Author: Facebook Posts

A short commute to Tuffley, near Gloucester this morning…

Brian had bought this fab 1998 MGF 120 mpi (in JRJ), a couple of years ago and had enjoyed some great runs out in her so far. The cambelt service was due and he also wanted a preemptive head gasket replacement done, just for peace of mind, at the same time, so he put the car on SORN until our visit.

Today we replaced all the gaskets, the cambelt, water pump, tensioner and alternator belt. What a pleasure to work on, and a very quiet smooth engine on startup. So he’s all set now for the summer months.

Really good to meet Brian and have a chat, he’s got an interesting fleet of vehicles, including this Rover 100, that’s absolutely lovely! So nice to have doggy cuddles with Bailey his gorgeous Labradoodle. Thanks for the cuppas Brian.

We then went over to Cheltenham where it was good to see Steve again for annual service on his TF 135 (in MBB), who had asked if we could come over when we were next in the area. A chat about things he’d like sorting on the next visit. Thanks for the brew Steve.

Great weather today, considering the forecast wasn’t too good.

Bit of a storm last night, but an amazing sunset and clouds following it, with great views from the top floor of our amazing digs. Last night here and then we head over to Oxford in the morning. – https://ift.tt/SwXJBLc

After departing from our digs in Poole this morning we headed to a little village near Blandford Forum called Child Okeford, where it was great to see Tim again and his 1999 MGF 143.

Minor service carried out, plus pre MOT check. One of the sun visors was missing so we took one with us to fit. Thanks for the homemade Victoria sponge and a welcome cuppa Tim, we look forward to our visit again next year.

We then pootled a few miles along the road to Stourpaine, where it was lovely to meet Matthew, who had got in touch to see when we would be in the area, for work on his 2002 TF 135 (in HFF).

Cambelt, water pump, tensioner, spark plugs, all filters and alternator replaced, plus oil change. Thanks to Matthew for a cracking brew and homemade brown

We bid our farewells and headed further north, with a steady plod through glorious countryside, with many quaint villages and are now in some fab digs in Cheltenham which will be home for the last two nights of this trip. – https://ift.tt/C61xU8Q

A picturesque commute down to Swanage this morning and thankfully clear skies, following an absolute deluge last night with an amazing electrical storm!

It was really lovely to meet Tricia, who had got in touch a few months ago asking if we could give her Stepspeed a check over when we were next in the area.

What a great example in Trophy blue, that had been evidently very well cared for with the previous owner. Alternator belt replaced as it was squealing a bit on start-up. Good check over the car and all 16 error codes cleared, that were there from the previous head gasket failure. We look forward to seeing Tricia again next year for the minor service.

Tricia recommended that we return via the chain ferry (thank you for the ticket!) from Shell Bay to Sandbanks. Had a walk along the beach for a look at the amazing houses along there. What a beautiful coastline, well worth a visit. Bacon sarnie and a cuppa and purchase of the requisite fridge magnet.

Back to our fab digs for the last night in Poole, before we start heading north. – https://ift.tt/kQugWA1

A day off today in the middle of our trip to rest our bones and enjoy a run across the South Downs, taking in a visit to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove on the way.

Despite the squalls of rain we went down to the beach. But, poor Jon’s dodgy ankle didn’t fair well, so the resting of the bones didn’t work out quite as planned. A nice day though, appreciating where we are in the country and making the most of it.

Now in our new digs in Poole for a couple of nights, ahead of a visit to Swanage in the morning to meet Tricia and her TF. – https://ift.tt/kQugWA1

Our call today was in Cornwall and a lovely drive over this morning from our digs…

Geoffrey had contacted us as he wanted a few things sorting on his 2001 MGF 115 (in CMU).

Preemptive head gasket replacement carried out, plus cambelt water pump and tensioner. New alternator fitted and belt. Originally it was also booked in for stainless underfloor pipes, but already had them fitted by the previous owner, and stainless engine bay pipes, but as there is a shortage on these and we used our last set this wasn’t done, but the pipes on the car were like new anyway. Another very nice example. Didn’t get a pic of the interior, but it had red alcantara seats.

They wanted us to have a look at their other car whilst we were there and assess for potential work for next time. The water pump was leaking and the car came with little history when he collected it from the Isle of Wight. They were pleased of the reassurance that they hadn’t bought a bad one, and hadn’t realised it was a 160, which also came with a Heritage hard top. A few things to do when we’re back again in August to get it up to the spec that they would like it in.

Really good to meet Geoffrey and Carol (and Pepper of course, their gorgeous west highland terrier) and have a chat. Thank you, both for the endless supply of a welcome pot of tea and biscuits! We look forward to our return trip.

We now find ourselves in, again, some fantastic digs on a working farm just near Launceston. We got to meet our neighbours, calves only a few weeks old and watch the herd being milked. Beautiful location, a 6 mile walk for me and a snooze for Jon. Eurovision on for the evening’s entertainment maybe? 😃 – https://ift.tt/k49SPEA

A good run down from South Wales this morning and we have spent the day in Weston-super-Mare…

Joao had got in touch a couple of months ago to see if we would be in the area anytime soon, as he suspected the head gasket had gone on his MGF 1.8 mpi (in JRJ) with thanks to Andy P for the recommendation.

