The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:43 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page 1 2 Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:59 am 
Hi all,

I've owned my 1300 4 door Triumph Toledo for a good few years now and I've always kept it in pretty much stock condition. However, I was wondering if anyone could suggest some worthwhile improvements/mods that wouldn't be too harsh on the wallet within reason?

Any suggestions welcome whether it be performance upgrades, ride comfort, or just general preventative maintenance to avoid future problems.

I look forward to reading your comments!

Many thanks,
Aaron


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:46 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin

Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:50 pm
Posts: 1890
Trackerjack brakes. Essential. Anything else after that is just indulgence.

_________________
Please note that I am simply a Forum administrator, so please do not contact me unless your question is regarding your Forum account. For general enquiries regarding the Club and its services (membership queries, questions about spares, lapdancing etc) please see https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... hp?t=20098

Are you enjoying using our forum? If so why not support the owners club which provides it by joining The Triumph Dolomite Club? Help us to preserve these great cars for future generations.
Club membership costs just £30 for one year or £55 for two years. See https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... =4&t=37824 for details.


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 2:24 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:35 pm
Posts: 956
Location: Filey, North Yorkshire
2 suggestions:
1) Electronic points replacement - £40ish. Fit and forget, never have to mess around gap'ing points or dealing with modern rubbish condensers failing.

2) Radiator/Cooling - if you find the cooling is in any way shape or form marginal, find a REALLY good rad and make sure you have a known good water pump.

Cheers, Sam

_________________
Image


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:32 pm 
Quote:
Trackerjack brakes. Essential. Anything else after that is just indulgence.
I'm guessing these are disc brakes? I've currently got drums all round due to it being an early model but I'm seriously considering upgrading. Thanks for the advice I'll take a look!


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:35 pm 
Quote:
2 suggestions:
1) Electronic points replacement - £40ish. Fit and forget, never have to mess around gap'ing points or dealing with modern rubbish condensers failing.

2) Radiator/Cooling - if you find the cooling is in any way shape or form marginal, find a REALLY good rad and make sure you have a known good water pump.

Cheers, Sam
Thanks for the advice I'll definitely look into these! Personally I've always got on alright with points but I'll check out the electric ignition for sure. As far as the cooling goes is there any better water pumps that can be fitted or does it have to be a Tolly one?

Cheers, Aaron


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:50 pm 
Offline
TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:32 pm
Posts: 470
Hi Aaron.
I went for electronic ignition for my 1500 many years ago and as the other chaps have said it is worthwhile and 'fit and forget'.
However, if you are happy with points and condenser set up I would recommend a set from The Distributor Doctor.

As mentioned, many others out there are not known for their reliability.

Best wishes MC.

_________________
Matt Cotton

TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser.
TDC/TSSC group meeting - 3rd Tuesday of the month
The Duke at Clifton - OX15 0PE

1980 1500HL - OPD
1976 Sprint - SWU


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:05 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!

Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 4:38 pm
Posts: 535
Location: South Benfleet, Essex
Quote:
Hi all,

I've owned my 1300 4 door Triumph Toledo for a good few years now and I've always kept it in pretty much stock condition. However, I was wondering if anyone could suggest some worthwhile improvements/mods that wouldn't be too harsh on the wallet within reason?

Any suggestions welcome whether it be performance upgrades, ride comfort, or just general preventative maintenance to avoid future problems.

I look forward to reading your comments!

Many thanks,
Aaron
(1) Front & rear anti-roll bars - I've had some on my four-door, 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300 since the early-1980s

(2) Good-quality, properly-aligned front fog lamps

(3) Rear fog lamps

(4) Auxiliary, high-intensity "reversing-lights" (i.e. work lights or front fog lights with opaque removable covers) for use in unlit driveways and car parks at night

(5) Thermostatically-controlled & manually-over-rideable electric radiator-cooling fan

(6) Legally upgraded headlamps if not already undertaken by the previous owner
Quote:
Trackerjack brakes. Essential. Anything else after that is just indulgence.
Unless one drives like a madman, the Triumph Toledo 1300 brakes (i.e. front disc-brakes & rear drum-brakes) are quite satisfactory and nicely weighted for progressive braking under all required deceleration conditions! :)

_________________
Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering, for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=308177758

Upgraded 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300 (Toledo / Dolomite HL / Sprint hybrid)

Onetime member + magazine editor & technical editor of Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:19 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin

Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:50 pm
Posts: 1890
Quote:
Quote:
Trackerjack brakes. Essential. Anything else after that is just indulgence.
I'm guessing these are disc brakes? I've currently got drums all round due to it being an early model but I'm seriously considering upgrading. Thanks for the advice I'll take a look!
Drum brakes all round were barely adequate for the job 50 years ago, let alone in the 21st century. Triumph realised this back then and put front disc brakes on the model as standard not long after your car was built. The Trackerjack conversion replaces the original Triumph discs with modern vented discs and gives you a chance of stopping if the modern car in front of you has to make an emergency stop.

