New MGF Owner

[Crabbie]

Hi guys,
I was just settling down to do some studying when I ended up looking for a local MGF group and I found one. I bought an MGF last month, red 1.8 2001. This is the first MG of any kind I have ever owned, and its used by the wife also. My daughters called her Abbie (something to do with primeval) and she loves her aswell. . Is there anything I have to look out for with the F as I worryingly noticed some members have suffered problems with head gaskets, coolant hoses, etc.

Pete and Aly

[Keith Williams]

Welcome Pete.

The cooling system on the F is proberly the main issue with the car. Small capacity system with plenty of hoses to take coolant from engine to radiator gives plenty of places to leak and set up air locks. It is well worth keeping an eye on coolant levels etc with out being over zealous. HGF is quite common on the cars sadly. Ensuring coolant levels are OK with no excess revs (keep below 3000 until oil hot) is a good starting point. Some have fitted coolant level indicators to give a pre warning if the coolant is lost to ensure no major damage to head etc if loss of fluid occurs.

I have had 2 HGF so far in 87000 miles - not good but does not distract from the fun you can have with the car.

Anyway enjoy the car and Good choice on colour too

Hope to catch up with you soon at a local or not so local meet. Where in the midlands are you?

[Crabbie]

Hi Keith,

I'm in Kingswinford, bought the car over in Small Heath for only £3,000 believe it or not on ebay, 2 lady owners previously and in great nick. I read somewhere that a meet is going on fairly soon at the Whittington in Kinver (may have been another West Mids group, not sure). I know there are some lovely old MG's around this area also, now that makes your mouth drawl.

To be honest Keith I've always loved the look of the F (more so than the TF) and was aware of the HG issues though some owners were saying they have been to the moon and back with there cars with no issues. Apparently there are upgraded head gaskets available is that right. Sounds like a good idea with the coolant level indicator, where do you get them and how much to buy, fit, etc. (My coolant temp is always indicating around the quarter dial mark even on start-up - Wife loves the car after years of cabriolets in Escort, Peuget 306, etc, but gets more looks in our red girl. By the way, we are both student nurses at the moment and work aswell

[Keith Williams]

Not us in Kinver. See this thread area for our meets. Off to the Cotswolds Wildlife Park this Sunday. A grand day out if the sun shines with 300-400 MG's of all ages but will be a good turn out of F/TF's.

[seabass]

hi all, i noticed yuo were from kingswinford, i too am. well wordsley!

just bought my first F, a 51 reg freestyle step! and am fetching her monday!

gonna be a looooong day monday!

just thought id say hi to

[Crabbie]

Very nice too, what colour is she and I will look out for her.

[Stuart Dunn]

Hi to you both,
Seems to be a pattern emerging here, as Im from Kingswinford too.

Had my TF since Dec 05, and can honestly say its the best thing since sliced bread, I love it.

As for the meet, I think the one your thinking of Pete is the Midsummer Gathering at the Whittington Inn on the A449, Im not sure this is anything to do with this register, but according to the Safety Fast mag, all Mg's welcome, Im going to try and swap shifts as its this tuesday, If I can I'll see you all there.

As for the head gasket, Yep there is a new uprated head gasket availible, and its brill to be honest, with the headset kit you get all the bumph to rebuild the head, I know of 4 of these gaskets being fitted, 1 to a metro, 1 to a freelander, one to a ZS ( done by me ) and one to my TF ( also done by me ) and none, touch wood, upto yet have given any problems.

I shall look out for you both, either of you going to MGFest?

[jeanette]

pop along to the pub meet and say hi!