The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

O/d was optional from day one. Low take up on the first though, but quickly apparent it should be standard.

theholygrail wrote:O/d was optional from day one. Low take up on the first though, but quickly apparent it should be standard.

Mine is in the first 100 and has overdrive - I've no idea how to see if it was perhaps fitted by a later owner or was an origiinal option since it went through a resto in the 90s, so anything is possible I guess. I would imagine that could have happened to a lot of early ones?

toyracer wrote:Mine is in the first 100 and has overdrive - I've no idea how to see if it was perhaps fitted by a later owner or was an origiinal option since it went through a resto in the 90s, so anything is possible I guess. I would imagine that could have happened to a lot of early ones?

Look at your car's commisson number.
VA for Dolomite Sprint, followed bt a number (they started at 1) then DL or DLO. DL is a saloon. DLO is a saloon supplied with overdrive.
If your car was fitted with overdrive at the factory it should have DLO.

sprint95m wrote: Look at your car's commisson number.
VA for Dolomite Sprint, followed bt a number (they started at 1) then DL or DLO. DL is a saloon. DLO is a saloon supplied with overdrive.
If your car was fitted with overdrive at the factory it should have DLO.

DL it is - clearly someone's added it on afterwards. I guess, as the overdrive isn't working right now, it's in original condition!

Haven't done much this weekend although I did venture down to Plymouth to look over the premises & have a chat with the possible sprayers. Should get a quote from them sometime next week.

Stripped and cleaned the head on Saturday and now in the process of cleaning the valves up before my favourite job (not) of lapping the valves.

Pics of head before stripping.


The Block:

I'm curious Mart, were you not happy with your last choice of sprayer?

David6214 wrote:I'm curious Mart, were you not happy with your last choice of sprayer?

No, not 100%. There were a couple of bits that had runs in so I had to take it back once I'd finished it. Don't get me wrong, it was a very good spray job but when you're forking out £2700 I'd expect it to be perfect. Anyway, this time I thought I'd give someone else a chance to get there hands on a quality classic car.

Mart,

As usual, the progress is relentless and really good.

I can recommend an excellent sprayer but he's in this neck of the woods which probably wouldn't suit you. He does all the work for a very well known classic Ferrari dealer, and is the recommended sprayer by the Aston Owners Club.

He would be similar money to your last man (possibly slightly less on reflection for a stripped shell), but you would have to transport it both ways, which adds cost.

If you get desperate I can put you in touch.

Paul Geering wrote:Yes was an optional extra on early Sprints but not on the first 2000. Having driven mine now with the basic 4 speed box I can tell you that it is great for round town but a right pain anything over 40mph! If it wasn't for originality I would go for O/D everytime.

Resto coming along nicely, thanks for the frequent updates. They are a great read - keep it up.

Agree totally with that Paul. I really would not fancy taking mine anywhere that involved a good bit of motorway driving.

Meant to add to my last post, and slightly O/T, really enjoying your articles Paul in Dolly Mixture. Can't wait to see the finished article!

not try Gary Mart?

He's at Dunkeswell near honiton.

For that sort of money he would do an ace job.

Reg's is on site for your perusal as is my stag if you wnat to see his workmanship...

01404 892 811 is the number

Jonners

Cheers Jonners, I shall give him a ring & see if I can go down on Saturday.

Mad Mart wrote:Stripped and cleaned the head on Saturday and now in the process of cleaning the valves up before my favourite job (not) of lapping the valves.

maybe sixteen valves isn't such a good idea after all .







But remember that feeling of satisfaction you get when it's all done .

At last I've found someone to spray BFR . He's local which is a bonus. I went to look round his place this morning & he had a Cortina MKII 1600E all stripped down on a spit, & a Lotus Cortina MKII which had recently been sprayed, very nice job it was too. BFR will be off there next Saturday but won't be back for 8-10 weeks, so my April finish has moved to May....or June.

I thought I'd make sure that the subframe will drop out with no problems as I don't want to be struggling with seized bolts after it had been sprayed. Just as well, the front left decided it wasn't coming off until I took a hacksaw & hammer to it. I still can't get the rest of the bolt free from the spacer but I have put it soaking in plus-gas over night. I'm sure I have a spare anyway.

Cor Blimey! that plus-gas is good stuff. Took a centre pop & hammer to the bolt this morning & out it popped.