The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

I do notice the Italians seem to like X types....easilly the most numerous Brit mobile...<br>
Curioulsy high number of Volvo estates too but a complete absence of saabs...<br>
Lots of funny looking things with Lancia badges on too.<br>
What a whacky looking thing their new biggie is....looks like a big daewoo with Maserati 3200GT lights at the back. Weirdest headlights this side of a fish faced granada. It'll never sell.<br>
And for Aluns benefit the 166 aint even popular on home turf...saw 2 all week...outnumbered about 200-1 by big beemers.<br>
Jonners

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How the heck did this thread get onto films? Ah, the joys of a forum! Anyway, thanks for the hits on this query. To answer some of the points raised: My Sprint has been back on the road since '97 and has done about 15.5 k miles so wouldn't have thought a decoke was ready just yet (Jon). I didn't know that Optimax was used all that much by our cars. It was bit of a jolt to see Jon uses Opti + additive in his. Crikey Jon - what have you got? A space shuttle? Not too up on the gen re additives but who else uses additives with Opti? and is this really necessary? I can understand putting an addi in with standard unleaded. I think next time I fill up (probably tomorrow) I'll use Opti without addi to see if this helps although at the moment when I fill up I tend to put in about 70ml of Superblend zero lead 800 to about 54-55 ltrs of fuel although I repeat this would only be for long runs. When driving locally I don't bother. What is the difference between the 800 and 2000 lead additive from Superblend (SprintV<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... lasses.gif ALT="8)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ?? Re my timing, it was set spot on at 10 degs before when I last checked it about 3-4 months ago before the start of the show season but worth checking again and while we're on it I also use Unipart (GSP4563 or GSP361) plugs - and so far I think they have been ok. Will fill you in on any progress. <br>
Thanks again!

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The superblend 2000 is not an octane booster, it is purely to provide a lubricant for the valve seats to do the job the Lead (Tetra Ethyl Lead) used to do. There are some additives that provide lubricant and also have an octane booster (IIRC Millers was one of them).

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I only use Optimax...never an additive.<br>
Sprints lunch plugs as Reg will tell you....Ive had the elctrode completely blow out on 2 of my champions so I never use them now. Does it run on at all?<br>
Sounds like you may aslo have an HT lead breaking down under strain...<br>
Jonners<br>


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I've had the electrode blow out of a Champion too. Won't go near 'em now.<br>
My sprint hates '95, isn't fond of Optimax and runs best on LRP or '97. Still pinks a bit on those tho.<br>
<br>
Tinweevil

<p>1978 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1968 GT6 II<br>
1972 Spitfire IV<br>
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Spent most of this afty resetting the ignition ready for tomorrows run up to Himley. Found that the timing was about 0 BTDC. Finally managed to get some tippex (you office wallers will know what that is!) onto the pulley. So out came the strobe! Plugs were fine just needed a little gap adjusting but all were nice 'n light brown. Replaced the points as they were showing quite a bit of pitting and also the condenser for good measure. Also dismantled the dizzy to check the springs and weights which looked like they needed a drop of oil!!<br>
All back together just before tea and reset the timing so its just about on 10 BTDC now and running nicely on idle - didnt get chance to run it as I needed to spruce the car up. As I mentioned before, I've emptied the tank and now put some Optimax in so I'll see how this goes as I leg it up to Himley tomorrow. I'll leave the Superblend out for this trip. See ya.

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For those of you who might still be interested in this thread, the run up (and back) from Himley was no different to other long runs. ie the pinking was still evident on both sides of Haldon although more pronounced on the run south. I can't really tell if putting Optimax in (without additive) actually made for a more responsive drive or not. In fact, during one point in the run back near Shenstone SVCs I thought the ignition felt "jittery" but that passed fairly soon. Mind you, the outside temp was quite hot which caused the T/gauge to show almost 3/4 high - definitely don't like it hovering there! It wasn't till after sunset when the temp started to drop back to the safety of halfway. Have arranged with Andy Moss to stick the analyser up the exhaust to check if the mixture has anything to do with it. One thing for sure I don't think I'll be wasting my money on Optimax again!

