The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:36 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 45 posts ]  Go to page 1 2 3 Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:13 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:42 pm
Posts: 3937
Location: Forest of Dean
What are the parts that changed between early and late sprints & 1850? I'm talking about the facelift changes, not really interested in the early cars having grease nipples on the ball joints for example as they probably just dissappeared as suppliers varied rather than as part of the facelift. Same goes for brass expansion tanks unless anyone can show it was part of the facelift.

I'm after making a complete definitive list. Here's a start, I'll add other suggestions when they are confirmed. Hopefully we'll end up with enough key words that a search will pop up this thread whenever the question arises in the future. I've just done some searches and not found a lot although I'm sure we've covered it a dozen times.

Seats - Headrests added.
Wiring loom - Early had bullet connectors, later Ripaults multiplugs.
Grab handles - Early dangly.
Curved dash plank - Early retangular hazard hole and no HRW switch, late round hazard hole and HRW switch.
Hazard switch.
Both clocks - different faces.
Multi warning cluster - different wedge pattern.
Rubbing strips on doors / wings - added
Number plate illumination - long stag/spit style replaced with 2 pimples.
Sprint wheel studs and nuts - early xx, late yy?

Other than the hole for the heated rear window switch was the early parcel shelf different at all?

Tinweevil

_________________
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.


Last edited by tinweevil on Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:00 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:34 am 
did triumph start stamping the chasis number into the boot lip on a certain date?
windscreen washer bottle/pump changed?


Last edited by 1300dolly on Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:41 am 
Offline
TDC Staffs Area Organiser
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:08 pm
Posts: 5429
Location: The Old Asylum
Sill strips removed on later models

_________________
Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:41 am 
It's also depending on the market. If I'm right all late Sprints shipped to Switzerland had LSD's by default. There were other markets where they shipped rear seat belt or heavy duty shocks & springs by default.

Further more the rubber on the underriders got massively smaller on the later cars and the front badging changed.


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:05 am 
Offline
TDC West Mids Area Organiser
User avatar

Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:13 pm
Posts: 13316
Location: Over here...can't you see me?
Brass tank was part of earliest change, outlet moving to bottom of tank was part of second change I believe

The early clocks changed to peripheral vision clocks before the Sprint was launched and is therefore not a 'facelift' item strictly speaking.

Windscreen spec changed as part of the facelift to 10:20 XXX laminated

Overdrive became standard rather than optional; gear lever tray surround and vinyl gaiter introduced at same time as standard as non overdrive cars had a carpet gaiter

Door mirror to driver's side only, with option for offside

Long stem interior rear view mirror

Twin circuit brakes introduced as part of the last series change

Chassis number to boot gutter as part of last series change

Under rider support tubes (and holes through lower valance) dissappeared at first face lift

Seat belt bayonet and keeps altered at first face lift along with the weave of webbing to belts themselves

Bootlock retaining mechanism changed at second facelift

Badges altered to later script (and design for front) with front valance badge being deleted at first face lift

75W headlamps changed to 50W at first facelift

Carburettor type and shape and colour of filter box changed at each facelift

Waterpump and cover changed twice

...bored now


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:27 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:42 pm
Posts: 3937
Location: Forest of Dean
Right, I feel better now.

So how many revisions were there? A revision I would define as a number of items changing together probably associated with a big press brouhaha rather than evolutions of single parts along the way. I was referring to the 75/76 revision but if there are others can we record those too?

_________________
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:44 am 
Brass filler plug replaced by plastic item.

"Frosted" front indicators.

And of course another gearbox for the 1850.

Change of hubcaps to black plastic ones for 1850 along with change of design of wheel nuts.

All found on later cars.

I believe the rear lights were change in some way too - could someone else in an anorak confirm this please?


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:55 pm 
My annorak is a bit more of a pullover.

I think my Sprint has had too many changes to be able to make any useful comparisons.


