The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Posted: **Wed Feb 16, 2022 12:27 pm**

Introduction

Based upon my experience of driving a 1974 Triumph Toledo, from May 1975 onward, in various parts of England, it became apparent that there was scope for improving the windscreen wiper & washer systems, of the Triumph Dolomite & Toledo and related models; pertaining to the ease & convenience of using the controls and the effectiveness & efficiency of the systems themselves. As various technologies became available, further improvements became possible at various stages during the past 45+ years. The various possible upgrades (several of which I have already implemented) can be summarised as follows:

 Replace early-model Toledo / Dolomite factory-standard manually-pumped windscreen washers with the later-model Toledo / Dolomite factory-standard electrically-pumped windscreen washers.

 Convert windscreen wipers from LHD to RHD configuration.

 Replace Toledo factory-standard dashboard-mounted rotary-switch with a Dolomite factory-standard steering-column-mounted stalk-switch, having a flick-wipe facility.

 Substitute longer windscreen-wiper blades and length-adjustable windscreen-wiper arms.

 Substitute a larger-capacity windscreen-washer fluid reservoir; significantly greater than the factory-standard two Imperial-pint capacity.

 Reposition the factory-fitted windscreen-washer jets and retro-fit one or more supplementary windscreen-washer jets of the same type.

 Retro-fit wiper-arm-mounted, clip-on windscreen-washer jets, as a substitute or supplement to the factory-fitted windscreen-washer jets.

 Retro-fit Swedish SVD / SWW wash-wiper blades or similar product, as a substitute or supplement to the factory-fitted windscreen-washer jets.

 Retro-fit a fixed-interval or variable-interval, intermittent wiper facility.

 Retro-fit a rain-sensing, variable-interval, intermittent wiper facility.

 Retro-fit electrically-heated windscreen-wiper blades.

 Retro-fit bottom-windscreen heater strips

 Retro-fit a windscreen-washer fluid heating system and/or heated windscreen-washer jet nozzles.

 Retro-fit a rear-window wiper & washer system.

Several of these upgrades would be appropriate for other classic and modern vehicles, including some which I have already implemented on my 1973 VW “1600” Type 2 Westfalia Continental motor-caravan.

Bay Window Bus > 1968~79 VW Type 2 window wiper & washer upgrades [viewed 62,850 times as at Wednesday, 16th February 2022]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=186468

Posted: **Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:33 pm**

I mean you could do all of that but it seems like allot of effort to deal with a problem that doesn't really exist. The standard wipers are perfectly adequate, the only thing that I really missed was an intermittent wiper setting and that is pretty easy to mod if you really want it.

Posted: **Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:48 am**

cleverusername wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:33 pm I mean you could do all of that but it seems like allot of effort to deal with a problem that doesn't really exist. The standard wipers are perfectly adequate, the only thing that I really missed was an intermittent wiper setting and that is pretty easy to mod if you really want it.

The standard wipers ARE adequate, an intermittent wipe would be nice, but they already HAVE a "one wipe" facility (at least curved dash cars do) that is sufficient.

The washers, on the other hand, are pretty awful. Artful concealment from view has taken precedence over efficiency and resulted in a state where the jets can face, pretty much, a 2" square area of the screen on each side and nowhere else or the water impacts the bonnet or the wiper arms before hitting the screen. Besides this, the bottle is tiny and the pump motor is horribly inacccessible on post 76 cars. So room for improvement there. I can see a case for arm mounted washer jets (SWMBO's Picasso has these, love em!) and a considerably larger capacity washer bottle so you don't have to stop and fill it halfway through a longer journey. Not sure where to put it though!

I don't see much point in heating washer fluid or jets, this country's climate doesn't need it and anyway, very few cars go out in the rain, let alone snow, ice and salted roads!

Steve

Posted: **Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:20 pm**

cleverusername wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:33 pm I mean you could do all of that but it seems like allot of effort to deal with a problem that doesn't really exist. The standard wipers are perfectly adequate, the only thing that I really missed was an intermittent wiper setting and that is pretty easy to mod if you really want it.

Carledo wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:48 amThe standard wipers ARE adequate, an intermittent wipe would be nice, but they already HAVE a "one wipe" facility (at least curved dash cars do) that is sufficient.

The washers, on the other hand, are pretty awful. Artful concealment from view has taken precedence over efficiency and resulted in a state where the jets can face, pretty much, a 2" square area of the screen on each side and nowhere else or the water impacts the bonnet or the wiper arms before hitting the screen. Besides this, the bottle is tiny and the pump motor is horribly inaccessible on post 76 cars. So room for improvement there. I can see a case for arm mounted washer jets (SWMBO's Picasso has these, love em!) and a considerably larger capacity washer bottle so you don't have to stop and fill it halfway through a longer journey. Not sure where to put it though!

I assure you that a problem does exist, as I determined long ago from personal experience during the late-1970s & early-1980s!

I would agree that the factory-fitted windscreen wipers are “adequate”, although they would have been much better had they been designed for a RHD – right-hand drive vehicle, rather than a LHD – left-hand drive vehicle for the European export market! It would also have been beneficial to have had shorter wiper arms in combination with longer wiper blades to sweep a larger proportion of the window area, but this is a relatively minor issue.

