The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The car f i n a l l y went to paint today, exactly 12 months to the day it arrived with me...not quite the time frame I was expecting nor the escalation of costs, but I guess there's a lesson there!

It's in good company!

Here's a thought - before the car went off to paint, for some crazy reason I tried to fit the gearbox tunnel for the first time as it was supplied loose when I got the car.

The fit, if it can be called that, was appalling - none of the holes lined up and it was all over the place.., it hardly fit anywhere.

Are they normally a bit of a challenge or should it fit pretty well? I think I know the answer to that!

It needs to pull in on the studs at the front but often its a challenge refitting one to the car it came
out of the box with....

Lots of thin screwdrivers to lever holes around and into line will help.

Jonners

Cheers Jonners, feel a bit less horrified now!

The trouble with this spraying malarkey is that I am finding the whole process too stressful!

By that, I mean that I have an idea in my mind of the finish that I am after, and I'm scared to death it's not going to be what I am trying to achieve.

I'm going to see the car at the sprayer's tomorrow...so fingers crossed!

Getting closer....

This is going to be stunnng!

It's back! Well mostly, just the shell, the doors and boot lid etc. weren't finished which is ok.

You gotta love a freshly painted shell.

For the first time in about 20 years, the car is back on four wheels and has its engine and gearbox fitted.

When I took the original axle off it was bent on the nearside and the trailing arm was bent; I've always suspected that as a consequence the chassis was bent.

When it was on the carousel I measured from corner to corner, rear mtgs to front subframe mtgs and it seemed to be ok, now it's got four wheels I've just measured the wheelbase and it's spot on, both sides.

A bit pleased to say the least!

Superb!

Lovely to start with a shell like that!

Tony

Is that "my" box in there?

Please don't run it without oil in....

Castrol manual transmission 80 grade is close to the recommended GX-75.

Jonners

It is Jon yes....don't worry, we're a bit off that yet!

What do you recommend for the diff btw, the same?