Buying a 1300

[daigoro21]

Hi- I am going to look at a 1967 Triumph 1300 soon and was wondering what in particular to look for- ie: corrosion areas particular to this car and son on. The car is MOTd and runs well apparently. The only problem I know of so far is that it is difficult to engage 2nd sometimes when driving. The owner thinks this is a problem with the selector mechanism - is this a difficult job to sort? Is the gearbox problematic with the car being front wheel drive?<br>
What is parts and panels availability like for these early cars?<br>
Any advice would be much appreciated.<br>
Cheers.<br>
James Porter

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[algtj]

Welcome James, I don't know if your a club member (well worth £20 odd !) The club carries spares for this car, also Rimmer Bros, Wins International, Quillers, Mick Dolphin and Robsport. Ebay turns up some spares and other members help out too!<br>
<br>
God or (Jod) is the man for the OHV engine <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
And he is on here every now and again!<br>
<br>
Where abouts in the country are you? If Birmingham way, Big Al (Nicholas) is your man (cant get him off here!)<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
FWD technical advice available from Ian Lovegrove/Alan Cassie (not going to give out their numbers on this public site without their permission)<br>
<br>
Rusty and crusty bits I am afraid I don't know with the FWD.<br>
Help here chaps!?<br>
<br>
Al Williams

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[dollysteve]

Same kind of places as a Dolly for rust, we`re talking sills, rear arches, chassis legs, everywhere basically, one area of concern to me is the sill closure panel behind the front wing, on a dolly this can be inspected by removing the arch liner but on a 1300 fwd this is not possible. I think gearbox input shafts are a weaak point on these cars but I don`t see this being the cause of your tricky 2nd gear, sounds maybe like a synchro problem. I would say other problems include the flexible steering coupling, like a dolly the rubber inserts become perished and give a lot of play at the wheel, rotoflexes, chaep enough to buy but just make sure there are no splits in them, you can still get them from most motor factors and if it`s a single carb model the Stromberg is crap but it does the job, throttle bushes are hard to come by and at the moment i`m looking in to getting some made out of nylon.<br>
Panels do seem to come up from time to time, ebay produced a pair of brand new wings not so long ago but I have to say mine doesn`t seem half as rusty as alot of dolly`s I have seen. Sills are the same as a Dolly so club ones will do just fine, doors are also the same as a dolly although the area around the lock is slightly different, rear wings car be had off a Toledo (I have a pair of these) but the real light mountings are different. It does seem that shock absorbers are rare for these cars, however the club does have stock of these, something I haven`t looked in to is the availabilty of bushes for the rear suspension but I believe the fronts to be the same as a Dolly. <br>
Overall they are nice cars but like any 40 year old car it`s going to have it`s issues, if you ask me they are a lot better than a Dolly 1300, the engine seem to be more revvy and a bit more eager and they generally feel better put together. I hope that has enlightened you a little. I`m sure there are some more people that will be more qualified on the subject that will advise you further.

<p>1976 Dolomite was a 1500<br>
1976 Dolomite 1850 HL Auto<br>
1979 Dolomite 1850 HL Man o/d<br>
1989 Noisy Mini 1340 <br>
1995 2.3 Saab 900<br>
1968 1300 FWD</p><i></i>

[PurpleBargeKen]

Hi. Welcome to the fold. I was given a 1300 FWD 1969 a few weeks back. I would have to agree that they do feel a bit more solid than the 1300 Dolly (have one of those as well). Rusty bits as mentioned above. Good little cars. Nicer interior too but a bit harder to get hold of interior bits and pieces. A bit more 'style' than the 1300 Dolly, but hey, I like 'em both. You could do a lot worse than join the club. Great bunch of people and there's access to plently of spares and advice. All valuable stuff. Joining was the best thing I did. Recommended++++.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Ken

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[daigoro21]

Thanks for the advice lads. Yeah, its a good looking little car is the 1300!<br>
'Dollysteve' - you think the problem with 2nd gear may lie with the synchro- what would the resolution to this be? Gearbox out job? I don't know a lot about gearboxes and I'm just wary of buying a car that may need a major job doing in the very near future, a cost I could do without!<br>
Again, any advice on this much appreciated- apart from this, the car seems very sound.<br>
I certainly will join the club if I buy the car!

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[dollysteve]

Synchro would be a gearbox rebuild job, start with the basics first though, bleed the clutch etc.

<p>1976 Dolomite was a 1500<br>
1976 Dolomite 1850 HL Auto<br>
1979 Dolomite 1850 HL Man o/d<br>
1989 Noisy Mini 1340 <br>
1995 2.3 Saab 900<br>
1968 1300 FWD</p><i></i>

[daigoro21]

Car comes with spare gearbox- how big a job to just fit new one?

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[dollysteve]

Sorry I have no idea, as yet I haven`t had to do one, the clutch is a doddle though, however the gearbox doesn`t need to come out for that. I think it`s a case of taking the engine and gearbox out together and then seperating them.

<p>1976 Dolomite was a 1500<br>
1976 Dolomite 1850 HL Auto<br>
1979 Dolomite 1850 HL Man o/d<br>
1989 Noisy Mini 1340 <br>
1995 2.3 Saab 900<br>
1968 1300 FWD</p><i></i>