Month: September 2026

Somerset & Devon trip – 21st to 25th September 2026…

Oldbury-on-Severn, Weston-super-Mare, Berrow, Bridgwater, Watchet, Chivenor, Portishead, Pontypool.

Monday morning and the start of our latest trip away took us to Oldbury-on-Severn, where it was lovely to see Martin and Mandy again and of course their woofers, for work on Mandy’s 1998 MGF 120 Mk I in White Diamond (NAL). Full cambelt service carried out plus repair of the indicators that had come up as an advisory on the latest MOT.

From there we headed over to Weston-super-Mare for the night. Making the most of the back to summer feel to the weather I took in a long walk that evening.

From Weston we had a fairly short commute over to Berrow, near Burnham-on-Sea, on Tuesday morning where it was great to see Nigel and Jo again.

Cambelt services carried out on their 1998 MGF VVC Abingdon (HYF) and 2003 MGF Trophy (FAR). The Trophy had been noted at the MOT has having a bit of an oil leak. We found this to be coming from the hydraulic plunger, so we replaced both of the plunger gaskets. With thanks to Jo for the cuppas and biscuits we were on our way to Bridgwater for the night.

From Bridgwater, on Wednesday morning, we went on to Watchet where it was good to see Crispin again, this time for the minor service on his 2004 TF 135 in Pearl Black (PBT). After a butty and a cuppa on the harbour top we ventured over to Barnstable for the night. Another beautiful evening I headed off to take in part of the Tarka Trail.

With not a lot of sleep due to Michael Flatley doing a jig in hobnail boots in the room above we fortunately only had a short distance to head over Chivenor on Thursday morning, where it was lovely to see Roger and Sue again. Roger had bought himself a soft-ride kit, so this was installed for him, with, luckily, no awkward bolts. Engine oil and filter change done and he’s good to go for a smoother ride. Big thanks for the cuppas and biscuits, good to have a catch-up before we hit the road to head on to our last hotel of the trip in Portishead.

Following a much more restful night, top floor this time, overlooking the marina, we headed over to Pontypool. Andy’s ‘moonshine’ had a blown hose, so we got this replaced for him. It was a good excuse to see him and Jan again, and have a very long overdue catch-up! Always fab to see them.

We’re now taking the long schlep back home on a congested M1, it’s been a successful and enjoyable week in the south west. Big thanks to everyone for their fab hospitality and warm welcomes.

Have a great weekend everyone near and far! ☺️ – https://ift.tt/rhB1Ap6

Bicester, Banbury, Rushwick, Barton, Peterborough…

A very early start on Tuesday morning to head down to Bicester, to carry out full clutch replacement on Alan’s 2003 TF 135 in Trophy Blue (JFV). The clutch-plate certainly was a bit worn. The release-arm was very stiff and the clevis pin had a large notch in it. New clevis pin fitted and arm freed off, resulting in a nice smooth clutch-pedal once more. We didn’t get to meet Alan as he was at work, but thanks to his lovely wife for the cuppas.

Following an overnight stay in Banbury, where I did get to see a lady on her horse, we headed over to Rushwick, near Worcester, on Wednesday morning.

Here we were due to meet Martin for work on his 1996 MGF VVC in Flame Red (COF), which due to him working abroad hadn’t had the cambelt service done in some time, though Martin had carried out all the general servicing himself. Very sadly, though, when we arrived we learnt from his wife, Rebecca, that he had passed away very suddenly only a few days prior. Rebecca still wanted us to carry out the work as she will be, regrettably, having to sell the car, but wants it to go with an up-to-date service history. It really is a very good example with a relatively low mileage of 43k. Big thanks to for her and her lovely friend for their amazing hospitality and warm welcome despite what they’re having to go through. Please, if anyone is interested just drop us a message to the usual number or email address and we can pass on your details to her and supply you with some further information on the car.

