The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

If you're swapping a standard 1850 single rail gearbox fitted to a standard 1850 propshaft for a standard 1850 single rail overdrive box it WILL fit.
I've done it.
The unit is heavy and NOT easy to manoeuvre......... three people under the car and the car on a 4 poster, it was still a nightmare.

Yes it is single rail for single rail with O/D. All components are as originally fitted - this car has never been mucked about with. I will be lifting the engine and box as a single unit with my crane, so don't anticipate too much bother. I hope you are right that it will fit. It seems to me that if I can get it connected up the prop shaft is going to be fully compressed. I don't know if that's a problem or not. Trying to find a correct shorter prop shaft might be pretty tricky.

I believe your 1850 is one of those with the prop sliding joint at the front. These are very prone (for some reason) to seizing up/ sticking.
You will need to make sure that it is completely free to slide throughout it's entire range of travel. Then it should work OK with the O/D box/

Steve

Yes Steve, the sliding section is right at the front just behind the UJ. I'll take the shaft off soon and give it the once over. Nearly ready to lift the engine and box out. Just the radiator to remove, and possibly the alternator and fan. Amazingly the two nuts that hold the exhaust onto the manifold came off without a struggle. Thank goodness for a long socket extension and a universal joint!

Update: I lifted the engine and gearbox out of the 1850HL today and split the box from the engine. When I removed the clutch the crankshaft pilot bush just fell out as took off the clutch assembly. It seems a loose fit in the crankshaft. Is this a common problem?

I see that the front pulley is held on with a bolt that measures 1.5 inch across the flats. Needless to say I have no socket anywhere near that big! Old cars, don't you love 'em.

Bumpa wrote:Update: I lifted the engine and gearbox out of the 1850HL today and split the box from the engine. When I removed the clutch the crankshaft pilot bush just fell out as took off the clutch assembly. It seems a loose fit in the crankshaft. Is this a common problem?

I see that the front pulley is held on with a bolt that measures 1.5 inch across the flats. Needless to say I have no socket anywhere near that big! Old cars, don't you love 'em.

I've had a few spigot bearings fall out like that, a new one will cure it, they are not expensive or hard to get.

Not only is the crankshaft dog nut 1.5" big, it will be flippin' tight too! Before now, I have advised people with problems undoing it, to take the engine to a local independent tyre shop (NOT thicktwit) to be undone with their 1" drive truck airgun. I DO have a 1.5" socket, but only a 1/2" drive airgun which is often not man enough! When the engine is still in the car, I use a big knuckle bar and the starter motor to undo them, once the engine is out, its a bit more difficult!

Steve

Thanks Steve. I too have a 1/2" drive air impact gun. I'll get a socket and have a go with that. Maybe it will and maybe it won't!

On another matter, looking at the parts book last night I notice that the bracket highlighted in my scan below is completely absent on my car. I assume it is desirable to have it, so has anyone got one? I suppose at a push I could manufacture something similar, but better to use the correct part if I can.

Essential reading:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=32065&p=298143&hili ... et#p298143

and the bracket (or A bracket) is a must.

Thanks for pointing that out. I have sent a PM to Alun.

Work is slowly progressing. I took the left front door off the car by hanging it on my engine crane while I removed the bolts. My goodness those doors are heavy when fully made up. I have finished welding the left front sill and it is in primer. Should be fine once painted, and I have put the door back on. Now to tackle the right front sill which won't need welding - I think I've had the flap wheel on it and it cleans up alright. I'll get a proper look at it next time in the daylight.

As for the huge bolt that holds the crank pulley on, I bought a 1/2" drive hexagon socket designed for Rover drive shafts. It was the only 1 1/2" AF one I could find that had a 1/2" drive. I fired up the compressor this afternoon and put the impact driver to work. The bolt submitted after only a few seconds of noisy action. Brilliant gadget the air impact gun.