NYE 751L - 1972 1850 auto

[Toledo Man]

None of the motor factors have the correct ATF in stock so I might have a look on ebay. I didn't lose much fluid so it isn't too critical. I loosened the downpipe bracket and the downpipe nuts on the manifold. Once I'd moved the downpipe away and wedged my crowbar in to stop it from moving, I tightened up the bracket and the manifold nuts. A quick test drive round the block confirmed I'd cured the exhaust knock. I bought some more speaker wire and I've completed the speaker installation. It is so much better tham the other speakers which are now surplus to requirements.

With the rear shelf speakers done I can cross that job off my list.

[Toledo Man]

Dolly wouldn't start. It was turning over but not firing. The weather was damp so my first thought was that the dizzy cap had condensation on the inside. When I took the cap off, a chunk had broken off. The contacts were all still intact so I gave the inside of it a wipe with some kitchen roll and it fired up on the button. I'll have to order a replacement cap because I don't have any in stock. A couple of days ago, I put £15 worth of 97 octane unleaded in the tank from a local Esso and I'm sure it has transformed the car. It runs and idles better. It is worth the extra money. A shame the local Asda has just the one flavour of unleaded.

[Toledo Man]

I've ordered a new dizzy cap from Rimmer Bros. It started up on the button today. I ordered some ATF via ebay earlier on this week so I'm still waiting for that to arrive so I can check the fluid level.

[tony g]

You can of course check the fluid level before you have new in stock

Tony

[Toledo Man]

I'd rather wait until I've got the fluid then I can check and top up (if necessary) at the same time. I've not gone any great distance in the car (just round town) and everything seems to be fine.

[Toledo Man]

I've just had this given to me.

I had no intention of fitting an oil pressure gauge but being a typical Yorkshireman, I'm not one to pass up a freebie. It is useful to have and I can add it to my job list. Talking of which, I've just revised the list and this is it in no particular order.

Fit a replacement washer bottle strap.
Fit the correct autobox exhaust bracket.
Fix the driver's seat diaphragm.
Fit a switch for the heated rear window.
Mount the trip reset knob.
Fit the oil pressure gauge.
Find the oil leak (it could be the oil pump).
Fix the OSR wing dent.

[Carledo]

I've just had this given to me.

I had no intention of fitting an oil pressure gauge but being a typical Yorkshireman, I'm not one to pass up a freebie. It is useful to have and I can add it to my job list. Talking of which, I've just revised the list and this is it in no particular order.

Fit a replacement washer bottle strap.
Fit the correct autobox exhaust bracket.
Fix the driver's seat diaphragm.
Fit a switch for the heated rear window.
Mount the trip reset knob.
Fit the oil pressure gauge.
Find the oil leak (it could be the oil pump).
Fix the OSR wing dent.

Or you could just send it to me for Christmas!!!!

Steve

[Toledo Man]

The transmission fluid came in the post (had to collect from the local office after the postie tried to deliver it yesterday). I put some more super unleaded in and when I got back I checked the fluid level and ended up putting the whole 500ml bottle in to bring the level up to where it should be so I'm now set for tonight's West Yorkshire meeting.

[Toledo Man]

The dizzy cap came in the post today. It is a Britpart item. Hopefully, it is better than some of the poor quality ignition parts that are out there. I don't want this replacement cap going the same way as the old one so to prevent this, I'm going to change the securing clips on the dizzy. The Sprint dizzy still has the original clips which don't fit the 45D4 cap properly and probably caused the cap to break. I've got a couple of dizzys from my OHV cars I've had in the past so they should yield a suitable pair of clips. This means that the Sprint dizzy will have to come out and it is also the perfect opportunity to set the ignition timing now that I'm running on super unleaded.

[Toledo Man]

I had a look in the loft and only one of the dizzys is a 45D4. The other is a 25D4 and has the Vernier adjustment. I took the dizzy out to the car and the clip is the same as on the Sprint dizzy so I just swapped the cap over. The Britpart cap looks to be a bit more substantial than the one that came off. They're made for Land Rovers so they should be fine in a Dolomite. It went on without any problems and the car started on the button. This is the old one which came off the car.

The part which broke off was closest to the cylinder head so I'm wondering if it got damaged during the engine removal.

[Toledo Man]

I've ordered an under dash bracket for the oil pressure gauge. I just need a T piece then I can get it all fitted.
For the HRW switch, I'm toying with a couple of ideas. I was thinking of either fitting a switch from another BL car of the same era (Mini or TR7 spring to mind) or a simple toggle switch with a separate indicator light.

[xvivalve]

You should have said when you were here, I have a couple of the early HRW below dash switches complete with bracketry spare; you could have had one.

[Toledo Man]

Yeah, you did mention you had an early type HRW switch but I forgot!

[Toledo Man]

The windy weather his highlighted the loose door mirror. The problem is with the plinth. The holes I'd drilled for the screws are slightly too big so the screws are loose. I was thinking of getting some setscrews and nuts to secure the plinth. I had a look around and I found some screws the right size along with some spire clips. The door card had to come off so I could get behind the door skin to get the screws started on the spire clips. This was a pig of a job but once the screws were started, tightening them up was relatively easy and it has done the trick.

Now some of you may have noticed that the mirror is at a funny angle. I could live with it as it is but it doesn't look quite right. The solution to that problem is a chrome plinth kit.

The photo has been taken from the Tex Automotive website.

[Toledo Man]

I've just ordered THIS instead which will do the same job as the chrome plinth.