The new toy!

Woo Hoo!

I pick this up old girl up on Saturday. I can't wait, Harriet doesn't know it yet but she gets to ride back with me.

It's a MG TF 160 80th Anniversary edition (hence the tasteful red roof!)

Hi James, Very nice

But can you get a pram in the back

I'd have still gone for a VX220, or even a S1 Elise if you must insist on the thrill of possible HGF everytime you drive it!
When are you getting the 'Hair by James' graphics put on it?


Rob, I don't think they think of things like that during a MLC!


Elaine.

MESS wrote:I'd have still gone for a VX220, or even a S1 Elise if you must insist on the thrill of possible HGF everytime you drive it!
When are you getting the 'Hair by James' graphics put on it?


Rob, I don't think they think of things like that during a MLC!


Elaine.

I must be getting old but sadly I would struggle to get in and out of the VX/Elise if I used one on a daily basis.
Besides, The S1 Elise also has the fabulous K series engine (K for Kettle) so surely it suffers exactly the same HGF fate? If it doesn't I'll need to know it's secret for when my TF boils up.

Anyway I'd have preferred another MGB GT given half a chance

TRR Motorsport wrote:I must be getting old but sadly I would struggle to get in and out of the VX/Elise if I used one on a daily basis.
Besides, The S1 Elise also has the fabulous K series engine (K for Kettle) so surely it suffers exactly the same HGF fate? If it doesn't I'll need to know it's secret for when my TF boils up.

Anyway I'd have preferred another MGB GT given half a chance

Don't worry about getting in & out, your calves, thighs and arse will quickly tone up following the daily routine. You'd soon be springing about like a Muntjac.

No, I'm afraid the K Series Elises suffer exactly the same, there aren't many months go by on MLOC without somebody putting up a HGF post.

Yes, why did you ever sell your MGB GT?

Err, where do i start?

- The gearbox was F**KED (they can't cope with 145BHP!)
- The back axle was F**KED (Oddly it couldn't cope with 145BHP)
- it did less then 20MPG when I ragged it (which was quite often)
- the sills and door skins would have needed repairs and a blow over after the winter

Oh, and my dad gave me the Golf, which does 50MPG even on a bad day.

I do miss the old girl though. It would run off the speedo and keep going to (we think) about 125-127MPH not bad for a 35 year old B

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we only had one in a couple of weeks ago for head gasket failure (there's a surprise then), also had another one that was eating lamda sensors like they were going out of fashion because it was running too lean through seizure of the VVC unit. We are now quoting between £700 and £1100 to repair them depending on the state of the head and if they want the bottom end beefed up to take stronger and tighter headbolts (that's not including any repairs to the VVC unit).We lovem in the motor trade!!!!!!!!!!!!! If only they had continued with the Honda engine,they might still be in business.What was it the Mafia Boss said in the Italian Job "Prety Car" then buldosed an Aston Martin and a couple of Jag E Types over the cliff, now there's an idea, we are not far away from Beechy Head!!!!!!!

wezgit daan saaf wrote:Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we only had one in a couple of weeks ago for head gasket failure (there's a surprise then), also had another one that was eating lamda sensors like they were going out of fashion because it was running too lean through seizure of the VVC unit. We are now quoting between £700 and £1100 to repair them depending on the state of the head and if they want the bottom end beefed up to take stronger and tighter headbolts (that's not including any repairs to the VVC unit).We lovem in the motor trade!!!!!!!!!!!!! If only they had continued with the Honda engine,they might still be in business.What was it the Mafia Boss said in the Italian Job "Prety Car" then buldosed an Aston Martin and a couple of Jag E Types over the cliff, now there's an idea, we are not far away from Beechy Head!!!!!!!

I know, what am I doing buying a kettle?

Still, the Birts love an underdog!

I was gonna say, I'm sure James will have a few grand set aside especially for repairs/mods.

E.

Seriously,(yes I do get seriously sometimes.....not often)if you get any head gasket problems with the beloved "K" Series,there is now a kit you can buy which comes with a modified head gasket and a new oil gallery for the bottom end(where the head bolts go into),you also buy stronger head bolts and with those you can then pinch the head down tighter.Have the head skimmed so it is totally square and when you get it back from the machine shop check the valve seats,they are very short vales and when the head distorts they don't seat properly and then you have bad starting problems because of lack of compression.If the head is badly distorted(beyond skimming)we have sometimes used Bradford Auto Spares who do a secondhand pressure tested and skimmed head at a reasonable cost,or if you want to push the boat out there is always Cory's recon cylinder heads.

Thanks Chris,

I've done my research on how to solve the HGF problems so do know about the Freelander gasket kit and stiffer bottom rail. I know valve clearance can be a problem with skimmed heads though not sure if that is the VVC head or not. If (no, make that when) we get HGF I'm also going to fit the stainless coolant pipes (that run under the car) as leaks fro the standard ones also can be the cause of HGF.

Just our of interest, do you have to drop the engine out or can the head be swapped easily enough in situ?

I was talking to a mate yesterday who said that he had oil in the water and it had run down into the coolant pipes under the car and had to swap them anyway! Oh, and it was on a car that had done 15K!

A remote 'stat can also help prevent HGF.........

Doh

Whats HGF

Mk3rob wrote:Doh

Whats HGF

Head Gasket Failure!

As above Doh

Cheers Reg

You should be able to do it all insitu,the b-----d job is getting the lower exhaust manifold bracket off.Oh,and if you got coffee in your cooling system Forte do some excellant bio degreaser to add to the cooling system to flush it out,probably you would need 2 bottles on an MGF.And incidentally,Caffyns,the once local Rover dealer can beat you with head gasket failure,they had one with 83 miles on the clock apparently.

wezgit daan saaf wrote:And incidentally,Caffyns,the once local Rover dealer can beat you with head gasket failure,they had one with 83 miles on the clock apparently.

Ruddy Nora! Some of the Elises that we know of have suffered the fate at low mileage, but not that low!

83 Miles?

And MG-Rover denied that there was ever a problem with HGF! At least Land Rover sorted the problem out, otherwise we'd still have no answer to Helmans in the sump!

Helmans in the sump,coffee in the cooling system,DINNER IS SERVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What problem?We never had a problem.
Incidentally have you seen the Landrover modifiction to the thermostat and water hoses,it's like a set of bagpipes.

Go to bed Mr Wezgit

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a nice trip to Brighton via Crystal Palace

http://www.dcp-shop.co.uk/buy-car-accessories/product_info.php?products_id=5689

Aluminium, carbon fibre look or walnut finish dash kit for your MGF James

Today's the day!

Well did it have a HGF on the way home from the dealership