The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Is it at all possible to use modified engine mounts to lower the engine in a 1500TC? Like is there enough room underneath it to allow that to happen?

Out of curiosity why?

It won't drop far, the sump hits the steering rack. aside from ruining the gearbox to prop angle (so change the gearbox mount too) and putting the sump even closer to the road (it's too close for comfort already) what's the point?
If you want to lower the CofG, drop the whole car, its more efficient and easier to do!

Steve

Carledo wrote:It won't drop far, the sump hits the steering rack. aside from ruining the gearbox to prop angle (so change the gearbox mount too) and putting the sump even closer to the road (it's too close for comfort already) what's the point?
If you want to lower the CofG, drop the whole car, its more efficient and easier to do!

Steve

The why was just as its not been done before and I wanted to know if it could be done, if it can't, it can't.

Anything can be done if you want to but theres always a trade off. Race cars run low but they have nice smooth tracks to run on. Look at rally cars on tarmac v's gravel. A lot higher on gravel due to the bounce its going to endure. Too hard a spring(and shock) will make it undriveable so going so low to stop the downward bounce is not worth it. Research "unsprung weight" . Reduction of this will gain a lot.

Tony

tony g wrote:Anything can be done if you want to but theres always a trade off. Race cars run low but they have nice smooth tracks to run on. Look at rally cars on tarmac v's gravel. A lot higher on gravel due to the bounce its going to endure. Too hard a spring(and shock) will make it undriveable so going so low to stop the downward bounce is not worth it. Research "unsprung weight" . Reduction of this will gain a lot.

Tony

Reducing unsprung weight is one of the most difficult things to do on a Dolomite, due to the extremely heavy live rear axle. Without a complete redesign to IRS, you are wasting your time and money lightening the front uprights etc.

Steve

Carledo wrote:

tony g wrote:Anything can be done if you want to but theres always a trade off. Race cars run low but they have nice smooth tracks to run on. Look at rally cars on tarmac v's gravel. A lot higher on gravel due to the bounce its going to endure. Too hard a spring(and shock) will make it undriveable so going so low to stop the downward bounce is not worth it. Research "unsprung weight" . Reduction of this will gain a lot.

Tony

Reducing unsprung weight is one of the most difficult things to do on a Dolomite, due to the extremely heavy live rear axle. Without a complete redesign to IRS, you are wasting your time and money lightening the front uprights etc.

Steve

I have a plan to use IRS waaaay in the future using an MX5 rear subframe as its about the right shape and about the right width

tony g wrote:Anything can be done if you want to but theres always a trade off. Race cars run low but they have nice smooth tracks to run on. Look at rally cars on tarmac v's gravel. A lot higher on gravel due to the bounce its going to endure. Too hard a spring(and shock) will make it undriveable so going so low to stop the downward bounce is not worth it. Research "unsprung weight" . Reduction of this will gain a lot.

Tony

I read in a thread on here that 1 inch drop is about the lowest you want to go in a dolomite as the rear suspension ends up at funny angles (I think it was something like that) so lowering the CoM would help handling. I doubt I would ever take it gravel rallying, most likely won't take it rallying at all. I just want a bit of a fun, every so often used car.

Then lower it an inch with the best shocks you can afford, play with settings on the shocks and enjoy it Dollys with a 1 inch drop look the biz imo

Tony

Boost All The Dollys wrote: I read in a thread on here that 1 inch drop is about the lowest you want to go in a dolomite as the rear suspension ends up at funny angles (I think it was something like that) so lowering the CoM would help handling. I doubt I would ever take it gravel rallying, most likely won't take it rallying at all. I just want a bit of a fun, every so often used car.

The rear suspension angles are not affected by lowering, the solid axle ensures the wheels always stay parallel. Dropping the front will increase negative camber - which is no bad thing. The limiting factor on dropping a Dolomite is ground clearance on the front subframe and the sump - as 1 or 2 of us have found out! 1.5" is probably an absolute max, any more and stuff will be scraping, especially on bumpy roads.

Steve

tony g wrote:Then lower it an inch with the best shocks you can afford, play with settings on the shocks and enjoy it Dollys with a 1 inch drop look the biz imo

Tony

Yeah, only issue I have with mine is that the rear springs are uprated sprint with a 1 inch drop, the fronts aren't as they made it sit about 2 inches too tall so I'll be getting some Gaz gas height and ride adjust so I can set my height right at the front

Boost All The Dollys wrote:

tony g wrote:Then lower it an inch with the best shocks you can afford, play with settings on the shocks and enjoy it Dollys with a 1 inch drop look the biz imo

Tony

Yeah, only issue I have with mine is that the rear springs are uprated sprint with a 1 inch drop, the fronts aren't as they made it sit about 2 inches too tall so I'll be getting some Gaz gas height and ride adjust so I can set my height right at the front

That's the best way to do it, Sprint springs are too strong for the weight of a 1500 engine and no-one I know of makes lowering springs for a 1500. So it's either experiment with lots of different weight and length springs (ok if you work in a spring factory - otherwise expensive and frustrating) or spend the dosh, get the Gaz' and KNOW it will work!

Steve

Carledo wrote:

Boost All The Dollys wrote:

tony g wrote:Then lower it an inch with the best shocks you can afford, play with settings on the shocks and enjoy it Dollys with a 1 inch drop look the biz imo

Tony

Yeah, only issue I have with mine is that the rear springs are uprated sprint with a 1 inch drop, the fronts aren't as they made it sit about 2 inches too tall so I'll be getting some Gaz gas height and ride adjust so I can set my height right at the front

That's the best way to do it, Sprint springs are too strong for the weight of a 1500 engine and no-one I know of makes lowering springs for a 1500. So it's either experiment with lots of different weight and length springs (ok if you work in a spring factory - otherwise expensive and frustrating) or spend the dosh, get the Gaz' and KNOW it will work!

Steve

Is there anyone that makes camber adjust kits for the front of Dolomites or is it just impossible

It's shim-able to a certain extent.

Steve

Carledo wrote:It's shim-able to a certain extent.

Steve

I'll take a look into that