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: Tue Nov 24, 2020 5:31 pm 
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Hi there

While being overserved after a run in the states, I may’ve been talked into joining the group from the states endeavoring in the 10CR in 22.

One of the cars is a Sprint converted from a 1500 front wheel drive that I’m considering (strongly) buying after the fun. I’m very familiar with the TR range as well as the 2000 mk1 saloon. Drove the 2000 all over the states until the tin worm did me in. What I don’t know are the differences between the 1500 & Sprint aside from the obvious drive line bits. I’ve seen pictures of the front & 3/4 shots. To me it’s Sprint all the way but I reckon there are plenty of other differences inside and out? If I can I’ll get pics and post them here.

Naturally metal work is something to look at plus 2 of the guys in our group are Sprint owners but I’d like to get info before hand. Plenty of time of course

Cheers

Todd Bermudez
United States

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1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


Last edited by tr250 on Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 7:46 pm 
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Sprint versus any other Dolomite model (or Toledo) the differences are mainly in the drivetrain. Sprint has its own engine (obviously) gearbox, propshaft and rear axle. The axle swap means the rear brakes are different and the larger rear brakes necessitate a load sensing valve to get the balance back.

Beyond that, there is a unique front subframe, gearbox tunnel and main wiring loom. There are also stiffer springs and a few other minor odds and sods.

Otherwise the shell and all panels are the same and front and rear suspension, steering and front brakes are all the same between models.

It's a relatively easy conversion to do, really just nuts and bolts. About like changing a 67 Mustang from a straight 6 to a V8.

In the UK, only a Sprint is a "real" Sprint, one built and registered on a 1500 or 1850 base will always be a mongrel and the value will be lower, but the fun factor is just the same!

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.


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:29 pm 
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Thanks Steve great info and since I’m all about having Fun rather than worrying about concourse, I think this could be the car for me. Make it go AND stop faster. There is a Sprint over here that I drove. Was gonna trade for my TR6 but the car needed body & paint work. I’ve read Dolomites can suffer the same issues as my 2000. This one had the signs. Pudding in spots, rust bubbles (which leads to more) needed a vinyl top. Trade didn’t make sense

So that brings an interesting question. How can I tell if a car is a converted 1500 or 1850? Commission tags will only get you so far. Could be there isn’t an easy way?

_________________
1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


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PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 2:34 pm 
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Quote:

So that brings an interesting question. How can I tell if a car is a converted 1500 or 1850? Commission tags will only get you so far. Could be there isn’t an easy way?
I've long said that, with Triumphs, identity is a matter of opinion and that the opinion that counts, is that of the guy holding the V5 (pink slip or title to you)

In the UK, the title is the big thing, if it's a Sprint title, all well and good, the car may have been reshelled into a lower spec body (this happens quite often, with the Dolomite's propensity to rot) but only a real anorak can spot the difference. So if the title says it's a Sprint, to all intents and purposes, it IS one! However in the UK, the model may not be changed on the title, so, regardless of how well it's been done (and a true anorak like myself can make it indistinguishable from the real thing) if it's built on a lower spec car with a lower spec title, it'll still say Dolomite 1850HL or Dolomite 1500 or whatever on the title, regardless of the power train installed. The stupid bit of paper therefore, CAN have a considerable effect on value, but not much else. There simply are very few ways to tell a low spec shell from a Sprint shell as they are all the same. A comm tag is next to useless as authentication since they are only riveted in place (2 minutes with a drill and 2 pop rivets to change one out) and none but the very last year cars have any numbers stamped into the shell.

The best advice I can give is, if you are thinking of buying a car from the UK, (since the stateside pool of cars is tiny) get some local anorak like myself to check it out for you.