I have yet to investigate whether it would be practical to convert the windscreen wipers from LHD to RHD configuration, but I am aware from my participation in on-line Volkswagen forums in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere in the World, that the Australian specification, RHD 1968~79 VW Type 2 Transporters manufactured and/or assembled in Australia, were obliged to comply with the “Australian Design Rules”, which required that their RHD vehicles have RHD configuration windscreen wipers; although British specification, RHD 1968~79 VW Type 2 Transporters manufactured in Germany have LHD configuration windscreen wipers. Whether RHD Triumph Toledos and/or Dolomites sold in Australia, have LHD or RHD configuration windscreen wipers, I don’t know!

When driving in certain directions, at certain times of the day & year, reflection of sunlight from the polished surface of the stainless-steel windscreen-wiper arms, is an uncomfortable & distracting glare-source, as I know from personal experience. This was why, when I replaced my original factory-fitted windscreen-wiper arms, with length-adjustable ones, I chose to have ones painted satin-black.

As “Carledo” (aka Steve Boitoult) has already remarked, the factory-fitted windscreen-washer system in general and the windscreen-washer jets in particular, leave a great deal to be desired, with much scope for improvement. Under some driving conditions, the factory-standard windscreen-washer system might pose a real hazard to driving safety! During the course of this topic thread, I shall elaborate at length, describing some of the options for improvement of which I am aware, at least some of which I have personal experience.

“Carledo” (aka Steve Boitoult) has also remarked, that the single-pass, flick-wipe facility of the Triumph Dolomites (at least those with four headlights, adjustable steering column and sculptured dashboard with multiple-instruments, but possibly also the less well-endowed 1976~80 Triumph 13/1500 Dolomites) provides many of the benefits of having intermittent windscreen wipers, although there are conditions under which fixed-interval, variable-interval or even rain-sensing variable-interval intermittent windscreen wipers would be beneficial.

Using a second-hand, steering-column-mounted windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch with single-pass, flick-wipe facility, salvaged from a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite, I upgraded my 1974 Triumph Toledo during the winter of 1982/83, that I found invaluable and which I would wish to retain, even if I had fixed-interval, variable-interval or even rain-sensing variable-interval intermittent windscreen wipers.

Posted: **Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:26 pm**

Upgrading From Manually-Pumped to Electrically-Pumped Windscreen Washers

I have never driven a car that was equipped with manually-pumped windscreen washers, so the contents of this section are not based upon personal experience! My father’s late-1940s vintage Morris-8 Series E (which we had from about the time I was born in early-1956 until circa mid-1964), was not even factory-fitted with any windscreen washers, so he upgraded that car at some stage, with a manually-pumped windscreen-washer kit, whilst we were living in Dundee, Scotland.

I recall that it took considerable manual pumping, before any significant quantity of water was squirted onto the windscreen. The pneumatic windscreen-washer system (i.e. air-pressurised, by air from the spare tyre) that was factory-fitted to my father’s new 1964 VW 1200 Beetle, was far superior; as was the similar pneumatic system (periodically air-pressurised using a tyre inflator pump) that was factory-fitted to our 1973 VW “1600” Type 2 Westfalia Continental motor-caravan!

However, I shall at some time in the future, be further upgrading the 1973 VW Type 2, with a Swedish specification, 1974~79 VW Type 2’s electrically-pumped, headlamp & windscreen washer system (sourced second-hand from a contact in Sweden), which includes a moulded-black-plastic washer-fluid tank of 8•0 litre (i.e. about 14 Imperial pints) capacity, that replaces the front kick-panel in the cab! The 1968~79 VW Type 2s for other countries, including Great Britain and the rest of the World, continued to have the factory-fitted pneumatic windscreen-washer system, unless from 1974 onward, they had the electrically-pumped, headlamp & windscreen washer system as an extra-cost, factory-fitted option, but this was quite rare!

Bay Window Bus > factory headlight washer system?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=306431

Judging from Illustrations MT3215 & MT0299 in my copy of the official 1970~74 BLMC Triumph Toledo workshop manual (ordered in circa April 1975 from Mann Egerton, the local Rover & Triumph dealership, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex) the capacity of the windscreen-washer reservoir for the manually-pumped windscreen-washer system, was substantially smaller than that of the Lucas electrically-pumped windscreen-washer system, for the Triumph Toledo & Dolomite.

Toledo Repair Operations Manual, Publication Part Number 545168/2E, Edition Unspecified, Service Division, Triumph Motors, British Leyland UK Limited.

Illustration MT3215 in Sub-Section 10.00.05, of Section 10 – Maintenance

Illustration MT0299 in Sub-Section 84.10.01 – Windscreen Washer Reservoir, of Section 84 – Windscreen Wipers & Washers

In principle, one could simply replace an existing manual windscreen-washer pump with a generic electric windscreen-washer pump & switch or later-model Triumph Toledo electric windscreen-washer pump & switch, whilst retaining the existing ultra-small-capacity windscreen-washer reservoir, but it would be far better to substitute a windscreen-washer reservoir of at least 1•5 litres capacity or preferably more. However, as “Carledo” (aka Steve Boitoult) has remarked, the important but as yet unanswered question, is where to put one!

