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I gave myself the day off on Monday as it was my Birthday, which was great for us to spend it with family, doing as little as possible!

Back at it early Tuesday morning, which found us over in a very sunny Stockport, where it was great to meet Michael who owns a Caterham 7, that had been giving him some issues over the past couple of years. He’d done a lot of work himself and also had it in to various places, but rather than pull it all apart again himself he asked us to come over and help, as he was experiencing signs of head gasket failure shortly after the head gasket had been replaced.

We confirmed it was the head gasket that had failed so this was duly replaced. An enjoyable mornings work with Michael with lots of interesting chats as we did. MOT time for the car next week, fingers crossed that’s the end of the problems and he can get out for a proper blast round a track! We look forward to the update.

A bit more of a local ish one on Wednesday up in Boroughbridge on a bit of a chilly morning for work on Joe’s 2003 TF 135 in Trophy Blue (JFV). Full cambelt service carried out without any issues. It was really nice to meet Joe briefly as he was on a work-from-home day, he came out to offer us another brew and couldn’t believe that we were already packing away the tools.

The first call on Thursday morning was over in Tunstall, where it was lovely as always to see Mick for work on one of his MGFs. He’s heading off with Sammy in their 1999 MGF VVC in Mulberry Red (CDM) for what sounds like a brilliant trip to Portugal in a couple of weeks time.

Minor service carried out, along with replacing the coil pack (oof they’re an eye-watering price now) and the HT leads. Car given a good check over, spare alternator belt provided and spare coolant cap pressure tested. Unfortunately, between us we weren’t able to source the correct wiper-motor for it as the current one is a tad slow. Hopefully it will last the trip! Big thanks to Mick for more of their delicious chutneys. Hope he and Sammy have a fab trip, we look forward to hearing all about it.

From there we pootled along the road up to St Helen Auckland where it was lovely to meet Kevin. His 2000 MGF 120 mpi had been stood for a while and the inevitable had occurred with the clutch release-arm seizing up, the slave-cylinder was well gunged up with perished seals too. Release-arm eased off, new slave-cylinder fitted, all the old fluid bled through resulting in a nice easy clutch pedal once more. MOT time for the car next week and Kevin can get back to enjoying his car again.

With our last call of the week being in Appleby-in-Westmotland we had decided that rather than travel all the way back home we would stay over. So with having a couple of hours free in the afternoon we made the most of our English Heritage membership and took in a visit to Barnard Castle followed by a brew in the town centre. Not forgetting of course Jon’s obligatory call in to the chocolate shop!

After a stop over in a fab place in Greta Bridge we headed on up to Appleby-in-Westmorland this Friday morning, where we met Pete and his 2004 TF 115 in Starlight Silver (MBB) that he’s owned for 17 years. With pretty much trouble free motoring in all that time he’d recently been having the odd over heating issue along with a couple of other niggles. One of which, was a coolant leak at the front of the car, this was easily sorted as it was found to be a split in the bottle of coolant in the wheel well!

On code reading found that the Lambda sensor was at fault and the exhaust was blowing, Pete had asked us to bring an exhaust gasket, all of the manifold studs were found to be just finger tight, which wouldn’t have helped matters. Exhaust-flexi removed as the Lambda sensor would not budge. Lots of heat later and eventually it came out, so we retapped the hole and fitted the new sensor, exhaust-flexi and manifold refitted with new gaskets, which now sounds a lot quieter! We pressure tested the system, found one of the clips on the hoses not actually attached, the coolant cap wasn’t holding enough pressure so hopefully this has resolved the issue. Time will tell when Pete takes it on another run. Let’s hope that it hasn’t caused any further issues, but it may have developed a very slight weep. Nothing that can’t be sorted anyway. It was great to meet Pete and have such an interesting chat with him, we could have stayed and talked all day!

So after a slow Friday afternoon run back along the A66 we’re now home. What a good week with fab people and their fab MGs in some beautiful locations. I did manage to get an evening walk in when we stayed over in Greta Bridge, which took me to ‘The Meeting of the Waters’, what a stunning place, apparently it’s a painters paradise, you can definitely see why.

