PFX 37W Dolomite 1500 restoration

[LJColeman]

Good evening all,

After purchasing my Dolomite at the end of last year (Thread for that one below) i have been bitten by the bug & always on the look out for more!

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=33461

One evening when sat searching through ebay i came across this lovely looking Pageant blue Dolomite 1500 (1981). The car looked very original and tidy in the pictures. The car has 3 previous owners (all in the same family) and only covered 31,000 miles from new. However it has been off the road for 18 years, But thankfully dry stored!

I went the collect the car yesterday & was absolutely amazed at the condition, The car is 99.9% rust free! It is also extremely original and is a please to look at.

I have had a good look over the car today and had all the brakes etc apart. The list of things required before MOT time is as follows:

Full service inc all filters, Gearbox & diff oils etc
Replacement front & rear brake flexi hoses
Replacement front brake pads
Replacement coolant hoses
Replacement carb fuel hoses
Exhaust rubbers & gaskets
New battery
Electronic ignition kit

The plan with this one is to keep it as original as possible & give it some love. It will be staying within the family so will not be sold on. And i get to enjoy having 2!!

I will keep updated (Pics below from collecting in the pouring down rain!

[LJColeman]

[GTS290N]

That looks like a wise buy!

[Matt Cotton]

Looks lovely Lewis. Well done!

I am sure Richard Old would like to see it one day if you are ever on road test! His kettle is always on and he is often in the garage tinkering!

Matt

[dollyman]

What a nice original car It's not to late to book in for therapy you know, triumph's are very well documented as an addiction

Tony.

[LJColeman]

Thank you all!

I am extremely pleased with car. I have just ordered £300 of bits to replace over the weekend.

Im so glad the car has not been undersealed as i can now get under the car and polish up the floor pan etc and make it look real nice!

[Tony Burd]

Do you know why the vinyl roof & c pillars were fitted, were they local dealer or factory options?

Looks in great condition, nice.

[LJColeman]

Do you know why the vinyl roof & c pillars were fitted, were they local dealer or factory options?

Looks in great condition, nice.

Tony, I am unsure. To me they look factory fitted as the fitting is perfect.

[Carledo]

Do you know why the vinyl roof & c pillars were fitted, were they local dealer or factory options?

Looks in great condition, nice.

Tony, I am unsure. To me they look factory fitted as the fitting is perfect.

A lot of very late "run out" cars like this one got dealer fitted with extra goodies to help shift them, I put loads of Weathershields sunroofs and vinyl roofs on brand new Dollies around this time!

Steve

[LJColeman]

Do you know why the vinyl roof & c pillars were fitted, were they local dealer or factory options?

Looks in great condition, nice.

Tony, I am unsure. To me they look factory fitted as the fitting is perfect.

A lot of very late "run out" cars like this one got dealer fitted with extra goodies to help shift them, I put loads of Weathershields sunroofs and vinyl roofs on brand new Dollies around this time!

Steve

Interesting to know Steve thank you. Like you said this is a very late Dolly so must of been near the end of production i should imagine.

[LJColeman]

Spent the day working on PFX today & got lots of little jobs done. Still lots of work to do before she’s ready for her first MOT after 18 years!

I can’t believe how good it looks & ivd not even polished it yet!

Today’s jobs:

Replaced front & rear rubber brake hoses
Replaced all rubber exhaust mounts
Replaced exhaust downpipe gasket
Replaced front brake pads
Carried out brake fluid change
Replaced diff oil
Replaced gearbox oil
Fitted electronic ignition
Replaced spark plugs
Checked valve clearances
Replaced air filters

Even managed to get NAB out for a quick drive!

[yorkshire_spam]

Skimming past the photos for a brief second I thought the car had magically changed colour!

[LJColeman]

A few more bits done on PFX last night:

* Metal coolant pipe from water pump to heater matrix hoses replaced (Rotten out)
* All coolant hoses replaced
* Radiator removed & sent off to be Re-Cored and refurbished (Leaking at bottom)

Almost ready to be put through an MOT, Just need to remove the awful fog lights from the rear!!

[Carledo]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but on your W reg car, at least one rear foglight is mandatory!

Steve

[LJColeman]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but on your W reg car, at least one rear foglight is mandatory!

Steve

No bubbles burst here! Where theres a will theres a way!