A local call on Thursday morning when we headed back over the Humber to Barton, to see Chris and his MGF again that we’d last seen a couple of weeks ago when we went over to replace the underfloor coolant pipes and found that all wasn’t as it seemed.

Head gasket replaced, the elastomer had been well cooked to the head, fortunately no damage done. At some point in its life someone had added the dreaded k-seal (NOT for k-series engines!) and the skinny return hose was full of caked old stuff. We fitted a new coolant bottle to the car last time, but still solid crud was making its way back round. We also replaced the thermostat and housing. When running up to temperature the car was still overheating, after some time hunting for the culprit we found the pipe to the thermostat was solid with the stuff, so this was removed cleared out and all other related hoses blown through. The coolant temperature sensor was also faulty, so this was replaced with new.

Finally, car ran up to temperature with fans coming on and off as they should. Brilliant to hear from Chris, later in the day, that his run over to Hull for the MOT was a success. He’s really looking forward to enjoying the car again. Thanks to Chris for the provision of a cuppa and cake, good to see him again and have a chat.

From Barton we headed over to the workshop in the afternoon to unload and restock the gear ready for our next away trip, commencing on Monday morning.

That brings us to today, Friday, and for our last call of the week down in Peterborough for work on Gary’s 1998 MGF VVC in Nightfire Red (CAQ).

Full cambelt service carried out, one of the roll-pins on the exhaust cam was crushed, so this was replaced. One of the boot springs had snapped and the other was under some strain, Gary had managed to find some in the correct paint, so we got these fitted for him while we were there. It was lovely to meet Gary, who makes a cracking brew! It was really lovely weather too, though not so sunny in Hull now.

Hope everyone near and far has a wonderful weekend, and can get out and about weather permitting. 🌧️ – https://ift.tt/ZYm28Tl

Workshop, Bythron, Cambridge, Odsey near Baldock…

Andrew came over from Walkington and dropped off his 2004 TF 135 in Trophy Blue (JBV) with us last week, so we got on with that on Tuesday morning at the workshop carrying out a minor service, plus diagnostics and wiring repairs to the SRS system. All ready for Andrew to collect at the weekend.

Rich came over from Tockwith in the afternoon for an oil change and air filter change on his 2003 TF 135 in British Racing Green (HFF). He’s been in France and Belgium for the last couple of months and done an incredible amount of miles without a hitch. Great to hear of his latest adventure and future plans.

We were up bright and early on Wednesday morning to head down to Cambridge. Whilst traveling down there we had a slight diversion over to Bythorn to check out Paul’s TF that had been noted as having a some signs of coolant on the sump on a recent MOT and was concerned something may have failed since we carried out the head gasket and cambelt service last October. We pressure tested the system, both caps and carried out all of our usual checks, but couldn’t find any evidence of any leaks. It’s possible the expansion tank cap hadn’t been replaced tight enough when topping up the coolant.

From there we carried on to Cambridge for work on Flo’s 2004 TF 135 in Platinum Gold (MCN). A minor service carried out, along with replacing all the discs and pads as they had come up as an advisory at the last MOT. Great to see Flo again and have a chat, thanks to her for the cuppa and chocolate biscuits.

We then headed a couple of miles along the road to our digs for the night. A beautiful afternoon I made the most of it and had a good yomp in and around Cambridge, good to have the opportunity to see a bit more of it this time.

After leaving our very nice and quiet digs, this Thursday morning, we headed a little bit further down the country to a village called Odsey, not too far from Baldock, where it was good to meet Tony. He’d got in touch earlier in the year to see if we could possibly fit him in for work on his Rover 25 VVC GTi. Full cambelt service carried out, along with new alternator belt and power steering belt. Thanks to Tony for the pots of tea.

Now heading back up the country and that’s us done for this week, a slightly shorter than last week. We’ve a family birthday tomorrow and the cat to take to the vets in the morning so we’re having the day off.

