The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:59 pm 
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Sympathy...but I assume the bolts had been out already? If this is the case it should just be a matter of taking the cover
off with its other bolt and extracting the remains of the sheared bolt with mole grips or a drill and an easy out....(good luck with that if you need one).

I would be inclined to helicoil the threads in the stat cover base and replace the bolts with suitable studs and nuts and plenty of copaslip.
Then it will outlast you...

Jonners

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Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.


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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 7:34 pm 
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I tend to walk away from car related things if I am in any combination of tired, angry or irritated and it was the right moment last week to close the bonnet and leave the car for a week. The pressure of Harry ('Harry's car' seems to have become abbreviated and stuck as the car's name now) not being my sole mode of transport is quite refreshing, no swearing and throwing tools around at midnight on a Sunday because I need the car to get to work the next morning!

Decided to buy some new stainless steel set screws, and then undecided (sic) to do that when it occurred to me that it wasn't a good idea to put stainless steel into aluminium, so instead bought a big pack of assorted zinc plated nuts, bolts and washers from Wrights Auto Supplies. Also got a length of servo hose whilst I was at it, original looked a little tired.

Image


I neglected to mention that the set screw snapped right by the head, so as you predicted Jonners it easily came out with a pair of pliers on the end. I did consider your thoughts of using a stud instead, but must admit I went for the easy option of replacing like for like, just zinc plated and with a dollop of copper slip grease. Filled up with 1/3 Comma antifreeze mix, checked for airlocks and all was well from the word go. Not quite like an experience I had with my Cavalier, thought it was bled fine, going down the road it suddenly rather dramatically boiled, gurgled, steamed and corrected itself in the centre of town at a pedestrian crossing like it belonged on the Ffestiniog Railway. :oops:

Doing a fluid check I noticed that both the clutch and brake master cylinders had lost a small amount of fluid, and strongly suspect the rear wheel cylinders and clutch slave cylinder have leaks as all is dry at the top end. Went back to check my meagre documentation as I could have sworn that I had read that these very bits had been replaced in the previous owners notes, and yes, all replaced. Oh dear.

As the car was sat there nice and warmed up, and it was such a gorgeous day today, the golden autumn sun shining through the lightests of hazes scattering playfully off the chrome bumpers onto the delicious mimosa paintwork, I quietly shut the bonnet, ignored the to do list, sat in the driver's seat and just went for a long drive...

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Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


Last edited by Galileo on Sun Aug 06, 2017 9:49 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:34 pm 
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Quote:
I quietly shut the bonnet, ignored the to do list, sat in the driver's seat and just went for a long drive...
that's what it's all about :)

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1980 Dolomite Sprint Track Day Car....KLJ 895W. now redtopiffied :P

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=23031

Volkswagen Golf MK3 Gti....R301UUJ. RIP 22-5-13
Volkswagen Golf MK4 TDGTI 150 MM53VNT Sold 7-8-17
BMW 320d Coupe M-Sport YL08 XBZ with factory fitted Performance Pack - Sold 22/05/21
BMW 330d Touring M-Sport WN63 XPY - best daily ever

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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:36 pm 
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Quote:
Quote:
I quietly shut the bonnet, ignored the to do list, sat in the driver's seat and just went for a long drive...
that's what it's all about :)
Hear Hear!!!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:37 pm 
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Future Club member hopefully!
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I quietly shut the bonnet, ignored the to do list, sat in the driver's seat and just went for a long drive...
that's what it's all about :)
Hear Hear!!!

Steve
just a shame i cant do it yet.... :wary:

_________________
1980 Dolomite Sprint Track Day Car....KLJ 895W. now redtopiffied :P

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=23031

Volkswagen Golf MK3 Gti....R301UUJ. RIP 22-5-13
Volkswagen Golf MK4 TDGTI 150 MM53VNT Sold 7-8-17
BMW 320d Coupe M-Sport YL08 XBZ with factory fitted Performance Pack - Sold 22/05/21
BMW 330d Touring M-Sport WN63 XPY - best daily ever

Proud TDC Member!


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:39 pm 
Have really enjoyed reading your progress since I last posted mate, nice work. :-) hope you are well! Kind Regards Russell


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PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 10:13 pm 
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Location: Shetland / here & there
Thanks Russell, and likewise!

You're right Steve and Lazarus(!), sometimes you just have to ignore the to-do list or you'll never actually get to have some fun.*

A small update to the thread. I have changed the gearbox mount for a Febi 22394 and the car is a much nicer place to be in now, the only thing I could hear was the whistling of the wind around the poorly sealing doors and a little tyre roar, utter bliss! Only time will tell if this is a viable modification in the long term, but it looks promising.

