Buying our first Dolly - looking for some tips

[Martin and Cath]

Morning everyone, <br>
<br>
Cath and I have recently joined the club, and are in the process of looking for our first Dolly - ideally a Sprint. I imagine that this sort of first post comes up often <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
There is a 1973 100,000 miler on eBay at the moment that has caught our eye, and we may well go and see it at the weekend. I am looking for some pointers of what specifically to check on a Dolly Sprint, and have searched the archives with no real joy yet.<br>
<br>
I feel perfectly capable of checking the car over generally, and spotting the rust traps etc. I suppose I am really wondering which typical faults are the terminal ones? ie: if the suspension turrets, or the sills have gone then it is a real pain to fix, that sort of thing.<br>
<br>
I look forward to eventually getting our first car, and then hopefully meeting a few folk in the regional meets. <br>
<br>
Thanks for any tips, or pointers.<br>
<br>
Martin.

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[Martin and Cath]

Just found <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://p206.ezboard.com/fthetriumphdolo ... D=15.topic" target="top">this thread</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> referred to in an older post. Very helpful information.<br>
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Any other nuggets greatly appreciated.<br>
<br>
Martin.

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[Carsreunited]

Hi and welcome.<br>
<br>
I don't know that particular car but one thing jumped out at me from the pictures and that was the ghastly anodised foot pedal covers (in red!). Maybe its been driven fairly sensibly but phrases like 'it goes like stink' coupled with those pedals would have a few alarm bells ringing in my head. I'd want to give the engine a thorough test and maybe pay someone who knows sprints very well to come along with you. If you could stand the colour, the brown one on a few days ago looked like a much straighter car.<br>
<br>
Scott<br>
<br>


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[Martin and Cath]

Scott,<br>
<br>
Thanks for the comments. I must admit the whole max power thing did not fill me with confidence <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . This is the first Dolly we'll have looked at, so hopefully we'll learn something from this one at least.<br>
<br>
I'd be interested to know what sort of engine checks you would do yourself. I'll check for oil/coolant mix, the general condition of the oil, blue smoke, oil pressure (if it has a gauge?), coolant temp etc. Just wondering if I should expect nice stuff like smooth consistent idle, no real top end noise, easy starting on choke etc - essentially all the things I take for granted in a modern car.<br>
<br>
Is there anything that can be checked for to show bad head gasket, big/small end problems, valves out of adjustment etc? Without a compression tester and a head-off dismantle?? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Martin.

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[triumphdolomiteuk]

Hi Martin<br>
Welcome to the club and to our discussion forum! <br>
If I can make one small suggestion, it would be for you to go along to your next local area meet (the details are in Dolly Mixture) and check out some of your fellow member's cars. It's always easier to explain what to look for if you have the car right in front of you...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
Cheers - Andy.<br>
p.s. you don't have to turn up in a Dolly, you'll be made very welcome whichever mode of transport you use.<br>


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[Jon Tilson]

When buying a Sprint there is quite a lot that would escape the notice of a general car buyer. On the other hand quite a few Sprints look a bit of a heap but are actually very sound cars just needing some cosmetic tidying. A good thing to do is find someonme who has one that ISNT for sale and have a go in it. Then you will know what it SHOULD be like.<br>
I'm happy to have a look at any car near where I live (west london) as long as my time and expenses are covered.<br>
I should have a nice bog standard russet one on sale in the new year. Currently out of MoT but nothing wrong with it and about to get a new bootlid...<br>
Jonners

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[Carsreunited]

See the other thread in general chat ('channel 4 or 5'). More alarm bells than ADT at this stage.<br>
<br>


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[Martin and Cath]

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>See the other thread in general chat ('channel 4 or 5'). More alarm bells than ADT at this stage.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
Thank you for the heads up. Up for sale 3 times in a month, must be a wonderful, reliable, peach of a car <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . <br>
<br>
No smoke without fire, as they say.<br>
<br>
Martin.<br>
<br>


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