The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Ha, they made Jowetts here in Bradford and even I've never seen 14 of them together! Sounds like a great place to live!

At last some further progress.
Photos show completed engine rebuild
Fast Road clutch = Hybrid - redtop c20xe cover, calibra turbo friction plate.
Gearbox bracket to join Manta 5 speed to original mount.

Next jobs - weld in chassis mounts.
Then drop engine in and finish mounts off

Ian

Is this a common conversion, I happen to have a couple of red top engines laying around taking up space, both from calibra's but no gearbox, electric bits and bobs hanging off, any offers?

Not that common. I am aware of 2 other plus a Spitfire that has had a redtop conversion.

It's all the bits and bobs that go with it that add to the difficulty. Bespoke ignition, bespoke, exhaust, bespoke fueling, bespoke sump, bespoke propshaft... It's not a straightforward swap but not hugely difficult either.
Ian

Location of bespoke engine mounts

Gearbox now rebuilt

Photo shows hybrid slave clutch arrangement so I can use the sprint master cylinder. The manta box initially had a cable operated clutch which I did not want.

Big step forward today. The engine mounts have been welded in place. They need dressing back and painting but I am happy with the results. Now I can plan to lift the engine and box in.

Even more progress! Subframe has been "modified" to allow the front bowl sump of the redtop engine to fit. I may fabricate soemthing to replace the bit that has gone and fit it lower down to avoid the sump. As I am chassis mounting the engine I don't think it will make any difference though.

Yet further progress.

Engine mounts now welded up.

Engine sits well in its new home.

...

Fitted!

Theres about 5mm clearance to the steering rack and I have had to use a small oil filter to clear the anti roll bar. Other than that it fits fine. About 15mm clearance to the bonnet.

Gearbox sits a little further back than I wanted but this should provide better balance.

The engine mount bushes are fairly hard so the engine shouldn't move to much.

Please with the result, now need to fit the other bits...


Ian

Gearbox sits well in the tunnel
Sump clearance a bit tight!

Good progress. Your engine mounts are better than the original Sprint type.


What radiator are you going to use?
Are you going to use the Vauxhall header tank (or something similar).

Is that a 7/8" bore clutch slave cylinder?
It is possible to use a bigger bore clutch master cylinder which will enable the use of a 1" slave cylinder
(a la TR6, Stag, Rover SD1).

I have a couple of other points to raise if I may,
The front subframe, I feel the cross member you removed should have a replacement.

The steering coupling, those pressed joints are rubbish. A proper forged joint is available
(T2000 manual steering upper joint), this has the correct size splines and its splined section
is actually circular rather than the oval that the pressed type offers.
I have posted on this subject before (and no doubt Mart will be along to say he has got on okay with
his pressed joint , again.)

sprint95m wrote:...I feel the cross member you removed should have a replacement....

I can't help but agree with that. The ARB will probably be able to twist the frame relative to its mounts on the car otherwise. If the side members were extended forwards and a new cross member fabricated to sit beneath the body's inner front panel, that should be stiff enough though you may need to fit a different ARB to reach the new position of the cross member. It would be a shame to spoil the ship for the ha'p'orth of tar and imagine how gutted you'd feel if it felt all loose and wibbly on the maiden voyage.

Have to agree with the others.

However, I also have to say, in the style of Ace Ventura.
Like a glove...

sprint95m wrote:Good progress. Your engine mounts are better than the original Sprint type.


What radiator are you going to use?
Are you going to use the Vauxhall header tank (or something similar).

Is that a 7/8" bore clutch slave cylinder?
It is possible to use a bigger bore clutch master cylinder which will enable the use of a 1" slave cylinder
(a la TR6, Stag, Rover SD1).

I have a couple of other points to raise if I may,
The front subframe, I feel the cross member you removed should have a replacement.

The steering coupling, those pressed joints are rubbish. A proper forged joint is available
(T2000 manual steering upper joint), this has the correct size splines and its splined section
is actually circular rather than the oval that the pressed type offers.
I have posted on this subject before (and no doubt Mart will be along to say he has got on okay with
his pressed joint , again.)

Thanks for the comments
Radiator - not decided yet, probably bespoke aluminium but to follow the vauxhall design, not the original sprint design...
Slave cylinder - was on the gearbox when I bought it, believe it is a humber item, worked fine for the guy I bought it from, plan was use this and see how things are. I could actually use the sprint one but it would need to have the bracket modified. Nice if i could uprate to a better hydrualic clutch though as you intimate.
Front subframe - I think eightiesflamer(?) redtop conversion does not use any replacement. I think it would be relatively straight forward to use the original sprint mounting holes and fabricate with box section a replacement for the bit I have chopped out. I will probably do this.
The steering joint is a rally design uprated item! Didn't know there were issues with them...
Ian