The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Yep, that's the one. Now you know my eBay username. I'm not bothered about it being restrictive. It can't be worse than a factory one can it? I just want a quiet, leak free exhaust that is fit-and-forget. I don't think the Rimmer's stainless sports exhaust really suits an 1850 auto and mine's too noisy. At that price it is a steal even taking into account the petrol I use driving down to Repton in Derbyshire to collect it. I wish the seller would get back to me to let me know when I can collect. Brown still has the original brackets so fitting it should be easy enough. I might get one of the tyre fitters to do it as I'll need the rubbers & manifold nuts if nothing more.

I got new front tyres fitted costing me £28 each. I used a different tyre place because they were cheaper. The fitter suggested that I put some miles on them before having the tracking done so I'll be going back tomorrow. The tyres were branded Nexen but the fitter told me that they were manufactured by Dunlop. They were inflated to 32psi. I questioned it but the fitter said that it should be fine at that pressure.

Got another job crossed off the list. I got the tracking done so that's fine. I picked up the exhaust today. I don't have the rubber mountings so I'm gonna have to order some. Also Brown is running like a bag of spanners. When in neutral the car will rev fine but when under load (such as driving uphill) the car will struggle. What could it be? Somebody suggested fuel starvation so I took the fuel pump cover off and cleaned out some crud that was there. Really, I need to take it off and do the job properly. It hasn't really helped with the problem. Having a blowing exhaust doesn't help either.

Brown's running fine now. The ignition timing was way out so once it was adjusted it was fine. The "automatic" badge arrived from Mick Dolphin so that was fitted as you can see in the pic below:

I was able to get some exhaust mounting rubbers from my trusty local motor factor so I swapped the exhaust and the car is a LOT quieter. I've reached the point where the most important jobs have been done. It ain't over yet but there's nothing urgent that needs doing.

That's not fair now, your badge is shinier than mine!

The joints on the exhaust were all blowing so I've managed to nip them up bar one. The first joint after the manifold needs a new clamp but the others are now fine. I topped up the dashpots with ATF, replaced the float chamber gasket on the front carb, balanced the carbs (the old fashioned way with a tube), set the points and hey presto, the car now runs like a dream. I'm sooooooooooo pleased! Trouble is I've run out of money until the next pay day.

This is the list of jobs left to do:
Replace the front shock absorbers (they've started to leak)
Replace the front springs
Rebush the suspension
Clean and repaint the wishbones, trailing arms, etc
Rebuild the carbs (I might not need to do this as Brown's running fine. It depends on fuel consumption)
Change the engine oil
Change the oil filter
Replace the bottom ball joints
Replace the steering column bulkhead bush
Respray bonnet, bootlid & roof
Fit BL badges on the front wings
Replace the brake hoses
Replace the steering rack bushes
Replace the wing mirrors or fit door mirrors

Cor, wish I had a payday that allowed that list to be completed

So do I Derek!

I have a good pair of new/old stock front dampers. They're unused and the rods aren't rusty, so they won't start to leak as soon as they're called upon to do any work, one is metallic blue, the other solid blue but they are of the same part number and yours for what they cost me if you're ever up this way. (I had bids on two sets, won both didn't I! )

John, if the price is right I'll gladly take them off your hands. My rears were £18 apiece from Fitchett's so if you can do better than that I'm interested. I might not bother with the springs unless they're broken but my front shockers definitely need replacing. It'll have to wait a couple of weeks when I get paid. Next pay day is the 24th so it'll have to wait until then unless I can sell some of my surplus spares.

Brown's first long distance run since collecting the exhaust was mixed. The car ran fine on the way there but I had exhaust problems (caught it on a high kerbstone at Reighton Sands caravan park) which were fixed with some paste, a clamp from the sports exhaust that was in the boot (lucky!) and the few tools I had in the car. The points started to play up but the car was still drivable so when I got back I got some new points, fitted them and all is well once again. Fuel economy is improving but I need another long run with the car running properly all the time.

I'm in no urgent rush to get rid of the spare dampers, and possibly a swap for some of your surplus bits could be organised?
Anyway, glad you're getting the car sorted, let me know if you do decide that you'd like the bits.

John, a swap would be great for me as I've run out of money until my next pay day. I'm sure we could come to some arrangement. If you can make it over to my storage unit you can have your pick.

The exhaust is still blowing in places so I'm just about to get under the car and try to sort it all out properly (I end up doing stuff twice). The left front shocker is making squeaking noises so that'll be my next priority (yes, I'll be replacing both the fronts) when I get paid on the 24th or when I get some of my eBay stuff sold whichever is sooner. I need to investigate a rattle from the front end when I hit speed bumps/potholes which I thought might be the front shockers. The steering column bush also needs replacing. Other than that there's nothing urgent that needs doing as soon as poss. Jod has offered me the opportunity to plunder whatever bits I need off an early Dolly which will be a big help in crossing off more jobs on my list.

Did a bit more work today:

I had to redo the 2 rearmost joints on the exhaust. When I reassembled them I used exhaust putty instead so they should now be leak free. I can hear blowing coming from the manifold but I can feel anything from the manifold/downpipe joint. Does anybody have any ideas on this one? I've added another job to the list. When the car was up on the stands I had the NS front wheel off and I checked the brake pads and the outer one had more wear than the inner one which would explain the slight pull to the left when braking so not only new pads but I'll need to free off that outer piston in the caliper to avoid a repeat performance. I took a look at both springs and they look fine (well, they're in one piece) so I don't think they need to be replaced. The real reason for having the front wheel off was to investigate a knock coming from the front suspension and lo and behold the tie bar bushes are past their best so that'll be more stuff for the shopping list. The nuts don't appear to have budged (probably been there since the 1970s so they'll be rusted on. Nothing a bit of Plus Gas won't solve) so I'm certain the threads will be fine. See for yourself in the photos:

Today I nipped up the exhaust manifold/downpipe joint nuts but there's still a blow so I suspect a few more sessions of this will eventually do the trick. I've also aligned the NSF door gap and it has reduced the wind noise. Only a week to go until pay day then I can order the front suspension parts I now badly need (shockers & tie bar bushes) and the steering column bush. I can also pay Jod a visit to cannibalize the early 1850 for the bits he has so kindly offered me.