Wocha bin doin on your MG this week then?

 More importantly...the chips away guy is here now to deal with the bumpers and getting busy ....

Before - 

 

 

 

During -

Well - the after didn't go too well. The holes are filled and the cracks covered nicely, but sadly the clear coat on top of the areas that were not sanded, primed and painted has reacted badly and looks like lizard skin.

Fortunately, the guy is as gutted as me and likely the whole bumper will end up getting done at his unit in a couple of weeks.

Ah well ...

With the previous owner having paid me back for the green Mk1 F and arranged to collect in a few days I thought Id better start her up, give her a quick wash, and do a last once over checking for knocks and rattles.
I ended up spending all evening with the help of a pal trying to track down an occasional clunk and rattle under acceleration. This turned out one of the offside front mount bolts for the rear subframe had sheered so the noise was from slight movement between the subframe and body. A close look showed a twist where the bolt had sheered so it clearly hadnt failed through wear and tear, definitely by someone trying to remove it with high determination and low dexterity who then just left it broken off. Im assuming it's another fine testament to the South London based garage who last worked on it who distressed the PO by causing more problems than they solved.

Drilling out the broken bolt with progressive sized cobalt drill bits allowed the remains of the bolt to be pulled out and replaced. It took me and my pal an hour so I have to wonder why the garage couldnt be arsed to do that . This is a one owner, low mileage Mk1 F in otherwise nice condition that they handed back to the owner with deflated spheres, a major cooling system blockage, blown head gasket, a siezed half removed engine cradle bolt, broken engine hdramount , non existant engine mount bush, sheered subframe mounting, poorly fitted rear shocks and a series of small faults.
Now finally all sorted and with some small enhancements will be going back to it's PO who had the car since new in 1998.

Well done!
You have given the car and the owner a new lease of life and I know the work will be top notch.
Many more miles and smiles to be had in that car.
Kudos!

Well done for checking it before collection. I was wondering when it was going to be collected as you had finished the jobs back a bit now. I'm sure the PO will be well pleased with it. G.

I finally managed to get the front subframe back in and swapped the coolant pipes for stainless one's and in the process gave the system a good flush. 
painfully slow progress..but I will get there. 

I have had the interior out, cleaned up the rust spots, treated them with rust converter, then painted with hammerite rust beater and covered with silent coat. 

Looks beautiful

That looks really nice.

That looks a lot better. Well done for defrosting those areas before they become an issue.

what a delight if the drivers window just opens with a push of the button, got a friend of the family to replace the relays in the SCU, indeed 1 of the pectrons failed, replaced the other 4 as well. works like a charm. 
i also got the falken Ziex tyres fitted so it doesnt drive as a boat anymore.

in 2 weeks some other cool things planned: Timing belt, alignment, K-map, shifting mechanism upgrade. looking forward to all that and then waiting for the summer again so driving with the top down doenst involve skiing gear 

A PLACE TO LOOK FOR VERMIN !

Full service done Friday  
by mobile mechanic on the drive at home 
new cam belt / water pump / tensioner / plugs  / filters / oil 
all 20yr plus fluids changed inc gearbox / clutch / brake 

since owing the car from May always thought the engine bogged down a bit between gear changes….. 
well here’s one for all you (who store their cars in the garage) 
huge mouse nest in the air box !! Nice and cosy gaff for Mickey & Minnie beneath the air filter which I must add they kindly left alone ! 

the car has been transformed on pick up as the centre air intake was rammed with shreddings of paper & straw (god knows where it all came from) ? 

took it for 120mile run out today in the rain and it was like a different car smooth as silk ! 

only new treads to go and all the niggly bits will be complete 
what are the preferred choice of tyres now ? Mine 15 yr old on front 10yr old on rear…. 

not bad for a fuseboard change in exchange for a TF !