Garage suggestions - K series HGF (not mine...)

[Mr E]

Hello all,

I'm try to tap the collective wisdom. My friend has a MGF, and is showing signs of HGF. He's looking for a decent independent to replace the HG (with a landy one) and determine if the head needs a skim.

Any suggestions?

[Vidal Baboon]

Any decent garage would be capable of doing it.

What symptoms does he have?
It's recommended to view the radiator cap as a service item- i.e. replace yearly or every 18months. They have a habit of going weak & not letting the coolant pressurise properly.

EDIT, if he's keeping it for a while, he may wan to consider doing the Land Rover upgrade. Apparently it's an upgraded MLS gasket & heavier duty ladder rail.

Also, add some stainless coolant pipes- they can corrode.

Edited by Vidal Baboon on Wednesday 14th July 15:28

[Mr E]

Minor loss of coolant and evidence of mayo....

A LR HG would be advised from me as well...


Any garage can do it, but he's ringing a few and getting quotes in the 800-1400 range...

[Vidal Baboon]

Where abouts in the SW are you?

I would have though around £600-700 maybe a little more for the LR kit. It's not exactly a difficult one to do- it has to be one of the easiest engines to work on.

I was in the process of pricing mine up- before I spotted the leaky cap.
IIRC I had quotes from around the £400 mark & upwards.

Coolant loss could be down to the cap- I managed to spot mine before it was too late.

Has he got any contamination in the oil?

[Mr E]

M4 juct 16-17, but can travel a bit for a good place.

Cap has already been replaced in the hope that this caused the coolant loss.

Vidal Baboon said:

Has he got any contamination in the oil?

A little I believe. I've not had a poke around the car yet.

Edited by Mr E on Wednesday 14th July 17:13

[DKL]

James,
There is a garage in Beckington (towards Frome) that looks after a few Caterhams and tend to do the oily bits rather than the bodywork. They might be worth a call.

[Mr E]

Thanks chap. My Elise is in for a service saturdy, and the specialist has given my friend a good quote for a hgf fix with all the correct stuff done.

Fingers crosses

[thatone1967]

this guy is highly recommended by the peeps on an MG Forum I often frequent, and I believe he travels nationaly with excellent rates and service... ( I have no affilitation to him btw)

[Mr E]

thatone1967 said:

this guy is highly recommended by the peeps on an MG Forum I often frequent, and I believe he travels nationaly with excellent rates and service... ( I have no affilitation to him btw)

Many thanks for the heads up - will pass it on.

[S1mon.]

I have a rover 45 on my drive, thought i had head gasket problems, got the head off to find a broken piston
The guy doing the work priced the job at £350 all in, (incl head skim), If your not far from Swindon, i'm sure he could do another.