Help!! First Sprint Purchase!!

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Dan Moore · #1 Post by **Dan Moore** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 5:25 pm

Hello to all!!!! 
 
Just about to purchase a Sandglow Dolomite Sprint (T/197<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... lasses.gif ALT="8)"> and would be grateful if anyone out there could shed some light on a few things??? 
 
Has anyone got any pic's of a car in the colour SANDGLOW?? 
I'm told that it is a orange/yellow colour??? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/sick.gif ALT=":x"> 
 
What would be the best suspension set up for a sprint to have a firmer ride and to lower the car's height?? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... tongue.gif ALT=":b"> 
 
Are K&N filters worth the bother/expense?? Or am i as well keeping the standard air box and uprating the filters??? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":"> 
 
Also, any advice on a stainless sports exhaust/manifold and suppliers?? Preferably lound and deep, but not ear drum bursting!! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"> 
 
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!! 
 
Thanks!!! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin">

simonwood48msncom · #2 Post by **simonwood48msncom** » Thu Jul 17, 2003 5:29 pm

And the Floodgates Opened<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol">

Jon Tison · #3 Post by **Jon Tison** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 10:01 am

K+N's are a waste of time. Keep the airbox and try and get a pipercross element and keep the cool air feed from the radiator. 
Sandglow is the colour of chicken korma, either before or after eating it. 
I have one with lowered springs and spax all round. Its worth doing but only go down an inch. Its an inca yellow bit of a heap and just failed the Mot on rings, Make me a decent offer and its yours...you could even put your sanglow lump in it and have a nicer colour. 
Be quick though cos I'm trying to find a motor and fix it. 
Jonners

Dave · #4 Post by **Dave** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 12:30 pm

I would be quite suprised to find a sprint still running an all standard suspension setup, They do exist but I suspect they are in the minority certainly if the hooligans contributing to this board are anything to go by...!

Stagger · #5 Post by **Stagger** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 12:38 pm

Chicken Korma is a far nicer colour (before and after). Sandglow is that hearing-aid beige colour, less desirable than Neil's turd brown. Can't believe this was ever a standard Sprint colour. 
Mark.

Neil Russell · #6 Post by **Neil Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 12:54 pm

Ill go Next. 
 
Jonners is correct. Keep standard airbox and go for a free flowing element. Try to seal the intake air totally from the engine bay environment and run a duct to the front of the car. The nearest place to just under bumber height is the best area to catch the coolest, moist air which will give you the best intake charge and more power. 
 
Before spending a fortune on a loweing kit, completely re-bush your car with Polyeurethane throughout. You will probably find that this makes the biggest difference to the overall handling. 
 
Stick with standard exhaust manifold upgrades cost far more than the power gains are worth. 
 
when Lowering, go no lower than 25mm, dont use adjustable shocks, save your money and buy uprated non adjustable shockers, Coz no one adjusts them once their on anyway. Also the shocker manufacturers compromise on the quality of the shock because of the adjuster mahanism to keep costs down. very often its the adjusters that fail. 
 
Try these mods first and your car will be transformed. 
 
Neil.

SMIFTER · #7 Post by **SMIFTER** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:09 pm

Decent adjustable shocks dont fail (e.g. Koni, AVO, GAZ) its just Spax that are a load of old pants. But they are yellow! 
 
i totally agree on the bushes - makes the car drivable. 
 
Who makes non adjustable uprated shocks?

<a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub52.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdol ... SMIFTER</A> at: 18/7/03 2:13 pm

Neil Russell · #8 Post by **Neil Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:27 pm

Why buy adjustable shocks? 
In all honesty, for a road car how often do you adjust them? 
I fitted adjustables to a Cobra repllica that I built once and never twiddled the knob again. If you have a correctly bushed car it will run perfectly acceptably on the road. a lot of the fast road kit on the market today is pure market hype aimed at the young 17-21 year olds who think bolting on goodies will make their car better. I would bet that a car with poly bushes, very slightly stiffened springs and standard shocks running standard ride height would probably outperform most lowered and stiffened cars on a daily basis. 
 