We’re looking forward to seeing Mat and his Dad tomorrow when they come over from Leeds to pick up Mats TF. We’ve a couple of people dropping off their MGs on Sunday ready for us to get cracking on next week.

Have a great weekend everyone, and hopefully some top down fun in the sun. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/pRzuhnH

Workshop week and an interesting one too, but by gum hasn’t it been warm! 🥵

We originally had John’s TF 160 booked in for a subframe swap both front and rear, but he’d recently looked at the front one and decided it didn’t need doing, so asked for our thoughts regarding the rear once we’d seen it. In the interim he’d also been chatting to Mat about his other TF, that we’d carried out a conversion on a few years ago from a 135 to a 160, Mat was keen to have this done to a 135 he’d recently bought. So John asked if he could share the week with Mat to get this done for him.

Mat set about sourcing all the parts he wanted for the conversion and had the car delivered to us over the weekend loaded with everything, apart from the wiring loom that hadn’t arrived.

We got cracking first thing on Monday. Cylinder head off and replacement cylinder head fitted, which was in fact a 143, not a 160, which had arrived not fully assembled, which seemed strange at the time, so we set about installing and timing the VVC mechs, all ancillaries swapped over on the inlet-manifold to the new one he’d got and everything put back together so far as we could without the loom, new belts, water pump, tensioner, oil, oil filter, alternator belt, plus a previously remapped ECU from a ZR.

Mat and his Dad managed to arrange collection of the loom and after a bit of a schlep came over with it on Tuesday morning. It was good to see Mat and meet his Dad, and enjoy a chat over a cuppa before they headed home to Leeds.

Loom duly fitted and car fired up, unfortunately the dubious cylinder-head sounded absolutely dreadful, to the point that we’d only run it for 30 seconds max for fear it would cause further damage.

After talking it over with Mat he decided he wanted to go ahead with making it right. Car stripped down again and one of our 160 cylinder heads fitted. On firing up we found on code reading there were further issues with the Lambda sensor and then also found to be issues with the ECU. After contacting Mark Stacey at Kmaps it’s thought that the supplied ECU had a pirated degraded copy of Mark’s software.

We then replaced the Lambda sensor and the ECU with one we had on stock and all now running as it should. So pleased to have this done for Mat, he’s going to get the bodywork sorted, he’s got new black leather seats to go in it. We gave it a bit of a blast with the jet wash and a removal of twigs etc., it will be great to see it once it’s back to its former glory. I’m sure Mat will enjoy it amongst his other MGs and hopefully his Dad will enjoy the ride in this one. It’s got the potential to be a good car, someone has obviously spent money on it in the past. Good to see another one saved.

Work all completed on John’s TF 160 in a 1 of 1 paint colour that I’m sure many of you will have seen at shows and features in magazines. It’s fairly recently had a respray and looks great.

Full clutch replacement carried out, along with freeing off a very stiff release-arm. John had bought some upgraded stronger anti-roll bars for the front and rear, along with new drop links. He’d also bought a couple of new window mechs, on removing found that the wiring wasn’t compatible, so Jon soon had this fettled. They’re really nice and smooth now.

The rear subframe we found to be in really good condition, so after a chat with John he was happy to go with our recommendation. Both subframes wire brushed, rust cured and painted with black Hammerite. Plus we treated the whole of the underside with Upol Gravitex. Looks really smart underneath the car as it does on the top!

Then finally a Kmaps remap put on the car and all good to go for John to enjoy many more miles in. It was lovely to see John as always when he came over from Selby this afternoon to collect.

All in all it’s been a full on week and glad to have everything completed on Mat and John’s cars. Have a brilliant weekend everyone near and far, those that aren’t working that is, try and stay cool those that are, it’s set to be another scorcher!😎 – https://ift.tt/y8BRFpM

📭 📝 When enquiring via email please do check your junk/spam folders as many of our replies are annoyingly dropping into there. 🗑️ We’ve had a number lately where we haven’t received any replies and have since found this to be the cause. 📧 💻

⚙️ Best regards as always, Claire & Jon🛠️ – https://ift.tt/GbNSKv7

North East trip – 29th June to 3rd July 2026.

