Garage Recomendation in Cambridgeshire

[stevebrg]

Hey all,

Just a recomendation for the guy whos just sorted my MGF. He did:

Head gasket and associated oil / filter / coolant flush and change
New belts & tensioner
New Water pump
Supply and fit new window stops
Replaced bent door pin
Re-stuck rear view mirror
and washed it!

all for £613.12

His contact details are:
Twin Motor Company
Stanley P Smith A.M.I.M.I. & M.A.E.
1 Pound Lane, Sutton, Cambs
Tel: [phone]

He's had 20 years at the old Rover / MG dealer in cambridge so he know's his stuff. He's restoring an F as well so soon he'll be coming along to a few meets.
I'm possibly doing a website for him over the coming month and I'll give you his address when it's completed.

Happy Christmas all!
Steve

[samph]

Thanks Steve ~ always good to hear about guys who can look after our Fs and are local. Plan to get a few things done next year, so will keep his details to hand.

Samph

[seantf]

Thanks for the info Steve also good to know a decent garage

[Jonathan Tully]

Cheers Steve, sounds like some good feedback. An absolute bargain at that price for all that work ;D

I have been meaning to pop in and have a chat to him, so many thanks for doing the groundwork. I presume that it is next to the curry house?

It is going to be extremely convenient having him on my doorstep when I move into my new house ;D

Cheers

Jon

[stevebrg]

Hi John,

Yep he's just up pound lane from the (very good) curry house, so you can pick up your F and a Phall at the same time. Result.

It was only in for the head, when he gave me the first price (around £550) I said do the belts and water pump too, seeings as my normal garage quoted £920 for an MPi engine

He fitted the window stops and aligned them F.O.C. as well as sticking on the mirror and dropping a new door pin in. Fantastic to have these little touches done and I didn't ask him to do any of them.

He's got a shell in his garage and he's just on the look out for the interior trim and some wheels I think and then he'll be on the road and at the meets! He's actually an enthusiast which is doubly good, because he's familiar with 99% of the MGF's problems before he's even looked at it!

In exchange I gave him a daft price to do his website, one MG owner to another like

[mgamark]

I've just contacted the good Mr Smith to ask about refreshing the suspension on our F. I had thought a few days ago that it was riding a bit low and finally went out and measured it this afternoon......only down by about 40-50mm....... . Looks dead sporty, but certainly doesn't do much for tyre to arch clearance. Anyway, just to add to the plaudits, whilst he hasn't done the work yet (we've sorted out a time next week) what a really nice, cheerful bloke, who seems to really know his stuff and is a pleasure to talk to. He can also do the necessary coding for fobs to replace those worn out items.

MGA Mark

[Debs]

Another good garage for those in the Peterborough area is:

W H Brand & Son
77 Broadgate
Whaplode Drove
Spalding
Lincs
PE12 0TN

Tel: [phone]

www.whbrand.com/index.html

They are an ex MGR dealer and part of the X Part auto service centre network. A family run firm, they've been dealing with MGs for years.

Labour costs work out at £55/hr inc VAT.

[Jonathan Tully]

mgamark said:

I've just contacted the good Mr Smith to ask about refreshing the suspension on our F. I had thought a few days ago that it was riding a bit low and finally went out and measured it this afternoon......only down by about 40-50mm....... .

MGA Mark

Hi Mark,

I am hoping to pop in and see him some time next week - just to say hello, and check out the workshop (and maybe order a curry ).

40-50mm yikes! I would estimate that mine is down by about 39mm and the moment - not far off - but that is a result of the drop in ambient temp and lowering knuckles ;D I am bottoming out a fair bit at the moment on poor quality roads - tis the season -

Cheers

Jon

[Jonathan Tully]

debs said:

Another good garage for those in the Peterborough area is:

W H Brand & Son

Tel: [phone]

www.whbrand.com/index.html

Thanks for the recommendation Debs. Another useful reference. I will have to start adding these to the links page on the EAMGF website ;D.

How is it going with the Midget by the way?

Cheers

Jon

[mgamark]

jonnywow said:

mgamark said:

I've just contacted the good Mr Smith to ask about refreshing the suspension on our F. I had thought a few days ago that it was riding a bit low and finally went out and measured it this afternoon......only down by about 40-50mm....... .

MGA Mark

Hi Mark,

40-50mm yikes! I would estimate that mine is down by about 39mm and the moment - not far off - but that is a result of the drop in ambient temp and lowering knuckles ;D I am bottoming out a fair bit at the moment on poor quality roads - tis the season -

Cheers

Jon

Jon - Aye - yikes is one good word to describe it and, as far as I know, that is without the benefit of lowering knuckles to help it on its way! The recent drop in temperature is certainly what made it particularly noticeable, but with no lurid green leaks apparent and it not having collapsed, a reset/pump up, hopefully next week should see it OK and ready for action again. Still, with it getting relatively little use until sorted, it will give me a couple of days to bolt the missus's Xmas goodies onto it ;D

Mark

[mgamark]

Very pleased with the friendly and enthusiastic service from the good Mr Smith in Sutton. Suspension done and a new remote fob supplied and programmed yesterday all for £90. Return visit today to relieve a little of the pressure from the system as it settled a little high done free of charge. A really good, friendly and knowledgeable service. Car now handling as it should ;D

MGA Mark

[stevebrg]

Oh and I forgot to say, when he does a head gasket, he asks that you bring the car back in about 500 miles time to ensure that everything running right.

At the amount I drive, it'll be march before I do 500 miles.

How'd you get on John? Did you have time to meet him? In the words of the great Tim "Nice But Dim", he's a thoroughly bloody nice chap.

[Jonathan Tully]

Good to hear positive feedback on Stanley . I haven't managed to get over and visit him as yet. I will be in Sutton over the weekend. I will give him a bell later today and see if I can pop in.

Cheers

Jon

[David]

Not so good at Brands!!
Hi y'all!!

Took the TF into WH Brands last Monday for the rear wing to be replaced and the roll hoops to be fitted.
3 days they said, 4 at most. Guess what! Friday came and went and car not ready. A weekend without the TF! Monday came and went and car not ready! :-[Tuesday 2pm car will be ready at teatime. Tuesday 4pm - mechanic fitting roll hoops has ripped the rear plastic screen??? Will order one tomorrow and car MAYBE ready for weekend.
Don't mechanics know to unzip the rear screen before they put the hood down??
Guess where I WON'T be going again! The attitude was 'oh well, these things happen. Those screens are like that.'
So I'm afraid there is one very strong letter of complaint on it's way to them. Sorry if I've overdone the smilies, but I'm steaming!!! Especially if I don't have the TF for the run on Saturday.