Conversely, if one chose simply to substitute a factory-standard, Triumph Toledo or Dolomite, Lucas 2-pint (i.e. circa 1•136 litres) capacity, windscreen-washer reservoir (embossed with the words: “LUCAS ELECTRIC SCREENJET ENGLAND”), mounting bracket and electric windscreen-washer pump, then that should hopefully be a relatively straightforward option, but it still leaves one with the on-going dilemma, of potentially having inadequate windscreen-washer fluid capacity, for long journeys.

One could also leapfrog one stage in the sequential upgrade process and directly substitute the steering-column mounted, combination windscreen-wiper & washer stalk-switch (with single-pass, flick-wipe facility), but that is something I have yet to cover in this topic thread; which I will in due course, having personally upgraded my 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300 “HL Special” in this regard, during the winter of 1982/83.

Sometime during the late-1970s, after my 1974 Triumph Toledo had covered just a modest mileage (i.e. less than 12,000 miles), the Lucas electric windscreen-washer pump unit failed. To the best of my recall, the Japanese-made (did Lucas have a Japanese subsidiary company!?!) electric motor still functioned, but the water-pump part had ceased to function, so I disassembled this, but despite my best efforts I could not resolve the problem. At that time, I could find no source of just the water-pump section, so we were obliged to order a complete replacement pump unit from Mann Egerton, our local Rover & Triumph dealership in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Lucas WSB 100 windscreen-washer pump

Carledo wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:48 am Besides this, the bottle is tiny and the pump motor is horribly inacccessible on post 76 cars. So room for improvement there.

With the motor’s axis aligned vertically, the original factory-fitted, Lucas electric windscreen-washer pump unit in my 1974 Triumph Toledo (certainly pre 1976!), was located outboard of the windscreen-washer reservoir, close to the left-hand side of the engine compartment. The pump unit was mounted onto an L-shaped metal bracket, that was riveted to another metal bracket, which in turn was attached to the windscreen-washer reservoir’s metal mounting bracket. Hence, in order to do any maintenance work on the pump unit, which was “horribly inaccessible” in this position, it was necessary to completely remove the windscreen-washer reservoir and its mounting bracket from the car.

In contrast, the replacement Lucas electric windscreen-washer pump unit, came complete with a new suction-hose & strainer and a large windscreen-washer-reservoir twist-on cap, to which the pump unit was directly mounted by means of an L-shaped metal bracket riveted onto the cap, with the motor’s axis aligned horizontally. In this position, it is very much easier to undertake maintenance work on the pump unit!

Pump Motor and Lid Assembly - GWW111

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GWW111

£31•00 excluding VAT | £37•20 including UK VAT | as in March 2022

This replacement Lucas electric windscreen-washer pump unit was still functioning when I took the car off the road in 1999, at an overall vehicle mileage of circa 101,000, but I wonder how often these pump units typically need replacing!?!

TRIUMPH DOLOMITE TR5 TR6 TR7 2000 2500 LUCAS 12v WINDSCREEN WASHER PUMP 6C2

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-DOLO ... XQkl9RZXJP

During either late-1990 & early-1991, when I was partially refurbishing the car, I also needed to refurbish the windscreen-washer reservoir’s metal mounting bracket, plus replace the disintegrating foam padding and the deteriorating rubber retaining strap (things that again need doing!), so I took the opportunity to remove the redundant mounting brackets associated with the original factory-fitted, Lucas electric windscreen-washer pump unit which had failed during the late-1970s.

Posted: **Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:30 pm**

Retro-Fitted Two Supplementary Windscreen-Washer Jets – Autumn 1982

From the early-1980s onward, there was greater need for me to use my 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300, particularly for the weekend trips home from CIT – Cranfield Institute of Technology, on the Bedfordshire & Buckinghamshire border, to Canvey Island, in Essex, by way of an 80-mile windy cross-country route, passing through or close to Ampthill, Baldock, Buntingford, Puckerage, Bishop’s Stortford and Chelmsford.

When driving during “dirty” wet weather (i.e. little or no rain, but dirt-laden water on the road surface), I needed to frequently use the windscreen wipers & washers to clear dirt-laden spray from the windscreen. On those occasions, I had noticed that the windscreen wipers tended to smear the windscreen; probably owing to uneven distribution of water over the windscreen's surface, despite frequent, liberal squirts of water from the two washer jets.

In a bid to overcome this problem, I salvaged two additional Triumph Toledo or Dolomite windscreen-washer jets from a local car breaker's yard. After removing my Toledo's two existing washer-jets from their original factory-fitted location, I positioned the four washer-jets, so that the outboard pair squirted through the outermost ventilation-grille slots, 130 ± 1 mm outboard of the factory-standard positions and the inboard pair were located symmetrically on either side of the bonnet-lock attachment plate (behind the ventilation grille), 94 ± 2 mm inboard of the factory-standard positions. Using additional appropriate T-junctions, Y-junctions and flexible plastic hose, these were connected to the existing windscreen-washer pump.

Having four evenly-spaced windscreen-washer jets, giving a wider, more even distribution of water across the windscreen, was certainly an improvement. However, this improved cleaning performance came at the price of an increase in windscreen-washer-fluid consumption rate, which in turn highlighted the relatively small capacity of the two-pint (i.e. 1•136 litres) windscreen-washer reservoir.

