The Triumph Dolomite Club - EzBoard Archive

Hi,<br>
I've wanted a Dolomite for ages and have just seen one I love! Thing is it needs a new battery - are these easy to replace? Does it cost a lot? I live in Leicester - does anyone know of a particularly good garage that services dolomites? Im afraid Im a complete novice and dont know anything about car engines!<br>
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Also I know it depends on the car but are the 1850 HL autos generally reliable?? Are there any common probs that they suffer with?<br>
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Thanks for any help!!!

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Wooo another auto 1850! Had one for close to three years, ace little motor.<br>
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Never went wrong on me anyway - even on long journeys, sitting in traffic all day - as long as you regularly check the coolant levels (easily done), engine and gearbox oil and take care of it, it'll repay you in kind.<br>
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Changing the battery is a 5 minute job - whipping the leads off, unbolting the clamp, sticking new battery in and tightening up the clamp and leads.<br>
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A new battery costs something like 30 quid I think from Halfords, I think. Never needed to buy one yet! I think they'll change it for you, too <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Common problems - overheating, dodgy gearboxes and rust, rust and more rust <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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If the engine runs well, doesn't go above half on the guage (temperature) then that rules out overheating (provided you drive it around for a bit, run it for a good 15 mins and see how it goes in driving).<br>
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Gearbox should engage all gears rapidly when moving the stick through the gate, it will make a cushioned 'thud' every time it changes but the changes should be sharp and clean - no horrible slurring and long pauses.<br>
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Rust, well, just look everywhere <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Sills (underneath the doors), bottom of the doors, front panel behind the headlamps, front valance (under the front bumper) and in the boot and footwells under the carpet. Tear it apart and look for any grot!<br>
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The engines are quite tough as are the boxes however, and replacement bits or complete units are easily found.<br>
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I'm done! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :smokin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smokin.gif ALT=":smokin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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RE Garages - find a friendly one, that's been around for a while. If you find one where you aren't afraid to approach staff, ask them questions and they seem to know their stuff then you're onto a winner usually. If they seem enthuasiastic about it, then that's a good sign!<br>
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It's never quite cut-and-drawn as that sometimes mind!<br>
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<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/meandxyj2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
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My ol' truck-o-war <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... >LewisK</A> at: 16/5/06 10:09 pm<br></i>

PS - Sorry - I know some of the things I asked have been covered already, and I have read through the boards, but id just like confirmations and reassurances - it'd be a big thing for me you see as it would be me first car!<br>
Oo - are the auto's easy to drive too? I've only ever had driving lessons in a manual car.<br>
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Thank you!

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Funny! Mine was my first car too! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :smokin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smokin.gif ALT=":smokin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Very very easy to drive. Slot it into drive, and just pretend you're driving a sofa, cause that's what it feels like <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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(although it'll be more than happy to whip you up and above the speed limit!)<br>
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Even when you've come to a stop in traffic, I just used to hold it on the foot brake and not put it in park, unless I was going to be there a long time. It's easy to be lazy in an auto!<br>
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Coming from a manual to an auto will be simple, just as long as you remember you don't have a clutch pedal and stab the brakes hard! <BANG!> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... >LewisK</A> at: 16/5/06 10:12 pm<br></i>

wow thanks for such a quick reply! I'm going to see it on Thursday or Fri so Ill bear in mind what you said!

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Well, just be careful and don't fall into the old adage of buying the first one you see just because you're there! (well, unless it is actually good!)<br>
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Just apply a bit of common sense and if it doesn't feel right, avoid <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> If it's got a recent or long MOT though, should be a good starting point as it proves the car's got some degree of road worthiness <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Good luck!

