Weird coolant problem

I should have responded 2 days ago when you first posted the picture of the SLS head gasket, because I can't see anything wrong with it, it looks exactly the same as the one I installed on a mate's F this past May.

That's reassuring. 
Thanks for letting me know 👍

I have been really busy with work this week so it's been slow progress. 
I found another bodged job.
How hard would it have been to remove the 2 extra bolts rather than butchering the cover 🤔 
The head is back on now and I will try to get it finished tomorrow. 
 

This isn’t the first of this particular “upgrade” I’ve seen, in fact I have an example on my car; not of my making.
If you work & charge by the clock, short cuts (shit cuts) such as this might save a minute or two a day.
There’s never enough time to do the job properly, however there’s always enough time to do it again.
M

Someone had done the same to the covers on my 135. I had to replace all the parts of the cover as theyd all been cut to buggery. To top it all they had thrown out the exhaust heat shield in order to run a length of bar from an exhaust manifold bolt over to the top corner of the belt cover as the only way of stopping the considerably weakened plastic from rubbing against the cam pulleys. 

It's been quite a eye opener doing this TF, the lady who owned this car from new, gave me a lot of receipts for servicing and repairs of this car.
Including one from a local MG specialist (no longer in business) that charged her to add radweld due to a suspected leak in the heater matrix..absolute joker's. 
I have stripped and flushed as much of the coolant system as possible and replaced the thermostat and another new water pump. 
It's now back up and running and I have run up to temperature a couple of times without issues so far. 
Taking it out tomorrow for a proper run. 

That's great news that it's done. This wasn't an easy one by any means.
Good luck with the road test.

Took the car for a quick run this morning and all was well. 
I followed it up with a proper run out of 40 miles and taking the rpm up gradually to 6k and a bit 😀 
Pulled over just before home and let the  car cool down a little bit before restarting, just because I'm paranoid!
All is good 👍 

For now...

Yay! Good news.
It's always nerve wracking on the first drive...what have I left off..or loose..!

Your recent video had me running out to double check the connections..
All is good so it's time to get started on the green F and I'm really looking forward to getting R40 back on the road. It's booked in for August with a proper mechanic ( I don't trust myself with the vvc)