This became abundantly clear on one 80 mile journey from home to CIT – Cranfield, during particularly dirty wet weather. I had left home with a completely full windscreen-washer reservoir, which had diminished to about half-inch depth by the time I arrived at my destination! I either needed a supplementary windscreen-washer reservoir or a larger-capacity windscreen-washer reservoir or better still, a more efficient washer system that required less water; something I was to discover a few years later, when I learned of Swedish SVD wash-wiper blades. Had I needed to travel an additional 10~20 miles under the same conditions, I would probably have needed to top-up the windscreen-washer reservoir during my journey.

Posted: **Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:37 pm**

Substituted Triumph Dolomite Adjustable Steering Column, Windscreen Wiper & Washer Switch and Other Associated Switch Gear – Winter 1982/83

By the winter of 1982/83, my driving experiences in wet weather, had thoroughly convinced me of the need to upgrade the Toledo, with a steering-column-mounted, windscreen-wiper & washer, stalk switch. It would be so much easier, quicker and safer to find and activate a stalk switch on the steering column, to use the windscreen wipers and/or washers, especially at night on an unlit road, when one could NOT easily see the location of the Toledo’s factory-fitted, dashboard-mounted, windscreen-wiper & washer, rotary & depression switch.

The original dashboard-mounted, windscreen-wiper & washer switch could later be re-employed for a rear-window wiper & washer system of some sort, if I ever got around to retro-fitting one; assuming this would be practical!?! This is similar to what I did with my 1973 VW “1600” Type 2 motor-caravan; using a second-hand 1968~72 VW 1600 Type 2 dashboard-mounted, windscreen-wiper & washer switch, for my retro-fitted, second-hand, SWF cross-over-arm, double-linkage, pantograph rear-window wiper (salvaged from an early-1980s vintage Vauxhall Astra Mk.1 estate car) and wiper-arm mounted washer jets.

Windscreen soiling was particularly bad after the rain had stopped, when the road surface was still covered with a film of dirty water. As a consequence of this, one’s front windscreen was frequently swamped by a deluge of gritty, dirt-laden spray, from the wheels of passing vehicles, of which large lorries and buses were particular culprits.

Under these circumstances, one needed to quickly activate both the washers (owing to the lack of cleansing rain) and wipers, particularly if there was only a little water accompanying the dirt and grit. On busy roads, especially dual carriageways and motorways, one sometimes needed to repeat the wash & wipe process, a few times every minute, which on some of my 80 mile journeys, almost emptied the 2 pint windscreen-washer reservoir of water!

Hence, at the next opportunity, I made another pilgrimage to the local car breakers’ yards, where I salvaged a complete steering-column nacelle & switch assembly from a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite, comprising:

• Two-piece, moulded plastic nacelle, held together with three machine screws;
• Windscreen wiper & washer, combination stalk-switch, with flick-wipe facility;
• Headlamp-dip, direction-indicator & horn, combination stalk-switch;
• Main headlamp & sidelight, rotary-switch.

It is questionable whether it was necessary to buy both stalk-switches, but the stalk-end, push-button switches of the Toledo and Dolomite were of a different style, and I wanted a matching pair of stalk-switches for aesthetic reasons.

When I tried to fit the Dolomite steering-column nacelle to the Toledo steering column, I discovered an insoluble problem! The positions of the three fixing screws, which held the upper & lower halves of the Dolomite nacelle together and secured it to the steering column, were not compatible with the Toledo steering column; the triangular arrangement of screws and screw-holes being configured differently.

Being determined not to abandon this project, I resorted to also salvaging the Dolomite’s complete steering-column assembly and associated three-spoke steering wheel, with leather-covered, padded rim, whose diameter was slightly smaller than that of the Toledo. As things turned out, the substitution of the Dolomite’s adjustable steering column & associated steering wheel, proved to be a beneficial, albeit unintentional upgrade.

However, when I substituted the Dolomite adjustable steering column, I discovered that there was a space between the mounting brackets and the front bulkhead below the windscreen, owing to differences between the Toledo’s flat-panel dashboard and the Dolomite’s moulded dashboard with separate curved-profile instrument panel. Hence it was necessary to incorporate spacer shims to rigidly mount the steering column.

Having all the major switch-gear mounted on the steering column, was a vast improvement and I’m surprised that BLMC Triumph hadn’t already upgraded the later-model Toledos in this way, at little if any additional cost! After all, to the best of my knowledge, the 1976 onward, rationalized, “two-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite 13/1500, with the fixed, non-adjustable steering column, was so equipped.

The additional single-pass flick-wipe facility, also proved to be particularly useful in conditions of light drizzle or fog, when only a single, occasional sweep of the windscreen wipers was needed.

I am in no doubt, that having a steering-column mounted, windscreen wiper & washer, combination stalk-switch, greatly improved driving comfort and safety. In the USA, the NSTSA (i.e. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is said to have implicated driver distraction alone, in at least 26% of fatal accidents, during a one-year period. An article in the British press (i.e. “The dashboard danger”, Daily Mail, Thursday, 28th April 2005, Page 31), also echoes this view; saying that adjusting controls such as switches for lights or windscreen wipers & washers, almost doubled from 0•75 to 1•45 seconds, the time taken to react to a hazard and activate the brakes in an emergency.