_________________
Please note that I am simply a Forum administrator, so please do not contact me unless your question is regarding your Forum account. For general enquiries regarding the Club and its services (membership queries, questions about spares, lapdancing etc) please see https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... hp?t=20098

Are you enjoying using our forum? If so why not support the owners club which provides it by joining The Triumph Dolomite Club? Help us to preserve these great cars for future generations.
Club membership costs just £30 for one year or £55 for two years. See https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... =4&t=37824 for details.


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:44 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin

Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:50 pm
Posts: 1890
Quote:
Quote:
Trackerjack brakes. Essential. Anything else after that is just indulgence.
Unless one drives like a madman, the Triumph Toledo 1300 brakes (i.e. front disc-brakes & rear drum-brakes) are quite satisfactory and nicely weighted for progressive braking under all required deceleration conditions! :)
Other than on a deserted road in Norfolk, have you actually driven a Triumph this millennium in normal road conditions? The world has moved on, braking systems have massively improved on cars since our beloved Triumphs were built. If we want to actually use our cars on roads, rather than trailer them to classic car shows, we need to ensure that they are as safe as possible to use, for the sake of ourselves, our passengers and other road users.

_________________
Please note that I am simply a Forum administrator, so please do not contact me unless your question is regarding your Forum account. For general enquiries regarding the Club and its services (membership queries, questions about spares, lapdancing etc) please see https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... hp?t=20098

Are you enjoying using our forum? If so why not support the owners club which provides it by joining The Triumph Dolomite Club? Help us to preserve these great cars for future generations.
Club membership costs just £30 for one year or £55 for two years. See https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... =4&t=37824 for details.


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:47 pm 
Offline
TDC Shropshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
Posts: 7014
Location: Highley, Shropshire
I'd certainly upgrade the brakes from drum to disc and fit a servo, whether you need to go the whole hog and fit the TJs is for you to decide. I'm a big fan of the TJ conversion and use it on all my Dolomites, but whether you REALLY need it on a 1300 Toledo would depend on the sort of driving you do and your personal style. If you are contemplating the C.T. Round Britain Run or something similar, you need the TJs! If you just go to shows and pootle the lanes on sunny Sundays, you probably will be fine with the later spec single discs. There are also some brake pipe run upgrades i've developed that improve braking balance in emergency stop situations.

EI is handy for sure.

One other thing I think is a MUST on the Toledo is to fit a front antiroll bar, it transforms the handling, turning a roly poly car into something pretty competent. And maybe go for some 5j Spitfire rims and 175/70/13 tyres.

IMO, it's best to get the car stopping and handling as well as possible before indulging any lust for more power. But on the useability side, an overdrive gearbox is a great (if not especially cheap these days) thing to have for long distance/motorway work.

Steve

_________________
'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.


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:14 pm 
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Trackerjack brakes. Essential. Anything else after that is just indulgence.
Unless one drives like a madman, the Triumph Toledo 1300 brakes (i.e. front disc-brakes & rear drum-brakes) are quite satisfactory and nicely weighted for progressive braking under all required deceleration conditions! :)
Other than on a deserted road in Norfolk, have you actually driven a Triumph this millennium in normal road conditions? The world has moved on, braking systems have massively improved on cars since our beloved Triumphs were built. If we want to actually use our cars on roads, rather than trailer them to classic car shows, we need to ensure that they are as safe as possible to use, for the sake of ourselves, our passengers and other road users.
It would seem as if the Trackerjack brakes would be a wise decision. Could anyone advise me on where to get some from or at least buy components from? I can confirm that the drums do serve a purpose however they are far from what I would consider safe for modern driving conditions. Any advice much appreciated.

