Month: May 2026

Anlaby, Sutton, Swanbourne, Bracebridge Heath…

Our first call of the week was a local one in Anlaby on Monday morning, where it was good to meet Neil and his 2004 TF 135 (in Xpower Grey) that we’d last worked on with the previous owner as Neil found a load of our old invoices with the car. Cambelt service carried out this time for him. Thanks to Neil for the cuppas before we headed off to the next call.

We went over to Sutton for work on Mike’s 2003 TF 135 (in Trophy Blue). Cambelt service carried out, underfloor coolant pipes replaced as we’d noticed on our last visit that they were corroded. Mike had recently noticed an intermittent starting issue, so we took along a starter motor, the cable was completely corroded and took a bit of fettling. All sorted for Mike and great to see him again.

An early start to head down to Swanbourne, near Milton Keynes, on Tuesday morning. We had replaced the head gasket on Sue’s 2003 TF 135 last month, but Sue had noticed an issue when taking it out for a run and suspected that maybe the head gasket had failed again. From the description we thought it was maybe the Lambda sensor at fault, so we took along a replacement exhaust-flexi section, just in case the old sensor wouldn’t come out. Fortunately, none of the above was the issue. After code reading we replaced one of the coil packs, all the spark plugs and the HT leads and pleased to have the car running again as it should. Thanks to Frank for the cuppa, nice to have a quick chat with him before the long schlep back home, when the van hit a monumental mileage!

Wednesdays job was a bit nearer to home and found us over in Bracebridge Heath, where it was good to see Lorraine and Jon again. The cambelt service was due again on their 2001 MGF Trophy (in Trophy Yellow). The exhaust cam roll-pin was crushed so we replaced that too.

A bit of a shorter week for us this week as we’re currently heading down the M1 to East Midlands, not for a job but to catch a plane to Greece! 🇬🇷

We’re away for a couple of weeks, but as I usually do when we’re away I’ll be doing a daily check-in and replying where possible. I won’t have the diary so I’ll follow up fully on everything once we’re back in England.

Have a great weekend everyone, it looks like it’s going to be warming up a tad and a sunny bank holiday weekend is in store! Get those tops down! ☀️ – https://ift.tt/zlch5W2

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland Trip – May 2026 – days 4-8 of 8…

Following an overnight stay in Grantown-on-Spey on Saturday we headed further north to a lovely spot just near Forres, on Sunday morning, for work on Stewart’s 2006 TF 160 in Xpower Grey. Cambelt service, oil change and fitting of a ‘Mike Satur’ slick-shift and bell-crank. We didn’t get to meet Stewart as he was on his hols (we would have had this trip not been changed so many times) but he left plenty of provisions in the garage, which we were thankful to work in as the weather was a tad inclement! Fab looking car that’s had quite a few nice mods.

Our next overnight stay was in Aviemore, with a respectful departure time to head over to Kilmarnock, where it was great to see Neil again and his beautiful new addition of a very energetic puppy called Galaxy. Sorry slightly distracted there! The minor service was due. Plus we also fitted a replacement heater control valve, as we’d had to do a bypass last time as it was leaking. The temperature gauge wasn’t working, which we found to be due to damaged wires on the sensor, duly fixed.

Our next digs were just in Lochwinnoch so it was nice and handy for our next visit to Alan on Tuesday morning over in Glengarnock.

Flexi exhaust section and Lambda sensor fitted to his 2004 TF 160 in Aurora and a heated rear window switch and relay installed.

A new ‘Jakabi Design’ instrument cowl fitted to his 2001 MGF 120 mpi, along with repairing a snapped spare wheel holder and replacing all the dodgy locking wheel nuts.

Rear bumper swapped over from a donor car to his 2003 TF 160 in Le Mans Green. So with our visit there on Friday (in previous blog) that’s the list completed for this visit on his fleet!

Following another stay in Lochwinnoch we headed off bright and early on Wednesday over to Glasgow for our first call of the day. Glenn’s 2009 TF 135 85th Anniversary was due its cambelt service, full service carried out along with replacing the starter motor. Great to see Glenn as always and big thanks to him for all the tea and Tunnock’s again!

From a sunny Glasgow we headed over to a very wet Linlithgow, we saw the black clouds looming as we drove across, so the gazebo was duly deployed on our arrival.

We last saw Stephen for work on his TF 115 a couple of years ago, and this time the cambelt service was due on his MGF VVC ‘Panther’ (information pic below, it’s a bit blurry but it gives an idea of its origins). Full cambelt service carried out along with replacing the oil dipstick bracket and fitting a battery isolator. The service took a while longer as the car is fitted with roll-hoops and roll-cage. Glad to have it all sorted for Stephen who will be getting it back on the road once the MOT is done, and good to see him again too.

So for our last accommodation of this trip we stayed over in a very cold and wet Dunbar. We left bright and early this morning and took a steady drive back down to the workshop to unload all the detritus and kit, loaded up with fresh stock ready for Monday morning. We’ve got a local call tomorrow afternoon and then we have the weekend off to recover.

It’s been another successful trip to Scotland, as always we’ve been met with very warm welcomes from
everyone and Scotland never fails to provide amazing locations.

Approximately 1000 miles, 11 MGs, 6 B&Bs, hotels etc and lots of tea and biscuits! – https://ift.tt/BGCLPgV

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland Trip – May 2026 – days 1-3 of 8…

First leg of Scotland trip done commencing with a call en route on Thursday morning in Gosforth, where it was lovely as always to see Jane and Graham for work in Jane’s 2002 TF 160. Minor service carried out along with replacing both front discs and pads.

