The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I have been advised by my local mechanic not to drive my dolomite after driving to and from Stoneleigh Park on the 8th February.
The car is loosing considerable amounts of coolant.
There are:
-New hoses
-Radiator has been repaired
-Expansion bottle is fine
-Water pump has been repaired

The garage/mechanic said the water pump has been removed badly. Instead of removing sleeve with the appropriate tool, it looks likely the sleeve has been drilled out then silicones put in. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix the previous bad mechanics? Do you know anyone who could repair my car?

I am in the Barnet area.

Thanks
Barry

Barry,

Which model of Dolomite do you have?

1850, first impression is that the water pump is leaking...

Barry, there is a water pump guide HERE if it helps. Although I created the thread, I can't take credit because the guide was originally written by the late great Jon Tilson who was a prolific contributor on the forum and a wealth of information on Dolomites having owned them since they were everyday cars. Sadly, his wisdom, knowledge and experience was lost forever when he passed away just over 2 years ago (9th February 2018).

Below the water pump, under the inlet manifold, there is a large slot in the casting. If the pump is leaking the coolant will come out of there. The water pump on the slant engine is, in my opinion, one of the worst designs I have ever seen. Whatever possessed a designer to think it was a good idea?

Barrington69 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:57 pm The car is loosing considerable amounts of coolant.
The garage/mechanic said the water pump has been removed badly. Instead of removing sleeve with the appropriate tool, it looks likely the sleeve has been drilled out then silicones put in. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix the previous bad mechanics? Do you know anyone who could repair my car?

On the assumption that we are talking about some form of slanty 4.... Is the coolant obviously leaking from the "slot" on the block? Or just vanishing?

How has your mechanic reached that conclusion? I'd assume by stripping the inlet manifold off and dismantling the water pump? (Not because they were the ones that did it? )

Cheers,
Sam

Water pump hosing.
What can do

When the water pump cage is fitted it looks like coolant is going to leak past those two slots that have been cut in the block. I would imagine that's where they drilled out the old cage and put the silicone in. I hate to be the voice of doom but the cage will never seal here and coolant will just leak past it and out of the slot. It looks like the block is toast I am afraid.

I have a spare bottom end here in Fleet if needed.

There's yer problem. Those grooves shouldn't be there.

That can be repaired. You have to grind two exta horizontal slots 90 degrees in the existing slots making two + shapes. You can fill this with some liquid metal product and you are fine. The extra horizontal 90 degrees slots are for more surface to watertight it and for fixation of the repair product.

Jeroen.

Id try welding the grooves up, then grinding back to shape. It will take some time, but the alternative is a new block.

James467 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2020 2:42 pm When the water pump cage is fitted it looks like coolant is going to leak past those two slots that have been cut in the block. I would imagine that's where they drilled out the old cage and put the silicone in. I hate to be the voice of doom but the cage will never seal here and coolant will just leak past it and out of the slot. It looks like the block is toast I am afraid.

I have a spare bottom end here in Fleet if needed.

I dont know much about these pumps,but could he get a bung machined to fit the hole and then fit an electric pump ?

Dave

Another alternative would be to take the engine out and part dismantle it and get a machine shop to bore out the housing oversize, and shrink-fit a brass insert in. Then machine the inner diameter back to fit a new pump. The advantage being that future removal of the pump would be much easier than having a brass cage corroding against a cast block.
Then fit a new phosphor bronze bush in the block for the pump spindle and fit a new pump of the same flavour that came out. Shim it up with the gaskets and its all done.
Tony.

Or press in an easysleeve and machine the brass cage 0,20mm less in diametre.

Jeroen.

soe8m wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:06 pm That can be repaired. You have to grind two exta horizontal slots 90 degrees in the existing slots making two + shapes. You can fill this with some liquid metal product and you are fine. The extra horizontal 90 degrees slots are for more surface to watertight it and for fixation of the repair product.

Jeroen.

I am not sure this is a great idea, I would have no confidence about any sort of chemical metal adhering in that environment, in the long run.