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you have waxstat trouble and may also have an issue with cold air feed.<br>
The waxstats do deteriorate over time and dont react to heat changes as they should when the jets get covered in crud as most of the do from oil weeps and general road dirt.<br>
Do you still have your cold air feed pipes?<br>
<br>
Jonners

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Taking the easy answer first Jon, my cold air pipes are in good nik and,using the original board locating panel, they point into the oncoming airstream nicely so doubt if the problem is there. The less easy now - how would I check if the waxstats are breaking down and/or if they need replacing?<br>
Are they available and at what cost? Incidentally, tonight the exh analyser showed a reading of about 2.6 to start with but after adjusting the idle screws from a reading of 1000 to about 800 -850 on the rev counter, this went up to 3.0. I have a bit of tappet noise from the first two or three sets but don't think this is contributing (unless there is a possibility of any others slightly too tight of course!). Will top up with 95 oct unleaded plus the superblend to see if things have improved slightly for my run to Yeovil this coming Saturday for the Air Show. I know it's only a niggly thing but if this doesn't clear soon, I may end up taking the elec ignition route!

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Your car being a P plater shouldn't have wax stats Mike, unless they've been changed at some point...

<p>1973 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1974 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1977 Dolomite Sprint (Pageant)<br>
1977 Dolomite Sprint (White)<br>
1979 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1979 Dolomite 1850HL<br>
1980 Dolomite 1500HL<br>
1998 Lotus Elise<br>
1999 Alfa Romeo 166 2.5 V6<br>
1999 Alfa Romeo 166 3.0 V6 (well...it was there wasn't it!)</p><i></i>

I presume your advance/retard is working as it should, pipe in place, free to breath weights moving etc

<p>1973 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1974 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1977 Dolomite Sprint (Pageant)<br>
1977 Dolomite Sprint (White)<br>
1979 Dolomite Sprint<br>
1979 Dolomite 1850HL<br>
1980 Dolomite 1500HL<br>
1998 Lotus Elise<br>
1999 Alfa Romeo 166 2.5 V6<br>
1999 Alfa Romeo 166 3.0 V6 (well...it was there wasn't it!)</p><i></i>

When I checked the dizzy on Saturday, the tube was in place and I even did a suck / blow test on the vacuum unit to see if it was ok, as well as checking that the piece that connects to the baseplate moves - which it did. I also rotated the dizzy shaft with the baseplate out to check the weights moved and also lubricated them as they looked a little dry!<br>
Hopefully, after the running and emmisions were adjusted / checked last night I should notice a bit of improvement when I run up to Nottingham/Stafford this Saturday. (I know I said Yeovil in the earlier thread but got my weekends mixed up - put it down to age!!). I'll be putting superblend in with normal unleaded.<br>
<br>
If any of you guys are out & about Saturday and see me on the M5/M42/A50/A518 give us a flash (with your lights I mean)

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...Steve Wilkes Magenta Sprint (sans vinyl roof); he'll be heading home to Dudley from Newquay on Saturday!

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Just had a butchers at the wx forecast for Saturday and it's looking pretty dodgy so I think I'll keep the Sprint tucked up in the garage and use my daughters Peugeot instead. Besides, after scraping off half the midlands supply of mozzies and flies from my windscreen and frontal area on Thursday night and giving her the usual hoover and dhoby I'm reluctant to have to do it all again once I get to Stafford (can't run around in a skanky Sprint!). BTW any of you other mimosa or inca owners agree that the flies seem to think that our cars are just mobile sunflowers and spot you from miles away and just kamikaze their way onto your windscreen? I'll be leaving Plymouth at about 8:30 but would be nice to run up with Steve if we come across him as run up the M5.

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yeah, but what a way to die.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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