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i></i>

I'm not a million miles from Leicester (Kettering) and could help you out with a viewing if you want to be sure. I take it you haven't heard it running due to the flat battery? If the owner was willing, I could test drive it under my Insurance as well.<br>
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An 1850 would be a very sound first car. You have very discerning taste!<br>
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Scott<br>


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The guy said it starts ok but goes flat after a few days sitting in the garage. Its actually on ebay if you want to see:<br>
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What do you reckon? I completely love it - daydreaming about driving it already! So reeeeaaallllyy hoping its in good condition and the price doesn't skyrocket as am on limited budget.<br>
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I should probably confess that I havn't actually passed my driving test yet - but I couldn't resist this car providing its in reasonabley good cond! It'd certainly give me the incentive to get on and pass my test sharpish!!<br>
My boyfriends takin me to see it, but as he doesnt know a great deal either, I might take you up on your super kind offer Scott!<br>
Im waiting to hear off the guy to find out where about in Leicester he is, and when I know Ill post it on here. Im hoping to see it Thursday at 7.30pm ish, or failing that Friday between 6-7pm ish.<br>
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Thanks for your help! Im so impressed at the quick replies!

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My first car was an Inca yellow Dolomite 1850HL<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Manual though<br>
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Looks good from the pics and only 42,000 miles!<br>
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Just so you know this is what I got for £300 (not from ebay)<br>
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It had 2 months MOT and tax with about 74,000 miles on the clock.<br>
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Gotta love those 4 head lights! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Get it!

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From the pics, it looks well worth the start bid.<br>
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Just let me know.<br>
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Good Sprint project!<br>
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Only joking, it looks a bargain at that price, but you'd need to have a good look to be sure. I'm just up in Loughborough, but I can't make Thursday evening. Might be able to do Friday though if you need some help.<br>
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David

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Dolomite would be a great first car!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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What car are you learning to drive in at the moment? If it's a fairly modern car, you may find a Dolly takes a bit of getting used to at first as there isn't any power steering! However, IMHO, everyone should learn to drive in a classic car - you have to brake earlier, turn the steering wheel harder etc. etc. which is no bad thing. Would cut down on a lot of accidents that young boy racers cause as they leave braking to the last minute or over-steer and end up <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>in</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> the central reservation.<br>
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Good luck with the bidding - looks like a nice car. Let us know how you get on with it.<br>
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Adam, what the hell happened to your car? Maybe you should have left it parked up instead of driving it.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Susie

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Yes Adam, but you '300' pounds literally only just got you on the rung, didn't it. Been a fair bit of hassle and more of a rolling restoration than anything - I just thought I'd point that out....but that doesn't mean you can't get a bargain!<br>
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That Yellow Dolomite looks pretty straight, but you can never tell from photos. Have a really, really thorough prod around for rust - if you could take someone like Scott along with you, or at least someone vaguely familliar with the cars, it's always a bonus - but they're not very complex things, so if you check it over OK you can't go too far wrong.<br>
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Good numerplate too, shame about the short MOT. However, he sounds pretty honest about it and if he knows the cars then his description carries a little weight at least.<br>
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(as a warning, for other cases, just because it has that piece of paper doesn't mean it's eligible for it.....had more than my fair share of cars that have NOT been road legal yet strangely have a full MOT.......)<br>
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Some early rust prevention on those arches should see it last you a long time! Looks to be a goodun however and a fairly reasonable sale <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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For example, the rear arches on it look considerably better than mine did!<br>
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<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>
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Good general description of the cars behaviour there...<br>
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That was mine, when I sold it few months back. Still, ace little machine mind.<br>
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Best of luck for the viewing! <br>
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And yes, don't expect the brakes or steering to be anything as accurate or useful as a modern car at first attempt, but once you've got used to them there's no reason why they shouldn't suffice, like Susie says <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.antchip.com/sig2.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves, we can't lose! You're on!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--></span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... >LewisK</A> at: 17/5/06 10:11 am<br></i>

Hi Kirsty,<br>
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Glad to see another female "on board" <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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As Susie says, a dolomite is a great car to learn to drive in, as it is a "real" car!<br>
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I've got a 1500 HL manual with overdrive called "Molly (the Dolly)". I've owned her for just two months, but I love her<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Best of Luck with the one on e-bay.

<p>Debs</p><i></i>

Do you find that the O/D is beneficial on Molly compared to other non- O/D Dollys you've driven? Only I'm thinking of having O/D and gearbox fitted to Sebastian.<br>
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Bit of welding, repair flaked door cappings, replace some of the windowscreen rubber and the back seat (sun damaged at top) and Sebastian might be looking a bit more like he should! Not much to do then!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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How are you getting on with Molly's jobs?<br>
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Susie<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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