The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

stupid question i know but hopefully succesfully mated it to austin metro ,marina turbo hybrid but will it last without trying it out , similar to sprint auto box at 130bhp no chance output ??? should be close if not more than 150 bhp ( over excited ) but can it cope before i commit to project

regards
andy

The axle is also not upto much in an 1850... TR7 power drastically shortens their life alone.

the axle is not the issue it the auto box , i know borg warner are in the top of the best but what can it manage before i go any further

regards
andy

Triumphs have a low spec version of the BW65, so I'd say add a cooler, fit it, and see how long it lasts, if it fails get a box built to the highest spec and use that, or get a high spec box built in the first place.

I recently replaced the manual overdrive in my Mimosa Sprint with an 1850 auto. I have added an aftermarket transmission cooler situated in front of the radiator and so far it is all working well (after about 1500km). Only issue is the oil in the cooler drains back into the auto box making it appear overfull when the engine isn't running. Level is set with engine running and oil hot.

The head and carbs came of a tuned engine that had been on a dyno that registered 137bhp at the rear wheels.

Issues with the tuned motor are as you would expect, lumpy and not so much power low down, but really flies at higher revs. Three gears instead of four in the manual and no overdrive so doing 3200rpm at 100kph and therefore noisier.

Geoff

The model 65 in the Sprint is basically the same as used in the SD1 Rover V8 so I wouldn't expect power (or torque) related issues. But it's a bit old school these days and only 3 gears with a direct top..........not what I would choose!
(I'm using, in a Dolly Sprint, a GM 4 speed electronically controlled box with lockup, overdriven top gear! And the 2.2 litre 16v GM twincam to drive it!)

Steve

Carledo wrote:The model 65 in the Sprint is basically the same as used in the SD1 Rover V8 so I wouldn't expect power (or torque) related issues.

Basically the same, but the servos are smaller, so that reduces the amount of abuse they will take in second and reverse, and changing those means changing the main casing, and it's possible (although I can't be definite because it's years since I had a Dolomite box apart as they rarely give problems) that they have less plates in the clutch packs.

That said, it's going to be some kind of crazy tuned turbo A-series that will put out more torque than the box can handle - as standard they put out 85 lbft and the 1850 manages 105 lbft stock, which is quite a big difference Assuming the gearbox is the same on the 1850 and Sprint (anyone?) you've got 122 lbft safely. Even if you've made a few mods to the engine it's likely that a lot of horses have escaped over the years.

If it becomes a problem you could fish around for a Stag autobox - same model, same bolt pattern at the engine end but will be safe for 167 lbft, since that's what the engine puts out on one of those when it works.

A word of warning though - if you're using it, the Marina uses the Dolly back axle too, which won't be too happy with the torque - especially in "enthusiastic" driving.