When the changes comes...

[spanishdolly]

Hi there to all I just want know as a owner of a 1850 converted to a sprint in the 90´s some points important with the changes on the sprint engine/chassis during production run, here I go...

My car have the bigger wheel studs (3/8), so this parts are from older sprints I guess, where I can find the engine number?, so far I´m unable to find the chassis nº stamped on the shell , there´s any obscure place to find on a 1850 shell ? on the suspension front turrets there´s no any stamp, I have some doubts about the gearbox, it is possible to obtain any clues with the g/box number?, there´s any differences on the dashboard between the older and laster sprints?
Which is the year when the sprints had the facelift change?, on the export cars the sprint have a red light for hydraulic faliure on the top right corner on wooden dashboard, I think that is only for lhd but not sure, mine don´t have it due that is a 1850 dashboard, can anybody confirm this.

It is possible for somone to list the complete changes between older and later sprints, beyond badges changes and usual thing?

As I rebuild the engine totally I have found that the spark plug tubes have a lesser enginnered on sealing rubbers, it could be a major problem?
Which is the correct power of a sprint in CV.
I have found problems with the engine mounts, mine are ok but sounds like these are the typical elusive part to find, this is true?.
Best regards, Raul Rivera.

[Neil907]

Have you tried Fitchetts for the engine mounts?

[1300dolly]

chassis number on later cars is stamped into the boot lip recess just below the screen.

[spanishdolly]

Thanks to all for fast response.
Mike my car is portuguese registered and I bought it in Portugal in may, in Spain dolomites are unexistant but curiously there´s many of them in Portugal.
Could be possible that 1850 have the chassis nº in other place than sprints?
Neil it is possible to contact via e-mail with Fitchetts?
Crazy money for engine mounts but suppose that depends about if you really needs a set of them, market rules...
I will see if my shell have the chassis nº into the boot lip recess, thanks 1300dolly.
I will attach pics of my cay shorlty when I finish last details, end of this week.

Regards, Raul.

[Jon Tilson]

I remeber a while ago contributing to a thread on early v late differences so it may be worth having a dig around for it.
Alun and several others who have owned dollies for a long time contributed...

Sprints came in 1973 at about the same time as the first raft of 1850 changes, which meant intruments with fat needles and SU's instead of strombergs. So if your Sprint was made from a really early dolomite you may see some evidence in the older style instrments with thin needles.

Bit short of time now but I'll see if I can find the ealrlier thread later....

Feel free to beat me to it though...

Jonners

[spanishdolly]

O.k. Jon let me see and I will let you know.
Best regards from sunny Madrid, Raul.

[tinweevil]

Is this the thread you mean Jon?

[Jon Tilson]

Ye thats its....
well done that man. Memo to self to cut and paste the best bits into a doc for republish whenever...
Up there with the SU and water pump posts I think...

Jonners

[spanishdolly]

Hi there Mike my car still have the 1850 aluminiun plate, but have one new that is from a Sprint, can I stamp the engine nº on it and will be o.k. or sounds to me that the follwing will be better due spanish mesh laws, as far as I know I Spain we need stamped nº on the chassis as alu plates are not m.o.t. favourites here, so I will stamped the 1850 nº as on the plate for example on the suspension turret and go on due that on portuguese papers the chassis nº it is the 1850 one, I just can image if I go to the MOT service in Madrid with a two different nº and a BMH certificate on my hands, bufffff I think that i will left alone the 1850 hl chassis nº and then wait and see but sounds to me that nobody in Spain knows how the dolomites sprint chassis nº began.
Regards, Raul.

[DavePoth]

What does the chassis number on your plate begine with?

[spanishdolly]

My car nowadays is legally a dolomite 1850, in Portugal and Spain the engine have not legal nº, but as I can find trough Ebay by Motif4u a blank dolomite sprint alu plate, just want to ask you if each sprint have the same nº for its chassis and its engine as the donor sprint that gives its engine/gearbox/mechs to my 1850 shell no longer exist, maybe but only maybe I think that could be a good chance to legalice the conversion for the TDC, unfortunately this is almost impossible to Spanish legals.

Regards, Raul.

[spanishdolly]

Hi again Mike in Spain all the cars imported from foreign countries were stamped on the chassis on custom just to prevent blackmaling, remember that Franco was a dictator and the things was not driven by common sense in Spain during 60´s and 70´s, few cars were sold without chassis nº stamped on it, when the MOt test begans on early eighties many cars were in troubles usually english cars, my former humber sceptre had the chassis nº stamped on one front outrigger just to prevent problems with it and all rootes cars up to "arrow range" hunter shape were exported all over the world just with aluminiun plates, Don´t remember the famous slogan "Spain is different" you got it, we have the most useless burocracy all over the EU without any doupt and specially on classic cars legals is F&%·#@ nightmare.
In deep I think to maintain the portuguese plates as longer as I can just to avoid the taxes,due that in Portugal classic car have no taxes, but if I want to put the car at my mane I have to order a fiscal nº in portugal and so far this looks a little complicated.

Sorry for the historical big block, Raul.

[spanishdolly]

Great Mike¡¡¡ I live in Madrid too, for references near the R. Madrid Stadium, on Sta. Mª Magdalena street, could be wonderful that we´ll meet someday, sometimes the world is so small, no?
By the way which dolomite you own?

Regards, Raul.

[spanishdolly]

Oh yes I know Torrejon de Ardoz is on the way to my country house in Ribatejada, where the old U.S.A.F base were operational years ago, I still remember the huge Galaxy airplanes taking off and on during the 1st Gulf War.

Don´t hesitate to contact me when you come around here.

Nice colour the mimosa yellow one¡¡¡.
Regards, Raul.