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:29 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:42 pm
Posts: 3937
Location: Forest of Dean
All good stuff, now how do we hammer this lot into some coherent shape? Can't really see any way to get it into groups or even in date order yet. Need more detail with the statements of change.

_________________
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:47 pm 
I'd have thought you want a nice 'sticky' post with it all in, sorted by year then category (interior/exterior/mechanical)

e.g.
  • 1976
    • Interior
      • Dash updated (HL models)


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:19 pm 
Quote:
I'd have thought you want a nice 'sticky' post with it all in, sorted by year then category (interior/exterior/mechanical)

e.g.
  • 1976
    • Interior
      • Dash updated (HL models)
Even better in my view would be to sort it by VIN as it is done in all the specialist books about TR, Spitfire, ........


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:32 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:42 pm
Posts: 3937
Location: Forest of Dean
Good ideas. Can you scan an example page Holger?

_________________
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:33 pm 
I'd have thought dates would be easier to remember though. Maybe use both (WFxxxxx onwards [1977])

It does of course require those that know to add dates/comm numbers/both to the above listings....


Top
   
 Post subject: My Take...
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:42 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
Posts: 11179
Location: Middlesex
There are basically 4 revions of dolomite...

I'll call them series 1 - 4. I dont know the VIN changes but here goes...

Series 1 - centre roof light, rubber moulded boot mat, cool instruments, hrw switch under dash, panel rheostat, big under riders and through panel fixing, centre box type seat betls, seperate colour side and indicators. bullet type wiring loom, stromberg carbs, slot on head amd smaller exhaust valves, 6 vane water pump....3 rail gearbox, straight exhaust. Stainless rostyle wheel trims, Quality cut pile carpets with felt underlay.
trumph badge on front valence, square blue BL badges on wings, no door mirrors. Old style number plate light. Long stainless cill trim.

Cars in this series are up to mid 73 from production start.

During this series there were some mods...

Hardura boot mat, side mounted roof light, seprate stalk seat belts.
These are the only differences betwen 5000 and 19000, which wee built in early and late 72.

Series 2. Major changes were made to wiring loom, Early SU carbs were fitted (side pulling retirn spring and no waxstats) and peripheral vision instruments. This change happened in late 73. Ive never owner one of these but Ive worked on a few. Cant remember if the hrw dash switch was fitted yet but suspect not to match with early Sprints. Still has 3 rail g-box and straight exhaust. Later type front bumper with short under riders.


Sereis 3...the rot sets in...Yuky plastic wheel trims, side door buffer trim (rust trap) moulded rubber backed carpets, single rail box, stupid exhaust.
I think this is when the hrw switch moved to the dash. This was late 75 onwards but not called HL's yet...no badge on valence. Rob Graingers green auto is one of these but it wasnt registered until 78! Chrome insert on rear window rubber added sometime around now. Door mirrors added.

Series 4....badged 1850 HL...waxstat SU's, 12 vane pump, bigger valves, no slot in head. (TR7 style) Cheap number plate lights. These are mid 76 R reg to the end...(I have seen some P's like this) from then on it was much the same, PLL (80) is almost identical to LCO (76) except for visible join on the screen pillars that used to be filled in, no cill trim. Different VIN numbers came in in late 79, which means they will be stamped in the boot too.

there are some badging details I cant remember...
Sprint changes will match. The ohv cars too but these were only called dolomites to match from series 4 on. they dont change much...vynil seats on early 1300's being about all I can think of.

I suppose the major observation is how litlle they changed. This either proves they were right in the first place or lacked ddevelopment funding depending on your point of view. I'd contend that the change to SU carbs from strombergs was the only worthwhile major one. You'd be hard pressed to tell a bigger valve head and what difference does the 12 vane pump make?

Do I get the prize for the fleeciest parka with the longest zip?

Snore....I'll get me coat (sorry anorak)

Jonners

_________________
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.


Top
   
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:58 pm 
Just Wow!


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 45 posts ]  Go to page 1 2 3 Next

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google and 33 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited