The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I am about to start my sprint engine transplant into my 1850. And intend to use alternative engine mountings (OEM jag e type, as used in my Zetec spit and also caterhams)

Plan is to drop the subframe, swap the engine/box over, and refit. Then swap prop and axle.

But how does the engine position change between them? I know it is rotated a little clockwise (from drivers seat)

Or would I be better fitting the sprint engine with the 1850 mountings, get it in the car, then make adjustments to suit?

Ta

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Clive Senior
Brighton

I think it depends which sub-frame you are using. If you have an 1850 sub-frame I'd use 1850 mounts as they are at an angle compared with the Sprint items which are near verticle. See if you can live with the engine rotation.
But the other important thing is the Sprint stabiliser bar. Changing the mounts may mean you run out of adjustment on the bar.
The block is no problem as, if its like mine, it has 6 drilled and tapped holes for the engine mount adaptors.
HTH,
Tony.

If I was doing this Clive, I think I would try the Jaguar mounts onto the 1850 subframe first.
The gearbox will likely be off alignment, but spacers should get the crossmember position adjusted.




Ian

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Thank you both for the replies

My desire to use the jag mounts is for the quality and availability. Not to mention the rubber mounts on a sprint just don't "feel" to be at a sensible angle (Carledo agrees with this!)
I think I will initially use the 1850 mounts, get it in place and then see what needs to be done. I suspect a sprint engine will not fit correctly unless rotated? Carbs hit the bonnet or suchlike?

My crude but effective system for making mounting brackets is to chock the engine in place with wood blocks. Fit the rubber mounts to the subframe and either reuse the old metal brackets on the engine, or make new metal flat plate. The use a bit of box section to join the 2. Simple and effective. Tack on place, then remove and fully weld. Job done. The trick is to allow for a bit of droop in the mounts, and double double check clearances etc before tacking together. I got caught out years ago....

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Clive Senior
Brighton

It's my impression, though i've been wrong before, that the Sprint engine lays over further to the passenger side of the car than the 1850, rather than the other way you suggested a few posts up. This simply from looking at the space an 1850 has for the exhaust manifold compared to a Sprint.

I definitely agree that the Sprint mounts are a bit of a cock-up and there SHOULD be a better way.

My thoughts are to use the 1850 mount on the drivers side, but space it up with shims (I use Spitfire lower wishbone shims for this task) Lowering the passenger side mount is a little tougher and may involve remaking the rubber-mount-to-engine plate/bracket as it'd be tough to find a shorter rubber mount that still has a bit of compliance in it.

If you then add the Sprint steady bar, it should be more than enough to keep the motor in place and at something like the correct angle.

I've nothing against your method for mounting foreign engines by blocking the motor in place and making stuff up to fill the gap, it's the one I use myself! The only flaw with it are that once the rubber mounts "settle in" as they invariably do with time, the engine drops a bit and the mounts need to be shimmed up to cope with it.

My 2 pennorth, Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

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My thoughts were based on driving an 1850 that had been fitted with a sprint box and axle. The gearstick was leaning over to the passenger side. So my assumption is that the sprint would lay over over to the drivers side making the gearstick upright. I guess we will see!
The jag engine mounts are pretty thin, but reasonably compliant. They are a good design. And I thinkl the pair of mounting holes match the 1850 ones. Or are very very close.

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Clive Senior
Brighton