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Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:06 am
by Mad Mart
Glad to see you both back on the track. :thumbsup:

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:50 pm
by lazeruspete
what a ressurection and story.

glad to see it back on track and (hopefully?) more updates.

i am also a big fan of the Holden flatbed!

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2022 8:18 am
by Sprintparts
Thanks for the kind words and comments.

For those interested the Dolomite is sitting on the back of a 1979 Holden HZ "2 Tonner". Holden made a factory "One Tonner" and there was a small number of vehicles converted as after market conversions (with Australian Design Rule approval) for 2 ton capacity, ie extended chassis and lazy axle fitted. I bought this cab chassis a few years ago and built my own tilting deck to aid loading, It usually has my Renault Clio race car on the back and I tow a car trailer with my sons race car on that.

5 Litre Holden V8 with a 5 speed Toyota Hilux manual gearbox. Jaguar 4 piston calipers up front with 4 drum brakes on the rear axles. Power Steering, A/C, power windows, Modified car historic registration means that it is cheaper to register (for road use) than my car trailer!

As stated earlier the Dolly is finally going again after 14 years. Life got in the way, and I built 2 other race cars in between plus the Holden and numerous other builds. No excuse, but gee I am happy that it is finally going again. Did have a few small issues, the biggest problem being the foam in the fuel tank breaking up and blocking the fuel pick up.

When I rebuilt the car the intention was not to over restore it or update or change parts that did not need replacing. This car has been a race car since 1977, has heaps of locally history and been involved in numerous racing "incidents". I did not want a show car, but a race car and keep its patina and feel for what it was/has been.

it would have been easy to replace and upgrade numerous parts, but that is not how the car raced in its day. The car still has a lot of its original OEM nuts and bolts.

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Our 2 Dolomite back together after 14 years separation.

Will try and give a few more updates and news and not be 10 years between post.

Mark

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2022 2:50 pm
by lazeruspete
Sprintparts wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 8:18 am Thanks for the kind words and comments.

For those interested the Dolomite is sitting on the back of a 1979 Holden HZ "2 Tonner". Holden made a factory "One Tonner" and there was a small number of vehicles converted as after market conversions (with Australian Design Rule approval) for 2 ton capacity, ie extended chassis and lazy axle fitted. I bought this cab chassis a few years ago and built my own tilting deck to aid loading, It usually has my Renault Clio race car on the back and I tow a car trailer with my sons race car on that.

5 Litre Holden V8 with a 5 speed Toyota Hilux manual gearbox. Jaguar 4 piston calipers up front with 4 drum brakes on the rear axles. Power Steering, A/C, power windows, Modified car historic registration means that it is cheaper to register (for road use) than my car trailer!

As stated earlier the Dolly is finally going again after 14 years. Life got in the way, and I built 2 other race cars in between plus the Holden and numerous other builds. No excuse, but gee I am happy that it is finally going again. Did have a few small issues, the biggest problem being the foam in the fuel tank breaking up and blocking the fuel pick up.

When I rebuilt the car the intention was not to over restore it or update or change parts that did not need replacing. This car has been a race car since 1977, has heaps of locally history and been involved in numerous racing "incidents". I did not want a show car, but a race car and keep its patina and feel for what it was/has been.

it would have been easy to replace and upgrade numerous parts, but that is not how the car raced in its day. The car still has a lot of its original OEM nuts and bolts.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Our 2 Dolomite back together after 14 years separation.

Will try and give a few more updates and news and not be 10 years between post.

Mark
great pics :)

it is interesting to see the way the seatbelts have been mounted, ive done the same in my car. one thing ive been worried about is if i'll be able to tighten them up enough considering how much length there is, do you have any problems?

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2022 7:52 pm
by soe8m
lazeruspete wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 2:50 pm it is interesting to see the way the seatbelts have been mounted, ive done the same in my car. one thing ive been worried about is if i'll be able to tighten them up enough considering how much length there is, do you have any problems?
It is the only correct way to fit these. Maximum of 10 degrees off from horizontal. This way at an accident you are being held forwards and the lap belts from moving upwards. Angled straps and some do fit these just behind the seats on the floor will press you down at an accident and a lot of unneccessary spline fractures are caused this way only by fitting the belts the wrong way.

