The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Damn shame about the switch. If we can find a way to get the body apart from the rest I can probably
fine a new body with a broken inner bit and do one from two.
I never throw anything away...

And yes there should be a spring in the sliding collar bit.

No promises but I'll see if I can find one...and there is a whole column on ebay atm...

Jonners

Thanks Dave, it's great to see your thread back up and running again, I did wonder where it went. Thats the plan, I'll be test fitting everything as it's finished in the hope that once the bodywork is done and it comes back from paint everything should just bolt straight back on.

He hopes!!

Thanks Jonners, the replacement switch should be arriving tomorrow. Do you want the old one? I don't throw anything either! Oh and I have my eye on that column as it's only in Wycombe! Can we talk about gearboxes at some point?

Oh and just in case anywone was wondering why my pictures outside of the workshop now have a white background...

Are you a professional photographer or just a keen amateur? Digital SLRs ain't cheap. I just use the camera on my phone (Nokia Lumia 830 which replaced my N8 a few months ago) and post the unmodified photos. I do try to compose the picture before taking it so I don't just point and shoot. Your parts will just go straight back on. All you've done is to restore them to as-new condition without any modification. My thread was moved because of some not-so-nice comments made on it (I shan't mention any names). Now my car is back on the road with the major problem dealt with properly it is in the members only section pending a return to this section.

I would say that I'm somewhere between keen amateur and professional, working my way towards the professional end! I shoot RAW, then put everything in Lightroom where I can then develop the pictures and put them straight into Flickr for the forum posts. I have quite a nice workflow ruinning now. When composing the shots I can't really tell you what I do, I just do what er... feels right!

The reason for the light table is that once I am finished I want to create a proper photo book detailing every aspect of the restoration. The plan is to create a proper large hardback book detailing every aspect of the restoration including a bit of history of the marque, the cars provenance, the restoration process etc... I need to negotiate somehow with the heritage centre to get some sort of proof from them that this is one of the final 10 Sprints to come off of the production line. This will then stay with the car along with the receipts and service books as a record of the resotoration and should hopefully help when I'm displaying the car. You never know maybe it will get published!!

Everything thats been done already, subframe, rear axle etc... will be re-photo'd in the light room in due course. What I also plan to do is to photo the shell repaired, ie new sills fitted but unpainted etc.. before it goes off for paint. It's going to be bit fiddly and means that I have to keep a clean and tidy garage, and carry the strobes out there when I'm taking photos of work done but the results should look good.

Spring for the sliding collar is on the way and the replacement switch arrived this morning so I can finally get the column reassembled.

I'm now on to my next dilemma, the steering wheel. The rim on mine has seen better days and although the spokes could be cleaned up it'll let the car down. I was going to get a new one from Rimmers but they have since run out of them, any ideas where I could source a new one, or does someone have a really nice used one?

Ta

My original steering wheel is not in good shape, the foam rim is basically shot and has come away from the internal frame as well as the spokes being really pitted, so it's not going back on the car.

I'd like a Moto-Lita with a leather rim and black spokes but it wouldnt be original so thats out of the question.

I had a wheel that I bought from Dan, it's not technically period correct having a leather rim nonetheless I thought I'd have a go at replicating the satin factory finish on it. I wanted to go for a satin finish to them as I felt that polishing them would be a bit to bling and non standard.

I have simply keyed the spokes and dusted them with some thin coats of silver plasticote. I don't think it looks too bad, probably better with a laquer on it to give it a bit of a shine.

Dont get me wrong, I'm not 100% happy because it's not original but I think until I can find a really good wheel to replace it with I think it will be ok.

Funny that decent wheels like rear lights used to be plentiful.

Now they are in short supply.

I have a mountney on my Spit which is very nice.

We can talk gearboxes but with the standard of work you are achieving here I think you would just want helpfull
pointers doing your own. Given what you have achieved with the propshaft and steering rack I think you would enjoy
doing the box and overdrive...

Jonners

I have a mountney on my Spit which is very nice

I do like some of the mountney wheels. I also like some of the wheels that Grant do, they're an American company and if you have ever watched Fast'n Loud you'll be familiar with them. The boss is the issue there, but they also do wheels with a nice deep dish, not doo deep mind, I dont want the Escort rally car look, just a nice dish....

Thanks Jonners, I will PM you re the box.

Right, update to follow, just uploading pictures to Flickr!