Details in a separate thread, as I thought it might be more useful to a wider audience. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29990

More musings on a conversion to overdrive, received some solid advice, and a couple of really nice offers of help in a separate thread, but I've not made my mind up yet as I'm thinking about cleaning up the engine bay and that would be easier with the engine and gearbox out. Money to be saved up and some pondering on the best way to get it right first time around are being had by me at the moment.

Gearbox thread viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29974

Raf.

*Disclaimer: Please do not try this with brakes children, or anything (visible) that plod might get upset about!

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


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PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 10:04 pm 
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There's a big gap since the last post on this thread as nothing has gone anymore wrong than however wrong it was when last posted. That was until last week when I pressed the brake pedal and not a lot happened, and I don't mean working as intended not a lot happened, more along the lines of pretty please stop. So with the same sinking feeling that the brake pedal was enjoying I popped the bonnet open and peered at the obvious culprit of an empty master cylinder, that explains that.

Luckily I had some brake fluid on board, for I'm well versed in the ways of running old BL vehicles and carry a spare Dolomite Sprint in the boot. Topped up with fluid and pumped away to compress the air bubbles, and carefully drove home with Highway Code plus 2 miles stopping distances being diligently observed.

Clearly the not stopping thing was not something to ignore, and whilst I had noticed a little fluid loss in the early days of ownership and wondered if a wheel cylinder was leaking, it had appeared to have sorted itself out subsequently as weekly fluid checks didn't show any further movement. I had noticed that the handbrake has become quite ineffectual on steep slopes over time, and assumed the cable had stretched a bit and had mentally added that to my to do list.

Image
Getting underneath it didn't take too long to spot the leak dribbling down the os/r tyre.

Image
Well oiled brake shoes do add extra life to the shoes, but do also tend to impede the whole stopping thing.

Image
The culprit.

Image
Beyond rescuing with a service kit, but could be useful as a cheese grater.


A little purchasing spree later, with some LPR C04678 19mm (¾") replacement cylinders and a set of brake shoes from Rimmers, coupled with some lovely weather today (dammit, should have gone to Stoneleigh, without stopping) and we are back in business. Well, except you should never change just one corner with brakes, so I might as well do the other side I thought. Ah...

Image
A well greased set of brake shoes, good for extra li...think I've done that gag.

This side was very new looking, with a new wheel cylinder, springs, retaining clips, even the drum was extremely clean looking on the inside, once I washed the grease off that is. So after degreasing everything thoroughly, I decided to put the drum back on, run it for a few miles and hope that the last mechanic that renewed this side has just been overzealous with the grease gun. I live in hope.

On the positive side, that explains why the handbrake was a bit useless!

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 3:36 pm 
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After sorting out the rear brake issues, on the test run the next day I was thinking that the car was running really well, and then the clutch pedal wouldn't go down more than half way. I shall have to banish such happy thoughts in the future that's for sure, as long as I keep thinking it's running like a dog with three legs it'll be fine.

With the stopping issues now being translated into going issues, clearly fate has decided that now is the time to swap out the original gearbox with my spare overdrive equipped one. I'm going to post some pictures along the way, and this will be primarily as a record for my benefit as I'm sure most of you on the forum have done this countless of times and have nodded off already at the thought.

Image
The cause of the problem, clutch shaft operating arm has succumbed to metal fatigue.

There was a knock on the door a short while ago, and the nice people at SGS Engineering had delivered my engine crane, and some ratchet axle stands as I was fed up trying to line up the pin holes on my old ones. I was going to hire a crane but at £40 for a weekend, and I might have to pause for a week if I find something that needs working on, it just was not worth it.

Image
Friday is weights day...

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 6:30 pm 
Hi Galileo

The owner was indeed standing behind the car. He owned it for many years, and was a mechanic for Caffyns, a BL dealer, so knew his stuff and trained when the Dolomites were current models. I believe he sold it in the early noughties to a business in Headcorn, Kent. It was properly maintained by him and everything that needed doing was done. Obviously there are many years since then when I have no knowledge of the car. He has disappeared in recent years so I have no contact details I am afraid. It was certainly a genuine car in the years I was familiar with it.


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:16 pm 
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That the car is doing so well now is more than likely testament to the maintenance efforts made in its early life by someone that knew what they were doing. I'm trying not to let the car down now, though it is no concourse winner as its used daily it is well looked after and in really good condition for being 42 years old.

Thank you so much for adding that bit of history, I really appreciate it!

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


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