Many thanks, Aaron


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:17 pm 
Quote:
I'd certainly upgrade the brakes from drum to disc and fit a servo, whether you need to go the whole hog and fit the TJs is for you to decide. I'm a big fan of the TJ conversion and use it on all my Dolomites, but whether you REALLY need it on a 1300 Toledo would depend on the sort of driving you do and your personal style. If you are contemplating the C.T. Round Britain Run or something similar, you need the TJs! If you just go to shows and pootle the lanes on sunny Sundays, you probably will be fine with the later spec single discs. There are also some brake pipe run upgrades i've developed that improve braking balance in emergency stop situations.

EI is handy for sure.

One other thing I think is a MUST on the Toledo is to fit a front antiroll bar, it transforms the handling, turning a roly poly car into something pretty competent. And maybe go for some 5j Spitfire rims and 175/70/13 tyres.

IMO, it's best to get the car stopping and handling as well as possible before indulging any lust for more power. But on the useability side, an overdrive gearbox is a great (if not especially cheap these days) thing to have for long distance/motorway work.

Steve
Thanks for the advice! Any tips on where to start looking for TJs? Also when talking about antiroll bars is this a thing that needs to be custom made or is there already triumph roll bars out there that would fit a Toledo?

Many thanks again, Aaron


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:30 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
Site Admin

Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:50 pm
Posts: 1890
Quote:


Thanks for the advice! Any tips on where to start looking for TJs?
Many thanks again, Aaron
There is a clue in Carledo's signature in the post above :D

_________________
Please note that I am simply a Forum administrator, so please do not contact me unless your question is regarding your Forum account. For general enquiries regarding the Club and its services (membership queries, questions about spares, lapdancing etc) please see https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... hp?t=20098

Are you enjoying using our forum? If so why not support the owners club which provides it by joining The Triumph Dolomite Club? Help us to preserve these great cars for future generations.
Club membership costs just £30 for one year or £55 for two years. See https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... =4&t=37824 for details.


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:37 pm 
Quote:
Quote:


Thanks for the advice! Any tips on where to start looking for TJs?
Many thanks again, Aaron
There is a clue in Carledo's signature in the post above :D
So there is! Thank you for bringing this to my attention haha :D


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:57 pm 
Offline
TDC Shropshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
Posts: 7014
Location: Highley, Shropshire
Quote:
Quote:
I'd certainly upgrade the brakes from drum to disc and fit a servo, whether you need to go the whole hog and fit the TJs is for you to decide. I'm a big fan of the TJ conversion and use it on all my Dolomites, but whether you REALLY need it on a 1300 Toledo would depend on the sort of driving you do and your personal style. If you are contemplating the C.T. Round Britain Run or something similar, you need the TJs! If you just go to shows and pootle the lanes on sunny Sundays, you probably will be fine with the later spec single discs. There are also some brake pipe run upgrades i've developed that improve braking balance in emergency stop situations.

EI is handy for sure.

One other thing I think is a MUST on the Toledo is to fit a front antiroll bar, it transforms the handling, turning a roly poly car into something pretty competent. And maybe go for some 5j Spitfire rims and 175/70/13 tyres.

IMO, it's best to get the car stopping and handling as well as possible before indulging any lust for more power. But on the useability side, an overdrive gearbox is a great (if not especially cheap these days) thing to have for long distance/motorway work.

Steve
Thanks for the advice! Any tips on where to start looking for TJs? Also when talking about antiroll bars is this a thing that needs to be custom made or is there already triumph roll bars out there that would fit a Toledo?

Many thanks again, Aaron
A Dolomite antiroll bar bolts straight on, all the mount points and holes are already there!

Best to contact Jon Jackson (AKA Trackerjack of this forum) about a TJ kit. It is, however a relatively complicated thing to do and not for a novice, but if you have basic skills, a fairly talented amateur can fit it at home. Or I offer a complete fitting service (approved by Jon himself) But be warned, the TOTAL cost of the conversion including my labour is just over £600 (labour content is £200 of that, it takes me a full day to do it and that's after I've done some preliminary work) Parts include the TJ kit itself, (discs, brackets and mount rings) plus good used caliper carriers, new calipers and pads, new bespoke braided hoses and new wheel bearings.

If you wanted to go straight from drums to TJs, I can supply good, used disc brake hubs and vertical links to suit for sensible prices as well. I might even have a decent used servo kicking about. And you'd need a servo specific master cylinder too.

Steve

_________________
'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.


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page 1 2 Next

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: AhrefsBot [Bot], djw113uk and 21 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited