2001 MGF, The Golden Shot!

[marinanut]

I am in deep do-doos over this with SWMBO.... no more cars, ever... RIGHT! Errrr......

I know its not that old or retro but two Metro front subframes nailed into a mid-engine configuration with a pokey engine just about qualifies (I think).

This had been festering on the Bay of E for a while at a local car sales/dismantlers since before Christmas and had popped up on my radar as I have been after one for years, but most of what I wanted in my price range were either interstellar mileage, ferked engines or the other end of the country. Anyhoo, I found myself out that way Friday 13th, so went and had a look.

It looked a bit sad for itself, tucked in the corner of the yard, covered in tree detritus, but soon had my interest piqued as the body was straight and unmolested apart from a small scuff on the front bumper and three small dints on the bonnet. Even under the front and rear hatches was 'clean' (ie no tinworm, just dirty). The passenger seat was full of parts from the interior; a quick chat with the yard owner gave the story. Engine had popped, rebuilt (at expense) by MG specialist, owner lost confidence so chopped it in for something else at local garage who stickered it up a bit too high and it sat there... and sat there.... and sat there until the battery died and the fuel pump seized up. They had a bash at it, even to the point of a 'new' secondhand working pump (which is on the seat) and then gave up, dispatching it to the yard I acquired it from as part of a bulk deal. Finding the invoice for engine reps helped.... OUCH! Someone took one hell of a hit for that...and the deal was done. Under £500 delivered. Thank You Very Much!

Then I had to face the music.... it wasn't pretty but I'm still intact (just) and after giving it a 'good looking at', even she's 'impressed'.. but I still need lots of Brownie Points.

Just to lob some meat on the bones, its a 1.8 135bHP non-vvc, 58800 miles, engine rebuilt 58400(ish), leather, buggered stereo, hood good in Gold metallic (dunno which Gold yet, still to find out). Battery is flat as a witches t*t so may need replacing and there is a pile of bits inside that need refitting once I've persuaded it to start. It does turn over and all the bits work (on a jump pack), so this is my Spring Project. Wish me luck!

[spartacus]

Good effort! I like the sound of the car, get some pics up asap. It's always heartening to hear that other car nuts get grief off their other halves, at £500 what could possibly be the problem, it's almost always going to be worth at least that, even in bits, you can't lose....

Well, that's how I justify these things.

[bstardchild]

Marinanut in non Marina shock!!!

Have fun with it and keep us updated - very underated car and the HG stories are over sold

Bit like can't be a petrol head till you've owned an Alfa rubbish that gets spouted by JC

[marinanut]

I'll get some pics up soon.... it's literally been parked up in my Mum's drive and I don't get home until after dark, so maybe by the weekend.

As for being Marinaless.... not quite, the Ital estate still exists but needs a new A post and chassis leg. May move it on, yet..

[marinanut]

Okaayyy... update time. Sorry no pics yet; my Photobucket account has had a fit and won't accept my password so until I can beat it into submission...

First things first, ripped the battery off and gave it 48hrs of E-On's best which has sort of restored it. Got the roof freed up and working (bit sticky) and had a good look at the pile of various detritus within the car, mainly sound deadening and plastic clippy things but also some bolts, random fuses and a red relay. One thing I did notice was the tops of the fuel pumps, the one in the tank and the 'spare' were totally different in layout and plug design... oh joy.
Today went into battle. In preparation, I fitted a new battery to the fob, but once the main battery was on all hell broke loose as the alarm went schitz! Batt off, plugs off horns.... ahhh and relax. Batt back on, followed by various combinations of pressing buttons on the fob got the damn thing to shut up, stop flashing and bleeping. Most of the electrics seemed present and correct but there was a distinct lack of whirring from the fuel tank, but at least the engine wound over with gusto.