I'm waiting for my replacement pinion to arrive but as I had everything to reassemble the column I thought I'd just start from the top down.

So I tidied up my workbench and set to work.



Starting with the column upside down I fixed on the lock mechanism being careful not to shear the bolts in case I needed to remove them.



Then fixed the indicator stalk followed by the new wiper stalk which screws to the rear of the wiper stalk bracket. I have taped the looms to the column to prevent them getting in the way, this also helps when you do the next step.







I then fitted the wiring guide, freshly painted in gloss black. This simply screws into the 'T' peice towards the top of the column.



After hunting everywhere for this missing column adjusting boss spring I decided to make a new one as they are unavaliable any more. I sources a length of 15mm O.D. spring and cut it to length then ground down the ends on the bench grinder to ensure they were flat.





This fits perfectly inside the boss and give just enough spring tension to release the two halves enabling adjustment of the column and to stop the adjusting nob coming undone when tight.

To fit, first slide the corrugated sleve up the shaft, I found the best way to get it past the wiring loom was to compress it. Once this is on then you can fit the lower wiring guide clamp. Then pop the spring in to the boss, compress and slide it into the column support bracket. Fit the bolt lining up the cut out with the hole for the securing pin which can then be drifted in. You can then fit the washer followed by the rubber washer and knob.

and hey presto!





Here I have also fitted the upper shroud which forms a complete steering column assembly ready to be fitted.

The lower support has been painted in gloss black (original colour on mine) and fitted with a new poly support bush. I'm not going to even think about a new one as these ar by far the best way to go.





Three bolts later and the columns fitted!









It feels so much tighter than it did when removed. Probably due to the lower bush being perished but the column itself feels so much better with fresh grease and re-adjusted. One thing I did notioce was that the lower bush rotates with the column, is this right?

I don't like this switch but until I can find a better one it'll have to stay.



After a trip through the dishwasher the centre pad on the steering wheel came up really well!



I popped on the washer, intermediate shaft and knuckle just to make sure everything fitted correctly. Looks good...



One thing I did notice when test fitting the column is that you can see the extent of the accelerator mounting metal fatigue and cracking which will need to be repaired with the rest of the bodywork.



Just waiting for the pinion to arrive and I'll get the rack back together.

James467 wrote:I don't like this switch but until I can find a better one it'll have to stay.

You could probably remove the surface discolouration with a mildly abrasive polish - try Autosol, I've used that on plastics before.

You probably already know this bit its a lot easier to fit the dash without the column in place...
You can just drop it out of the support bracket and leave it in...but you will have to drift the roll pin out again
if you fitted it or the through bolt won't come out...

And no the bush should NOT go round with the column. The column is supposed to rotate in the bush.
Looking again you may not have pushed the bush in far enough...

Jonners

James467 wrote: One thing I did notioce was that the lower bush rotates with the column

The bush should not rotate - I bet the flat spacer washer is missing from the inside of the bulkhead bush retention plate thus allowing the bush to rotate

Paul

Thanks Pippin, I gave it a go but it didnt make much difference, I'll just have to keep an eye out for a good replacement.

Yes, the column's only in so I can move the car around easier, once I come to refit everything I'll drop it out.

The washer's there but it's on the uj end, which is how it looked like it was fitted in the parts diagram. I also greased up the bush before I fitted it so this may have something to do with it! I'll pull up the lower column shaft take off the plate and have a good look at it, it may just be because I have applied a bit too much of that silicojne grease that comes with it.

Reading the workshop manual there is also reference to a plastic washer,



57.40.01
Refitting
9. "Enter the steering-column in the lower bush, ensuring that the plastic washer is fitted inboard and the steel washer is fitted outboard."

I dont have a plastic washer, nor did I see one when i took the column out, so I suspect that this was something that has either broken down and fallen off or was never fitted. Anyone seen this? If it is required I have plenty so I'm sure I can find one that fits.

James

Part diagram refers to a what looks like flat washer above the flexible joint and I am assuming below the
bulkhead bush - part No. WP116 page 05-09 1976 part cato.


When i removed my column + support brackets for refurbishment - found no loose washers on the column shaft either plastic or metal. I did find a worn hole where the bulkhead bush fits - so I removed the metal washer that was on the back side (non engine bay side) of the bulkhead plate made a washer to fit as the O.D of the washer was to big, I.D was correct 20mm I think. Got it welded into position, addition weld to fill in the oval hole and with a bit of tidying up with a file its as good as new.

Paul