Everything wrong with my £700 MG TF 160 @Exhausted

What TF another car!!! What have we bought this time..... watch and find out.

[@ivanreed-qj7uz]

They were crap from new...As we all know the K series had the potential to be a good lightweight engine..alas it was plagued by HGF around 50k..This 160 was very prone to the VVC packing up early on.. broken fins on waterpumps..shreaded cambelts...leaking radiators after 3 years...alternators frying due to overheating in the poorly ventilated engine compartment..dreadful rusting underneath on body and components.....They were assembled poorly...hard to work on with the engine tucked in the back with hardly any opening...I wish anyone that has one good luck...it will soon meet its siblings in the scrap yard !

[@kinggeorge4626]

That looks really nice for the money I’ve been tempted myself had a couple a few years back and enjoyed them

[@Exhausted-autos]

It's great.... slow progress but getting there. Thanks for the comment.

[@grahamflorence4823]

Got a TF myself last year, same as you was a MGB guy (had one for 18yrs) the TF cost me £1500 to buy and get it MOT'd. The subframe, I cleaned up treated, and repainted. last summer did 2k road trip and I loved it, still love mgb's but the TF is great too. My next plan is to replace the subframe mounts for stainless steel ones as they are a bit too rusty. They guy you bought the car from may be telling the truth, I have found the dip stick and filler does get wet so get a little milk shake on the dipstick so if been lying about outside could see how more water could have got into the oil....but as with all K series engines, if not had gasket replaced it is the weak spot.

[@Exhausted-autos]

... I'm growing to like it a lot. MOT imminent, so I can really get into it.

[@ElizaHardwick-Smith-ff2hb]

You're building up quite a collection there Craig.

[@dougyintheshed4288]

Great video, looking forward to more TF updates

[@darrenwking1]

Just bought an MF TF Spark in sonic blue from copart for £300. Will watch all your videos on this. Thanks for uploading

[@Exhausted-autos]

£300, wow it's unreal what can be picked up for so little. Good luck.

[@zommbyflon]

i dont think uv done well at all there mate ..... iv had 2 for £800 60k miles and £900 41k miles both with mint roofs better paint, working windows clean running with long mot ..... ur head gasket is defo f~@t with that oil and high mileage........ u could have defo got a 50k miles one for a G note ! .............. good luck

[@Exhausted-autos]

The market is so varied.... so you're probably right. In reality a perfect car would not have given me channel content, so in the weird world of KZbin this one is better!! Madness. 😀

[@robertpatterson6011]

q​@@Exhausted-autos

[@scottfrost7178]

700 pound mgtf. What could go wrong? Should have bought an mx5 bud 😂

[@craighardwick-smith5841]

Looking forward to this project!!!!

[@marksmatchhoxmemories-xd6qp]

Hiya Craig, mark here from mgoaa, mg owners addict anonymous.... we have all been there, i bought a 114 gta, from a little old lady in Torquay, i started with a thermostat, then the radiator, then the wheels, 5 years later im 5 thousand ponds in, 2 floors, 2 sills, 2 rear archs, 2 front wings, front and rear bumper, full interior, replaced suspension and now looking for a tailgate, once the bug bites, your all in. ps anybody reading, can do me a cheap respray, south wales. i have the paint n all the stuff. no booth to paint in or compressor.

[@MartinZT]

Nice one, presumably a VVC? Love the F and TF. TFs are quite sensitive to tyre choice and worth going with Toyo Proxies all round. Is there any sign of oil in the coolant tank? Has it got the s/steel radiator pipes under the cars. Worth doing the tensioner and water pump at the same time as the belt and gasket. Also, condensation in the headlamps, there are some vents at the back of the lamp and I found taking the foam out helped reduce the condensation when used regularly with the headlamps on.

[@Exhausted-autos]

Hi thanks for the comment. Yes a VVC and yes im doing both the water pump and tensioner, although struggling to get the engine mount undone at the moment. Yes she's got stainless coolant pipes and the coolant is nice and red with no bubbles. Yep I'll be ordering new Proxies.

