Recent TR service experience at FoNE

I reclaimed my '87 TR from FoNE last week and have only good things to say about Steve (service manager), Nick (performed almost all of the service), and FoNE in general. These guys are pros, they have the knowledge and parts to achieve a high level of satisfaction in this customer's experience.

A leaking water pump seal prompted a modified major service that included:

* Rebuild the water pump (which was rebuilt at the last major service less than 12K miles ago)
* Flush coolant (Zerex G-05) and replace with Shell std green antifreeze
* Rebuild the alternator, upgrade its rectifier bridge, and replace the plastic fan with a metal one
* Clean the clutch dust from the starter's pinion shaft and install thread inserts (not Heli-coils) in its mounting holes
* Install stronger rear brackets for the belly pan
* Replace a bad coil lead
* Replace a bent pin in one ECU's AMP connector
* Replace one distributor cap and rotor and both caps' cork gaskets
* Replace timing belts and tensioner bearings
* Clean both throttle plates and adjust baseline mixture and idle
* Repaint the cam covers "in situ"
* Heli-coil oil sump plate oil drain boss
* Flush brake fluid
* Change oil and oil filter - Mobil 15W-50

I wonder if the highly praised G-05, which I switched to about 2 years ago, might have caused the pre-mature pump failure.

For the ultimate irony, I dropped off my wife's XK8 at the Jaguar dealership on the way to reclaiming my TR; reason, leaking coolant.