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We made our way over to Matlock this morning, where it was good to meet Matt and Zoe for work on their MGF 143 VVC.

Matt had got in touch back in December as he’d started noticing issues with overheating. He had the thermostat replaced, but was still having a problem and noticed signs of the head gasket having failed.

On our usual checks it was evident this was the case. So all gaskets duly replaced today, the main belt exhaust cam roll-pin fell out when the head was removed so new one fitted. All error codes cleared. The car is back up and running great now.

Bit of a mixed bag of weather. Thanks to them both for the cuppa, it was good to have time for a chat before we left them to it to carry on moving house. – https://ift.tt/VDK6uTc

Harpole, Northampton was our last call of this trip away today, leaving our fab digs in Hemel Hempstead this morning.

Great to meet Neil, who had got in touch, a few months ago, regarding an intermittent over-heating issue on his ‘02 TF 135 (in CMU).

Pressure tested it and found no external leaks, checked both return valves, and the pipe work returning to the bottle, found the outlet on the inlet manifold to be blocked, cleared this, pressure tested both his caps, bled the system to see if there was any air and nothing found, plugged in the diagnostics, and ran it up to temperature while watching the coolant temp on the diagnostics, bang on time the thermostat opened, and once fully up to temperature the radiator fan turned on bang on 104 degrees and took way less than 3 minutes to bring the coolant temperature level to come down to when the fan turns off. Repeated the heat up and checking cool down for two full cycles and found everything to be ok.

Minor service also carried out, so she’s all good to go for them for the summer months.

Set off for home and I spotted the Hotel Chocolat factory, never seen Jon do such a quick u-turn! His favourite chocolate, while he was loading up with armfuls of as much as he could carry, a chap spotted my jacket and came over for a chat and to ask if our company dealt with the MGBGTs, I said we didn’t as standard, but know a man who does, so we pointed him in the direction of the lovely chap that is Jason Swinyard in Oldham that does.

Good to be back home now and to see the cat, who was very pleased to see us. Then we’re heading off to Wirksworth in the morning.

A good few days away with some really lovely and interesting people and their fab MGs. – https://ift.tt/VDK6uTc

Westcliff-on-Sea was our next destination this morning with a good run over from Colchester, for work on ‘Pearl’, Adrian’s much travelled TF.

Cambelt service carried out along with spark plugs and all filters replaced and cleaned up.

Brake discs replaced all round with Mtec drilled and grooved black discs.

Top arm grease points filled up, new fob batteries, replacement of window washers and a good general check of ball joints etc. to ensure that she’s all good to go ahead of her many exciting travels that are planned throughout this year.

Adrian wasn’t there, unfortunately, as he was on a surprise holiday, that was a gift from his sons. So one of his sons, Michael was on hand to meet us, and very nice it was to meet him too, with thanks to him for his warm welcome and hospitality.

From there we headed over to Hemel Hempstead, with a rare free-flowing and hassle-free run along the M25! Arrived in good time for a walk into the town along the canal and then a look around the gardens of the fab digs we’re in. While I did this Jon repaired the TV in the room, which is massive along with the room! Star Trek on now while I’m doing the admin.

Then we’re on to Harpole in the morning… – https://ift.tt/ogBipau

Colchester and surrounding area…

Clive had got in touch back in August following the purchase of a ‘96 MGF 143 VVC (in COF) and wanted the main things sorting to give him peace of mind and enjoyable motoring.

We left our digs in Colchester and went over to Great Cornard where we carried out head gasket replacement, cambelt service and replaced the underfloor coolant pipes. Whilst in there noticed that one of the cam seals needed to be replaced, and the VVC plunger gasket needed replacing too. Few other bits sorted for him and advised on. Very quiet sounding VVC mechs, at 72k miles he’s got himself a really great car. Thanks to Clive and his lovely wife for all the tea and chocolates!

From there we went over to Halstead, where it was good to meet Eamonn and his TF 160 (in HFN) that he’d owned for many years. Just recently he’d noticed a strange noise coming from the back of the car. On our investigation found it to be the engine mount bolts that were the culprits, one was wobbling about and the other wasn’t tightened down enough. Duly copper greased and tightened down along with exhaust manifold heat shield bolt replaced all now strange noises and rattles eradicated. Thanks to Eamonn for the tea and huge chunks of cake!

We then went over to Feering, where it was lovely to meet Susan, for investigation of an intermittent issue with the ABS light on her Stepspeed (in JRJ).

On code reading the ABS unit no errors were found. Looking at the live data there appears to be an open circuit on the brake light switch, although the brake lights are all working fine. Investigation is required into the wiring diagram. Susan will be coming up to spend a few days in York while she leaves the car with us at the workshop.

We got back to our digs for about half seven, so not our latest finish! Time now for me to crack on with the admin after I’ve posted this.