As soon as we spotted it, we knew what was possibly at fault. A dodgy cap! We carried out all our usual checks and happily for Joao this is all it was down to. While we were there he asked if we could carry out the minor service as nothing had been done on the car for quite a while. This was done, plus two new pressure tested caps supplied. All error codes cleared and a chat with Joao about other things to be aware of. Good to meet him and he was really grateful that that’s all it was.

We then went over to the local euro car parts to get stocked back up on a few things. Spotted this lovely looking MGF next door. Then we went on to the sea front for a cuppa. I made the most of having an afternoon free and had a good yomp round to Sand Point and up to the rocky outcrop. Really fab views over to South Wales, good weather too.

Bit of a change in the plans today, as we were supposed to be seeing Mark Ford this morning in Bristol, for work on his ZR and MGF, but sadly for him he has had to sell them. We still keep in touch and wish him all the very best. We could have made other bookings in his place, but out of respect we didn’t feel right doing that.

We’ve got a lovely hotel for the night, with a proper sea view, shame we’re not staying longer! It’s another early night ahead of our next leg of the trip in the morning. 🌊☀️ – http://www.facebook.com/pages/p/1295587220479237

We left our fab digs in Lea this morning and headed over to Abertillery for work on Steve’s low mileage TF 135 (in CEV)…

Thanks to a recommendation from Lesley and Frank Hooper (thank you, both) Steve had got in touch back in November to see if we could swap out the underfloor coolant pipes for stainless ones when we were next in the area.

Underfloor pipes replaced, with an underneath that looks like new still, with shiny untouched bolts since the day they were put in. While we were there Steve asked if we could carry out a minor service and also check out a strange whirring sound coming from the engine. The cambelt service was recently carried out locally, but we found that the cambelt had caught the water pump bolts, which had then pulled the tensioner, resulting in about 8” of the cambelt to be ripped off. So it was decided that best practice would be to replace the belt and the tensioner.

Certainly a timely save from ultimate impending disaster, which would have been a huge shame to happen to this fantastic example.

The roof was also not fitting as well as Steve would have liked so this was adjusted and made a much better fit.

We should have been seeing another one in Cardiff this afternoon, but the chap cancelled as he sold the car, we could have fitted more in, but thought we would have the afternoon free, in hind site it was good that we didn’t and were able to spend the time getting Steve’s sorted. You just never know with these little cars what they’re going to throw at you. What was a simple smallish job doesn’t always work out that way.

Lovely to meet Steve and Sharon and have a chat throughout the day. Plus lots of cuppas and chocolate brownie always go down well!

The weather was a tad moist, this morning, so we were very pleased when we pulled up to a double garage! 🌧

We nipped up to Cwmtillery lakes for a look at afterwards on Steve’s suggestion as it was just a couple of miles along the road, what a lovely place hidden away, didn’t know that was there and we’ve been to the area a few times now over the years. Good to see Steve also out giving the car a blast in the sun! ☀️ 😃

A stop over in Pontypool tonight and an early night ahead of traveling further south to our next location morning… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 – https://ift.tt/WLIUR4d

An early start yesterday morning for the start of our latest big trip of 10 days on the road in the south west, with a few things to do along the way…

Our first call was in Bartestree, near Hereford, where it was great to meet Richard who had fairly recently bought this very nice looking TF 115, (in LEF), that was now due its cambelt service. Richard also wanted the head gasket replacing as his last MG had gone at 40k miles and he didn’t want to tempt fate on this one as it was approaching that figure! His suspicions weren’t unfounded as the head gasket had actually gone, it had had the gasket replaced previously, but it was fitted with a Mk I elastomer gasket.

All gaskets replaced plus cambelt, water pump, tensioner, alternator belt, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, oil and oil filter all replaced. Date to be arranged to return for some further work in the future.

This morning found us back in Walford, near Ross on Wye for cambelt service on Philip’s work horse, his TF 115. Cambelt, water pump, tensioner, alternator belt, plugs, all filters replaced. The handbrake needed some adjustment and advice on repairing the door hinge. Great to see Philip as always and we look forward to coming back next year.

From there we went over to Kingstone, near Hereford where it was lovely to see Keith again, last couple of visits he was away, so it was nice to catch-up this time. Can’t believe it’s 5 years since we last did the cambelt service when he lived over near Barry. Cambelt, water pump and tensioner replaced, plus new alternator belt on his MGF 120 mpi (in JRJ).

Keith wanted us to check out the damage underneath the car when he had sadly hit a rock in the road on a dark country lane some months ago. Fortunately, the damage wasn’t as extensive as he had envisioned. The radiator hose had a large split in it on the offside, so this was duly replaced with a new one that we had on the van.

The car still needs some repair work underneath, but Keith will get this all sorted when he gets it in for the MOT. It’s a solid car, that he’s owned for many years and will be passed on to his daughter whose had her eye on it for a while. It looks a bit dusty in the pic, due to Keith having lived on a new estate for 3 years that’s still being developed.

A good couple of days with great company and many welcome cups of tea. Thanks everyone, always appreciated ☕️

Back to our fab digs in Lea for our second night here. What an absolute gem of a place, hidden away with a beautiful garden, it will be a shame to leave, but at least we know where to stay next time we’re down this way. 🌿🌼 – https://ift.tt/ac48HoY