Taking in; Gosforth, Wideopen, Cramlington, Blyth, Bedlington, Newcastle, Gateshead.

Friday and back home after a successful week away in the north east, it seems yonks ago now our start of the week on Monday morning in Gosforth, where it was great to meet Colin for work on his 2003 TF 135 in Le Mans Green (HFN). The car had been overheating since having a split in a hose. First off we had to fettle the bonnet release, once that was done we cracked on with replacing the head gasket, the fuel filter as it had been fitted upside down, plus a new coolant cap and now all good to go.

A sunny Tuesday morning found us in Wideopen, where we met Duncan and his 1998 MGF VVC, in British Racing Green (HFF) for a short cambelt service. The expansion tank was snapped at the base, therefore explaining the loss of coolant, so we replaced this with one on our stock in the van.

We then went over to Cramlington, where it was lovely as always to see Alan. His 2010 TF 135 (post LE run) was booked in for the annual minor service, he’d also been experiencing an issue with intermittent non-starting so we’d taken along a new starter motor. Minor service delayed as he’s not really been doing the miles, so may as well keep his money in his pocket and we’ll see him next year. Thanks to Alan for the big pot of tea! Plus, it was lovely to have fusses with his woofers and Frank kept a close eye on proceedings!

A short commute up to Blyth for work on Ian’s and Terry’s MGs on Wednesday morning.

First up was Ian’s 2012 TF 135 (another post LE run), which was booked in for a full cambelt service (where do the years go?!). He’d also been experiencing some issues with the car where it was becoming too unreliable to drive. He’d had it in to a coupe of local garages who despite many tries couldn’t resolve the issue. On code reading, the main culprit being the Lambda sensor, so this was replaced. Following a test drive, all seemed good. As we were still in the area we advised a further test drive the following day for the car to relearn its fueling.

Next up was Terrys 2001 Trophy in Trophy Yellow (FAR) that he’d dropped off at Ian’s that morning. Cambelt service carried out for him, again where do the years go! Good to see him and Katie again and have a quick catch-up when they came to collect. Big thanks to Ian for the regular supply of welcome cups of tea and his new recipe rock buns!

A very windy Thursday morning found us heading up to Bedlington for a full cambelt service on Paul’s 2009 LE 500. Great, as always, to see Paul and have a good chat while we worked and thanks to him for the many cracking brews and of course the chunk of chocolate fudge cake for Jon.

From there, we trundled a few miles up the road to Morpeth, where it was lovely to meet Ian for the minor service on his 2005 TF 115 in Starlight Silver (MBB). Good to have a chat and a brew, hope he has a grand time at the MG Northumbria show on Sunday in his MGBGT.

Following a message from Ian to say that all still not right with his TF we went back over to see him in Blyth. This time we replaced the throttle body with one on stock and following a test drive everything seemed to be right. Good to hear later that evening, following a further run out, that his car was running as good as. Really pleased to have this sorted for him as he uses it for his work.

That brings us to our last day today, Friday morning and we left our digs to head a few miles along the road into Newcastle. Nigel had got in touch regarding his son’s recent purchase of a 2001 MGF 1.6 in British Racing Green (HFF) that was well overdue its cambelt service. Full service carried out, along with a full suspension pump up as it was very low on its stops. Lambda sensor also replaced as they had experienced a combination of mis-firing and stalling.

Have a great weekend everyone where you can, we just realised it’s the British GP this weekend, so I think we’ll be sat watching that on Sunday on the tellybox, maybe one day we will make it in person, it’s on the to do list! 🏎️ – https://ift.tt/VzMnUAh

Scorchio! 🫠 Is it hot enough for everyone?!

That was a big old switcheroo and rebook-in-week if ever there was one and looking back at the chaotic diary, as I write this, I’m amazed I managed to rearrange it and that we actually got anything done! Still, it was another great week with really great people, including a couple of visitors who ventured all the way down from Scotland.

