The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Well, thought I'd start a resto-mod thread as I thought it would be a good way to track my progress.

But first, a littl back ground on my car. It's a 1500TC and had it for just over two years, I bought it from someone in rugby for the small sum of £380. It had a blown head gasket and a horrible mat black and grey paint job, which was half primer grey and the other half paint brushes matte black. It was kind of a restoration project just getting it road worthy and looking ok. Me and my dad spent a few months getting the engine apart to replace all the bearings and seals which wasn't too hard compared to the next 4 months doing all the body work and interior.

The body work sanding was done by hand, by me, so it took about two months of work to sand off the black paint and to etch the primer that was exposed. My dad had some gear that he used to spray his cars when he restored his cars so he put both the primer coat and the colour layer. the colour I wanted the car was signal red as I thought it was a deep red and looked quite nice but the colour I ended up with was a very bright red, with a black roof as I didn't want to fit a vynle roof cover. It was a nice little motor, ran smooth when off choke and was roomy, but since owning it it's been through 3 head gaskets, 3!!

So after a year, I got into a small accident and crushed the nose so I took it off the road and wanted to do more than just fix the body work and I heard that an MX5 engine near enough drops in and was thinking it would be an easy way to make more power and increase reliably tenfold. And with all the mod support behind the engine would be a good engine to work on when I get bored.

So over all, the parts its been thrown at it:
3 head gaskets
1 front wheel bearing
2 float needles
2 bottles of T-cut
A lot of WD40

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

Right, new plan

Ditches the idea of a Mx5 engine, going for an XR4x4 2.8/9 V6 with the 5-speed box AND 4wd gearbox

Get a hold of FWD hubs and spindles
Line the front diff that's attached to the V6 with the centre of the hubs
Put a 3.63 crown and pinion gear in rear axle
Remove gearbox cover
Fit engine and recover the gearbox cover
Make a dog leg set up for gear stick so it's in roughly the same place as triumph stick
Place handbrake lever somewhere
Rear disc conversation
Front disc upgrade
LSD in the back
Coil overs all round
Polybushes and updated springs

God knows how I'll do all the dials. I'm not too familiar with ford electricals and I'll maybe supercharge or turbo it if I want more power

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

Better plan, not using ford running gear and just doing an engine and gearbox swap. Jag 3.0 v6 to be precise. 240hp and 300nm got the 1800kg jag to 60 in 6.9 secs, in a car half the weight, I'm guessing 4-6 maybe, expecting mid 5s if I'm honest

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

Sounds like a mighty project mate and certainly one to watch, hats off for taking it on All the best with it and keep us posted. That would certainly be the ultimate sleeper at the lights!!! Ive had an XJ with that engine...its no slouch!!!!

Kind Regards

Russell.

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Russell A Macfarlane
Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland
1973 (L) Triumph Dolomite 1850 Manual (Non OD), Old English White
2012 (12) Vauxhall Insignia 1800 Exclusiv, Manual (Non OD!!), Technical Grey

Well, that engine can get a 1800kg car to 60 as quick as an Fiesta ST which weighs 4-500kg less. So a car with that engine weighing 800kg less would be rapid.

Got a car lined up, just waiting for storage as where I live isn't best suited for having two cars

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

I concur with Russell, it is an interesting project.


Personally I think you will struggle with all that power to control the car enough to get really quick acceleration from stationary .
There was a Rover V8 powered Escort locally some years ago, it could only really be driven using third and top gears, but even then
only when driven carefully .


Anyhow, I will be watching with interest.


Ian.

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I hadn't actually considered that... it is a lot of power (more so even than the Rover V8), it propelled the significantly heavier jag along with considerable ease, I'm not sure how that could be harnessed in a controlled fashion but it will be an extremely interesting build, guess its all down to suitable gearing (or is there more to it than that - I'm not mechanically minded I'm afraid!!)

Kind Regards

Russell.

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Russell A Macfarlane
Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland
1973 (L) Triumph Dolomite 1850 Manual (Non OD), Old English White
2012 (12) Vauxhall Insignia 1800 Exclusiv, Manual (Non OD!!), Technical Grey

The diff ratio from the jag is 3.07 and the dolly is 3.83 so the gears might be a bit short

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

Got a jag bought to take parts from, it's a nice example and in manual form. Measured up the engine bay and it will fit nice and snug.

The brake servo might need removed to make way so... Manual brakes for me then. Front brakes are going to be upgraded to twin pot calipers and maybe a tracker jack conversation on the rear

Coil overs and polybushes next on the list

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

Great news mate sounds like your making progress! Rather you than me though without a servo

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Russell A Macfarlane
Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland
1973 (L) Triumph Dolomite 1850 Manual (Non OD), Old English White
2012 (12) Vauxhall Insignia 1800 Exclusiv, Manual (Non OD!!), Technical Grey

It's either that or have the throttle body poking through the bonnet over the radiator
I'll see if I can pinch the jags one maybe

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

Either way its going to be some machine

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Russell A Macfarlane
Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland
1973 (L) Triumph Dolomite 1850 Manual (Non OD), Old English White
2012 (12) Vauxhall Insignia 1800 Exclusiv, Manual (Non OD!!), Technical Grey

It is possible to fit a remote servo. I'm sure there will be room for one somewhere.

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Toledo Man

West Yorkshire Area Organiser & forum moderator
Meetings take place on the 1st Wednesday of every month at The Hollies Sports & Social Club, 12 Hough Lane, Bramley, Leeds, LS13 3NE
1972 Dolomite 1850 auto (NYE 751L - The rolling restoration)
2008 Citroën C4 Grand Picasso 2.0 HDi Exclusive (MA08 WCL - the modern)
1995 BMW 318i (M265 PNC - Project Bimmer)
2004 Vauxhall Corsa Design 16V (FE04 FKG - not mine! Being revived)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!

Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com

"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing." Aristotle

Didn't know you could get remote servos, these a lot for £160 that looks like it will do. I just have to fit the engine to see where I can fit it.

I'll add a list of parts that I'll be fitting:
Jag V6
Manual box
15x8 BBS RS rims with Semi-slick tyres (toyo R888)
Coil overs (dual adjust)
Uprated springs with a 1" drop
Polybushes
High ratio steering rack
LSD from Quaife
Wheel arch flares
Roll cage(in the future)

After I've done that and ran it for a few years, it'll be tore down and rebuilt

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So many ideas... So little budget... So little time.

Sounds like you've got a plan in place It certainly won't hang about

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Russell A Macfarlane
Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland
1973 (L) Triumph Dolomite 1850 Manual (Non OD), Old English White
2012 (12) Vauxhall Insignia 1800 Exclusiv, Manual (Non OD!!), Technical Grey