Taking the fuel pump unit out is dead easy once you suss out how much of the interior really needs to come out and where the clips/bolts/screws are. Once out and drained of manky petrol, I compared notes with the spare. A quick test with the Fluke had the old one at open circuit, the 'new' one showed promise. As all parts in the tank look to be the same, I decided to swap pumps. Much swearing and softening of supply pipes with hot water got the job done, then more swearing and battering got it back in and after refitting the fuel filter and tightening the bolts up, I went for a start.

I got lift off on attempt five... bit stuttery at first, but after a few minutes a good idle. Check around, clutch OK, gears OK, reverse a bit hit and miss, it moved!!!

The next half hour I just left it ticking over, bolted the cover plates back on, refitted the interior, battered the sound deadening into submission (and failed)... basically got it to a position I could move it about and test what worked and what doesn't and so far its looking fairly good!

There are bits that have thrown up problems for future sorting, but basically its almost ready for firing in for an MOT.

Oh yes, the other good point.... once the odometer came back to life, it shows it has done less than 400 miles on a rebuilt engine.

[penski]

Good work

*n

[marinanut]

Right, P-Bucket given a good attending to so some pics...

The offending article...


Engine non-access...


Fuel pump discombobblery...


More pics when it stops p*ss*ng down...

[bazzateer]

Not much of a fan of these but that does look to be a clean example, and at that price.......................

[marinanut]

Now, this next bit may cause palpitations for some of you as it is something most will not do.... raise the suspension!
The problem with hydragas is that it 'loses' its fluid over time sags, especially when a car has sat for a while. Also, the 'el cheapo' way of lowering by dropping some fluid out basically 'softens' the 'springs' as it decompresses the system. The only proper way is to shorten the actuator rods by either calculating it yourself or buying pre-cut units. At the moment, the 'Shot' is still going to "be sold as soon as possible" (yeah, right...) so to get the MOT out of the way, a proper ride height is required. Also, it show signs of beaching on speed bumps...
Getting the front emptied of spare wheel and covers found this manky mess..


That will get a blast of rust treatment asap. Anyway, connect the pump and bleed off....


Which ended up with a slightly drunk-looking car...


Soon levelled out. Yes, I know it hasn't got stance, but I just want it road legal for starters. Ayway, two kissin' cousins next to each other...


I've got the passenger electric window to sort out, a small hole in the hood to seal up, a hole in the pass seat to bung up and a damned good clean before next week when it gets molested...

[grizz]

Looks good from here, I really love the wheels on these too.

[Kieran]

We bought a 1997 MGF 1,8i taxed and tested for just shy of £300.

Similar story, small garage bought with hgf, with a view of tarting it up to punt on. Ended up with a new head, front to back water pipes, brakes etc. Then stickered it too high, eventually pulled it off the forecourt due to age and then tried ebay where he got messed around various times, gaining £180 in deposits where no one followed through the deal,

He was absolutely sick of the sight of it, and if I didn't buy it, it was getting bailed!

We ran it last summer trouble free. Great car, not mega fast but nippy.

Mot'd it (bit of grot on inner rear arch and sill, handbrake mechanism sticking on rear calipers) and then sold it in for £500.

Mega bargain cars! Handle great and cheap parts for them .

[markgenesis]

Feb 27, 2015 0:12:15 GMT bazzateer said:

Not much of a fan of these but that does look to be a clean example, and at that price.......................

Same here, never gave them much thought really, find this strangely appealing though, good punt for the money .

[marinanut]

Update time. Got the hole in the hood bunged up, and the hole in the passenger seat. Checked everything I could and booked it in for molesting today (4/3/15). I took it 'the interesting route' to the MOT station and put some extra fuel in, as well as some exercise for the brakes.
I asked if I could have a look underneath while the tester had it on the ramp; because I use them regularly I was allowed a quick poke round, to find the stainless steel coolant pipe conversion had been done! Someone has lobbed some cash at this in the past! Anyhoo, after a blast on the brake tester, the health was described as rude and it passed, but will need a new tyre this year and maybe a track rod end.
Its now tested and taxed and goes 'quite well', although outright hooliganism can wait for the new tyre to be fitted!!

