It's 9:53 a.m. in Detroit.
It's a Saturday, so of course it is cool and rainy.
But...
There's a freshly built high performance Sprint engine in my driveway, a rented motor hoist, and a good radio nearby.
The dogs need to go for a walk, but who cares if they s##t in the house. Not me. Not today. I've waited 18 months to put that motor in something.
Now it's time to get to work.
Update later...
Richard Truett
Sprint engine installation...finally.
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USASPRINTMAN
Now it is 11:09.
The skies have completely opened up, driving me indoors.
The engine is "in" the car, but I have not lined up the engine mountings yet. This could be a bit of a struggle but I think that carefull placement of trolley jack underneath with see me through.
Also: I am doing this job alone. So, I feel progress is has been good.
Now I just have to wait out the rain.
The dogs have been walked, so no need to report me to the RSPCA.
RT
The skies have completely opened up, driving me indoors.
The engine is "in" the car, but I have not lined up the engine mountings yet. This could be a bit of a struggle but I think that carefull placement of trolley jack underneath with see me through.
Also: I am doing this job alone. So, I feel progress is has been good.
Now I just have to wait out the rain.
The dogs have been walked, so no need to report me to the RSPCA.
RT
If it makes you feel better
It's a Bank Holiday weekend in England and it's lashing it down with rain , no change there really.
I would love to see a Sprint on an American driveway , what do the neighbours think as i am sure they would not have seen one before. Probably gets similar looks to my 69 Chevrolet Chevelle on a UK drive.
Good luck with the install.
Mike
I would love to see a Sprint on an American driveway , what do the neighbours think as i am sure they would not have seen one before. Probably gets similar looks to my 69 Chevrolet Chevelle on a UK drive.
Good luck with the install.
Mike
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USASPRINTMAN
At 11:38, the rain has stopped and I am in dry clothes and about ready to continue.
Last night, in anticipation of the long job ahead, I made some ham and cheese baguettes, so I could pop in and gobble them down without having to take much of a break.
Overnight, the bread turned as hard as clay pigeons, but I'm so excited and happy to be putting in the engine, I don't even care. They tasted good anyway.
Yesterday, I had my 1977 Sprint out. A lady in a Chrysler Sebring pulled up to my right at a stoplight and she said "Is that a Herald?" I said: "Close. You have the right manufacturer. But it's a Dolomite Sprint." She said she had not seen one in years.
In Detroit among classi car fans, the Dolly Sprint is nothing less than a superstar in a town full of hot old cars. Not only because it has that reputation as being the car that gave BMW a run for the money in the early 1970s, but because it has classic looks.
OK. Now I'm headed back outside to finish the installation...
Another update later. Heck even the sun is out now.
RT
Last night, in anticipation of the long job ahead, I made some ham and cheese baguettes, so I could pop in and gobble them down without having to take much of a break.
Overnight, the bread turned as hard as clay pigeons, but I'm so excited and happy to be putting in the engine, I don't even care. They tasted good anyway.
Yesterday, I had my 1977 Sprint out. A lady in a Chrysler Sebring pulled up to my right at a stoplight and she said "Is that a Herald?" I said: "Close. You have the right manufacturer. But it's a Dolomite Sprint." She said she had not seen one in years.
In Detroit among classi car fans, the Dolly Sprint is nothing less than a superstar in a town full of hot old cars. Not only because it has that reputation as being the car that gave BMW a run for the money in the early 1970s, but because it has classic looks.
OK. Now I'm headed back outside to finish the installation...
Another update later. Heck even the sun is out now.
RT
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USASPRINTMAN
12:09 and she's in!
I am soaked to the bone from laying in numerous puddles, but now the hard work is over.
I used the trolley jack to align the engine mounts with the brackets and then just wiggled and lowered the engine right down. Putting a Sprint engine in a TR7 must be much easier than putting one in a Dolomite.
Anyway, now comes the plumbing and electrical hookups.
With any luck, I will be able to fire her up late tomorrow or early Monday.
I am soaked to the bone from laying in numerous puddles, but now the hard work is over.
I used the trolley jack to align the engine mounts with the brackets and then just wiggled and lowered the engine right down. Putting a Sprint engine in a TR7 must be much easier than putting one in a Dolomite.
Anyway, now comes the plumbing and electrical hookups.