Jeroen

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 9:57 pm
by lazeruspete
soe8m wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 7:52 pm
lazeruspete wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 2:50 pm it is interesting to see the way the seatbelts have been mounted, ive done the same in my car. one thing ive been worried about is if i'll be able to tighten them up enough considering how much length there is, do you have any problems?
It is the only correct way to fit these. Maximum of 10 degrees off from horizontal. This way at an accident you are being held forwards and the lap belts from moving upwards. Angled straps and some do fit these just behind the seats on the floor will press you down at an accident and a lot of unneccessary spline fractures are caused this way only by fitting the belts the wrong way.

Jeroen
hence the reason why we did it the way we did, but I've still been worried about whether I'm going to be able to take up all of the slack in the shoulder belts.

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2022 12:09 am
by Sprintparts
lazeruspete wrote: Sat Aug 27, 2022 9:57 pm
soe8m wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 7:52 pm
lazeruspete wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 2:50 pm it is interesting to see the way the seatbelts have been mounted, ive done the same in my car. one thing ive been worried about is if i'll be able to tighten them up enough considering how much length there is, do you have any problems?
It is the only correct way to fit these. Maximum of 10 degrees off from horizontal. This way at an accident you are being held forwards and the lap belts from moving upwards. Angled straps and some do fit these just behind the seats on the floor will press you down at an accident and a lot of unneccessary spline fractures are caused this way only by fitting the belts the wrong way.

Jeroen
hence the reason why we did it the way we did, but I've still been worried about whether I'm going to be able to take up all of the slack in the shoulder belts.
All our race cars these days have harness bars built in the roll cage, so directly behind the seat at the ideal height with very short shoulder straps which means less stretch in the case of an accident.

The reason that the belt was fitted like this has been, because that was the way it was in the day, still meets modern safety requirements and works fine. Ideally the shoulder straps should be as short as possible, (less length less stretch), but strap angle (from horizontal) is more critical than length, as oblique angles can cause loads across the top of the shoulder, rather than chest area, can cause compress of the spine, how do I know because many years ago it happened to me.

Without a roll cage to attach the harness, there is very little choice in a sedan (or hatch). A high back seat will offer even more protection to your spine, support your back and could also take some load of the belt depending on your height and seat design. The best way of protecting yourself is not have an accident and need the belt. :D

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2022 12:25 am
by Sprintparts
I don't know if anyone follows Australian motor sport but thought that I might post this link relating to seat belt safety.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/08/31/to ... wareness/

Tony Quinn is a well respected member of Australian Motor sport, part owner of 888 Supercar team, Porsche Carrera Cup competitor, owner of several race tracks in both Australia and NZ and absolute car nut (owns a AM Vulcan!!)

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:08 am
by Sprintparts
The car was delivered to the National Motor Racing Museum at Bathurst today, as part of a display acknowledging the end of Group C Touring Car racing (Dec 1984)

Will be there until at least January 2025.


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https://www.facebook.com/NationalMotorRacingMuseum/

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 10:55 am
by Sprintparts
A short video of the race car a the Canberra Festival of Speed last weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjOXvdMkuTY

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:35 pm
by xvivalve
Superb! Back where it belongs, not gathering dust in a static display!!

Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration

Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 7:41 am
by Sprintparts
xvivalve wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:35 pm Superb! Back where it belongs, not gathering dust in a static display!!
Totally agree, but it will be going back to the museum in a few weeks after doing another event. Currently the museum option is great way to create some space in an over flowing garage. The trip to the museum is a 400km round trip, the car is well looked after and at least it is being seen rather that sitting in a crowded garage under a cover. Current plan is the car will return home later in the year to do a historic race meeting.

My garage already has 2 active race cars, plus other cars, and I need to make some room in the garage for my road Sprint (which I have owned for 40 years) which is returning home after having some firewall repairs. The "road" Sprint has been off the road since 2008 and is under going a refresh with with some modern upgrade, a light resto mod.

Mark