We traveled down yesterday, which included a call in to Hartest, near Bury St Edmonds, for pump up of the hydragas on Sylvia’s Metro 1.1. A very long and tedious trip down with a load of roadworks and hold ups. Great digs though, last night tonight, then we set off to venture further south in the morning. – https://ift.tt/ogBipau

A long day today, hooked up the trailer at the workshop early this morning and delivered Bills MGF back to him in Wolston. Absolutely brilliant to see how delighted he was with the results on his pride and joy.

From there we went over to Desborough, to see Marcus and his TF 135, that had a problem with the clutch, initially they thought the clutch itself had gone, but, as we thought, it was the slave cylinder that had gone due to the release arm being seized. Marcus had tried to replace the slave, but unfortunately this had only blown the seals again. Release arm duly freed off this afternoon and new slave cylinder and clevis pin fitted and she’s good to go again.

Pleased to have finally managed to fit them in, we had planned on going on Monday when we picked up Bills MGF, but we encountered a problem with the lights on the trailer, so we were 2 hours late setting off anyway, with a repair, only for the lights to go out again on the M1 in torrential rain. So we made a diversion and called in to a ‘local’ Halfords, near Chesterfield, to purchase a light board and hook that up to continue on. Therefore, we had to let them know we couldn’t make it as we still had to get to Wolston and get the car back to the workshop. Which resulted in another long day in the life and times of a mobile mechanic! 🥴

Came through a few storms and floods on the way home too, albeit in some beautiful countryside. – https://ift.tt/mnGvo7g

Monday found us collecting Bills MGF VVC from Wolston, near Coventry to take back to the workshop for a few things…

We’ve been looking after this car for many years now, so now everything mechanical on it is sorted, Bill had the car resprayed a few months ago and has also been collecting all the pieces for an interior he has been wanting, over the past few months.

We set to first thing on Tuesday morning with removing the complete interior. An amazing array of items from carpets all the way through to console! Turning it from black and grey to cream and tan. What a really fantastic transformation it has undergone. Gear surround and petrol cap etc all replaced in chrome. Under bonnet cleaned up and tidied with new bolt pack.

We then carried out full underfloor treatment. Refit of bumper and bonnet as they were slightly out of alignment.

It really does look a different car, we’ve kept Bill posted with progress pics, just hope he’s pleased with the final result when we return his car to him tomorrow. Really looking forward to seeing his reaction. ☺️

It was lovely to see Noel and Mervyn who drove down from the north east on Tuesday to collect Noel’s TF 85th. Good to have a cuppa and catch-up with them before they headed back home.

Work all completed on Bills MGF this afternoon and loaded up ready for the return trip in the morning.

Some pics below of everything rather than a list that would turn this into a bit of long read! – https://ift.tt/Y2NcSfe

A trip over the snowy wolds to Norton near Malton this morning as it was cambelt service time again on Rodney’s two fab TFs, the years have flown by!

First up was his ‘02 TF 135 in JFV. Cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced, plus alternator belt. Then next up was his ‘02 TF 160 in JFV for both cambelts, water pump and tensioner. The alternator belt had done it’s time so this was also replaced.

This one was found to be randomly adjusting its own tic over to 15000 rpm, which tells us there is a fault with the VVC actuators. By moving the wiring the engine ran normally. So Rodney is going to have a run over to see us at the workshop to get this fixed where we have 160 wiring looms on stock.

Good to see Rodney again, who made us a cracking brew, plus weather was certainly a bit more bearable. ⛅️

We got Noel’s TF 85th and Paul & Olivia’s stepspeed both completed yesterday. Full underfloor treatment and new brake lines on Noel’s and the new back-box and other bits fitted on the steppy. Both cars looking and sounding great and all ready for collection. – https://ift.tt/xqjPfyQ

Harrogate and Bramham today…

It might have been a very cold one, but we had very warm welcomes on both of our calls today.

Good to see Karen again in Harrogate and her MGF 120 mpi (in JBH). The cambelt service was already booked in, since our last visit, but in the time between the head gasket had failed. It had been replaced once before many years ago and had a Mk 1 elastomer gasket fitted with plastic allocation dowels. Everything sorted for her today and got her fab car, that they have owned from new, back up and running. Plus we replaced the rear screen as hers had a split in it.

Grateful of the garage to work in while the snow fell, with a continual steam of warming tea.

From there we went along to Bramham where Les greeted us with tea and cakes! Really good to see him again and his MGF 120 mpi (in CBH).

Full cambelt service duly carried out. We were supposed to fit new GAZ shockers, but given the grotty weather and that Les was needing a couple of other things sorting on her, it was decided that he would have a trip over to us in the workshop.

Heaters on full blast and a hassle free, relatively short run home. Thawing out now. 🥶 – https://ift.tt/iHOu4g9