View Full Version : What have I done..... non Vauxhall!
Royston
06-10-12, 08:14 AM
Bit of Ebay sunday evening syndrome......................................
Oops I've bought an MGFlol
Was Cheap, bought blind, but an early MGF 1.8i VVC, MOT/Tax just out......
Given her a quick clean and a few minor repairs (drivers window jumped oput of tracks)
Engine is a gem, head gasket done alledgedly, bill for £560 for clutch and diff
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/IMG-20121005-00403.jpg
What do you think, haven't driven one since I worked on the project in '96:d
Could do with a little paintwork, and the drivers seat is worn/split
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/DSCF5853.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/DSCF5852.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/DSCF5848.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/DSCF5845.jpg
Even got a VVC plate, and was cheaper that a scabby Nova:d..........:eek:
As per my fb post, break it and put the engine in a metro! :)
Not to put you off, as these are actually good cars believe it or not!
BUT, my friend had one, and had a lot of hassle with it, just before he sold it the main problem he had was with a set of metal clips that hold part of the engine loom onto the chassis, when these rot/break the loom comes free & dangles periously close to the engine fan & eventually the fan will tear the loom clean off the engine :(
Royston
16-03-13, 08:10 AM
Been a while, but the MGF is now ready for test booked for next Friday
Been busy replaced
New front lower wishbones L/RH
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/IMG-20130315-00162_zps94dcc011.jpg
Heres a pic of the old ones:eek:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/IMG-20130302-00115_zps89ddf2da.jpg
Front discs and pads
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/IMG-20130315-00161_zpsfb34699d.jpg
New Tyres all round
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/IMG-20130315-00166_zps906013f2.jpg
Replacement black leather interior, carpets
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/DSCF6117_zps6909d522.jpg
Windbreak
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/DSCF6121_zpscc6fddd0.jpg
Loads of other little niggly jobs
Pic of the engine 1.8 16V VVC
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/IMG-20130310-00158_zpse25ef4ae.jpg
Should be on the road 1st of April
bloody hell look at them wishbone's lol
Royston
16-03-13, 08:55 AM
bloody hell look at them wishbone's lol
Common issue, I use to work for the company that made them, they rot inside out
Royston
16-03-13, 09:13 AM
A lot of people drill a drain hole into the centre section and fill them with paint/waxoyl.
I last drove one in 1996 when they were launched.
what they like to drive fella
Royston
16-03-13, 09:54 AM
what they like to drive fella
Can't rememberlol
I think it was quite a good drive, the hydroelastic (Metro) suspension works quite well in these, coupled to the electric power steering (was the first production car with such a system!)
Will soon be reaquainted to the handling:d
Southie
16-03-13, 10:02 AM
I suspect these are good fun to drive, the handling will be as good as an mx5 now with those wishbones intact lol
http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/when-my-hair-is-blowing-in-the-wind.jpg
SimonTW
16-03-13, 10:31 AM
The black leather has made it whole lot less gay. It's more bisexual now. You don't see many of these out and about on the road anymore though.
Ger a pov spec metro and get the vvc fired into that, there was a local one that used to chase skylines up to about 140 mph, and im seriously not kidding :eek:
Obviously it was tickled up a bit aswell as having the vvc conversion, but fook me it was fast!
craig green
16-03-13, 03:05 PM
Ditch the mudflaps & deflate the suspension to get it looking harder.
My Mum had a non-VVC jobbie which I thought was pretty fun, good little chassis, just a victim of badge snobbery imo.
Royston
16-03-13, 05:12 PM
The mudflaps are useful as it keeps the dirt off a little, it was on the floor when it came, was @ 60mm lower than standard, and had successfully destroyed a set of tyres by scrubbing the inside edges off all 4 wheels.
Currently back to standard but may lower her a little once things have settled down
Considering the age she's not in too bad condition, I think that most of the Rover/MG cars are overlooked, as long as the K seies head gasket issue has been sorted they are cracking cars, and underated.
I run a 1.6 45 as my run around
Looking forward to giving her a run out, not long now
Always liked these yokes, but I didn't think I would mention it!!! On the subject of the metro conversion. I got roasted by an mgf powered metro in the 172! God they can go
Cool little cars. As said, very underrated. Good.to see you giving it some love.
Is it true that they still have the Metro front tow eye welded in place??
The engine compartment/rear legs etc are lifted straight from a mk2 Metro iirc.
Royston
16-03-13, 07:56 PM
Is it true that they still have the Metro front tow eye welded in place??
The engine compartment/rear legs etc are lifted straight from a mk2 Metro iirc.
Yes it is, the tow eyes are there!! both the front and rear subframes are modified Metro subframes, they were manufactured at Tallent Engineering, Newton Aycliffe where I used to work, we also made the wishbones, note the rusty ones!!
The MGF program was called PR3 (we called it Patch repair 3) as the rear subframe was extensively modified, it was designed for 100HP not 143HP in the VVC
I use to drive a test rig to fatigue test the subframe and wishbones
It also has the Hydragas suspension too, works quite well, was deleted on the MG TF's as they used conventional springs and dampers, the subframes were changed to suit
the mgf was never a bad car. they are cheaper than mr2's & you can find all sorts of k series stuff in amazing places... (kia people carriers etc) the metro was never a bad handling car, and allegedly, the rover engineers visited GTM to see how they made the suspension work on their Rossa kit car!!!
my fave mgf story is this though.... i was told it when i worked at unipart from a bloke who had worked in the rover section..
when original top gear was the only motoring show, and clarkson could, quite literally, be the kiss of death for a manufacturer.... they got the call that he would be testing one on the show.. so they got one off the line, lowered the seats & pushed them back, cos jezza is a tall clod hopping thing, and had a thing about being able to see out the windscreen, then, in case it rained, they had a unique soft top made that was a couple of inches taller than a std one.. he liked it.
