Sprint Engine in an 1850?

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1300mash · #16 Post by **1300mash** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:59 pm

The guy who does my MOTs has an 1850 with a TR7 engine and it was pretty quick apparently. Engine's knackered now though and he's thinking of putting it back to standard. Anyone got one north of about Northants? 
 
BTW, what's the 5-speed box like on the late TR7? Is it worth fitting that too if you're going that route?

DailySprinter · #17 Post by **DailySprinter** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:06 am

I'd put money on a mis-diagnosis, an average mechanic will not have a clue about the internal water pump these cars have. 
I thought the same thing 12 years ago when I had just my first Sprint.

chrisdickinsoneuropecom · #18 Post by **chrisdickinsoneuropecom** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:24 am

A 5 speed gearbox to go with the TR7 engine instalation! There is so much to consider here. 
 
My Garage only fixes classics, and they seem to have some experience with Dolomites, but I dont want to waste money replaceing an engine unecessarily. I think I do need a second opinion. 
 
Can anyone recomend a garage in the Leeds area that properly diagnose my water leak? 
 
Thanks 
 
Chris

alun n · #19 Post by **alun n** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:58 am

Chris, you should be able to be 95% certain yourself. 
 
Basically the water pump on both Sprint and 1850 engines (and TR7) are internal; follow the bottom hose up from the radiator and you will find the pump cover. The pump sits in a hole in the block under that cover (cover held on by three bolts). Because it is internal there is a tell tale to let you know when it is rooted; this takes the form of a horizontal machined slot in the side of the block on the vertical face of the block just beneath the pump cover and slightly offset to one side. If your pump seals have gone then there will be water dripping from this slot. It starts off as a drip and as the seal gets worse and worse and worse it can develop into a torrent! If this is where your water is coming from I suggest you do NOT take it back to that garage! 
 
The other reason which leads me to suggest it is not the block cracked is that blocks usually crack in January or February...not July! 
 
Why not ring up the garage and tell them your mate with the dolomite has recommended them to you and then niaively ask them to locate the waterpump on your TR7 for you over the 'phone as its noisy and you think it may be causing you trouble but you don't know where it is; they'll probably suggest its a belt driven one on the front of the engine!

tinweevil · #20 Post by **tinweevil** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:15 am

All you need to do is dry the side of the engine and the slot, stuff a wad of tissue into the slot, run the engine for a moment and look at the dispersion pattern of the water on the tissue. If its a crack the lower surface of the wad will be wet first. If it's the pump the innermost face will wet first. 100 to 1 it's the pump. 
 
Do you know the slot we're on about? Study the 4th picture of Marts new block in the worn ring thread. 
 
Have a go and if you still want a 2nd opinion I can call in next Monday before or after Horsforth. 
 
Julian

1978 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a> Blue, a bit tetley. 
1972 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a> No name, in bits. 
1968 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a> Little blue, nice! 
1973 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a> VA41, seriously tetley. 
1980 <a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/864">Dolomite 1500HL</a> Orange, current daily drive.

chrisdickinsoneuropecom · #21 Post by **chrisdickinsoneuropecom** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:23 am

Thanks for your advice Julian and Alun, and the rest of you Dolomite owners. 
 
I will attempt the methods of leak identification you mention. 
 
I hope to be a club member by the end of the week. And I would like to come meet some of you at the Horsforth meeting. Maybe I'll see you next week. 
 
Thanks 
 
Chris

1300mash · #22 Post by **1300mash** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:31 pm

I am going to the post office tomorrow so you should have your membership pack by the weekend. 
 
Cheers 
 
Mark <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D">

algtj · #23 Post by **algtj** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:41 pm

Another really simple way to locate the leak is to throw talcum powder on the block..... 
You can tell I have old Opels too! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D">

alun n · #24 Post by **alun n** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:07 am

Isn't that a bit like asking it to fart to give you a clue?<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol">

chrisdickinsoneuropecom · #25 Post by **chrisdickinsoneuropecom** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:28 am

Ill add that to the other noises and effluent my car emits!

Sprint36 · #26 Post by **Sprint36** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:54 am

Back to the original topic, how different is a TR7 Head from an 1850 head? I was just wondering about boring an 1850 block to 2 litre bore and fitting TR7 pistons as a way of upping capacity. but then again I guess TR7 engines are so cheap it's not worth the expense. Although it would retain the engine number.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> 
 
David

dollysteve · #27 Post by **dollysteve** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:34 am

No difference at all, only difference is the water outlet on the back and that bolts on. 
Buy a whole engine, the cost of have an 1850 block rebored and then the agro of building it all back up is totally prohibitive when good TR7 engines can be had for a ton. 
I have an engine you can have if you want to come and collect it. I`ll chuck in a spare head aswell if you like.

Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... lysteve</A> at: 6/7/06 10:36 am

Rob · #28 Post by **Rob** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:09 pm

Chris,I know this is going over what has been said above,but feel in your case it is worthwhile. 
I bought a Sprint in may and it had been stood for approx a year,judging by the tax disc.after getting it MOTd and taxed,I left a trail of water from my house to work,luckily its only a couple of miles. 
Upon inspection,the water was escaping through the escape hole in the block at the underside of the water pump cover.I looked at the archive "cooling" posts on here and there is one with the same woes,and the advice is to fit a water pump repair kit,available from TD Fitchetts.I purchased one,and within an afternoon had my sprint leak free! 
Since then I have had problems with a blocked radiator but happy to say all is ok,and plan to attend the Horsforth meeting on Monday,so hopefully see you there! 
BTW,bought repair kit,top hose,inlet gasket,bypass tube seals,diff pinion seal and front pads all for 66 quid delivered within less than 24hrs! Thats good service for you! 
Rob

chrisdickinsoneuropecom · #29 Post by **chrisdickinsoneuropecom** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:08 am

Rob 
 
Thanks for you further insight. Is it possible that my garage could have confused the "hole in the block on the underside of the water pump" with a crack! If this turns out to be the case, I may have to consider finding a new garage to take my car. 
 
I had to pull over in traffic again this morning to add a bit of water due to the needle hitting about 3/4. So I'm starting to get a bit annoyed with the leak. 
 
I love my Dolomite, and use it to go everywhere. It would be great if there was a £100 solution instead of a £1000 (reconditioned egine fitted) one to my water leak. 
 
Thanks 
 
Chris

chrisdickinsoneuropecom · #30 Post by **chrisdickinsoneuropecom** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:20 pm

I have had an exchange of emails from Rob at Robsport regarding the installation of a TR7 engine in a Dolomite 1850 that some of you may find intresting. 
 
I wrote:"I need an engine to replace my cracked 1850 unit in my 1978 Dolomite. Do you have any reconditioned engines in stock?" 
 
Robsport: "We do not carry 1850 engines in stock. 
We have 2 litre recon engines at 900.00 + VAT or we can recon your engine." 
 
I wrote: "Are those 2 litre engines the TR7 ones? Are they a long or short engine? Are there any specific modifications that are required to put a TR7 engine in a Dolomitge 1850?" 
 
Robsport: "Full engine,possible change to carb needles ,but engine will go straight in. 
Yes they are TR7 spec engines." 
 
End....... 
 
The advice recieved from club members regarding my water leak in the above thread may remove the need to replace my engine in the short term. However, if a replacement is required in the future, I would like to improve the performance over the standard 1850 engine, and am considering the installation of the TR7 engine. 
 
I will keep you all posted on the information that I gather on this issue. Please excuse my lack of mechanical experience. 
 
Thanks 
 
Chris

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Sprint Engine in an 1850?

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