Harrogate was our first destination of the week, for replacement of the window stops on Charles’ 2001 MGF VVC. Lovely to see him again. From there we went on to Burton Leonard, where we met Graham, who has recently purchased a year 2000 MGF 120, in Wedgewood (JBH) from a previous customer. Good to meet Graham and see this lovely car again that was needing a pump up of the suspension. Graham also wanted a check-over of the car and discuss things going forward to ensure its upkeep. Date booked in at the workshop later in year. With an early finish we nipped back in to Harrogate for a cuppa at Bettys, as you do! 🫖

Flamborough was our destination on a very bright and sunny morning, where it was really good to meet David and his 2005 TF 135 ‘Spark’ in Starlight Silver (MBB). He had owned the car for many years and had carried out all the maintenance on it himself.

Following a recommendation from another customer in the north east (thank you, Robin) he asked if we could come over to do a few things. Full cambelt service carried out, along with replacing the clutch slave-cylinder. Thanks to David for the cuppas and the interesting chats, and a welcome cooling sea breeze while we worked.

Workshop day on Wednesday,
where it was fab to see Stuart again who had driven down from Polmont to stay with friends in Seaham the night before. When we were with him in May we found that the engine bay coolant pipes on his 2003 TF 135 in Xpower Grey (LEF) had a leak, (see previous post on suspected thermostat leak). Coolant pipes duly replaced with a stainless set (ooph they’re an eye-watering price at the moment), car ran up to temperature with no more leaks. Stuart then had a trouble-free trip back up to spend another night with his pals in Seaham before returning home the following day. We wish them all
good fortune in their new ventures ahead in the Hebrides. Not forgetting big thanks for the beautiful piece of arty wood.

Our next visitor of the day was Darren, who had driven over from Worksop in his 2005 TF 160 for replacement of the Lambda sensor. Good to see him again, he enjoyed a walk around the site before heading off for a top down drive back home.

Another workshop day on Thursday where we had a big task ahead on Ewen’s 2009 LE 500 (268). Initially booked in for our May trip to Scotland for the cambelt service, the MOT had advised on a couple of things, so we thought it would be preferable at the workshop rather than on his driveway. Ewen drove down from Cupar the night before and stayed over in Market Weighton.

We got cracking with full cambelt service, and the long task of replacing of all the brake lines, and the clutch lines. Happily all sorted ahead of schedule for Ewen to take the long schlep back home to Cupar. Really lovely to see him as always, glad he managed to amuse himself with all the delights that the local town has to offer.

The trusty steed is now all restocked and necessary parts delivered ahead of our next away trip to the north east, for the week, commencing on Monday morning in Gosforth.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, wherever you may be, not great for those who have to work in this heat, but hope you get some down time to enjoy your MGs. 🌞 – https://ift.tt/Ju2H5L4

Another week filled with fab MGs in great locations, along with their lovely owners.

With an early start on Tuesday morning our first call of the week found us in Solihull, where we met David and his 2004 TF 135 in Sonic Blue (JHG) with 13k on the clock. Minor service carried out along with a Kmaps remap. Thanks to David for the cracking brews and choccie biscuits.

From there we headed a bit further south, to Charlbury, to replace the clutch slave-cylinder on Ben’s 2011 TF 135 (paint code 294) with 7k on the clock. The car was owned by his late father who loved it, and who used to work for MG Rover. Ben is looking forward to continuing the joy of it. Thanks to his lovely Mum for the cuppas and biscuits, much appreciated. Great to meet them both and have a chat before we wended our long way back home.

Wednesday morning found us in Langley Moor, just outside of Durham for work on Mike’s year 2000 MGF in Solar Red (CMU). Full cambelt service carried out, along with hydragas pump up, plus supply and program of a spare key-fob.

After a good old natter with Mike we went a few miles up the road to Newton Hall to meet George and his 1997 MGF that was in need of a pump up. He’s got quite a slope on the drive and was wanting to get the car in for an MOT, at least now he can get it up the drive and start enjoying the car again, and hopefully get out with the local MG club.

The last call of the day was for another hydragas pump up, in Hartlepool, on Martin’s 1999 MGF VVC in Nightfire Red (CAQ) that has also been stood for a while and he’s looking to getting it through the MOT to enjoy some trips abroad in.

