My first Dolly - 1979 1500 SE

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Oh blimey, Your right as well!! Well spotted!

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Thank you by the way Jonners.

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This is still providing me with much joy, I recently fitted a 'new' 1981 Pioneer FM tape cassette radio into it to replace the orginal MW unit, it still looks very period but I can now listen to normal radio and music though a tape converter!

On Sunday I took it on its longest drive for years back to its home roots of south Essex, near Basildon in fact for a little car meet, it drove absolutely lovely and it got a lot of attention at the meet, the only down side is that the head gasket is now leaking quite a bit of oil and I think it's making its way into the clutch making it judder.

I also notice the tick over has drops which makes me think the compression is down. I've ordered a new Payen head set (CK263?) from my local old school motor factors who have to order it in from Belgium, it should be here in 7-10 days and is costing £42, I don't know if that's good or not?.

[GTS290N]

I love the picture, do you have it in colour?
Is that a VX 4/90? If so I'm sure they shared quite a few engine (and maybe brake and hydraulic components) with the 1850.
And a Toyota Crown on the far side?

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Thank you. The Victor is a rare run out model (like mine) 2300S and the other car is a Datsun Laurie 2.4.

[DOLOMITE 135]

I've ordered a new Payen head set (CK263?) from my local old school motor factors who have to order it in from Belgium, it should be here in 7-10 days and is costing £42, I don't know if that's good or not?

I used a 1300 Payen head gasket set on a Toledo engine rebuild last year which was purchased from James Paddock. They are currently listing 1500 head sets (part number geg1195p) for £15.00, which I expect will need VAT added. When looking at their website do not look under Dolomite/Toledo/FWD as you will not find any engine parts in the sub menu, look under Spitfire and the engine parts, seals, and gasket range is then shown.

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Well that's just typical! I looked on loads of different websites and they all showed those non branded types!

Mine being the latter engine would it be recessed or not?

[DOLOMITE 135]

Mine being the latter engine would it be recessed or not?

Later engines are recessed, I think the change was applied in the early to mid 70's. The late 74 Toledo engine I re-built was recessed.

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I don't believe it, I could have bought it for £18 delivered and had it within a few days. I should have asked on here first. What a prat, every site went on seemed to sell the cheap China made sets and even Payen told my supplier they didn't make it any more hence there only being two left in Belgium.

Annoyingly it's a non returnable item too, oh well thanks for letting me know anyway.

[toromod]

Full marks for this, I think the SE colour scheme was one of the prettiest options though I am biased since an SE was my first proper car many moons ago!

[Toledo Man]

The head gasket on its own is GEG373 and the head gasket set is GEG1231. Toledos from 1973 and the 1500TC use the same head gasket.

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Full marks for this

Thank you I can't wait to start being able to use it more!

At the weekend my dad came over to keep me with the brake problem on the car, We replaced all the brake hoses before taking off the PDWA valve to rebuild it, this was a bit of a sod to removed due to access and i ended up having to cut my nice flaring spanner in half just to get it in the gap. Anyway we stripped it all down, greased up and replaced new O rings and copper washer before slicing out hands back up refitting it.

We then spend nearly a hour and a litre of DOT 4 bleeding the brakes again only to find brake fluid peeing out of the switch on the valve... So we stripped it all down again to find that one of the O rings had a chunk out of it when we pushed the piston back in, It looks like it nipped as it got pushed through by the little hole inside it for the switch, what a rubbish design!.



Since then my dads been to a hose and hydraulics shop and bought a few more O rings so we'll have another go again, I don't really want to be spending another £9 for the Robsport kit.

In other news i noticed both track ends rubbers were shot so I've ordered a pair of new ones from MEVSpares for £13 and my new Payne head gasket set has arrived with the black Coopers gasket so i'll be fitting that soon too.

Hopefully I'll be able to use it by then!

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Progress today! Sadly no photos but dad came round and we got cracking with the brakes, First fitted a new rear wheel cylinder then fitted a new bolt into the switch hole for the PDWA valve, I know it's a bit botchy but it was the easiest option in the end, a 3/8x24 stainless bolt cut down with a copper washer plugged the hole up nicely.

The we removed the master cylinder and servo, fitted a new rubber boot and seal in the servo, painted the rusty bottom and refitted it again and then stripped down the master cylinder, again and used James467 fantastic build thread to see where/if we had gone wrong last time we done it, one of the seals was the wrong way round and i think the brake fluid i used last time was contaminated too which hasn't helped.

After refitting all that lot again and bleeding the full system (we left it to bleed by gravity first) we topped the system up and took it on a road test, They feel better than ever now! It's got a nice firm pedal that doesn't drop anymore and the brake pull up nice and responsive now. Yay!.

I'll give it a good road test tomorrow and will check for any leaks and then I've got to do the head gasket and i also have to do one of the rear wheel bearings, I bought this hub puller today to do the job, can any one tell me if it looks right for a Dolomite?. Thanks

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I gave it a 40 miles road test today and all seems good now, other than the grumbling rear wheel bearing it's running well, even with the leaking head gasket.

I took my wife and our 8 week old daughter down to Felixstowe for the afternoon and had a fish and chip supper for tea. Lovely.

[Jon Tilson]

If the hub puller has the right PCD for your wheels and it clears the small flange on some dolly rear hubs so that the hub
face will bolt up tight against the puller then yes its exactly what you want.

Jonners