Mission Original BMX

[boybiffa]

For the seat runners I use WD40/Double T/PlusGas/preferred penetrating fluid to lubricate the runners. Did you put some copper grease on the bolt threads? I fitted Sprint seats in my Dolomite 1300 and it transformed the comfort so it is well worth doing.

How about original spec door mirrors? When new BMX would've had the black ones which had flat glass. Rimmer Bros sell them for £18.15 plus VAT & postage so you'll find them cheaper elsewhere. The chrome ones (which I prefer) have convex glass and Rimmer's list these at £23.12 plus VAT & postage. Again these will be found cheaper elsewhere.

One thing to watch if you fit door mirrors - make sure they don't foul the quarterlights. I'm sure somebody on here has made that mistake. (not me - honest!)

Yeah the "black squarish type mirrors that seem to be fitted to many dolomites,are the ones I have been thinking of fitting today.. after much thinking while cleaning the car and seats.. maybe driling holes into freshly painted wings,all for the sake of not really being able to use them isn't too good'a idea.. so.. the door mirrors that you are talking about are the ones that will be fitted. (might be chrome style though to blend in with the chrome apearance.

As for lubing the seat runners,I'll have a play around with graphite poweders,WD40 and the copper slip as they do seem "very! hard to slide at the moment.

while at Steve's yesterday evening,He shared a thought that the drivers seat that was in "previously" is highly likely to have come from either an 1850 or a sprint with it being wider and having 11 ribs. - and the passenger seat (that was mounted incorrectly could have come from a 2000 due to the shape.
They were comfy I admit,but they offered too much body roll for my liking and they weren't original and looked too much like a "miss-match" so.. full set of 1300 seats went in, with only "2 small (very small) tears! one on the passenger side seat(back section when the top rolls over, no bigger than a 5Pence piece and one on the back rest of the rear seats(right at the bottom,which again is no bigger than a 5Pence piece - to which is now covered up by the base after much jigglign and joggling of the base...

Thanks for the information and help everyone! I am making it my personal mission to make this car as "good as" it left the factory.. if not better! next thing on the list... - original "triumph fitment radio" - even though my car never came with a radio from new,I'm sure by fitting a radio that "would" have been fitted is not too much of a "deviation" from the original spec...

Again

Many thanks to all!

Rob

[JPB]

I have a selection of sets that were all available to the dealers at that time, warranted and better than any "untested" tat you'd find on eBay. (They usually sell radio sets as untested if they've tested them and found they're not running...).

So what brand would you like? What budget? Manual or P/B tuning?

[boybiffa]

I have a selection of sets that were all available to the dealers at that time, warranted and better than any "untested" tat you'd find on eBay. (They usually sell radio sets as untested if they've tested them and found they're not running...).

So what brand would you like? What budget? Manual or P/B tuning?

Wow

I would like a Radiomobile,budget - under £40(if possible at this budget) - tunning,not fussed so long as it can be adapted to take an mp3 player.

Rob

[Steve28]

Im happy to be of help to you Rob,glad you've made good use of them.
its great to see a young driver so enthusiastic about his dolomite, keep up the good work mate.

[jw67]

Seats look great.Hard days work has definately paid off

[boybiffa]

thanks Fella's

I will upload some better picies tomorrow when its all been hoovered and polished "I have blisters on my blisters" "sign of a good days work"

Also last night when coming home from your house Steve,I took a wrong turning where you said to take the 3rd exit on that roundabout after the dual carriageway,I took the 2nd exit and thought"oh hell!" carried on as I saw a few signs for doncaster and well...I have fallen in love with that section of tunnel on that dual carrigeway! in 3rd gear doing 25-30mph at around 2-2500rpm "one lovely deep bbbuuurrrrrbbbllleee" got everyone looking that was around me and passing me. "I then began seeing signs for goole,selby,wakefield and pontefract and all was good

Since scratching at the surface of the history and life of my dolly,its become an obsession.. and "un-ashamedly my baby and prize possession!"

So Glad I bought the dolly rather than some vauxhall corsa or punto (as my dad was suggesting)

I quite like the "hug" of the 1300 seats,they hug me in the best places,around the bum cheek area on both sides,and the shoulder blade area is just perfect!

Rob

[boybiffa]

well this morning Started by greasing the runners,with very little joy,so took out both front seats,took the runners off,and carefully poured some donnax ATF oil along the "inside" running edge. Which gave brilliant results! backwards and forwards a few times,job done. - put the front seats back in,greasing the bolts with copper slip as i went,cleaned it all up (few hand prints from the ATF .

