The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I realise it's a case of personal taste but I am having mixed feelings about how to proceed with my project 1500 FWD. It's a very early one but not in the best of shape (a bit like me!!)
Options I am considering are:-
1) Restore as original as possible. Given my current skill level it will not be concourse condition. It would eventually then see limited use.
2) Slightly modify it - club GRP front panels, uprate engine to twin carbs, fit rover 114 GTi alloys and (possibly) change the original colour (Valencia blue) to a lighter shade of blue (maybe wedgewood??) and use the car as a second daily driver. I am seriously considering getting another classic project and sharing daily driver duties between the two.

Any thoughts?

It is purely up to you!
restoring to original will be a massive undertaking as so many panels are difficult (nigh on impossible) to source. And hand making seems a tall order. Plus you could end up spending several times what the finished car is worth (yes, I know that isn't everything, but can be a consideration for us with limited funds)

Using grp club panels would be my choice, not sure I would bother with the twin carbs but if you want a few extra bhp then maybe look at cam/head/single HIF44 etc. Likewise metro wheels not my bag!
Colour changes again a bit of a minefield, as it involves far more than a straightforward respray. But as it appears you are intending a full stripdown, may not be that much extra grief. In which case do it whatever colour you like, and don't get bogged down by Triumph colours if you prefer something else.

Most important is to make sure you can get the car back together. Too many cars are lost as a project starts, then turns out to be more than anticipated. Plan for the worst, make sure you are ready and understand the costs, time and effort involved. Having just got my spitfire on the road after 6 years, it is taking a while for me to warm to it. However, once it get a few niggles sorted I think all will be well, but it has been a long and winding road to get here.

I wouldn't go for a power increase on a 1500fwd as i dont thing the gearbox and fwd setup is up to much more.

There was a reason why the 1500TC was rwd....

The 1500 is also long of stroke and doesnt like to rev much where the twin carbs make most difference. I think my Spit 1500 is over carbed if anything,...

Single HIF 44 may well be a good upgrade though...


Jonners

Thanks for the responses so far. Option 2 represents the extreme of how far I would go, basically the big decision is whether to go GRP panels or not. I am leaning towards GRP at the moment. A single carb with an electronic ignition would seem sensible. The wheels I was thinking about would be the 5 spokes (spokes painted black to look more 'retro')

Jonners, the real reason the 1500TC was RWD was cost and ease of manufacture. I remember somebody saying that Triumph tried the 1850 engine with FWD running gear and they broke the box within a few hundred yards! There are limited options for wheels due to the unusual offset. Electronic ignition is the perfect upgrade and will improve reliability no end. The Briptpart kit is the one to get and is a straight swap for the points & condenser and works with your existing coil. Super Flex bushes are another sensible upgrade (literally fit-and-forget) and will tighten things up. They're equivalent in hardness to rubber so you won't have the dreaded NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) which is associated with some polyurethane bushes. Also, Chris Witor offers a discount to TDC members for Super Flex bushes (check the "members only" section of the forum for details).

What I would say is, as long as the car is in your possession, do as you like with it. But, try to keep the modifying so as it can be returned to original if so desired.

Again, thanks for the replies so far. I am getting a better idea of my options. Also, it has helped identify in my mind what the issues I have (visually) with the original wheels/tyres. Does anyone have any pictures/experience of a 1500 with alloys?

I think the general rule is 'Your car = Your rules' so do as you will...!

However, I would urge you to keep any mod's reversible and/or in period to the car itself so it's not to jarring and anything that is done can be undone if needs be...

You've got a bit of a gem there so please be sympathetic to it...!!!

Good luck and enjoy it...

My opinion has always been to keep the car as original as possible, it being one of the earliest 'Dolomite' bodied cars. I suppose mentally the idea of using the GRP panels on the car means it ceases to be a 'restoration' and I start thinking about what could be 'improved'. I wouldn't change the wheels unless I thought they'd be suitably 'period', if the rover alloys looked similar to the old fwd revolution alloys it might be a consideration. I have also realised that one of the issues I had with the wheels has very little to do with the wheels - it's the very narrow track at the back, it looks like they designed the axle with rwd wheels in mind - before the realised what the offset of the wheels actually was....

Current thoughts are to make it a 'pseudo resto' - Use GRP panels but keep the original colour and wheels (although with triumph globe centres in the hubcaps as per the 1300) fit wider radial tyres. Possibly use spacers on the rear so that the wheels don't look so lost.

If I prove to be amazingly skilled at welding I might even try to use steel repair panels to fix the front...... but I won't hold my breath lol

I agree with what others have said about "it's your car, you can do what you want with it" but you need to know the limits of your abilities and what you want from the car. You don't want to be tearing down the car in earnest only to lose heart part way through. There's been too many such restorations that have been abandoned. A big psychological boost would be to get the engine running. Also, having the car looking as complete as possible will help you picture it in "finished condition" rather than having it on axle stands with various parts removed. A list of jobs will also help. Crossing each item off the list will get you nearer to your goal. Safety is paramount so a brake overhaul and fuel hose replacement should be top of your list. Tyres are important but they can wait until you're ready to put the car in for the MoT.

You want some alloys for a FWD?

You know where I live, a set will be available in about 10 days!

I wouldn't class the GRP panels as a "modification" per say, granted it's a different material but it's the same design as the original parts and won't look any different once painted. The only real difference will be that you won't be replacing them in 6 years once the rust starts coming through again...

The narrow rear track is just a Dolomite thing, the RWD models aren't really any better in that regard, the wheels end up getting lost in the arches unless you fit something very wide.

Personally I'd be tempted to get it running, solid and roadworthy before looking into modifications, much easier to start with something that you know functions properly to begin with!