[The Jackeria]

I had a metallic black MGF 1.8 non vvc with cream leather interior two years ago with a stainless backbox, loved it, handled really quite well, I was pleasantly surprised when I first hopped in it, which is why I bought it. The sunny days down country lanes were totally worth it, you see a lot of brand snobbery with these which is why they can be bought for peanuts not to mention headgasket troubles though most have been replaced now.

[marinanut]

Been battering the bugs out of this the last few days; the n/s front tyre got changed the other day when after a 'spirited' cross-country run it started shaking a bit, finding a lump of tread had fallen off and the circumference was cracking by the tread. Also the brakes have been attended to and now the n/s doesn't drag (not enough to notice but it was getting flippin' hot!). The passenger side electric window doesn't work; a quick fiddle found someone had pulled the relay (it was the red relay I found earlier....) but the mechanism/motor isn't playing, so I popped the fuse out for now. The driver's door card fell off as the odd-shaped clips had broken - Rimmings do them for not too bad a price and they arrived next day! Door now back together. The Oil Temp gauge light doesn't work - probably just the bulb gone pop. I stripped out the sound deadening over the engine and reattached the engine cover with stainless bolts after giving it a blast of stonechip to tidy it up; looks nice, shame its not seen.... Anyway, leaving the sound proofing to heat up in the sun made refitting dead easy, a lot easier than the first time where it had been screwed up in the footwell for a year or so....
One problem has appeared; I think the petrol vent has come adrift as the cabin whiffs of petrol in the morning - it soon clears though but its another pull it apart job to access it.
I'm quite happy with it, seeing as it has cost less than half the deposit a bloke at work payed on a nondescript hatchback to get on the road, including purchase, tax, MOT and insurance! Result!

[marinanut]

Thats it! After huge skepticism I am a Clay Bar convert and for the first time in my ownership it actually shines! Now for the rest of the fleet....

[gbs100]

Well done Mike ive just added a 2005 mgtf to the fleet. £325 6 months mot but hgf. makes a change from working on the TC.

[bob1957]

I've had two of these cars, one from brand new. I just love them - but don't expect Lotus Elise handling from them or even Ford Focus for that matter. They can snap away at the back with no warning. Driven a TF and although it handles better it is very jiggly even on smooth roads.

The 2nd one I bought from ebay for £600. Hooned around in it for a year then sold it on ebay for £600. Looked at ebay prices recently and they really are the bargain of the century nowadays. A really nicely designed little motor - a real shame it didn't get developed.

[stevecrx]

Apr 2, 2015 11:28:16 GMT bob1957 said:

I've had two of these cars, one from brand new. I just love them - but don't expect Lotus Elise handling from them or even Ford Focus for that matter. They can snap away at the back with no warning. Driven a TF and although it handles better it is very jiggly even on smooth roads.

The 2nd one I bought from ebay for £600. Hooned around in it for a year then sold it on ebay for £600. Looked at ebay prices recently and they really are the bargain of the century nowadays. A really nicely designed little motor - a real shame it didn't get developed.

I had one too, and yes mine used to snap away also. I paid £300 for it and had 18 months of fun.

I finally threw in the towel when the clutch arm seized and took the clutch and slave cylinder with it.

Used parts prices are dirt cheap for them, as are mods. The only expensive bit seems to be stainless exhaust systems, which always fetch good money.

I still have an AP brake upgrade in my parts stash if you want to improve your brakes (needs 16" wheels).


Mine before it met it's maker...

[marinanut]

Just a quick update on this; pass window now works, had to change the rad for a new all-alloy one after the old one ceased to cool properly, it's gained a leaky rear light, had 4k thrown on it in all weathers and is SORN awaiting an MOT which will happen after my daughters wedding. It's been a good years hoonage.....