The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Finally got round to doing a bit of a resto thread!
First off a bit about the car. It's originally an 1850 but the previous owner has changed the engine, gearbox, front sub frame, diff, hubs, brakes, and prop shaft to ones from a Sprint (I think that's everything!).
Picked up the dolly from Sprint36 a few weeks ago. My Dad volunteered (a bit too enthusiastically if you ask me!) to drive it back from Loughborough to it's new home in Stoke. The boot came loaded up with loads of spare parts, and also two replacement drivers side doors which have turned out to be the first job.
I've managed to wangle a couple of weeks off work and in that time we've started prepping and painting those two doors. Having never done anything like this before it's been quite a steep learning curve! Things seemed to be going well until it came to the last coat of primer when we realised the doors hadn't been stripped anywhere near enough, or sanded enough for that matter! All the small imperfections left by leaving some of the old paint on suddenly looked like the Grand Canyon. A few coats of the wonderful stuff known as filler primer, and lots more rigorous and dilligent sanding, and we're now just putting the top coat on.
Over the last couple of weeks we've tried to take her for a drive every few days, even if it was just a case of popping to the shops. Underneath the car's all solid, great floors and a lovely condition interior (although not keen on the brown colour, prob gonna change to black asap ). Engine runs great so we're going to treat her as a rolling restoration. She doesn't look too pretty at the moment but it'll make the world of difference when those two doors go on (oh, how I'm looking forward to fitting them ).
Next job's gonna be a stereo and the rear wheel arches need replacing and a bit of patchwork to the sills.
Got so many plans for things to do but need to take stock and just be patient, just a matter of waiting for time and money
The major, big job is for early next year when my Dad is going to coach paint her and tidy the rest of the externals up - we're thinking of changing to vermillion
Here's a link to my photobucket pics (don't want to end up putting loads on here!):
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v326/ ... y%20Resto/

These are pics as she is at the mo, a wee bit rusty but nothing to get too excited about, and also some pics of the doors

Glad that you finally have your mitts on the car. Good on you for making a start as well, once you get into the swing of it there will be no stopping you.

Don't worry about photos, the more the merrier. This is what the resto thread is all about!

Don't forget, loads of advice and tips on here. Just ask.

Keep at it................

Ken

Another car in Stoke I know nothing of - Whereabouts?

Thanks for that Ken, I'm trying to not get too carried away and try and get everything done yesterday, lol!
Mark, we're in Longton, drop us a PM We're gonna go the local club meet at the George and Dragon next Thursday and also heading to the classic show at Shugborough Hall this Sunday, be good to meet up

I'll see you at the George and Dragon then! We're usually to the right of the bar by the windows. If in doubt ask the bar lady she knows us well.

Ok, thanks Mark, will see you then! What time do you guys meet up?

Well it's been a long time coming but finally Daisy has gone off on her hols for a week (or so!) and is due to come back with some lovely, rust free bodywork....yay!
We had originally sorted out the lucky victim....I mean welder, to do the work for us in early March but he's been that busy it's taken this long to fit us in. Hope he's worth the wait, comes with good recommendations and with a workshop containing a Rolls Silver Cloud, a Bentley, an MGB, an old London taxi, a 1940's Invicta Black Prince and his own Morgan he certainly seems to know his way around an old car or two
Obviously will get pics up asap, he's hoping to have her for a week but who knows what lurks beneath.......

Here's a last look for the outside world, you can just make out the cream London taxi in the background (it's been done as a wedding car)

Popped in yesterday and that cream taxi was just leaving
Daisy was in the middle of being stripped and we came back with the door cappings to strip the varnish off, and also the bits of interior that had been taken out so there was no chance of any stray sparks causing damage (plus I think he was grateful of the extra space! )



Going back down on Thursday when there should be more noticeable changes, I think he was threatening to make a start on the wings today

GULP!

It's hard to leave your pride and joy with someone who is going to start knocking great big lumps of metal out of it - I KNOW!

But, keep the faith Claire and all will be well.

Been down to the garage again today and were greeted by this outside the doors.....



Not really an encouaging sign, lol.
However once I'd gingerly popped my head in I was greeted with this lot:






"Your'e only suppose to blow the bloody doors off!!!"





Looking really good so far, he's really pleased with the condition of the metalwork underneath. Seeing the state of the outer panel's we were getting worried as to what he'd find underneath but so far so good (she says touching wood frantically!) Sills weren't in quite as bad shape as we'd feared but the drivers side inner wing was in more need of some tlc than we expected so swings and roundabouts I suppose.

Exciting! They are really cracking on with that and it looks like they are doing a great job.

Moving along swiftly there, not long now....

Been down again today, with my Dad in tow this time as he wanted a good nosey!
Not far from finished now. Just the wings to fit, a small bit of welding to the drivers side arch and a small patch on the rear of the sill, the little hole in the bottom corner of the windscreen and that should just about do it. Drivers side wing is clamped on at the moment, just needs budging back and in a little before it's properly fitted on there.
Hopefully be ready by the end of the week, all we're desperately struggling for now is somewhere to paint it next week Oh, and still what colour to paint it
Also found another small pile of mangled, old rusty bits by the door on the way in, lol:

Been and fetched Daisy today, all dolled up in her new panels
Been moved to my Aunty's garage for painting, however long that may be. I think we've settled on Pageant Blue, found a local supplier who can do synthetic coach paint for us
Think the wings couldv'e fitted better but not much I can do about it now
Also the drivers door needs moving around slightly to try and even out the gaps between panels. Got the fantastic job of refitting all the trim, glass, mechanisms etc to the doors. Not a job I'm looking forward to cos we've never done it so if anyone's up for volunteeering let me know
Had to drive her to her new temporary home wearing a motor bike helmet cos there's no windscreen in at the mo.......drew some very bemused looks from people in the centre of town as I went past

Yup that looks really...erh..distinctive!!

Is it me or does the car look really low at the front?

But yes, look forward to seeing the pictures in the next steps.

Oh, by the way, it isn't too difficult to fit up the door internals (especially with the doors already on the car). Only thing I would say is be really careful when you have your hand/arm inside the doors as the apertures that you are working through can have razor sharp edges.

Once you've finished fitting up the last door you'll be expert at it.