2004 MGTF 1600

[Condado]

Well I have been watching the forums forever and have eventually decided to post.
A little bit of history, I can do basic car diy, brakes general servicing etc but do not consider myself to be in anyway a mechanic.
I would dabble bit more if I had the tools and a garage big enough to work on my cars. That said I do all my own servicing, and can do things like exhausts.
Love cars and have had a fair few in my time, including Fiest XR2 mark 2, and believe it or not a Nova GTE which I hated, and wasn’t sad when it was stolen and but through a shop entrance in a ram raid (1991) for the younger one reading ram raids in the north east were a big thing in early 90s,
As an aside I was a traffic officer back in those days and I actually recovered my stolen Nova which had no rear end left on it but was still drivable believe it or not. Had to laugh when the recovery driver ragged it up a hill to get to his vehicle as it was down an embankment and he then said to me if only the owners knew how we treat the cars when recovering them, his face was a picture when I told him it was my car.
Anyway, years passed and in my mid life crisis I bought a n/a MR2 t-bar and ran it as a summer car for 5 years, eventually selling it to get my kids driving lessons and a small car to share, regretted it but family comes first.
Fast forward to last year, a guy I know had an MGTF on his drive, had been sitting there forever and had never moved, had a word and he wanted £1500 which I thought was a bit steep as it had absolutely no history, no mot, no documents. I passed.
Come Xmas it was still there still not moved and his price had dropped to £750. Took the plunge and bought it, started first time on freshly charged battery. Buying it I suspected a new head would be needed and possibly a fair few other things.
Off to the garage that I have used forever who I trust and a new head, belts and brakes later the car is on the road total spend including purchase £2250.
Ran it over lockdown runs like a dream leaks a bit as they all do but I will only ever be using it in summer and garage it winter so I am not to concerned.
Sorn as of October, it’s now in my in laws large garage where I have stated a strip down and and clean up.
Pics below

Hopefully not to long a post, will post more as I get the wheels refurbed, and other bits replaced and cleaned up. Happy to take any comments or advice.

[Condado]

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[j44esd]

Looks good, how you finding it so far?

Oddly enough, when these were new, I didn't like the looks... But I think they've aged incredibly well and keep finding myself on ebay looking at them...

I do seem to recall you sit on them, rather than in them (from a brief go in a friend's), but that was the F. Is the TF the same?

[ChrisCh86]

I remember sitting in one of these (pre-facelift) at the London motorshow in 2000.

I think they've aged well, although most are rust buckets now. A good project car and it sounds like you got a good price

[Condado]

Remarkably free of body rust, the underneath was covered in rust, got advisory on mot, since then I have been under it, taken of all the rust which fortunately was only surface deep and have blacked the whole underside. Pics above show rust on inner wings at fronts, which have also since been cleaned and under sealed ready for new liners.
While it’s on stands will do underside again.
Will only be used in summer so hopefully rust will not be an issue in future, as for driving, it’s surprisingly quick from 3rd to 5th, doesn’t like the wet but sticks like glue in the dry. Wheels need realigned which I knew when I got it and that will be sorted before it’s back on the road. It’s sorted
mechanically, roof is in remarkable condition for age so over winter will fix it up cosmetically and enjoy it come 1st April.

[donkmeister]

Before you do the alignment, check the TREs for slop. Easily replaced and cheap but have a massive effect on the handling of a TF (moreso than any other car I've had) but obviously if you do alignment first then it won't quite be right.

Tyre choice seems to be important too - I always had the OEM Goodyear's but allegedly other rubber made handling go odd. I think Toyo T1 was the alternative.

Also, check the drain holes in the sills are clear with a skewer... I remember one chap finding litres of water in his once he poked out the gunk. Probably not an issue if you have already cleaned up the underside.

[Condado]

Track rod ends ordered and just waiting to be put on, will do this myself, going to do the cosmetic stuff first, then all the little service bits and bobs prior to mot for the 1st April. Wheels are now away getting a refurb, wings now all cleaned and under sealed, odd bits of painting to do but I am going to have a go myself. Will update more pictures as thing progress.
Happy for any comments or advice .

[Condado]

[Condado]

My pictures have not uploaded was showing the light renovation work I had done over the winter.
Wheel refurb.
Front track rod ends
Full underseal
Strip out interior clean floor, seal, clean carpets and seats.
Dye interior of the soft top(black)
Clean exterior of top.
Exhaust off and replaced
Degreased engine
Clay bar, compound, polish and wax. ( first try, quite happy with result )
Off for its mot on Monday where the wheels will be aligned and a small oil leak fixed.
Taxed and back on road for 1st April, yes some will say a fool for buying an MG
Intend to change oil and filter in the next week or so.
Will only be used in summer and garaged over winter so intend to keep it as long as I can and just enjoy it in summer. I know it’s not perfect but as a little summer toy it’s not bad.
As always any comments or suggestions appreciated. However Iam trying to keep it stock.[url]
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[SirGriffin]

Nothing foolish about having it, lovely car, I'd love one, had a few zooms in a friend's car, great fun.

[SirGriffin]

Nothing foolish about having it, lovely car, I'd love one, had a few zooms in a friend's car, great fun.

[mybrainhurts]

Can you repeat that, please?

[Condado]

MOT passed no advisory so happy with the little bits of work I have done over the winter.
Brilliant blue sky’s today so me and my wife used the B roads with top down to drive from Newcastle to Seahouses and Bamburgh.
Car performed faultlessly and more than happy with performance despite it only being 1600.
As always comments or thoughts welcome.

[SlowStig]

As a fellow sufferer of MG ownership (I have a highly modified MGF), yours looks really good condition and well looked after. Nothing wrong with the 1.6 at all, they rev a little better if I recall due to the stroke being shorter but the crank and pistons being the same as a 1.8, but I could be wrong so don't quote me!

Loads of mods you can do with them, www.dmgrs.co.uk if you need any parts or if you wanted the soft ride kit etc. If you want mods, world is your oyster as these are really cheap to mod and play around with, the facebook groups are really good for finding parts (if you wanted a foglight bumper for example) and panels if you need.

A SAWS remap, TF135/160 dual feed airbox, 52mm throttle body and a backbox will give you a bit more noise and performance. Standard 242mm brakes are ok with decent pads for fast road driving but you can fit the AP racing 4pots if you wanted (304mm but need 16" 11 spokes for clearance) etc. Loads and loads of potential