Thursday morning found us in Huddersfield for a suspected head gasket failure on Mike’s 1998 MGF 120 in Tahiti Blue (JRJ), that he’s passed on to his granddaughter. She’d been driving it home when she noticed steam was pouring from the engine compartment. Fortunately, we found on pressure testing and running our checks it was due to a split hose, which we replaced with one on stock. Car ran up to temperature and all good. Thanks to Mike for the cracking brews and cherry cake.

We then went over to Wakefield for another hydragas pump up on Stephen’s 1999 MGF VVC, which had been stood for 3 years and was very down on its stops. Happily all pumped up with no issues, so he can now get it MOTd and start enjoying again.

So that finds us at the end of the week on a sunny Friday morning to head up to Butterknowle, near Bishop Auckland for our last visit of the week. This time for work on Connor’s two MGs.

First up was his 2002 TF 135 in Royal Blue (JFM) for head gasket replacement and cambelt service. All went well apart from the rose-jointed alternator adjuster, they’re fine when they’re first fitted, but almost always become corroded and will not come undone or tighten up again. So after some fettling Jon finally got it sorted. Car ran up to temperature and sorted, apart from a blowing flexi-exhaust section that Connor will replace himself when he gets a minute.

Next up was his 2005 TF 160 in Xpower Grey (LEF) that was due its cambelt service.

What a lovely end to a good week chatting to Connor while we worked, and lovely to catch up with his Dad, Ken, when he came home from work. It was great too to have fusses with their beautiful woofer Cobweb, what a star. Thanks to them for the punnet of strawberries.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone near and far, the forecast, is looking a bit sketchy, but we can all hope for the sun to make a welcome appearance to get out and about in your MGs.🌞 – https://ift.tt/IQw9myu

And WUMPH! That’s us back down to earth with a bang, following an absolutely brilliant couple of weeks in Greece, a family wedding for the first week and then on to mine and Jon’s favourite place for the second week. I tried to keep on top of the admin whilst away with a daily check-in, and replying where I could. I’ve now got through that mammoth task and replied to everyone, booking in as many as is possible.

Our first job back at it this week was over at the workshop, on Wednesday morning, to greet Jai and one of his latest additions to his ever expanding fleet that he’d driven up in that morning from Croydon. A very nice example of a 2003 ZS 120. This car had actually featured in the opening ceremony of the 2022 commonwealth games when they got a convoy of 72 British classic cars together, and this particular one is in the drone shot of the Union Jack. (Check out the YouTube video of it, it’s really interesting). I tried to get an aerial shot from the top of the van, haha.

So anyway, it was initially booked in for quite a list of things, but Jai had been slowly working his way through it. We carried out preemptive head gasket replacement and a full cambelt service. All done with no issues ready for Jai to travel back home that afternoon. Great to see Jai again and hear about the other cars he’s bought and is interested in.

Thursday morning found us over in Selby, where it was lovely to meet Tony and Sue for work on their 2004 TF 135 ‘Wonky’ (in xpower grey) that they’d bought last year for a bit of summer fun, but have grown quite attached to. Cambelt service carried out for them. Great to have a chat with Tony while we worked about the other cars he’s owned and adventures with the club etc. Thankfully he has a decent sized garage to work in as it absolutely tipped it down all morning.

So that brings us to Friday, and this morning we headed over bright and early to Beverley for work on Maureen’s 2004 TF 160 ‘Finn’ (in mirage). Full cambelt service carried out, the timing was completely out, which was due to a crushed roll pin on the exhaust cam, this was duly replaced and car ran up to temperature. It was nice to finally meet Maureen this time, albeit it briefly before she had to dash off to work.

From there we headed up to Beeford, where it was lovely as always to see Bob for the minor service on his 2006 registered TF 135 (in ignition blue). Fortunately we were lucky to avoid the torrential rain, which hid us on the way home. Let’s hope it clears off for the weekend for us all.

We should have been working in Hull tomorrow morning, but had an unavoidable last minute cancellation. So there’s another job that we’ll just have to get on with instead, the tax returns! Boo. 😒

Hope everyone has a great weekend near and far and that the sun makes an appearance. ☀️ – https://ift.tt/HPFkWUm

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