The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi Hugh, Welcome to the Forum. Yes, since you already own a TR7 a Dolomite should be very familiar engine and electrics wise.
Yes I have had 2 Sprints as daily drivers and also 2 1850's. O.K. they do need to be looked after, but I manage.
You may have to do the odd bit of work in the company car-park at lunch time, and work in the evening with temperatures of -2 Deg C for the MOT the next day, but all perfectly possible.
I did a write up for a colleague on buying a Dolomite. I'll bring it up to date and P.M. it to you as it is quite a large file.
Many knowledgeable people on here with Dolomite specific knowledge and I reckon this forum is a lot more active than the TR7 one on where I occasionally lurk.
HTH,
Tony.

Welcome Hugh!

Like Tony I have lived with both a Sprint and 1850 as a daily driver. For daily duties personally I prefer the 1850 as the engine is more flexible around town and it will also cruise easily in overdrive top keeping up with modern traffic. But the ultimate is the Sprint and nothing can really beat them!

Tooting my own trumpet now, I am currently restoring an earlyish (pre rationalisation) 1850 with a view to selling at when finished.

https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... 19&t=35610

Rust, rust, did I mention rust? A Dolomite will pretty much rot anywhere and everywhere. Any filler, surface rust could be hiding a nightmare underneath, so don't be shy about getting under the car, giving things a prod and lifting carpets. This can include rot in the bulkhead hidden by the engine bay sound deadening. The special treat the Sprint can have for you is the lovely Vinyl roof hiding rot.

If you can get a rot free car, you're halfway there. As for the engine, if you have owned a 1850 you know about the delightful cooling system. Jackshafts that can wear, water pump in a daft location in the block. Check for evidence of staining on the block on the inlet side, that could indicate the car has a leaking coolant system.

Otherwise it is just commonsense stuff, does it stop, start and change gear properly.

Have I mentioned rust?

Welcome to the forum Hugh, personally if you are looking for a Dolly that will not be a pile of poo I would wait for James to finish his At least you will know what you are buying.

Tony.

Hughthetriumpher!! wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:48 pm But Tony James’ car is not a sprint!! I quite want a sprint version!! Unless I cud sprintize it!! Lol!!

HUGH

Good idea Hugh, Sprintize it and save a few quid

Tony.

dollyman wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:00 pm

Hughthetriumpher!! wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 6:48 pm But Tony James’ car is not a sprint!! I quite want a sprint version!! Unless I cud sprintize it!! Lol!!

HUGH

Good idea Hugh, Sprintize it and save a few quid

Tony.

I would advise against that and this is from someone who Sprinting a 1500. Sure do if you like the challenge but if you just want a Sprint, far better to buy a Sprint. A genuine Sprint will always be worth more and will be easier to insure.

I doubt Sprintizing ( a new word for the Oxford English dictionary) an 1850 would save any money at all. The two cars are very different with the Sprint having a different and tougher gearbox and rear axle. Trying to run a Sprint engine through an 1850 gearbox and axle would be a recipe for disaster.

As others have said, rust, rust and more rust is the major problem. These cars were built during the BL days when the workers couldn't give a damn for the quality of what they built, and it shows. The slant engines, both 1850 and Sprint, suffer the same problems as the TR7 slant with the bizarre water pump arrangement and the slanted head studs causing great difficulty in getting the head off should you need to. However, my 1850 is now no problem at all and starts on the button everytime, hot or cold.

I was actually meaning a look alike, wheels, badges ect ect Leaving everything else standard

Tony.

Bumpa wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:55 am I doubt Sprintizing ( a new word for the Oxford English dictionary) an 1850 would save any money at all. The two cars are very different with the Sprint having a different and tougher gearbox and rear axle. Trying to run a Sprint engine through an 1850 gearbox and axle would be a recipe for disaster.

As others have said, rust, rust and more rust is the major problem. These cars were built during the BL days when the workers couldn't give a damn for the quality of what they built, and it shows. The slant engines, both 1850 and Sprint, suffer the same problems as the TR7 slant with the bizarre water pump arrangement and the slanted head studs causing great difficulty in getting the head off should you need to. However, my 1850 is now no problem at all and starts on the button everytime, hot or cold.

In terms of rust that isn't really fair on BL, Japanese cars of the time were more reliable but if anything, rusted worst. In fact virtually everything back then did. Cars weren't galvanised, made of poorer quality steel and the designs were full of rust and water traps.

Your point about the engines is justified, to be fair it was designed in an era when there was far more variety in car design and companies were trying new things out. Of course it wasn't helped by the fact most cars in the late 60's and early 70's had cast iron heads. Using the correct anti-freeze mixture wasn't as critical with those designs, when failure to use the correct mixture could kill an engine with an alloy head pretty quickly.

Hughthetriumpher!! wrote: ↑Sat Feb 29, 2020 12:24 pm Hi everybody!!

I'm Hugh waddell from Newcastle upon Tyne!! And I'd really like to enter dolomite ownership!! I currently own a '81 TR7 DHC!! And an '01 MGF Trophy 160!! And I hope sometime to add a Dolly to my collection!!

So what do I look for??

I would ideally like to own a sprint!! But are these very easy to live with??

HUGH

Welcome to the forum Hugh ! The experience, knowledge and enthusiasm on this site is incredible, you've come to the right place..

Looked after they shouldn't be too hard to live with. Compared to other machinery I've had, the parts availability and tuning options still amaze me..