We then headed over to Kilmarnock, following an overnight stay there we arrived bright and early on Friday morning in Glengarnock for work on some of Alan’s fleet.

His 2006 TF 135 in Twilight (1 of 1) was due a minor service. Plus he wasn’t sure if a wheel bearing was on its way out again so we hauled along the big old bearing press. Fortunately, it turned out to just be a top ball joint that needing replacing and greasing of both top suspension arms.

The fairly new acquisition to the fleet, a 2001 MGF 120 had developed a blow in the exhaust, new flexi-section fitted along with a new Lambda sensor, both rear calipers replaced along with rear pads. An oil leak had been noted on the last MOT, which was found to be all four cam-seals, so these were all duly replaced and excess oil cleaned up.

His 2004 TF 160 in Aurora was also due its minor service. It also has a slight blow on the exhaust, plus the EML has been coming on. New flexi section ordered and when we return as planned next Tuesday we’ll get those fitted.

Great to see Alan and Andy as always and have fusses with beautiful Mable (aka Molly dog!)

Saturday, and following an overnight stay in Grangemouth last night we went over to Polmont this morning for work on Stuart’s 2003 TF 135. Stuart had noticed a slight loss of coolant, so asked a friend to take a look, who suspected that the thermostat housing was the culprit. We fitted a new housing only to find it was still leaking. We tried oversized o-rings to no avail, and as we then found it’s the engine bay coolant pipes that have corroded. So Stuart’s going to take a drive down to us at the workshop next month. Both of the track rod ends had come up as an advisory on his last MOT so these were replaced. It was great to see Stuart again, and thanks to him for the many warming brews on a bit of a chilly morning, and thanks also for the lovely piece of arty wood, just our sort of thing!

After bidding farewell to Stuart we’re now heading further north for the next overnight stop in Grantown-on-Spey before heading a bit further north from there to a place called Rafford for work tomorrow.

I made the most of our location this morning and got up at sunrise and took a walk along to the Kelpies, which never fail to amaze.

We did have a busy start to the week on Tuesday with a head gasket replacement on Jason’s 2004 TF 160 in Durham, glad to have this done for him to enjoy the summer months. We then went on to Darlington where it was good to meet Jon and his 2004 TF 135 for a suspected clutch-slave cylinder issue, which wasn’t the case, we found that the left to right cable was badly adjusted restricting the movement to the right, plus the gearbox had no oil in it due to the fill-plug being loose! Hopefully these have resolved the issue for him and he’ll let us know how it drives.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend despite the dismal weather. There’s still snow on the tops and there’s some very heavy sleet as we drive through the Highlands, hope it improves for the rest of this trip! 🥶 – https://ift.tt/sSWkmjL

Workshop, Mansfield, Spilsby, Gosberton, Wilberfoss…

Our first visitor at the workshop, bright and early, on Monday was Steve who had driven down from Sunderland in his 2003 TF 135. Cambelt service carried out for him while he waited. Good to have a catch-up with him while we worked. He’s not done a massive amount of mileage since we did the head gasket, so at least it had good run down and back home again.

Our next visitor of the day was Stewart, who had driven down from Glasgow over the weekend to stay with his pal Gareth in Kilburn, this was booked in while we were working on Gareth’s MG back in October so it was great to finally meet him and his 1998 MGF 120 in Nightfire Red. Full cambelt service carried out along with replacing the HT leads, rotar arm and distributor cap, pleased to have everything sorted for him to enjoy a sunny drive back up to Glasgow.

A couple of cars were dropped off with us over the weekend at the workshop. One of which was Ian’s 2002 TF 135 that we’d looked after for a number of years with the previous owner. Minor service carried out along with a pre-MOT check. All done and ready for Ian to collect to take back home to Leeds in a day or so.

We headed over to Mansfield on Tuesday morning where it was good as always to see Phil. His 2004 TF 135 was due for the cambelt service. Big thanks to Phil’s wife for making us a lemon drizzle cake, which had some grateful recipients back home.

Back over to the workshop on Wednesday morning to get cracking on Rich’s 2003 TF 135, he’s got another adventure over to France planned in a few weeks so wanted all the discs and pads replacing and a check over on a couple of niggles. We hope he has a great trip.

John had also come over from Leeds and left his 2005 TF 135 in Firefrost Red with us for the cambelt service. He’d also bought one of the Mike Satur anodised 4-way coolant connectors, so this was fitted for him. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to meet John when he came to collect the car, maybe next time.

Thursday morning found us over in Spilsby for the first call of the day. Denis’s TF Stepspeed was due its annual minor service. Lovely to see Denis again, he’s got a great sounding trip planned in the car over to Jersey with his wife to celebrate his 80th birthday, we wish them a wonderful time.

From there we headed on down to Gosberton where it was lovely to see Emma again. Her 1999 MGF 120 in Solar Red was due for its annual minor service, plus we replaced the underfloor coolant pipes with stainless as we’d noticed last time they weren’t looking their best, hydragas pump up carried out too and she’s all set to start using it as her daily car throughout the summer months.

A call in to Rimmer Bros to have a restock and pick up some more bits needed for next week’s trip away.

Here we are it’s Friday again and our last call of the week was over in Wilberfoss, where it was lovely as always to see Derek and Margaret. Their 2004 TF 135 was also due its annual minor service. Plus Derek had managed to source a new front wing as the existing drivers side one was showing a fair bit of rust, this was duly fitted for him.

After a chat with them we headed back over to the workshop to unload all the new stock and do some further prep for our next Scotland trip commencing in the latter half of next week.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone near and far, let’s hope this amazing weather lasts for the bank holiday, now wouldn’t that be welcome for some top down fun! – https://ift.tt/9VdEmyl