The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi all, have read about installing more modern engines eg Zetec, MX5s etc. Does anybody offer engine / gearbox mounts for conversions ?

I've done plenty of Dolly /,Toledo engine swaps and a Group 2 spec Robin Hood which were all straight forward as they didn't require any fabrication.

I really fancy getting another Dolly but with modern power ...

Cheers, Richard

Hi Richard

I'm not aware of any engine swap kits available for Dollys. However, there are plenty of members who have done engine swaps using various power units. Steve (Carledo) used a Vauxhall Carlton unit in a Toledo (which sounds great!), there's a Red Top unit in a Sprint as well and a few MX5 conversions as well.

There are some kits available for cars that used the Triumph range of engines that could be adapted to suit our cars, I'm doing a K Series conversion on a Midget at the moment. That could certainly be adapted for a Dolly. These can be pricey though, my bellhousing is going to cost me £350 alone plus the dreaded VAT! You could take an MG suited Ford engine [shudder] and 5 speed combo and fabricate your own mounts and have a prop made.

I hear what you're saying. I'd love a 'modern' dolly to do the school run in, something that's a bit left field amongst the hoards of Chelsea tractors that we have around here.

I was thinking about this...

1.8 K Series, Type 9 Gearbox into a 1500 HL - Expensive but that's what I'd like to do. Trouble is, I'm one of the few people who really like K Series engines! I think your best bet is get a good 1500 HL or engineless Sprint shell and a scrap MX5. Use the engine, box and wiring loom from the MX5, chuck on a Sprint back axle and a set of Trackerjack brakes with a custom prop and a set of Sprint alloys and you have yourself a really nice 'resto mod' to use as a daily driver.

I'm off to hide now because I'm about to be hunted down and shot by a few fellow members after saying that!

Look everyone, its a fake Caterham and a proper caterham in the Avatars!!



Just joking!

As far as I am aware, nobody makes a "kit" to fit modern engines into Dolomites, mostly us adventurous types just make it up as we go along! Even the several Redtop powered cars known to the club are all subtly different in execution.

I was about to start making a set up for Hobo to convert one of his cars to Vauxhall power (having done it myself) when unfortunately his whole fleet got torched.

But with the wide range of choices available, there would need to be a dozen or more kits.

Some of the choices include:- Vauxhall 8v and Redtop, Various Ford Zetecs and YB Cosworth, Nissan S13/14 1.8 and 2.0Turbo, Mazda Mx5 1.6 and 1.8, Rover KV6 and the ubiquitous V8, Triumph Stag V8 and the ever popular, bolt in, Sprint/TR7 into a lesser model. Theorized but not yet tried (I think) include Saab Turbo, Vauxhall 24v V6, in varying capacities up to 3.2litre and the Vauxhall/Isuzu 1.7TD, Rover K series 1.4-1.8T. Take your pick, some are easier than others!

Steve

...and still no one has fitted an S2000 engine in a Dolly yet afaik.

S2000 lump is very tall prob why. Also they are very expensive and getting rarer thanks to the drift boys loving them

Tony

How about Vauxhall's Z16XE? Another alternative to the C20XE (the "Redtop") although it might be a bit difficult to implement the ECU, fuel injection, electric throttle and twin lambdas (at each end of the catalytic converter) that come with these engines.

One of my faves was the Fiat twin cam which ended up in a Toledo.

tony g wrote:S2000 lump is very tall prob why. Also they are very expensive and getting rarer thanks to the drift boys loving them

Tony

I have seen one, years ago, in an MGA. I'm sure it will fit in a Dolly. True though, they are still expensive. Expect to pay upwards of £1500.

I've shelved my plans to Alfa v6 one, the engine is on eBay. I don't have a problem with standard kit...except for the one in Quicksprint!

Alun, what does the engine need to run ie loom ecu etc, is that all present?

Tony

ps seat runners

Mad Mart wrote:...and still no one has fitted an S2000 engine in a Dolly yet afaik.

Probably do-able engine wise, though the sump might cause problems. The big bugbear with the S2000 lump is its humungous gearbox.

I've seen a mkII Escort locally with a turbo'd and dry sumped S2000 unit fitted. Nice bit of kit but I thought 19k a bit steep for a car with no MOT!

Steve

tony g wrote:Alun, what does the engine need to run ie loom ecu etc, is that all present?

Tony

ps seat runners

A gearbox!!

Steve

I've got what I think is an X22XEV Omega lump going into my Sprint auto

And i've been jealously eying up the 220bhp 2 litre turbo lump in my son-in-laws 03 Astra Turbo ragtop which will bolt into the Carledo - well almost!

Steve

tony g wrote:Alun, what does the engine need to run ie loom ecu etc, is that all present?

Tony

A lot of folk Tony would choose a bespoke solution for such a conversion, Tony.
That route gives control for setting up the injection and ignition.

It was a long time ago, but I looked a V6 Alfetta GTV that a friend had for spares and he thought the Fiat 132 type gearboxes could work on it?
He had started to repair a 2 litre GTV but I think his efforts petered out.



Ian.

Carledo wrote:

tony g wrote:Alun, what does the engine need to run ie loom ecu etc, is that all present?

Tony

ps seat runners

A gearbox!!

Steve

The gearbox would make it drive not run

Tony