The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

That is great work Derek.

I can't get over how good the wheel arch splash panels are immediately behind the front wheels where they are so vulnerable to stones, road salt, and other detrious.

Its so weird - no two of these cars seem to be the same. My honeysuckle Toledo (registered August 1st 1973) has excellent wing reinforcers and the sill ends are fine, but the splash panels were shot!

Keep up the good work mate.

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Martin.

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE PHEV
2021 Dacia Duster 1.3 TCe
1963 Austin A40 Rally Car
2021 Honda Cross Tourer Highlander

Excellent work as always Derek...You are a real Champion.....now about that welding I am storing up for you

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Previous owner of 42 Dolomite shaped vehicles, 14 Sprints, 12 1850s, 8 1500s, 3 V8s, 3 Toledos and 2 SEs

Got the front end on today. Bit of a jigsaw, and took some doing to get the grille gaps correct so the grilles actually sit in nicely, but managed to slowly piece it all together. Funny really as the amount of effort in getting this lot on correctly isn't depicted in what's shown. Needless to say, plenty of measuring took place before finally welding.

Not quite finished as the need to finish plug welding the wing tops and wing to valance joint, but otherwise, front end complete (bar the headlight panels and chassis leg).

Excellent, wise decision not to sacrifice a good NOS sill just for the closing section when you can do a job like that. Respect

Lovely Derek, well done indeed.

I know the degree of measuring required before firing up the welder, and my goodness your patience has rewarded you. This will result in an exceptionally nice car.

I am interested as to why you left the engine in when you could so easily have taken it out forwards whilst the front was off, though I would concede that with all the front panels off it does add rigidity to the structure.

Smashing job though.

_________________
Martin.

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE PHEV
2021 Dacia Duster 1.3 TCe
1963 Austin A40 Rally Car
2021 Honda Cross Tourer Highlander

As you thought Martin, engine left in for rigidity, and the fact I didn't have access to engine crane the day I decided to start.

Finished the front end today, wings securely welded, headlight panels welded in place.

Oooh, wot next, I'm spoilt for choice

Looking great, excellent work

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1978 Triumph Dolomite Sprint (project thread)
1966 Volkswagen 1300 (project thread)
1962 Austin Mini (project)
1962 MGA 1600 Mark II
1965 Mobylette SP50 (project)
2001 Rover 75 2.5-litre V6

Your rate of progress is just stunning. Where's the we're not worthy emoticon?

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1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.

I don't think leaving the engine in helps with rigidity, the subframe, yes.

But great progress Derek, I'm now going to go out and give PFJ a final going over before it goes off to the welders/sprayers next week.

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Sprintless for the first time in 35+ years. ... Still Sprintless.

Engines, Gearboxes, Overdrives etc. rebuilt. PM me.


1997 TVR Chimaera 450

I was waiting for that.

OK, I meant engine/subframe assy.

Short on time today but got the front end in the air and dropped the subframe/engine. Mobile phone picture, sorry.

Lots of nice rusty springs and suspension bits to clean and renovate after I've sorted the chassis leg.

Also spent about 15 mins extracting the remnants of a mouse nest in the box section that runs under the front edge of the rear seat. Stuffing from under the back seat had been nicely stuffed in the cavity along with bits of leaves and nut shells. Must have been a cosy home for quite a few of the little buggers.

Made a start on the rotten chassis leg which was a combination of perforations, and prior badly bodged repairs which included bodyfiller So removed the whole thing





Once all the hideous overpatching was removed, it exposed a rusty patch in the floorpan just to the top left of the leg



Then set about making a replacement leg out of fresh sheet steel




Offered up for adjustment


And final fitting

Skill, very very impressive

Those years in engineering weren't wasted

Fabulous stuff Derek.

Hugely impressive, and thanks for sharing it with us.

_________________
Martin.

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE PHEV
2021 Dacia Duster 1.3 TCe
1963 Austin A40 Rally Car
2021 Honda Cross Tourer Highlander