For a track its OK but how often do you spend on tracks compared with the road. the lower and stiffer the car, the less compliant it is which means you spend all of your time with a jarred back correcting the steering over pottholes and worrying if the back end will skip that little bit too far. 
 
Its an age thing. I was exactly the same when I was 20ish. Marriage and a mortgage does this to you<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"> 
 
Neil.

Dan Moore · #9 Post by **Dan Moore** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:42 pm

You would say start with polybushes first, which colour as i know that different colours have different ratings from spitfire experience (blue one's fitted - comfort type?) ? 
 
Do you know a supplier of these?

SMIFTER · #10 Post by **SMIFTER** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:46 pm

My car is primarily a track car so the ability to adjust the rate is useful. I quite often adjust them in between track sessions to see the effect of different damping rates. And I'm running very stiff race springs - comfortable my Dolomite is not! But thats not what i use it for. 
 
I agree with you totally - mine is the exception and i totally agree that most road cars dont get adjusted much after the initial installation. 
 
Just wondering who makes non adjustable uprated dampers as I've only ever seen adjustable uprated units. 
 

<a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a>

Neil Russell · #11 Post by **Neil Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 3:42 pm

Bushes are pretty OK to get a hold of. they are made of different Shore and compliance. usually in different colours. There is sort of an un-official std colour range which superflex have initiated, think it is Blue, yellow and red, but not sure. 
 
You could contact superflex directly. and I also think that Chris witor used to deal directly with superflex. 
 
Try the usual triumph specialists who actually work on the cars to see if you can save some money and get some advice. 
 
In order of priority and to spread your budget I would go: 
 
Bushes front 
Bushes rear 
Springs, either stiffened std height or stiffened lowered 1Inch 
new shocks shop around to see whats out there. 
 
I would only use the mildest Bush available. This will give you the best compromise between a road car and something you can drive with a bit of verve. 
 
Even renewing all of the rubber bushes will transform the car, but it is common sense to uprate to Poly. 
 
Don't forget your subframe bushes which will also make a hell of a difference. 
 
I personally am fitting spax, but only coz I got them along with a shedload of spares and new TT springs as a job lot. I will also be sourcing all of the bushes while I finish the car. Anyone know who the best supplier is guys and do they sell complete kits yet or one offs?? 
 
when my beloved turdy brown car dissapear from the drive to its new lock up the wife will probably forget about it, so Its going to be finished properly prior to MOT. 
 
Magatsu will be as sick as a chip when he finally sees it. 
 
and No. now its not for sale.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... tongue.gif ALT=":p"> 
 
Neil

SMIFTER · #12 Post by **SMIFTER** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 3:56 pm

Chris Witor gives discount to TDC members on already pretty reasonable prices 
 
<a href="http://www.superflex.chriswitor.co.uk/" ... 

<a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a>

Neil Russell · #13 Post by **Neil Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 4:02 pm

Thanks Smifter. 
Will give him a call whn the welding is sorted. 
 
Neil. 
 
Ps. anyone got a sports stainless system for a Dolly 1850 going cheap. 
 
Neil.

SMIFTER · #14 Post by **SMIFTER** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 4:27 pm

Neil 
 
its the same system as Sprint exhaust if you didn't already know that. Just needs an adaptor at the downpipe.

<a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a>

magatsu1 · #15 Post by **magatsu1** » Fri Jul 18, 2003 9:29 pm

Have you checked-out the thread about the Sierra brake conversion Dan ?

The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

Help!! First Sprint Purchase!!

Help!! First Sprint Purchase!!

^

Okay I'll start....

springs et all

Sandglow

Re: springs et all

Re: springs et all

Re: springs et all

So Neil.....

Re: springs et all

Re: springs et all

Superflex Bushes

Re: Superflex Bushes

1850 sports exhaust

Brakes

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