The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Acquired and made a start on my new baby. Overspent like crazy on tools and parts way too quickly but at least I will have plenty to get on with.

Previous owner had dinged rear quarter and door by dragging a truck trailer down the side.
So far have pulled the quarter out but having trouble sourcing a n/s rear door.
Plenty else to be getting on with though
Some bodywork issues patches of surface rust and such however the offside chassis rail has rotted at the rear sub frame mount and has been endlessly patched before. So have ordered a new rail from the club.
It appears that dropping the rear of the subframe should give access to replace the rail...at least I hope so!

Many leaks from the gearbox and diff plus a leaky brake master cylinder.
Haven't yet investigated some rust to the headlights mounting panel on the nearside. I glimpsed the hole while peeking around the wheel arch.
Have stripped the interior from the rear of the car and the rear lights. Just wire brushed the sills and jacking points and used rust cure on all areas. Practically painted the underside with it.

Never have I seen an exhaust system with so much bandage on it even the manifold is covered!

Anyway will attempt to update as and when can do bits and hopefully learn to weld and how to post pics

Sounds a project with loads of potential for learning on.

You are in the right place so please feel free to ask as many questions as you wish, there is a vast pool of knowledge and experience here that is freely available to answer any questions.

Please keep us updated as you make progress.

As for posting pictures, this may help. "BigDWiz" is using Photobucket but any photohost will do;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_ASO6S-OMg

Thanks for the reply and that link for the photo upload is very helpful a piece of cake (unlike the chassis rail i'm sure)

Thanks for the invitation to tap the wealth of knowledge I have a feeling I may be draining it profusely!

I think she has been used and abused since around 2008 according to the paperwork when it was sold on ebay back then the seller had put spax shocks and some poly bushes and the rear wheel arches have been replaced as have sections of the sills.

Engine seems good think I got her in the nick of time as the engine was being run on a coolant mix of 100% tap water.
Considering using that posh waterless coolant stuff once I can confirm cooling system is in good order will get some pics up next week.

Mechanical stuff may largely have to wait until i can get ahead of the tin worm.

Has anyone replaced the chassis rail by lowering the rear mounts of the subframe?

This sounds like a very worthwhile project... I cannot wait to see some pictures!

If this is the car I think it is, it was once in the care of one of our forum greats....

Kinda fitting that it needs one of his chassis rails now.


Jonners

this was the one on ebay recently wasnt it ?

He did say it was on Ebay yes. Will be hopefully putting piccies up tomorrow so I'm sure it will be recognised. Just a pity work gets in the way or I would be working on her like crazy.
Don't have as much time as I would like as self employed.

If that's the case I'm glad its back among friends again. I had a feeling when I read the history file that it had probably been a club members car.

VGK? It used to be owned by Susie. Ironically she bought it in Croydon which is where it was last sold from; an elderley lady owned it before her and Susie sold it about 6 years ago to a chap up north who was a member for a while. We put the arches on for her, but the next owner finished them off and seemed to do a good job of it, he brought the car down to our annual meet at Warwick racecourse whenever that was.

The chassis leg is sitting in front of me, I'm about to wrap it to get it dispatched to you tomorrow. Yes, you will have to drop the rear of the subframe, but the subframe is critical in getting the new leg properly aligned. To be honest, the hardest bit of fitting one is getting the old metal off cleanly, just make sure you have plenty of clamps to hand and spend time on the alignment.

When you have investigated further, we do headlamp mount panels too, and repair sections for the inner valances as well, though we are currently out of stock of the latter...

At last some piccies.





super strong glass how on earth it didnt break?



mummified exhaust



Think that I am definately in the market for retaining panel and inner valance repair glad the club do them. Any idea how long the valance may be out of stock for please?

Its very encouraging to know its a well known and loved car. She is so much better than the 1500fwd I had as a yts mechanic at 18. Restoring that on £29.50 a week was tricky

I hope you didn't mind me editing the post so the photos show. Your headlight retaining panels are in better shape than mine were! Alun's panels are well worth every penny.

No sir don't mind that at all thanks for doing that what did I miss?

You just put up the links to the Photobucket. There's 4 types of link for each photo so I just edited each link you put up for the one that's for forums (it is the bottom one) and put [img] tags round it so the actual photo would show up in the forum post.

Slow progress at the mo unfortunately due to lack of time but so far replaced two horns two track rod ends. Oil leaks etc next