The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

This is something I haven't tried, but I have just switched a four speed to an overdrive box. The easiest way would be to find someone with a manual 1500 who would like an automatic or sell the automatic car and buy a manual one.

If you want to change yours, and suppose it is a know quanity. The first question to ask is what kind of box do you want? Overdrive or four speed? Four speeds are easy to get, I saw loads when I was looking for a replacement for mine. £50 will get you one. Overdrive boxes are as rare as hens teeth, and you will be looking at a bill in the £100's.

Looking at the uniparts manual the automatic box has a different mounting. So you will either need the four speed one for the back of the subframe or the overdrive one, which is a crossmember like the mount for your auto box. You haven't got a clutch, so you will need the clutch, slave and master cyliner, plus pedal. Plus you will need to check if there is a mount in the bulkhead for a clutch pedal. Looking at the parts manual, I am not even sure your car has a flywheel like a manual , the gearbox seems to be connected to the crank in a slightly different manner.

You will of course need the remote, which will come with the four speed box, but might need to be bought seperately for the overdrive one. Plus with the overdrive box, you need, well an overdrive.

You might need a different prop shaft as well, you might be able to reuse the auto, I don't know if they are the same length as the manual ones.. I mean I could be wrong, but it looks like quite an expensive job merely from a parts point of view, and to get at that lot the easiest way would be to take out the engine. It might be possible to get the automatic box out through the transmission tunnel, but don't under-estimate the work required for that.

To be honest manual cars are more common, so it might just be easier to sell what you have and buy a manual.

Derrickduke wrote:Hi

To be fair I haven't posted photographs of the car in the longest time it has being completely resprayed and the bodywork is perfect, I doubt id get a car with as good panels. I may buy a donor car if possible, id have something to compare. Thought there would have being more people would have done it to be honest. Cheers for the reply.

Derrick.

If you search the forum a few people have done Sprints. Out of interest I did have a look to see if there is any info about what you want to do, and it appears that you have to change the backplate of the engine as well.

A donor car sounds quite a sensible root, though I suppose if you are going to that you could try and get some 1850 subframes and put a better engine in while you're are at it.

It is all doable but at what cost and does the end result justify it? It really comes down to the availability of cheap mechanicals, probably best obtained
by buying a rotten 1500HL with overdrive if possible.

You could convert it to slant power with the right subframe for a bit more work, but then you need a lot more wiring change too. Again it comes down to
an available and cheap enough donor car.

Your shell is your best asset. If it drives well enough as is just leave it....

It could easilly consume a man week of summer weather to change it to anything else.

I have most of the bits to turn it into a TR7 powered example, but I'm not getting involved in this weather.

PM me if interested.

Jonners

The guy asks about a 1500 engine and you two pipe up to suggest he fits an 1850/ sprint and even a frigging TR7 lump, WHY surely if he wanted to fit an 1850 or Sprint wouldn't he have asked that?
This forum is turning back into the sprint club


anyhow rant over to do the swap you need

Subframe.
new subframe mounts
Gearbox and mounts
flywheel (with new bolts)/ clutch etc.
engine backplate.
Clutch master and slave cylinder's, and pipe.
Peddle.
Gearbox tunnel.
Some changes to the wiring loom.
carb linkages are different but I think you can retain the original.
You DO NOT need to change the propshaft or Axle
And probably a few other details I have forgotten its a while since I have converted Autos to manual and a manual to Auto.

If you do the swap be careful when you remove the torque converter as they are really heavy!

If he's keeping it 1500, why change the subframe? Is the auto one different?

Jonners

Jon Tilson wrote:If he's keeping it 1500, why change the subframe? Is the auto one different?

Jonners

Yes, (umm I think) the manual SF has the gearbox mount where as the auto SF doesn't so you need the cross member for the autobox mount.

Although I could be wrong as I have done a few in the past so might be getting SF's muddled. Where Dave and his parts book cross referencing when you need him?

I would buy a doner car but there tin on the ground over here, I dont think I would take the job on if I didnt get another car as time wouldnt permit be to go looking for possible missing parts. Thanks for the help lads ill keep my eyes open over here. Chrome work is away getting done ill get a few photos up as soon as I can. Cheers again, how do I go about joining the club?
D.

Where is "over here"? I have enough 1500 bits to supply :- 4 speed non O/D gearbox, gearlever, interior tray with gaitors, prop, mounting, clutch master, slave, pipe, pedal with box, and brake pedal. So you would also need :- engine backplate, flywheel, clutch and spigot bearing to complete the job. However nearly all this is heavy kit so shipping costs may be too exorbitant to contemplate! Or you will probably want to go the extra mile and have overdrive!

Steve

As to joiming the club, see the item labelled "how to join the Dolomite club" at the top of this section!

Derrickduke wrote:Hi
To be fair I know I have posted this before .
D.

Yep five years ago......
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6764&p=63817#p63817

Hi

What I said was "To be fair I know I have posted this before but was wondering in there is any documented photos etc" i should have added to my other post maybe! just incase someone had done the job from my last post, but thanks for the clarification. I have came to the same conclusion its not worth the work, so best not to waste time and money on it. Ill start a thread in the restoration section to let you see the progress, thanks for all the help lads.

Derrick.

Hi,

Found a car to strip, what will i need to take out of the car. And am i better to buy some new parts when im at it.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for ... ar/6498745


Derrick

Hi

Hers is another one, not as complete but might mean dont have to take full car

http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for ... te/6635609


Derrick

I've merged both threads as one of them was in the general chat section (I know one of them was an older thread). Hopefully, it isn't too disjointed (I didn't want to edit any of the posts).

Well
Not al all thats great cheers, you could remove all of my second post as there is better information in the oldest one. And I do plan in getting the doner car. I didnt know it could be done or id have asked.

Derrick

You can edit your own posts. As a moderator I can do a bit more...

EDIT: I've cleaned up the thread so hopefully, it should look a bit better.