If you are interested, this car will be available for sale soon, which IS a genuine series 1 Sprint in it's original series 1 Sprint shell and with title to match. It also has some useful driver oriented upgrades including (but not limited to) electric water pump, "Trackerjack" vented front brake disc conversion and Gaz adjustable shox. It just passed it's UK MOT yesterday, having been a restoration in progress for a number of years. The only downside, is, it's the relatively rare automatic transmission model which gives and takes away in equal measure, it's easier and more relaxing to drive, but lacks the "edge" of the manual car and is effectively lower geared because it doesn't have the overdrive facility. We'll be looking for around £7.5k UKP.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Hope this helps, Steve

PS, these pics are about a year old, it looks more finished now!

_________________
'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: Wed Nov 25, 2020 3:06 pm 
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Very tempting indeed. I do like the Webasto roof, but the autobox would have to go. We have an PI TR8 with the BW 3-speed Automatic. Also geared lower. Very ho hum to drive unless sitting in traffic or long TRips on interstates. Plenty of those here in the states. I’d change it to a 5-speed but it was the last one to roll off the line in 81. Completely against my philosophy, but it’s the wife’s car.

The car I’m considering is substantially less, but I’ve not laid eyes, hands, & magnet on it yet. AND I probably won’t be for nearly 2 years.

_________________
1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 4:17 pm 
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Verified it’s titled as 1500. At least I’ll have a story. I believe the color is Sienna. Of the browns, it’s the one I like the best.

_________________
1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 8:53 pm 
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Verified it’s titled as 1500. At least I’ll have a story. I believe the color is Sienna. Of the browns, it’s the one I like the best.
That would make sense and also account for the more reasonable cost. From your viewpoint it's a win/win, you get a great driving car with the power and fun of a Sprint without the snob value scene tax of the real thing.

My first Dolomite, a '75 1850 was also Sienna brown, as you say, the best of the brown shades. I failed it on MOT and the owner offered it to me for the price of the test, £15 IIRC! Those were the days!

One thing I would recommend if you go for this one, is make sure it has the "Trackerjack" vented brake rotor conversion, it's a must for those mountain passes! I use them on all my Dolomites, the weedy front brakes, which are effectively the same on everything from the humble 61bhp 1300 to the 127 horse Sprint (Only difference is the Sprint pad material is a tad harder - if you can get NOS Sprint pads, it's not easy!) are, in my opinion, the cars biggest drawback. Other than that they are like Mary Poppins, "practically perfect, in every way!"

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.


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 9:57 pm 
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I know the car concerned I believe.

1500fwd converted to Sprint, currently not in the UK after the last 10CR?

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BWJ
1966 Triumph 1300 Royal Blue
1966 Triumph 2000 Blue
1965 Triumph 2000 black and rust
1967 BSA B40wd green
2018 Jaguar E pace 2018
NOBODY expects the Canley Inquisition!


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 10:37 pm 
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I do believe that’s the car. Engine done blowed up

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1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 27, 2020 8:04 am 
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That's the one!👍

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1966 Triumph 1300 Royal Blue
1966 Triumph 2000 Blue
1965 Triumph 2000 black and rust
1967 BSA B40wd green
2018 Jaguar E pace 2018
NOBODY expects the Canley Inquisition!


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:21 am 
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Quote:
Quote:
Verified it’s titled as 1500. At least I’ll have a story. I believe the color is Sienna. Of the browns, it’s the one I like the best.
That would make sense and also account for the more reasonable cost. From your viewpoint it's a win/win, you get a great driving car with the power and fun of a Sprint without the snob value scene tax of the real thing.

My first Dolomite, a '75 1850 was also Sienna brown, as you say, the best of the brown shades. I failed it on MOT and the owner offered it to me for the price of the test, £15 IIRC! Those were the days!

One thing I would recommend if you go for this one, is make sure it has the "Trackerjack" vented brake rotor conversion, it's a must for those mountain passes! I use them on all my Dolomites, the weedy front brakes, which are effectively the same on everything from the humble 61bhp 1300 to the 127 horse Sprint (Only difference is the Sprint pad material is a tad harder - if you can get NOS Sprint pads, it's not easy!) are, in my opinion, the cars biggest drawback. Other than that they are like Mary Poppins, "practically perfect, in every way!"

