry replacement ones anyway. He’d not long owned the car when the head gasket went, so we’re pleased to have it back up and running again for him to enjoy, it’s a good example having recently had a full respray. Big thanks to John for all the cuppas, sandwiches and cakes, much appreciated.

From there we headed on to our digs for the next three nights in Goring-by-Sea.

Wednesday 12th – Patching
Another short commute, for work on Paul’s LE 500 (number 69) in Vibrant Orange. A couple of things had come up on the recent MOT. We replaced the nearside rear wheel-bearing. We’d taken a new high-level brake light with us, but it was the wiring that was at fault, so this was repaired.

One of the upper suspension arm pin-bushes was badly worn, while we going to be in there anyway Paul asked if we’d replace both sides. The faulty ones came out no problem and new one fitted. The offside one decided it was going to be a pain on one of them, it took about 2 hours to remove the old bush from the arm. We’d taken along a pair of the newly modified top arm pivot kits that Mike Satur produces, they don’t actually have the needle bearings in them, they have Oilite bearings in, see MS website for further interesting information.

Both rear brake calipers freed off, and the car is now good to go again and we got finished before the sun set! Paul does use the car as his daily so is pleased to have it back on the road.

Great to meet Paul, big thanks to him for the endless supply of tea and offers of lunch.

Thursday 13th – Pulburough
The first job of the day was to replace the head gasket on Paul’s fairly new acquisition of a ZR 160, cambelt service also carried out.

Next up was Paul’s wife Juliet’s LE 500 in Intense Blue, which was due for the cambelt service, service items and alternator belt replaced too. We also discovered that the 3-way connector on the coolant hoses was split, a common issue in the LE, we had a new one stock, so replaced this. Finally reverse-light switch replaced and car good to go.

Thanks to their mate Steve for making us a brew.

Friday 14th – West Worthing & Bordon
Another short commute and an early start for the first job of the day to work on Bob’s new acquisition of a MGF 75th Anniversary in Mulberry – CNF. Full cambelt service carried out without any issues. The gazebo had to be deployed as it absolutely tipped it down! Lovely to meet Bob and many thanks to him for the welcomes cuppas, biscuits and offers of breakfast. I forgot to get a photo of the car, as was slightly preoccupied with taking down the gazebo.

After a chat with Bob we headed off to the next call in Bordon.

It was great to meet Roger and his wife, owners of another LE 500 (number 267), this one in Scorched Red. Full cambelt service carried out and replacement of the underfloor coolant-pipes with stainless. Good to have a chat with them both before we headed off.

Saturday 15th – Basingstoke
We left our fab digs and headed over to Basingstoke, where it was good to meet Nick and his 2000 MGF VVC in Wedgewood – JBH. He’d bought the car after it had undergone a fairly major restoration to save it, having owned MGs in the past he wasn’t going to buy another one, but was tempted by this lovely example. He’d found a replacement hood and some seals, and had got in touch a couple of months ago to see if we’d be in the area anytime soon to come and fit them for him, so I added in an extra day on this trip.

An overnight stay in Teignmouth on Saturday night. What a really lovely spot, a new one for us, and the digs were fantastic too.

Sunday 16th – Newton Abbot
That brings us to today, and another day added on the trip to get over to see Alan and his LE 500 (number 353) in Intense Blue.

Engine-oil change, investigate coolant loss, and find the cause for the key fob not working. This will require the services of the genius Mark Brown aka Technozen.

After a chat and a cuppa with Alan we headed off on bit of a long schlep home, but with it being a Sunday the roads have been quiet.

So that’s our last big away trip of the year, and a successful one it’s been. Great to see old faces and meet some new ones too. We’ve been lucky with our digs too on this one. Apart from one dreadful day some decent weather thrown in, unlike many other parts of the country, we’ve been very sad to see on the news, our thoughts are with those affected by storm Claudia.

863 miles, (feels like more), 9 cars and 4 lots of various lodgings. Not long now before we get back to see the cat, and we can look forward to a few days off. – https://ift.tt/n8HyNZW

Our first job of the week found us on a fairly local one over in Kilham, on Monday morning, for work on Phil’s 2001 MGF 120 in Copperleaf (CDX). He’d actually bought the car after selling his Midget, as wanted something to replace it with. Having found our details he read up on everyone’s recommendations for us and bought the car on the strength of those, which was so great to hear!

Full cambelt service carried out and a check over, he’d bought it at auction from Matthewsons, although serviced regularly the cambelt service was overdue, on this very good example.

Great to meet him and his wife Lisa and have fusses with their beautiful woofer Sonny.

A bit of change to the original plans for the week, as a big job we had booked in to the workshop, over a couple of days, was cancelled a couple of weeks ago. So we fitted Terry in for the welding to his MGF 75th. Jon got cracking with this, which has taken a lot longer than expected, as is usually the way.

We went over to another fairly local call in Elvington, on Thursday morning, where it was good to see Jim again and his very nice year 2000 MGF 120 in Wedgewood (JBH).

Minor service carried out, along with suspension pump up, repair to the radio and a check over of a couple of things that were brought up on the last MOT.

Back to the workshop in the afternoon for Jon to continue the welding, and for me to pack the van with all the stock and kit required for our next big away trip, commencing on Monday, right through to Sunday. This will be our last away trip of the year, we don’t normally go away at this time of year, due to uncertain weather conditions and ultimately lack of daylight, but it was necessitated by demand.

We also fitted Laura’s MGF ‘Princess’ back in, as it is having issues with possibly the Lambda sensor, which we will need to swap out, plus it also requires some welding. It will have to wait a little bit longer for us to get sorted, but she’ll get done for Laura to enjoy driving again when she herself is back on her feet.

So that brings us to Friday and the welding is now all complete on Terry’s car, which has been taken round to the bodywork shop next door this afternoon (AM Paintworx), for Aaron to work his magic on next week. We look forward to seeing ‘The Chairman’ all painted and back to rights again for Terry.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, near and far. A quiet one for us, getting the bags packed ready to head off to the south, bright and early on Monday morning. – https://ift.tt/g1CjvyV

🕵️‍♀️ Had a very strange post to our Facebook page the other day, does anybody know who this is please? Tried replying and it won’t send. Seems a bit odd doesn’t it?! 🤷‍♀️ The reg number is of Jon’s modified MG that’s not seen the light of day for a number of years. There were 5 of these weird images (answers on a postcard for your suggestions!) 🤔 – https://ift.tt/40R1Z7Y