[@Blondejam]

Nice vid fella. I bought an MGF Freestyle (2001) about four years ago, low millage never failed an MOT very tidy car and I love driving it. One issue I do have is that the drivers side regulator gets out of line for some reason and the bloody thing only goes up and down for about an inch. A garage did some work on it to realign and charged me a shed load for two hours work which I was not pleased with but what could I do. I check for emulsified oil now and then but no worries so far. When I bought it the guy who sold it to me said that he liked to keep the heating at max all the time! Yes you've guessed it, (Thermostat) was not working. Got that changed and noticed that the water in the coolant was being lost, hence checking for emulsified oil, could not find any so I used some really good rad seal and have had no problems since, three years now. I love the MGF and TF ranges and nearly bought a TF. I was worried about the head gasket of these cars but have been told that Lotus have used the 'K' series engines and no issues really reported. Anyway great vid again, well enjoyed. ps I also have a Spitfire MKIV 1972 if you need a new challenge! Good luck!!!

[@Exhausted-autos]

Hi buddy, thanks for the nice message and apologies for not responding sooner. Sounds like you have a good one there, keep at it I think if they're used and looked after they're quite reliable. I'm still losing coolant, but put a new cap on the expansion tank and some say that might help, time will tell I guess. I've got a few more TF videos then back onto the MGB, I'm going to Goodwood in September and determined to take the supercharged B. So lots to do before hand. The spitfire sounds great, have you seen Tasty Classics Ben bring a spitfire back around and it looks fantastic. Catch you soon

[@DGFA-]

I just wonder about this prises! Lastly I bought one from 2003 and had to pay over 4K.

[@chriscurrie5238]

Coolant turns acidic over time, silicate in 2 to 3 years, OAT in 5 to 6, my guess would be that the aluminium around an elastomeric seal has corroded and stopped it sealing. Can't wait to find out.

[@paulbrandrick807]

That is the one I went for straight forward three wire and a bit of addsive about and hours work works like a dream and of course no worries about overheating. Got mine off ebay and yes the mg did come from there But I still check the coolent before ever trip force of habit 😅😅

[@KarlMcClelland]

This is great. I'm picking up a 2000 TF on Tuesday or Wednesday. Only done 35,000 miles and has spent most of it's life in Spain. Owners are originally from Northern Ireland where I am so I think they're moving back and have no need for it. Will be watching your upcoming videos and learning what I can. Nice video. You're easy to listen to.

[@Exhausted-autos]

Thanks karl, for both watching and your kind words. I have no real idea what im doing and making it up as I go along. Ive only been at this KZbin thing six months but it is fun. 👍

[@ivanreed-qj7uz]

Good luck mate..you will need it very soon

[@simonroyle2806]

I've had 5 (1 F and 4 TFs) over 20 years and still havent learnt my lesson. If looked after they are great and are a hoot to drive on winding roads for virtually no money, overall had good reliability. Changing the head gasket isnt that hard, make sure the head surface is true, plus the block is level and the barrels havent sunk, plus use the reinforced oil rail. Putting the cam belt on is a pain, what ever ever you do it doesn't fit, then suddenly it does! I've probably done most jobs over the years, the subframe mounts all rot so replace those with stainless ones, as well as the underfloor coolant pipes which rot. I gave up on 16" wheels as the ride is awful and they bend on pot holes, but I see you have the AP brakes so have to have them. Maybe the MX5 is better but the TF has more character.

[@Exhausted-autos]

Thanks for the comment.... I have a feeling I'll be finding out how hard the HG job is soon enough. 👍

[@colinhoward6280]

You got a good basis to work from in this MG TF 160. It needs saving and at the price you paid it's well do-able. I'm surprised that the head gasket needs replacing as it was done at Trophy Cars previously and so low mileage since. I'm a pom here in Australia 🇦🇺 on the look out for one for sometime prices here for one are steep.... around $15 -20k (£8-11k) for top condition ones. Good luck with your new project 👍🏻

[@Exhausted-autos]

Thanks.... I'm looking forward to driving her. Hoping the HG is all fine, but we'll find out soon.

