The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

Why are the Ford Escorts renowned for tail out action and the Dolomites tend to under steer then snap over steer. There both wishbones at front and live axle at rear sooo where does it all change?<br>
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Adam

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... 2F45T4U</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5 ... bNW7hu4ZtQ" BORDER=0> at: 2/1/06 9:57 pm<br></i>

I personally don't think that my Sprints suffer from understeer at all. If you increase your front tyres pressure to a realistic figure of say 30-32 psi instead of the original ly quoted 22 or whatever it was, and make sure that the car sits level and not nose down they can be reasonable balance in handling.<br>
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A well set up Sprint can certainly be reasonable balanced in the handling and be driven on the throttle with power oversteer.<br>
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Check ou the following photos and you will see what I mean.<br>
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<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sprintparts.triumphowners.co ... anpark.jpg" target="top">www.sprintparts.triumphowners.com/uploa ... <!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
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<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sprintparts.triumphowners.co ... edan-2.jpg" target="top">www.sprintparts.triumphowners.com/uploa ... <!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
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<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sprintparts.triumphowners.com">SPRINTPARTS</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... rmour>Mark Larmour</A> at: 3/1/06 9:48 am<br></i>

Escorts have a very light and loose rear end - the tail out antics are no doubt helped by the carthorse springs giving quite a crude set up compared to the more refined 4 link coilover and trailing arm set up on a Dolly which apart from the crap rubber bushes does a reasonably decent job of keeping the axle in place for road use.<br>
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As for why a Dolly tends to understeer - I always found they did both, understeer at first but as you lift off the front straightens up making it possible to power oversteer when you replant the gas.<br>
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The slightly vague feel of a hard driven Dolly (particularly OHC models) I reckon is caused by all the weight hanging forward of the front wheels whereas escort engines are mounted more or less in line with the front axle. I have also pondered on whether the slant 4 engine weight distribution contributes - most of the weight is on the n/s of the lump whereas an upruight 4 has an even weight balance. The racers move the engine more towards the bulkhead and to the right on their cars - I'm sure its for more reasons than fitting a tubular manifold and bigger radiator.<br>
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Also an escort weights about 80% of a dolomite despite having a similar weight of mechanical bits.

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
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Featherweight 1974 Dolomite Sprint - Soon to be XE'd, NOS'd, Megasquirted and 5 linked Lash up to scare myself (and my wallet) senseless<br>
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2004 Smart Roadster (company car!!) - 698cc of turbo'd adrenaline fuelled rollerskate - destined to classic status thanks to Daimler Chrysler bean counters.<br>
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1997 Audi A4 2.6 to chill out after the above and fill with baby products.....<br>
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2005 Trek 1400 (ok its not a car but still fast) - <br>
a bit like Lance Armstrong but slower and fatter</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... SMIFTER</A> at: 3/1/06 9:41 am<br></i>

Cant be certain but I would think its all to do with weight.<br>
Engine and body.<br>
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Correct me if I am wrong.......<br>
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Al W

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but to be correct about it an Escort is cheapskate in the extreme suspension wise...cart rear end with an anti-tramp bar depending on model and McPhut front...<br>
Nothing wrong with McPhuts if they are done properly but ultimately not the choice of royalty because of the high sprung weight. <br>
A dolly is indeed a bit more sophisticated but isnt biased towards handling by the designers...its much more towards refinement...low NVH etc. This means you have to take out a whole lot of the engineered in stuff to make it a track rollerskate...harder bushes and stiffer springs etc...The front biased weight distribution also doesnt help.<br>
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Against its contemporaries it stacks up well as an overall ride handling refinement package, being only substantailly beaten by the Opel Ascona/Manta.<br>
Its every bit as good as Alfas, BM 2002's and Fiats. The French didnt really do a good rwd chassis in that size at the time although the 504 wasnt bad either if more in the P6 and Innsbruck bracket.<br>
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Fords, Rootes crap, Marinas and Vauxhalls of the period really were nowhere in comaparison. You really did notice the difference...the Dolomite was and still is infintely better.<br>
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AsconaMantavalier aside you have to go on to the next generation fwd stuff like Modeos Xantias, 405's and Lagunas to get a better drive. How much of that is down to better tyres is a moot point. Oh I forgot the Sierra too..which also has a very good chassis IMHO and the BM E30 is alright too.<br>
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Funny really...when I drive the Dolly after a modern I always marvel at how little real progress has been made.<br>
The series 3 XJ6 and Rover P6 have much the same effect.<br>
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Jonners<br>
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