I've had a couple of days to think about what to do after putting the tourer in for MOT on Monday and she's failed on a few things ,the worst being corrosion to both front sills . Including new front drop links , a rear tyre that is showing deep cracks to the inside tread of a tyre with 6 mm of tread. Fortunately he didn't log on the test and he rang me with the news and didn't charge for the inspection :bowdown:

Parts and the welding and painting which includes some further sill work and other painting is going to be over £1000 .

I've owned her for 20 years and 206,000 miles we have a lot of memories together carrying family that are no longer here and many trips all over Europe.

Due to her standing on the drive with limited use over the last few years with me having serious covid followed by losing a kidney , the weather has taken it's toll , with recent jobs being the replacement of the exhaust then new front pads ,discs and callipers.

As there aren't any suitable replacement cars for a decent price and that realistically the car owes me nothing, rather than starting again , I've decided it's better the devil you know and have booked her in for the work to be started at the back end of October so we can both continue to recover and continue to rack up the miles. :}

As Dave my tester said get her sorted and she'll go forever !

Raised the 1.8 up off the floor, removed the front wheels and soaked everything in plus gas in preparation for the weekends job...

Attack the two broken front springs.

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Sadly left it at home and drove to work in the Nissan, due to a seized rear brake on the 75. I measured the disc temps when I got home last night; three at 40 deg C, nearside rear was 145 deg - that's a bit toasty for my liking.


Trikey I need to take a leaf out of your book later and get the PlusGas out on the rear brake fasteners; by all accounts they sound 'challenging' to get apart....



So the weekend tasks are (so far...) try and free off this brake caliper and an engine service (filter kit inbound from DMGRS) on the 75, then a starter motor and engine torque mount replacement on my wife's Vauxhall Meriva.

Rear brake bolts are fine, just use a six sided socket and they will come out OK.

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Had an afternoon on the rescue 1.8, two front springs to swap over, every bolt fought to within an inch of its life! The two pinch bolts on the hub had to have a 14mm socket hammered on as the 15mm were too rusty.

no heat required on the pinch bolts this time thankfully, just a 2' bar on the end of the socket.

The inner arches have some surface rust which will be getting the usual treatment before the new springs go back on.

Slowly slowly......

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Took the Yellow One for a good run, to spend money. And we got another wave from a chap in a White MGB with a distinctive reg plate ending in MG. We waved back.

100,000 miles and counting!
 

My ZT has just gone around the clock! Despite all the difficulties I have had with the car and continue to have, when its working and the V6 engine rattle dies down, when its warmed up, I cannot think of a better car to drive, I am determined to make it look and sound good! Even Jackie likes it! Which, after 40 years married to me (!) and being driven around the bend by the MGs I have/had in that time, is saying something!! The next jobs are the rear sills, wheel arches, a new wooden boot floor, new discs on the back and new set of front shocks, power fold mirrors, cruise control, replacement inlet manifold and thermostat (yes, I am losing coolant!) rear blind, heated seats, Harman speakers plus a replacement rear bumper-I think I have the last 'new' one with new inserts in primer in my garage. I could go on but that's all the major stuff! I think organizing and doing all this is keeping me active and stopping me from developing Alzheimers, my neighbours think I am mad!

My 1.8 just clocked 190,000 miles on the way into work.

Replaced the vacuum line on the tourer, the one that goes to egr solenoid valve.
Brake pedal was going solid too quickly and losing braking assistance.
Old hose had become stiff and cracked at both ends. All sorted now.
Also checked and rodded the plenum, even though it was clean.


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[QUOTE]Hi Sean.
Excellent maintenance, something all diesel owners should be doing, the vacuum hoses perish over time or get rubbed through, and we all know about the plenums ;)