Steve
I take it Trackerjack is still around on this forum? Doin’ a little pokin around on here I see another brake upgrade is Sierra with GTI vented rotors? Is that Ford Sierra same as the xr4ti? Haven’t see what all the pitfalls could be going that route vs Trackerjack? I’ll ask if it’s been done tho.

What about rear brakes? Any bigger wheel cylinder options or alloy drums or dare I say caliper conversions for rear brakes??

_________________
1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:05 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Verified it’s titled as 1500. At least I’ll have a story. I believe the color is Sienna. Of the browns, it’s the one I like the best.
That would make sense and also account for the more reasonable cost. From your viewpoint it's a win/win, you get a great driving car with the power and fun of a Sprint without the snob value scene tax of the real thing.

My first Dolomite, a '75 1850 was also Sienna brown, as you say, the best of the brown shades. I failed it on MOT and the owner offered it to me for the price of the test, £15 IIRC! Those were the days!

One thing I would recommend if you go for this one, is make sure it has the "Trackerjack" vented brake rotor conversion, it's a must for those mountain passes! I use them on all my Dolomites, the weedy front brakes, which are effectively the same on everything from the humble 61bhp 1300 to the 127 horse Sprint (Only difference is the Sprint pad material is a tad harder - if you can get NOS Sprint pads, it's not easy!) are, in my opinion, the cars biggest drawback. Other than that they are like Mary Poppins, "practically perfect, in every way!"

Steve
I take it Trackerjack is still around on this forum? Doin’ a little pokin around on here I see another brake upgrade is Sierra with GTI vented rotors? Is that Ford Sierra same as the xr4ti? Haven’t see what all the pitfalls could be going that route vs Trackerjack? I’ll ask if it’s been done tho.

What about rear brakes? Any bigger wheel cylinder options or alloy drums or dare I say caliper conversions for rear brakes??
The Trackerjack conversion is the one with Golf GTi vented rotors and Sierra (or more lately Ka or Puma) calipers.

Trackerjack is still around, though easier to get hold of these days on the Dolomite Club Facebook page under his real name of Jonathan Alastair Jackson. He's built more than 150 kits to date, it's a proven conversion, i'd certainly never go back to stock and I don't know of anyone else who has fitted them who'd revert either.

On rear brakes,the jury is still out. Whilst it's possible (barely) to get harder linings, most people don't bother, even with that much. The simple fact is that Sprint rear brakes are already too good for the rest of the system. An advisory when fitting TJs is to fit the SMALLER bore 1850 wheel cylinders and delete the load sensing valve for the rear brakes. This makes the brake balance just about perfect and helps to defeat the slightly "long" pedal that the bigger Ford calipers give the conversion.

Several folk on here have made up disc rear conversions of their own, there is a thread currently on Dolomite Related on how this can be done, but even the guy who did it says it's probably not needful and he did it "because he could" I trackday my own car which has TJs and stock Sprint rear brakes and it's absolutely fine. No overheating or fade problems whatsoever.

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.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:39 pm 
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One of my downfalls or is it upsides...I’m not on The Facebook. When time grows nearer I’ll have someone get in touch

_________________
1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 10:09 am 
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Quote:
One of my downfalls or is it upsides...I’m not on The Facebook. When time grows nearer I’ll have someone get in touch
I'm not a big fan myself and I don't live my life on facebook like the younger generation seem to. But it's a useful tool for staying in touch with people, especially in these troubled times - so long as you don't let it take over!

I do have more prosaic methods for contacting Jon, with doing conversions for people professionally, I know him quite well! I'm up to 10 done now and counting. For the sake of his privacy, I don't pass out his phone or email without his consent, but it can be arranged!

Cheers, 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.


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 12:54 pm 
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Good news, the Dolly is making its way from Italy to the Netherlands. Once there I’ll get with its keeper re body work and the all so important brake upgrade.

Oh it’s official, got my Team Torpedo shirt. 10CR 2022 here we come
Image

_________________
1964 TR4
1968 TR250
1969 TR6
1971 Dolomite Sprint swap


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