*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The exact configuration of the Toledo’s original non-adjustable steering column and associated two-piece moulded-plastic nacelle, are rather hazy in my memory after nearly 40 years to say the least.

Although I might have once known the answer, I now wonder whether it might have been possible to retro-fit the Dolomite steering-column-mounted, windscreen-wiper & washer switch, to the Toledo’s original non-adjustable steering column and retain the Toledo’s original plastic nacelle; albeit with an extra slot cut in the opposite side of the nacelle, to accommodate the extra switch-stalk!?!

I also wonder whether the configurations (including the fastening-screw positions) of the two-piece moulded-plastic nacelles, are the identical for the Triumph Dolomite 13/1500 with non-adjustable steering column and the Triumph Dolomite 1500/1850 HL & Sprint with adjustable steering column!?! Clarification of this would be useful!

Posted: **Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pm**

naskeet wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:37 pm
I also wonder whether the configurations (including the fastening-screw positions) of the two-piece moulded-plastic nacelles, are the identical for the Triumph Dolomite 13/1500 with non-adjustable steering column and the Triumph Dolomite 1500/1850 HL & Sprint with adjustable steering column!?! Clarification of this would be useful!

In short, NO!

Besides fitting an adjustable column to the (plank dash) Carledo. much as you did, save I retained the plank dash, I also had need to fit an adjustable column to a (plank dash) 79 1500SE All went as the Carledo conversion, but, like the Carledo, the column nacelle wouldn't fit the adjustable column. The 3 screw positions were in alignment, but the 2 tags on the outer column through which the 2 longer screws pass were almost 1" out of position. I had to source a 2 part adjustable column nacelle.

As i've probably said before, the fitment of a different heater unit and differences in under screen fitting locations make it, in my opinion, too much work to fit a curved dash crash pad to a flat dash car. But the plank dash can be retained whilst fitting the adjustable column by the simple expedient of employing a pair of 1/2" spacers between the column bracket and the back of the crash pad and using 1/2" longer 1/4" unf setscrews at that joint. Everything else tallies up except the wiper switch wiring from the plank dash car which needs extending to reach the base of the steering column.

It's further my opinion that it's easier to cram more instrumentation into a flat dash than the somewhat restrictive curved design. The Carledo currently has 3 x 4" instruments, a) speedometer, b) tachometer and c) a three guage 4" clock from a Triumph 2000 MkII containing fuel, temp and voltage indicators. Plus a single 2" oil pressure guage, 4 individual warning lights for Ign, oil pressure, main beam and indicators and switches for brake line lock, rad fan over-ride, hazard warning light and HRW. The hazard and HRW switches are internally illuminated when switched on to save separate extra lights being needed. There is still room in the existing dash for at least one more 2" dial on the main panel to the right of the heater controls and the panel to the left of the heater controls is, as yet, untouched and blank.

I've achieved this much much using the original plank dash panel which doesn't have the most practical space saving design, but I have plans for a bespoke flat panel to be made for me by a cabinet maker friend that will leave space for the 3 x 4" dials (slightly re-arranged for maximum visibility) and 4 further 2" dials, plus the 4 warning lights I consider necessary (might dispense with the oil light, I have a guage for that!) The 4 switches can be remoted to the left hand panel as none need to be easily accessed whilst on the move. All these instrument have been designed to be readable by me through a smaller 14" steering wheel. It may not work as well for anyone considerably taller or shorter than myself, but that's a really minor consideration as i'll probably be the only driver!

Steve

Posted: **Fri Feb 25, 2022 5:41 pm**

Removing the washer bottle,is a pain especially if the screw/bolts are rusted as mine were,i also upgraded the Dolomite wiper switch to a Stag switch as they have the imtermittent wiper function

Dave

Posted: **Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:38 pm**

Carledo wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:48 amWhether RHD Triumph Toledos and/or Dolomites sold in Australia, have LHD or RHD configuration windscreen wipers, I don’t know!

My 1975 Australian Dolomite has LHD wipers.

Posted: **Mon Feb 28, 2022 6:09 pm**

naskeet wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:37 pm I also wonder whether the configurations (including the fastening-screw positions) of the two-piece moulded-plastic nacelles, are identical for the Triumph Dolomite 13/1500 with non-adjustable steering column and the Triumph Dolomite 1500/1850 HL & Sprint with adjustable steering column!?! Clarification of this would be useful!

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pmIn short, NO!

Besides fitting an adjustable column to the (plank dash) Carledo. much as you did, save I retained the plank dash, I also had need to fit an adjustable column to a (plank dash) 79 1500SE All went as the Carledo conversion, but, like the Carledo, the column nacelle wouldn't fit the adjustable column. The 3 screw positions were in alignment, but the 2 tags on the outer column through which the 2 longer screws pass were almost 1" out of position. I had to source a 2 part adjustable column nacelle.

Correct me if I have misunderstood, but are you now in effect saying the following?:

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column.

Would I also be correct in thinking, that you have previously said elsewhere, or at least inferred the following?:

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column.

When I substituted the “four-headlamp” Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint; I can’t recall which, but it had a “DOLOMITE” embossed steering-wheel centre pad) adjustable steering column into my Toledo during the winter of 1982/83, I retained the Toledo’s original “flat-plank dashboard”, heater unit and parcel shelf. Substitution of a matching “four-headlamp” Dolomite parcel shelf would have been preferable, but I either could not find one in serviceable condition or didn’t realise at the time that they were different!

