The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

I'm getting very close to registering mycarhatesme.co.uk <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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After spending all of yesterday either buying tools or grovelling around in poor light under the car getting covered in oil and rust to do the big ends and mains, I noticed tonight as I was checking the tyre pressures (which was interesting, as the petrol station gauge was erratic, to say the least) my n/s headlight has given up on dipped <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Will have to salvage one off the hl I suppose in the morning.<br>
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So that's now both headlights gone since I had it, engine bearings done, 2 oil changes, new thrusts, tyres, tracking that did nothing... That's just what I've done or will get done by the morning.<br>
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On top there's the squeaky gearlever, mashed synchro on 2nd, knackered o/d solenoid, ludicrously heavy steering, servo pushrod adjusment (there's a bit of travel before it feels like it engages with the master), missing exhaust clamp on rear sub, door check straps, T peice for oil warning light (and new switch), drivers seatbelt, alternator (bearings going), gearbox mount (one of the studs just spins), suspension crossmember bolts (nuts are tight on the bolts, but they're not tight to the metalwork of the car!), carb dashpots and god alone knows what else still to do.<br>
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And to cap it all off, I had to move the hl a few foot today, the engine seemed far more responsive, the steering was more positive and light, and all round I felt more comfortable <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Feeling rather miserable right now, someone remind me why I bother with classics, and why the 2000 is such a good car?

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some very similar experience to my 66 T2000 o.d.<br>
I did almost all of what you describe, inlcuding jamming the crank with a new rear thrust washer. Ha that was 25 plus years ago...<br>
Youve still got the joys of multiple rear drive shaft u/js that go one at a time on a 3 monthly rotation, rear wheel bearings that fail and give some interesting rear suspension camber angles...never did work out why such a knackered bearing was so completely quiet. Oh and the rear shock top mounts rust out very near the fuel tank, I had to have both cills done too. Also lunched 2 o/d solenoids and had to nick the o/d off a breaking 2.5PI....25 quid it cost me...lot of dosh 25 years ago.<br>
Still have the old one in the shed somewhere.<br>
Good car overall though...did Brenner Pass in it and Paris to Calais at over 90....heady days.<br>
Its worth it....but you'd be better off in a Golf Mk 2<br>
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Jonners

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I'm trying not to think about the back axle, but if the UJs do go, then I may well go for the Datsun CV driveshafts I've read about.<br>
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There's been a hell of a lot of welding done in the past, so I'm hoping the suspension mounts are all OK, and thankfully the sills look good. Although I do have to get round to sanding and stonechipping them sometime soon as the paint's going in places. Been trying to find stonechip in green, all I can get locally is black or grey though <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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I can live without overdrive for now, really wanted it to preserve the bottom end, but fingers crossed it wasn't as bad as I thought. Still want this electric gearchange you lot all go on about though! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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I really really need to sort the steering out, that and the rough box are really letting down what I've been lead to believe is the character of the car. Brown seats don't help, but will have to do until black cloth comes along at a good price on a month I haven't spent all my money on mechanicals. Oh, and some sort of feeling of braking when I push the middle pedal would be nice, I can lock the fronts with enough welly (as I found when I had to the other day), but they just don't feel to be doing a lot most of the time. I reckon that's partly down to the servo pushrod not being adjusted properly in the past (have history of some brake work) and possibly linings? I can't see how, but I do wonder if the friction material loses it's "bite" if it ages in use more than wears.<br>
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I got up to an indicated 70 (ish, honest m'lud) on the way back from buying it, not the cleverest of ideas as it turned out because of the tyres! The engine sounded like it was going to lunch itself though, and I'm not entirely convinced the speedo is accurate. Still haven't got round to fitting a rev counter to work out mph per indicated (and real if I check the diff ratio and work out the wheel circumferance) speed, but it's another item on the list. It could be the car is flying along and due to the size and speedo I just don't realise <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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If I am doing the speed it says, wqouldn't want to be doing 90 in it, it's scary enough at 45! 6 bangs instead of 4 is a bit disconcerting for me too...

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