And decided to give the engine a check (as of late it seems to be drinking fuel!) since going for its MOT last month..which my grandad said he'd played with the carb to get it through its emissions.

Anywho.. checked the dash pot,still good resistance - but looked low and has been over 2 months since it was last topped up. (about 1500 mile at least).

While checking around I noticed on cylinder 2 (one nearest the windscreen) had "signs of damp oil around the HT lead and around the plug area." So took the plug out to find the plug all "sutty black",took the 4th cylinder plug out to find the same. took out plug 3 which showed a nice light brown dusty color.

How do you setup a HS4? carb (here's the difference in mpg i've been getting since its "setup for mot last month" - "when Me and my younger brother went to northern dolly day and on to brid and flambrough and back,We racked up over 230 miles and used approx half a tank. (economical easy running at around 55-65mph.(when I next filled up (re-brimmed the tank) it cost me around £25 if i remember correctly (give or take a few quid. taking note of the litres I had just added,I worked out it had done around 39-40mpg.

2 week ago (now had its carb setup and been mot'd) going to blackpool from leeds, which is 96miles there and 96 miles back.. "it used 3/4's of a tank! around 35-40 quid in fuel! (filled up again same day on way home,and had managed to put in around £41.. (can't remember the litres) But i do remember the average mpg being around the 25MPG mark!...

Any advice is more than welcome!!

(P.s i will upload pictures of the new interior later this afternoon.

Thanks

Rob

[boybiffa]

As promised,Photo's of the new seats,all cleaned including carpets,door cards etc.

Such a nice set of seats,the front's hold me in all the right places and is such a snug fit!











Opinions and comments are welcome!

p.s I know the side of the drivers seat looks like it has swollen outwards(think it's had something heavy stood on the seat and has left this impression on the side piece.
and the carpet is much cleaner than what it looks in these photo's!

Thanks everyone

Rob

[Reg]

Wow..looks very nice indeed! Biscuit cloth goes so nicely with Pageant blue, one of the best colour combo's I think. That rear seat sun fading isn't too bad at all, i've seen a lot worse. As you say, just keep a blanket over it when it's too sunny. Looks a little cracker..well done and thanks for the pic's..

[jw67]

Have to agree with the above comments
Interior looks fantastic now.Well done mate.
It's so nice to see a car being kept standard rather than going down the Sprint lookalike route

[boybiffa]

Thank you for the such nice comments!

Been out twice already today,my mate (3rd person who was a front seat passenger,when I first got the car insured) said" wow,what a difference,and they are so cool,they look a little bit like retro bucket seats if you remove the head rests"

Which made me laugh,When I first bought the car,I did inquire towards putting in the sprint goodies,then thought about engine tuning and silly stuff.. But - "it's worth keeping original,Its worth preserving" and that was that. case closed,so original as can be is the way,with fully documented work on my part with photographic proof,(more history if the DVLA get back to me with the "vehicle request" V888. (so hope the previous owners are still around and at the address's when they had the car

"I think this song suits me and the car" (sad i know but )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9JuAx_CB6o

right - next question is... "how much for a full front end respray?" - I will hopefully be removing the current front wings to make way for club GRP items,there's a few blemishes on the bonnet,lower front valance and around the windscreen area,And the GRP wings will be sprayed at the same time. So how much should I be paying for a full front end respray?

Thanks

Rob

[marty dolomite]

Good work so far and stick at it, Its very pleasing to see someone else looking after the OHV's and wanting to keep it original as possible.
As for the front end respray i would get the whole car done as good as a sprayer may be at matching paint you will see the colour difference and if you put in a fair bit of prep yourself (including removing that clean interior) it will keep the costs down, you will be able to get a very decent spray job for £5-600 if you put in some effort yourself.

[Steve28]

Well done rob, youve done an exellent job with them seats mate.

[DoloWIGHTY2]

I have admit to being a little confused as the direction you were taking your car in Rob up to now;

When I first bought the car,I did inquire towards putting in the sprint goodies,then thought about engine tuning and silly stuff.. But - "it's worth keeping original,Its worth preserving" and that was that. case closed,so original as can be is the way,

But I think that clarifies it.

Thanks for preserving a car in it's original spec - it appears to be such a rare event in Dolomite owning circles these days.