When about 12~15 months later, I also substituted the “four-headlamp” Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1850) sculptured dashboard with concave instrument panel into my Toledo during the spring of 1984, I still retained the Toledo’s original heater unit and parcel shelf.

I might in the future, substitute a heater unit that I possess, originating from a “four-headlamp” Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL), but that is by no means certain! Alternatively, I might simply modify the original Toledo heater unit which is still in the car, by retro-fitting custom-made hose-connection spigots to the rear and/or side-facing steel panels, which can supply hot/warm/cold air to supplementary circular vents (i.e. repurposed cold-air vents) positioned according to my preferences. This would provide greater scope for heating & ventilation, as well as more space for a relatively-wide custom console beneath the centre of the dashboard, for switches, radio / cassette-player, early-model Dolomite 1850 clock or other things.

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pm As i've probably said before, the fitment of a different heater unit and differences in under screen fitting locations make it, in my opinion, too much work to fit a curved dash crash pad to a flat dash car.

As I have also said before, it is unnecessary to change-out the Toledo heater unit, when substituting the “four-headlamp” Dolomite sculptured dashboard with concave instrument panel. The “four-headlamp” Dolomite heater-control levers are compatible with the Toledo heater unit.

There was very little extra work involved to install the Dolomite sculptured dashboard in the Toledo, apart from drilling three extra holes in the dashboard mounting flange below the windscreen, using a hand-drill. All of the installation work was undertaken in the CIT – Cranfield hall of residence car park, using just basic hand tools. Someday, I might get around to taking a few photographs to illustrate just how simple it was!

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pm But the plank dash can be retained whilst fitting the adjustable column by the simple expedient of employing a pair of 1/2" spacers between the column bracket and the back of the crash pad and using 1/2" longer 1/4" unf setscrews at that joint. Everything else tallies up except the wiper switch wiring from the plank dash car which needs extending to reach the base of the steering column.

Unlike you, I bolted the Dolomite adjustable steering-column mounting-bracket directly to the back of the Toledo's dashboard, but used spacers (i.e. stacked washers) between the mounting-bracket and the Toledo's vertical bulkhead separating the engine-compartment and the passenger-compartment.

I don’t recall needing to extend any wiring for the wiper & washer stalk-switch wiring, but given that it was nearly 40 years ago, it’s not surprising I don’t remember all of the details. I suspect that I might simply have unravelled some of the main wiring-loom binding-tape, to alter the position at which the wiring for the main lighting switch and wiper & washer switch emerged from the main wiring loom. Being a graduate applied physicist & engineer by background, who studied DC & AC electrical-circuit analysis amongst other things, and revelled in experimental research work, I’m not usually fazed by the prospect of fabricating or modifying wiring looms.

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pm It's further my opinion that it's easier to cram more instrumentation into a flat dash than the somewhat restrictive curved design. The Carledo currently has 3 x 4" instruments, a) speedometer, b) tachometer and c) a three guage 4" clock from a Triumph 2000 MkII containing fuel, temp and voltage indicators. Plus a single 2" oil pressure guage, 4 individual warning lights for Ign, oil pressure, main beam and indicators and switches for brake line lock, rad fan over-ride, hazard warning light and HRW. The hazard and HRW switches are internally illuminated when switched on to save separate extra lights being needed. There is still room in the existing dash for at least one more 2" dial on the main panel to the right of the heater controls and the panel to the left of the heater controls is, as yet, untouched and blank.

I've achieved this much using the original plank dash panel which doesn't have the most practical space saving design, but I have plans for a bespoke flat panel to be made for me by a cabinet maker friend that will leave space for the 3 x 4" dials (slightly re-arranged for maximum visibility) and 4 further 2" dials, plus the 4 warning lights I consider necessary (might dispense with the oil light, I have a guage for that!) The 4 switches can be remoted to the left hand panel as none need to be easily accessed whilst on the move. All these instrument have been designed to be readable by me through a smaller 14" steering wheel. It may not work as well for anyone considerably taller or shorter than myself, but that's a really minor consideration as i'll probably be the only driver!

I reckon that by relocating the driver’s fresh-air outlet, my “four-headlamp” Dolomite sculptured dashboard with substitute concave instrument panel, will accommodate 3 x 4 inch instruments – (a) speedometer with ignition, oil-pressure & main-beam warning lights; (b) tachometer, and (c) three-gauge clock from a FWD Triumph 1300 incorporating fuel-level, coolant-temperature and amperes, plus 4 x 2 inch gauges – (d) inlet-manifold vacuum, (e) voltage, (f) oil-temperature, and (g) oil-pressure, plus 2 x 60 mm 8-segment customised warning-light clusters. I also envisage fitting two fog-light switches with integral tell-tale lamps, a hazard-warning-light switch with integral tell-tale lamp and a brake-circuit failure warning lamp. Having nine gauge functions in total, plus twenty warning lights and three switches, is quite a reasonable compliment of equipment. There might even be space for at least another eight individual warning lights if needed!