With any luck, I will be able to fire her up late tomorrow or early Monday.
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USASPRINTMAN
1:41 and I am done for the day.
The motor hoist is back at the rental shop.
The engine and gearbox and driveshaft are installed and bolted in.
But it's 54 degrees and the sky is darkening again. So I am not going to be a hero and try to do it all in a day.
I can pick up the job again tomorrow.
I took plenty of pictures and will try to post them later.
Right now I need a hot shower and a beer.
It's been a great day!
Richard Truett
The motor hoist is back at the rental shop.
The engine and gearbox and driveshaft are installed and bolted in.
But it's 54 degrees and the sky is darkening again. So I am not going to be a hero and try to do it all in a day.
I can pick up the job again tomorrow.
I took plenty of pictures and will try to post them later.
Right now I need a hot shower and a beer.
It's been a great day!
Richard Truett
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georgiasprint
Engine Installation
Richard, It's not raining here...are you up for a ten hour drive and working in the sunshine? We've got tons of projects...just pick your car from the list below!
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Sprintinbits
- Guest contributor
- Posts: 1406
- Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:56 pm
- Location: Sunny Hertfordshyre
-
USASPRINTMAN
This is the sixth time I have pulled and put in engines in TR7s and TR8s.
It isn't that hard. I wouldn't want to try on it a Sprint by myself, though. Thankfully, Triumph left us a lot of room in there. There are no Dolomite Sprint-like problems of things you can't get at.
I do have the pix. Now I have to go and find the thread that tells how to post them.
I did finish up most of the rest of the installation today. All that's left is to connect the exhaust system, install the carbs/manifld, fill the fluids, bleed the clutch and connect some wires.
I built the engine myself. If it doesn't run, I will have the best looking TR7 Sprint lawn ornament in the world, cause I ain't doing this again!
Richard Truett
It isn't that hard. I wouldn't want to try on it a Sprint by myself, though. Thankfully, Triumph left us a lot of room in there. There are no Dolomite Sprint-like problems of things you can't get at.
I do have the pix. Now I have to go and find the thread that tells how to post them.
I did finish up most of the rest of the installation today. All that's left is to connect the exhaust system, install the carbs/manifld, fill the fluids, bleed the clutch and connect some wires.
I built the engine myself. If it doesn't run, I will have the best looking TR7 Sprint lawn ornament in the world, cause I ain't doing this again!
Richard Truett
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Toledo Man
- Guest contributor
- Posts: 7542
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:52 pm
- Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Contact:
Richard if you upload your pics on somewhere such as Photobucket and put the IMG links in your post and the pics will appear in your forum posts like so:
Toledo Man
West Yorkshire Area Organiser
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Railway, 1 Birstall Lane, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1JJ
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - a project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint), NYE 751L (1972 Dolomite 1850 auto) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!
Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.
"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle
West Yorkshire Area Organiser
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Railway, 1 Birstall Lane, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1JJ
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - a project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint), NYE 751L (1972 Dolomite 1850 auto) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!
Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.
"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle
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Toledo Man
- Guest contributor
- Posts: 7542
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:52 pm
- Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Contact:
That is Halifax in West Yorkshire looking towards the town centre in a northwesterly direction. By coincedence Snowdrop has a Halifax number plate.
Edit: I've found the exact spot on Google Earth.
Latitude: 53°42'48.37"N
Longitude: 1°50'46.67"W
Edit: I've found the exact spot on Google Earth.
Latitude: 53°42'48.37"N
Longitude: 1°50'46.67"W
Toledo Man
West Yorkshire Area Organiser
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Railway, 1 Birstall Lane, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1JJ
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - a project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint), NYE 751L (1972 Dolomite 1850 auto) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!
Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.
"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle
West Yorkshire Area Organiser
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Railway, 1 Birstall Lane, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1JJ
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - a project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint), NYE 751L (1972 Dolomite 1850 auto) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!
Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.
"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle
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USASPRINTMAN
Here's a link to the pix. Let's see if they work...
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/enginelifting.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/engineready.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/goingin.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/halfwayin.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/shesin.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/enginelifting.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/engineready.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/goingin.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/halfwayin.jpg
http://www.members.aol.com/rover827/shesin.jpg
4 out of 5
Does look a touch damp.
Tinweevil
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.