RUK - Project Recommission 1972 'Dolomite' Auto

[Toledo Man]

It has just occurred to me that the title of this thread reminds me of a certain legendary 70s kids TV programme presented by the late great Mike Reid.

The image has been shamelessly plagiarized from the TV Cream website.

[James467]

How much still exists after the jet wash?

Cars ok, the hole that Steve made is still there. Aluns trailer however... well um...

[Jon Tilson]

Contact me before getting an exhaust unless you get one really cheaply.

They are about...

I may well have one that I cant use in an overdrive car..

Jonners

[tinweevil]

We can argue about bushes once she's back on the road.

Yes but only if we're arguing comparing new good quality rubber to new polyurethane. If we're comparing decades old cheeze to new anything I'm out.

[James467]

Contact me before getting an exhaust unless you get one really cheaply.

They are about...

I may well have one that I cant use in an overdrive car..

Thanks Jonners, will do, nice to see you back!

[James467]

This afternoon whilst Jack was having his long nap I took the opportunity to have a good look over the car. The advantage of it being on the trailer still is that it's up high and I can get a good look underneath.

As far as I can see the interior just needs a really good clean, a REALLY good clean, one of those I'm getting the VAX out cleans! When you hit a seat dust flies up into the air. Carpets are ok, just tatty and used, I'm just going to clean everything up and replace the speedo with the correct one and thats it. Leave it as interior 'patina!'

Rust wise, well I'd say excellent for a 45 year old car. The OS front inner valence has gone, the same as on NWL, as has the headlamp support panel but I know exactly how to repair that.



On the same side there's a bit of rust by the bonnet mount.



The other side is absolutely fine, some surface corrosion but that's it. The inner wing stiffeners are all rust free, I also took off the inner wing splash panels, all bolts came out very easily (always a good sign!) and its clean behind them.



On both sides there are a couple of holes that will need plating just below the front wings. I thought I would have to replace the bottoms of both wings but they actually look fine and will probably clean up well with a wire brushing.





The only other bit of rust is the hole at the base of the passenger side A pillar that Steve made. A bit of a pain to get to and I'll have to take out the screen to do it but I need to replace the screen rubber anyway. No rust worth talking about on the rear of the car.





Paintwork wise, the front has been resprayed up to the front doors. Not well, it needs cutting back and I think its cellulose. It did come up well with a polish of fine cutting compound. Both OS doors will need to be replaced (not an MOT failure so im not worried) and with the welding that's needed I can easily touch in with a rattle can for now and you wont notice it.



All in it's probably a weekends worth of welding.

The bonnet's sitting proud one side for some reason, will have to fix that!



Engine bay looks good and would benefit from being left well alone!









The first parts arrived this morning!



Onwards!!

[SprintMWU773V]

Copper-Nickel, good man.

Only question is why didn't you buy them from Stevsons? Would have been half the price!

[James467]

Only question is why didn't you buy them from Stevsons? Would have been half the price!

I get an exceptionally good price from Automec!

I forgot to mention that as all of the braking components will be replaced I'll be using silicone brake fluid. Mainly because I have a bottle I want to use up!

[xvivalve]

I have a nice bright yellow powder coated rocker cover that would brighten your engine bay up no end!

[GTS290N]

I have a nice bright yellow powder coated rocker cover that would brighten your engine bay up no end!

He he, you turning into a sales guy?

[Jon Tilson]

If you go the DOT5 route then you need to change every rubber in the system, hoses included. I have done this and it is worth while....
You can do the rear wheel cylinders without removing them if you are careful.

I also have my suspicions that the servo on yours is a 1300/1500 one but I may be wrong on that. It looks a tad small.

Jonners

[James467]

If you go the DOT5 route then you need to change every rubber in the system, hoses included. I have done this and it is worth while....

Thanks Jonners, as the kids will be riding in her I'm going to replace the whole braking system, rubbers and everything. I'll have a look at the Servo, the nuts look undisturbed though, you know me so it will have to come off and be painted anyway so I'll post some pics. I swear I have another new servo in the garage which is exactly the same so I'll have to dig it out.

Alun, stop trying to sell me your tat! Get Mahesh to buy and 1850 and I bet he'll have it!!

The problem I have now is not going too far, so you've all got to keep me on a tight leash!

As I'm here I'll do a quick update...

Today 'Primrose' as she's now affectionately known (yes I know the paint is actually Honeysuckle but my daughter prefers that name!) has a quick interior clean. Nothing too deep, it will probably get dirty when I'm welding.

The difference a hoover and wipe down makes is huge!

As we know, everyone smoked in the '70s.....



My sun visors were the same colour as an Essex girls fake tan, but a spray of Flash ahhhhhhh.....



I can actually touch them now!







Nice.

More importantly, the car no longer smells like my grandmothers living room!

[James467]

In fear of enraging you Jeroen I have searched the forum for this and can't find it.

To repair the bottom corners of the windscreen properly I think the tops of the wings are going to need to be cut off so I have proper access.

I've seen someone do this before but can't for the life of me find it.

Or is it easier to just remove the wings?

[Carledo]

It's easier just to cut the section out of the wing than to remove the whole thing, but you need to find a cutting off disc that is extremely thin or you will lose too much metal to just butt weld it back in. I have a tiny air powered angle grinder that I got from Aldi for about a tenner that works perfectly for this sort of job.

Steve

[new to this]

In fear of enraging you Jeroen I have searched the forum for this and can't find it.

To repair the bottom corners of the windscreen properly I think the tops of the wings are going to need to be cut off so I have proper access.

I've seen someone do this before but can't for the life of me find it.

Or is it easier to just remove the wings?

ive done repairs on a stag windscreen area before by cutting the top corners of the front wings give you more access the repair the windscreen area

Dave