The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

So those who have been following my resto thread on HGW674K, I've decided on trying the MX5 transplant for the engine or running gear not sure on whether I'm going to use the full running gear and associated wiring or just do an engine/box transplant and keep existing suspension setup, I'll decide once I've got the body off the MX5 and see how things pan out nothing on paper just trial and error

a couple of pics of the MX5







Hopefully have the body tub off tomorrow not sure how that's gonna pan out with no lifting tackle but there we go cheers for now

I wasnt aware the mx5 was a separate chassis and body. Is this what you mean? Are you thinking you can transplant a dolly body onto an mx5 running gear?

Tony

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It's not, it's a monocoque, so apart from the sub-frame there is nothing to take the body of off.

The mx has front and rear subs frames joined by something they call a ppf, so no not a separate chassis as such, I'm thinking that I might be able to use the mx5's front cradle complete with engine and all suspension, its a long shot I know but if not I'll just fit the engine and box one way or another

So the above idea was a no go or beyond my skills anyway, I've decided to just fit the engine and box, well I say "just" but after looking at project lunacy post I've still got a long way to go, so far all I've done is separate the engine from the box and strip some ancillaries that are not needed, next I need to source a sump, one question at the moment I know the escort rally cars have the engines chassis mounted, what are peoples thoughts on this in a Dolly/Toledo as I reckon the mounts on the original are too far forward cheers for now

I'll update lunacy thread soon, but I had to make some new mounts, roughly mid-block on the engine. I then mounted these off the suspension bolts on the subframe (mounts to the top three, and the bottom one). There will be a brace going forwards. Using existing dolly mount / mx5 mount positions will lead you round in circles for weeks. I'm hoping to crack on a bit more at the weekend and do a big update - hopefully it'll give you some ideas.

As the original sump is not usable, I thought id chop the sump bowel off and remove the oil pick up pipe and then refit it so I can work out the engine mounts, also I have a mate who's good with alloy welding so with any luck he can fabricate me a usable sump



Here's a sump for a RWD escort that's been done currently on a 2.0 zetec that will probably end up in my jago geep kitcar to replace the tired 1.8 zetec and sierra sump combo

I managed to get a sump to fit off (i think) a Mazda 323 gt x. Bowl at the other end - but no dipstick tube.. Not all the gearbox bolts line up either!

That's what I've read up on as well but at moment they're like rocking horse doo dah need to sort something by next week or the project will have to go on the back burner as I've got a horsebox conversion to start

im putting same engine in a dolly and i used a steel 323 sump for ease of modification. i also shortened oil pick up tube. i used the original dipstick and welded a tube to the sump below where the power steering pump fitted. ive nearly completed my conversion so if you have any questions just ask. i also have pics for most of the work ive done.

Where the hell did you get a steel 323 sump that fitted an MX 1.8? lol

Steve

i got it off ebay and i seem to remember it was under £60. steel is easier to work with and cheaper. was a bit tight on the last crank bearing housing but with a little tap it does go on.

Does it have the bolt holes for the gearbox to mate too any pics of it before you fitted it

Ah, is yours a 1.6?

Yeah m8 1.6 so is the 1.8 a different engine then