Yes it is, the tow eyes are there!! both the front and rear subframes are modified Metro subframes, they were manufactured at Tallent Engineering, Newton Aycliffe where I used to work, we also made the wishbones, note the rusty ones!!
The MGF program was called PR3 (we called it Patch repair 3) as the rear subframe was extensively modified, it was designed for 100HP not 143HP in the VVC
I use to drive a test rig to fatigue test the subframe and wishbones
It also has the Hydragas suspension too, works quite well, was deleted on the MG TF's as they used conventional springs and dampers, the subframes were changed to suit
Some interesting info there mate! I knew about the lack of Hydrogas on the TF.
There's a Krypton Tune place in Fencehouses who still advertises Hydrogas refills. lol
staggy_gsi
16-03-13, 09:27 PM
Ger a pov spec metro and get the vvc fired into that, there was a local one that used to chase skylines up to about 140 mph, and im seriously not kidding :eek:
Obviously it was tickled up a bit aswell as having the vvc conversion, but fook me it was fast!
Did this make the odd appearance at carnaby back in the day???
chrisd1986
16-03-13, 09:32 PM
didnt know you was a hairdresser lol
Royston
16-03-13, 10:48 PM
didnt know you was a hairdresser lol
You calling for a trim? New blade in my chainsawlol
chrisd1986
16-03-13, 10:56 PM
lol it had to be said, ive worked on a few when i was a mechanic but all the drivers were tidy blonds. never seen a bloke behind the wheel before
chris gsi
16-03-13, 11:09 PM
I'm glad I'm not the only one with a mg I picked up a 02 reg mg tf160 about 2weeks ago as my uncle is coming over from Australia for a bits and then off for a trip around Europe so ask me to find him one at first I did not like it but it has grown on me a bit fun little car for the money
siegsi8v
16-03-13, 11:20 PM
dammm shocking....id rather buy a ford...a birds car..would rather walk than drive that.hahahaha
Asa-James
17-03-13, 12:09 AM
excellent little motors, very fond of them. and can be had for peanuts these days! shame i dont even have peanuts else i'd be happily running one.
Royston
17-03-13, 07:22 AM
excellent little motors, very fond of them. and can be had for peanuts these days! shame i dont even have peanuts else i'd be happily running one.
Cheaper than a Nova nowadays;)
The parts I have had to buy have been cheap, there is a glut of parts on fleabay, loads of MGF and MGTF's being broken. I have watched this happen to loads of "classic" cars over the years, than all of a sudden there are only a few left........
Rover SD1's were common, but not now (robbed of their V8 engines for kit cars, bit like Cavaliers and Calibra's for Novas:d)
Ford Escort's, Fiesta's, etc.
Even the humble Nova is now a rare sight, cars and parts are rising in value
kent14sr
17-03-13, 08:49 AM
Very good on the track too!!
These are such an underated car and peanuts to buy - I am tempted to get a TF for the summerm, but if I do my Midget will have to go first!
Did this make the odd appearance at carnaby back in the day???
I beleive it did, a guy by the name of, err, Guy, used to own it, it was a red L plate one iirc, then he re-shelled it into a newer red rover 100!
A local lad I know is well into his VVC's, and Rovers in general.
Owns at least one converted 100, a Maestro Turbo, even a Maestro van with a tomcat turbo.
We should take more pride in British cars.
We should take more pride in British cars.
why?? rover never did...
they had pretty good running gear (apart from minis & metros with prewar stuff), usually decent handling, but shocking build quality & rustproofing.. they recooked up old stuff in the hope we wouldn't notice.
why?? rover never did...
they had pretty good running gear (apart from minis & metros with prewar stuff), usually decent handling, but shocking build quality & rustproofing.. they recooked up old stuff in the hope we wouldn't notice.
I know they did. The 'bubble' 200/25/ZR/Streetwise is a prime example.
As are the engines. Just because they have their faults, doesn't mean anyone that attempts to create something better, deserves the ridicule they usually get.
Personally, I would love a TR6 for a bit..
They are British, and so am I. That's more than enough reason to have my interest.
what killed rover off was its contract with unipart.
forget all the political cobblers & selling it to bmw, cos they wanted landrover etc... quite simply, unipart made way more money out of the parts than rover did. they had some seriously good production parts contracts too... anyone in the vehicle trade will tell you that parts makes by far the most money. sales just about covers its costs, service makes decent coin, but parts is the cash cow. rover was making no money on parts, and it couldn't afford to keep going..
staggy_gsi
17-03-13, 07:35 PM
I beleive it did, a guy by the name of, err, Guy, used to own it, it was a red L plate one iirc, then he re-shelled it into a newer red rover 100!
Yeeessss i remember the car now, reet little beastie!!
Ahh carnaby strip, shame nothing like that goes on round here these days
Royston
28-03-13, 08:18 PM
MGF is now Insured, MOT'd and taxed on Monday!
any rover 75 1.8t engine swapsie plans???
Royston
28-03-13, 08:39 PM
any rover 75 1.8t engine swapsie plans???
To be honest, it's skittish enough, on damp surfaces as well it was in the slippery stuff last fridaylol
blue_peg_16v
28-03-13, 09:29 PM
Not into mgfs tbf my mum has a tf can't stand the thing has blown the head gasket twice now, but on a more important note saw a silver sd1 giving it big growl off m18 junction 6 roundabout today which made me smile and think of your lol
Royston
28-03-13, 09:56 PM
If the head gaskets are done correctly they're normly ok.
Hopefully the vitesse will be out soon, of the weather ever improves
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