[@SeanConboy-l3u]

Superb buy for that money as long as you are willing to spend the time on her. I have just done a 400 mile weekend rountrip in my 160 which was great fun and actually very comfortable although the suspension is harsh so you have to watch the road surface on the B roads and lanes. 160s are getting rare.

[@Exhausted-autos]

I think she's great for the money, cam belt, and now brakes/ clutch done - new video on that soon. So she moves, but so need new tyres as the old ones are so hard and perished. I have the tyres, but before I put those on I want to do a quick refresh on the wheels.

[@paulburgess8640]

Think you can get shims to raise the liners up , to fit metal gaskit ... I'm looking forward to see how it goes ...

[@Exhausted-autos]

Hi Paul, that sounds like pretty major surgery, thanks for the tip but I hope I don't need to go there. Not yet at least. 👍

[@Breene17]

Very cool car could do a euro road trip when done could see this flying thru the mountains then on to the ring

[@Exhausted-autos]

Great idea, might need a more local shake down first. Plus Im not sure it'd make around the Ring, the problem with the Ring is I'd get carried away and it'd die.

[@iandoolan8757]

Working my way through all of the TF videos as I've been doing a virtually identical project for four years - put on hold while I had a hip replacement - back on it now. I went a bit deeper and replaced the front subframe and mountings and converted to soft ride suspension. I've been a bit luckier with less rust and less seized bits but your "when things go wrong" format is very watchable. Hats off to you starting the "WTF" project in the middle of winter and working outside in all weathers. Same praise for your other half as well, allowing the use of the kitchen which has now set a precedent in our house. Great stuff and very informative Craig!!

[@Exhausted-autos]

Cheers for the great comment, I hope the hip is going well. I can see sub frame type jobs in my future, not for a while though as I need to get back onto the B supercharger project soon.

[@iandoolan8757]

@@Exhausted-autos hip is brilliant thanks - running half marathons again now. I've done a few MGB's. My last project was a very early Porsche Boxter where everything was to the nearest 1000th of an inch. When I did the front subframe on my MGTF, everything seemed to be to the nearest half inch 😅. Quite a bit of fettling required!

[@Captain_Scarlet_SIG]

That oil could be condensation I’ve had this on cars left for only 2 yrs so don’t jump the gun yet, right on your HG knowledge don’t fit a multilayer if it doesn’t need it there are much better quality elastomer ones now available.

[@chrisbell600]

What exhaust is that please? Is it full stainless?

[@Exhausted-autos]

It is stainless.... but I don't know the type. All I know is that it was fitted by trophy cars around 7 or 8 years ago.

[@chrisbell600]

If ordered a full stainless from gravity performance. Just need the weather to improve so I can get on tidying it up.

[@Exhausted-autos]

Yeah the weather is crap.... roll on spring!!!

[@paulbrandrick807]

Hi Craig I brought my mg tf for slightly more than yours £753.00 came with full sevices history work shop manual for the car engine rebuild manual gearbox rebuild manual spare tyres fore the rear no hard top put have since picked one up and I have replaced the undercar water pipes with stainless ones bizarrely the car car was last serviced locally to me although I brought the car in Northampton and I live in Staffordshire .I have nothing but good things to say about my tf 135 .she starts on the first turn of the key as you say look after the coolent side of things and you can't go to far wrong .I must admit I did get a bit panicky about the coolent level so fitted an aftermarket alarm. More pice of mind had the car three years not fail an mot as of yet .having said that you wait in march it's likely to need a bit of t.l.c to pass but it's over twenty years old and that's what you expected from a car of that age mine is starlight silver and yes they don't make that colour any more so getting a match is a bit hit and miss 😅😅

[@Exhausted-autos]

Hi Paul, thanks for your comment, apologies for the delayed response. It sounds like you got lucky, the price is very exact so I assume an Ebay bid won it! I feel like I'm making progress now she's moving, tyres next then final sweep before an MOT. Keep watching to see how in get on. P.s what level sensor did you go for? I might get one (if I don't have one, I've not had chance to check or at least keep getting distracted and forgetting to). I'm considering wiring in a non contact one.