Hope everyone near and far has a great weekend, and that the weather is clement for getting out and about. 😎 – https://ift.tt/KmNniIG

Swanland, Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Barton-on-Humber, Alpraham in Cheshire, Warrington, Ashton-in-Makerfield…

A bit of a longer than usual week this one, commencing last Sunday with a local call, just up the hill from us, in Swanland to replace the alternator on Peter’s 2002 TF 135 in Solar Red (CMU) as it had been squealing like a banshee and waking up his neighbours!

Monday and Tuesday found us in the workshop for work on Ian’s TF 135 (post LE run), that he’d driven down in from Blyth at the weekend. He’d had quite a few advisories on the last MOT. All brake lines replaced, all discs and pads replaced, grease top suspension arms, replace a track rod end and then carry out a full underfloor treatment. Great to see Ian as always when he came over to collect on Tuesday afternoon, we heard later that he’d had a great run back home.

We then headed over to Barton-on-Humber on Wednesday morning, where it was great to meet Chris and his year 2000 MGF 120 mpi, in Alumina (HFH), that had sprung a leak from the welds on the underfloor coolant pipes. Thinking that’s all we were going for (never think that!) we then discovered on running the car up to temperature that the head gasket had actually gone as a result. Date booked in to get this sorted for Chris. We did have another call booked in, for a minor service, but as the car hadn’t really turned a wheel in the past 12 months it was decided between us and the owner to leave it until the cambelt service is due next year. Good job really as it turned into a longer day than expected.

Back over at the workshop on Thursday morning, to work on Hamish and Sandra’s stepspeed, that he trailered down from Greenlaw on Monday. When we were with him back in August we checked the car over as it was suspected that it was aqua locked and obviously couldn’t risk starting it up.

Thankfully, on removing the cylinder head on Thursday there was no further damage to the pistons or liners etc. All gaskets replaced, along with a cambelt service and she’s good to go, Hamish and Sandra have owned the car for some time and have taken trips over to France in her, so happily they can now continue to enjoy her. A shame we didn’t get to see Hamish when he came to collect, as we were on the road, but great to hear from him to say he’d taken her along to his local garage to have the MOT done and is looking forward to getting her back on the road.

Friday morning found us up bright and very early to head over to Alpraham in Cheshire for work on Wayne and Ali’s year 2000 MGF 120 mpi that they’d owned for many years and had actually used as their wedding car. It’s been off the road for some time and they made the decision to invest in her and get her back up and running for their son to start using.

Head gasket and cambelt service carried out, along with a few other bits. It still needs a few other things doing to get her right, so a date arranged for Wayne to bring her over to the workshop in a few weeks time whilst he can visit relatives in the area. Really great to meet them all and have fusses with their beautiful woofers.

Following an overnight stay in Warrington we headed on to Ashton-in-Makerfield this Saturday morning. Seemed silly to have driven home yesterday only to return along the busy old M62 again today.

It was lovely to see brothers David and Peter again, whose cars were both due for minor services and a couple of other bits.

First up was David’s year 2000 MGF VVC in British Racing Green (HFF), minor service carried out, along with replacing the gear-cable ends and gaiters, as his were quite worn out. New alternator fitted as his was also screeching like a banshee! New alternator belt fitted too.

Peters 2004 TF 160, also in British Racing Green, had the minor service done, along with replacing the lower timing cover, as a couple of the bolt holes had snapped off. He’d had the oil pressure sensor replaced, but it still wasn’t reading, which we found to be the gauge itself. We’ll post one of ours out to him and between them they’ll fit it.

Big thanks to David for all the cracking brews, and Jon’s steak pie! Plus it was lovely to have fusses with David’s very sweet woofer Rosie. We look forward to seeing them all again in two years time when the cambelt services are due once more.

After a quieter run along the M62 this afternoon we’re now back home, looking forward to a day off tomorrow. Hope everyone is having a fab weekend everyone near and far. 🌻 – https://ift.tt/ND9bBvH