Would I be correct in thinking that HRW might stand for Heated Rear Window? It never pays to make unsubstantiated assumptions, given that assumption is reckoned to be the mother of all disasters!

naskeet wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:37 pm Although I might have once known the answer, I now wonder whether it might have been possible to retro-fit the Dolomite steering-column-mounted, windscreen-wiper & washer switch, to the Toledo’s original non-adjustable steering column and retain the original Toledo's plastic nacelle; albeit with an extra slot cut in the nacelle to accommodate the extra switch-stalk!?!

It’s debatable how many Toledo owners, would wish to contemplate substituting a complete Dolomite steering column of either the fixed or adjustable variety, just to gain the advantage of having a windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch and main lighting switch, mounted on the steering column. However, many more Toledo owners might contemplate upgrading with just a windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch, if it could be easily installed on the Toledo’s original fixed steering column and simply cut an extra slot or aperture in the Toledo’s original two-piece, black-plastic nacelle to accommodate the switch stalk!?!

I’m no longer in a position to investigate this suggested option, so if any of you can usefully contribute any knowledge about this, then please do.

According to the Rimmer Brothers’ Triumph Dolomite Parts Catalogue, September 1998 edition, Page 32, there are two windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switches listed for the RHD Triumph Dolomite models:

1850 (upto WF 26607) - part No. 216949

All models / 1850 (WF 26608 onward) - part No. 218502

I do not know when the WF 26607 > WF 26608 occurred, but I suspect that windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switches for the 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500, 1500SE, 1500HL, 1850HL & Sprint are probably identical and interchangeable.

In what way the windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switches of part numbers 216949 and 218502 differ from one another, I have yet to learn!?!

I can find no corresponding listings on Page 40 or 41, for the FWD Triumph 1500 or RWD Triumph 1500TC, which I believe were similarly equipped, as indicated by the illustrations in Figures J:8 & J:10 on Page 107, Figure L:11 on Page 126, Figure L:15 on Page 129 and Figure M:21 on Page 145, of the following Autodata DIY workshop manual, so I wonder whether these cars required a windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch of part number 216949!?!

John Millward, Triumph 1300/1500 from 1965 ~ 1973, Car Repair Manual, Autodata, 1980, ACRM277, ISBN 0-85666-049-3.

Posted: **Mon Feb 28, 2022 6:23 pm**

new to this wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 5:41 pm Removing the washer bottle is a pain, especially if the screw/bolts are rusted as mine were. I also upgraded the Dolomite wiper switch to a Stag switch as they have the intermittent wiper function.

Rusted-in bolts or screws in any location can be a major source of frustration, but especially so in a location that is not easily accessible! At some stage in the future, you might need to remove the windscreen-washer reservoir’s mounting bracket, in order to replace the retaining elastic strap, which has a nasty habit of perishing over time!

The Triumph Stag windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch seems interesting! Is it of the same outward appearance as that of the corresponding Triumph Dolomite stalk-switch? Are there three on positions (i.e. intermittent, slow & fast) in addition to a single-pass, flick-wipe, momentary-on position? I wonder whether this is the same as that for the Triumph 2000 & 2500!?! An excerpt from the Triumph Stag’s windscreen-wiper electrical-circuit wiring diagram might be useful.

Whether RHD Triumph Toledos and/or Dolomites sold in Australia, have LHD or RHD configuration windscreen wipers, I don’t know!

davidmorr wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:38 pm My 1975 Australian Dolomite has LHD wipers.

It will be interesting to learn whether there were any Australian Triumph Dolomites or Toledos, that were equipped with RHD configuration windscreen wipers.

When I next remove my dashboard (a relatively quick and straightforward procedure, owing to my wiring-loom customisation), I shall investigate whether it would be practical to change the windscreen-wiper system from the LHD configuration (that can create an awkward blind-spot during “dirty” wet weather) to a RHD configuration, which at the very least would involve substituting different wiper arms.

Several months ago, I recall seeing on the Facebook, Triumph Toledo interest group, a picture of a Triumph Toledo whose windscreen-wiper system had been modified so that the wiper blades swept in a way such that both were simultaneous parallel at the end of their sweep, in the centre of the windscreen. The car also featured a four-headlamp system, plus very prominent wheel-arch extensions and what were probably excessively-wide wheels and ultra-low-profile tyres, but the least said about that the better!

Ben Parker’s Triumph Toledo with four circular headlamps, extended wheel arches, wide wheels and modified windscreen wipers that overlap in the centre

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 4530299386

Posted: **Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:12 pm**

naskeet wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 6:09 pm
naskeet wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:37 pm I also wonder whether the configurations (including the fastening-screw positions) of the two-piece moulded-plastic nacelles, are identical for the Triumph Dolomite 13/1500 with non-adjustable steering column and the Triumph Dolomite 1500/1850 HL & Sprint with adjustable steering column!?! Clarification of this would be useful!

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pmIn short, NO!

Besides fitting an adjustable column to the (plank dash) Carledo. much as you did, save I retained the plank dash, I also had need to fit an adjustable column to a (plank dash) 79 1500SE All went as the Carledo conversion, but, like the Carledo, the column nacelle wouldn't fit the adjustable column. The 3 screw positions were in alignment, but the 2 tags on the outer column through which the 2 longer screws pass were almost 1" out of position. I had to source a 2 part adjustable column nacelle.

