The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Oli_88 wrote:I'm not entirely sure there's enough steering lock available on a dolly to make it a competitive car, would definitely be fun though!.

I always thought it was damn good!

Dolly-Nut wrote:

Oli_88 wrote:I'm not entirely sure there's enough steering lock available on a dolly to make it a competitive car, would definitely be fun though!.

I always thought it was damn good!

Same as,I was surprised how much lock it does have as standard!!!
I have been drifting all sorts of cars for many years and it has more than enough
Looks like someone may rescue the sprint from me and my angle grinder!!!

Hi all
Not that ive got my dolly yet (Still selling things to get funds ) but has anyone done a ford crossflow or pinto transplant on a dolly yet?

Yup.My old rally Toledo had a xflow with a 105e box.I didn't carry out the conversion but from what I can remember the sump was from an early xflow and had the timing cover dip stick at the front with(obviously) the sump oil collection being at the front.I think the inner gearbox cover was a made item but I don't think the gearlever was too far back.This was then taken out by me (for an escort) and I replaced it with a 2.1 ford ohc onto the same box.This was a bit of a mare as the clutch was a mix of bits(iirc) the starter was a pre engaged Cortina item(that worked when it wanted to) and the sump was taken into work to be fabricated as the sump well sat exactly in the middle and the pick up was modded to suit.Twas very fast and uncontrollable,even with a slipper.I wouldn't go this route,maybe mazda is the way forward.

Can you remember how the enging mounts went for the crossflow?
Where they made up straight from the bodywork or from the original mountings that i belive are on the sub frame?

Alas it was a long time ago,before camera phones and stuff.Possibly off the body as when the ohc went in I had to take the heater off and cut some bulkhead away because of the angle as it was sat very tilted back.But this is a guess .The car was pretty much seam welded everywhere for strength so im thinking that the mounts would have been made up for ease.Not the way I would go in the future but it was all done for purpose.Needed the xflow for an escort and was offered the ohc very cheap.It was done with the help of friends and wasn't as straight forward as it would have been in a ford.These parts have become expensive now and the mazda would probably be the cheapest route,that said carledo`s car seems a good way to go but it has been a while since I have seen a carlton to cut up.They have probably become classics in their own right

Attended a drift practise day in the 1500cc engined dolomite
I can confirm its got plenty of lock!!
Not much power!!
The axle needs locating properly!!
Anyone got any tips/recommendations for locating it securely?
I have a 5 link kit at my disposal so I will more than likely use it.

Cool. Drift day in a 1500! Any pics?:D

richard4040 wrote:Cool. Drift day in a 1500! Any pics?:D

No I don't think so,they were all laughing too much!!

Mx5 turbo dolly wrote:Attended a drift practise day in the 1500cc engined dolomite
I can confirm its got plenty of lock!!
Not much power!!
The axle needs locating properly!!
Anyone got any tips/recommendations for locating it securely?
I have a 5 link kit at my disposal so I will more than likely use it.

If you're running on old worn out rubber bushes at the back then a full polybush kit will help, however for drift work I would recommend beefing up the trailing arms or even replacing them with something scratchbuilt and stronger. It would probably also pay to reinforce the "mickey mouse ears" on the axle that locate the upper arms.
Something I have considered is to use the TR7 axle which causes problems on a standard car cos of its increased width (bout 3") but has a much better location design for the upper arms. On a drift car, some forest arches will solve the overwidth problem and the extra track width can only help.

Steve

PS I have a spare 5spd TR7 axle and a pair of TR7 upper arms if you want to experiment, yours for the £40 it cost me, I think the ratio is 3.63 or possibly 3.45.

Thanks for the help,Is the tr7 pcd the same as a dolomite?
Is it possible to get a LSD for that type of axle?

Mx5 turbo dolly wrote:Thanks for the help,Is the tr7 pcd the same as a dolomite?

Yes.

Mx5 turbo dolly wrote:Thanks for the help,Is the tr7 pcd the same as a dolomite?
Is it possible to get a LSD for that type of axle?

As DN says, the PCD is the same, also the trailing arm mounts are similar enough to work though marginally further apart. I have seen at least 1 recon TR8 LSD on the bay with a 3.08 ratio and rear disc conversion but it was out of my price range at £775! Probably worth every penny but.....
I'm pretty sure other ratios were available and used ones do turn up from time to time.
The only LSD for the Sprint axle is 3.45, same as the standard one, it's pretty rare and usually pricey!

Steve

Dolomite is going in to be dismantled tomorrow!
Hopefully we are going to try and fit the complete mx5 front subframe
To the dolly(don't know how yet untill we take everything apart)

Mx5 turbo dolly wrote:Dolomite is going in to be dismantled tomorrow!
Hopefully we are going to try and fit the complete mx5 front subframe
To the dolly(don't know how yet untill we take everything apart)

GOOD LUCK! (This is NOT sarcasm!)

Steve