[boybiffa]

Good work so far and stick at it, Its very pleasing to see someone else looking after the OHV's and wanting to keep it original as possible.
As for the front end respray i would get the whole car done as good as a sprayer may be at matching paint you will see the colour difference and if you put in a fair bit of prep yourself (including removing that clean interior) it will keep the costs down, you will be able to get a very decent spray job for £5-600 if you put in some effort yourself.

Pm AndyP (triumphdolomiteuk) to ask for this to be moved to restro section.

Well.. I was expecting the costs to be more around the £2000 to £3000 mark!

Its something I'd considered only a month ago,full respray as it does need the following respraying correctly

1) bootlid (top surface) isn't great(little dimples in the surface along with various "light surface scratches"
2) bootlid (under the chrome trip along the lip has two small "surface rust area's"
3) bootlid (badge and boot lock area aren't brilliant,with peeling paint around the boot lock(previously been painted around this area)
4)few small runs along the "lower" edge of the rear valance and again,doesn't look to bad,but could look a lot better.
5)Offside rear quarter panel has a small dent (really small,but is noticeable) under that "top" swaige line,but above the wheel arch,has a very,very small crease (you have to feel to notice it) few small area's of bubbling around the arch (not rotten,just surface bubbles)
6) C pillar (D badge piller) more surface dipples
7) roof,offside is ok
offside rear passenger door,orange peel (door jam needs blowing over (above the sill area)
9)drivers door needs repainting due to 1-2 small marks
10)offside wing, (will be replaced with club GRP item)
11) offside sill (solid,however the paint on the sill needs sorting as its gritty to the touch and doesn't look to pretty)
12) area around the windscreen looks as though its been painted with a brush.
13) lower front valance,few runs,few small scabs (no rot) paint shiny,but not 100% perfect
14) upper panel,above headlights,few small area's of stone chips and passenger side top section(that joins to the wing may have been filled)
15)bonnet,few very light surface scratches,and some surface rust begining to appear around the "bonnet catch plate" (underside of bonnet has been painted with zeibart)
16)engine bay has been painted with ziebart(to which i painted over with shiny black hammerite to try and make a little better(would love the whole engine bay painted!)
18) nearside front wing,(will be replace with club GRP item)
19)nearside door(not painted brilliantly along the lower edge(under chrome side strip) and has a small dent towards the back.
20) rear nearside door(again not painted brilliantly along the lower edge,has small dent towards the front of lower edge(strongly suspect the above and this is linked and is part of same damage)
21)nearside roof (small,tiny,rust blemish to behind the windscreen(possibly stone chip damage) - towards rear of roof section (the step on the outer section has gone through the paint and is now to the primer underneath(too much waxing (probably me)
22)rear C panel (D badge panel) not brilliant,few small surface dipples.
23) nearside rear quarter panel,not brilliant around arch (no rot,just surface bubbles,and misc marks)
24)offside sill,gritty to the touch and could look better.
All door jams could do with a repaint.

So... If i took out the engine,interior,badges and other bits of trim (my painting guy would have to do the prep as i have no garage and it wouldn't be wise to do the prep outside during the winter and spring months.

(oh and i will also need an offside rear door skin,as i did fill the lower section when i first bought the car.

So... How much would all the above cost to put right? for a show winning finish? (or how much for everything doing,minus the engine bay and underside of the bonnet?

@DoloWIGHTY

I know my previous posts and comments earlier this year about BMX Or (Tina as her personal name) may have been a little bit But.. I am young,I am daft at times,Its just taken me a while to come to the dreams and realities,reality is.. "modifying is only liked by the people who like modified,and share the same tastes,while original is like by the vast majority of the enthusiasts,and will always be more likely to win awards at car shows. (plus.. the plan is to get the car looking as best I possibly can over the next 2 years,(making the car 35!) to which then I may have a garage to use,to which it will then become my 2nd car (summer car,for special occasions and shows only) and keep it well covered and well cared for,until i'm an old man! (thats what I would like to do anyway,keep it for as long as humanly possible)

So.. Rest assured! this car is not " I repeat NOT going to turn into some lead sled or hot rod or other chav chariot think of it sitting in a heated garage,gracefully parked up on red velvet carpet,encased by a car-coon,looking like the day it left the factory,with the fully custom made ring binding folder containing the life story and photographic proof of everything done,and every receipt,etc and your thinking along the right lines of what I have planned

Also... back to the tiny note I found under the drivers seat (under the carpet) no bigger than A5 paper,which was sitting on the floorpan very precisely placed... with the following "No 63024" Could this possibly be a build number? being the car was registered 01/02/79 ?

Thanks

Rob