Re: Sprintparts #43 Rebuild/Restoration
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:06 am
Glad to see you both back on the track. 

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/
great picsSprintparts 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.
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
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.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?
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.soe8m wrote: ↑Fri Aug 26, 2022 7:52 pmIt 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.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?
Jeroen
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.lazeruspete wrote: ↑Sat Aug 27, 2022 9:57 pmhence 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.soe8m wrote: ↑Fri Aug 26, 2022 7:52 pmIt 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.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?
Jeroen
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.