Correct me if I have misunderstood, but are you now in effect saying the following?:

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint) adjustable steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column.

Would I also be correct in thinking, that you have previously said elsewhere, or at least inferred the following?:

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column.

• The two-piece, moulded black-plastic nacelle from a1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500 & 1500SE fixed steering column, is incompatible with (i.e. will not fit) a 1970~76/77 Triumph Toledo fixed steering column.

When I substituted the “four-headlamp” Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL, 1850, 1850HL or Sprint; I can’t recall which, but it had a “DOLOMITE” embossed steering-wheel centre pad) adjustable steering column into my Toledo during the winter of 1982/83, I retained the Toledo’s original “flat-plank dashboard”, heater unit and parcel shelf. Substitution of a matching “four-headlamp” Dolomite parcel shelf would have been preferable, but I either could not find one in serviceable condition or didn’t realise at the time that they were different!

When about 12~15 months later, I also substituted the “four-headlamp” Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1850) sculptured dashboard with concave instrument panel into my Toledo during the spring of 1984, I still retained the Toledo’s original heater unit and parcel shelf.

I might in the future, substitute a heater unit that I possess, originating from a “four-headlamp” Dolomite (i.e. Dolomite 1500HL), but that is by no means certain! Alternatively, I might simply modify the original Toledo heater unit which is still in the car, by retro-fitting custom-made hose-connection spigots to the rear and/or side-facing steel panels, which can supply hot/warm/cold air to supplementary circular vents (i.e. repurposed cold-air vents) positioned according to my preferences. This would provide greater scope for heating & ventilation, as well as more space for a relatively-wide custom console beneath the centre of the dashboard, for switches, radio / cassette-player, early-model Dolomite 1850 clock or other things.

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pm As i've probably said before, the fitment of a different heater unit and differences in under screen fitting locations make it, in my opinion, too much work to fit a curved dash crash pad to a flat dash car.

As I have also said before, it is unnecessary to change-out the Toledo heater unit, when substituting the “four-headlamp” Dolomite sculptured dashboard with concave instrument panel. The “four-headlamp” Dolomite heater-control levers are compatible with the Toledo heater unit.

There was very little extra work involved to install the Dolomite sculptured dashboard in the Toledo, apart from drilling three extra holes in the dashboard mounting flange below the windscreen, using a hand-drill. All of the installation work was undertaken in the CIT – Cranfield hall of residence car park, using just basic hand tools. Someday, I might get around to taking a few photographs to illustrate just how simple it was!

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pm But the plank dash can be retained whilst fitting the adjustable column by the simple expedient of employing a pair of 1/2" spacers between the column bracket and the back of the crash pad and using 1/2" longer 1/4" unf setscrews at that joint. Everything else tallies up except the wiper switch wiring from the plank dash car which needs extending to reach the base of the steering column.

Unlike you, I bolted the Dolomite adjustable steering-column mounting-bracket directly to the back of the Toledo's dashboard, but used spacers (i.e. stacked washers) between the mounting-bracket and the Toledo's vertical bulkhead separating the engine-compartment and the passenger-compartment.

I don’t recall needing to extend any wiring for the wiper & washer stalk-switch wiring, but given that it was nearly 40 years ago, it’s not surprising I don’t remember all of the details. I suspect that I might simply have unravelled some of the main wiring-loom binding-tape, to alter the position at which the wiring for the main lighting switch and wiper & washer switch emerged from the main wiring loom. Being a graduate applied physicist & engineer by background, who studied DC & AC electrical-circuit analysis amongst other things, and revelled in experimental research work, I’m not usually fazed by the prospect of fabricating or modifying wiring looms.

Carledo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 pm It's further my opinion that it's easier to cram more instrumentation into a flat dash than the somewhat restrictive curved design. The Carledo currently has 3 x 4" instruments, a) speedometer, b) tachometer and c) a three guage 4" clock from a Triumph 2000 MkII containing fuel, temp and voltage indicators. Plus a single 2" oil pressure guage, 4 individual warning lights for Ign, oil pressure, main beam and indicators and switches for brake line lock, rad fan over-ride, hazard warning light and HRW. The hazard and HRW switches are internally illuminated when switched on to save separate extra lights being needed. There is still room in the existing dash for at least one more 2" dial on the main panel to the right of the heater controls and the panel to the left of the heater controls is, as yet, untouched and blank.

I've achieved this much using the original plank dash panel which doesn't have the most practical space saving design, but I have plans for a bespoke flat panel to be made for me by a cabinet maker friend that will leave space for the 3 x 4" dials (slightly re-arranged for maximum visibility) and 4 further 2" dials, plus the 4 warning lights I consider necessary (might dispense with the oil light, I have a guage for that!) The 4 switches can be remoted to the left hand panel as none need to be easily accessed whilst on the move. All these instrument have been designed to be readable by me through a smaller 14" steering wheel. It may not work as well for anyone considerably taller or shorter than myself, but that's a really minor consideration as i'll probably be the only driver!

I reckon that by relocating the driver’s fresh-air outlet, my “four-headlamp” Dolomite sculptured dashboard with substitute concave instrument panel, will accommodate 3 x 4 inch instruments – (a) speedometer with ignition, oil-pressure & main-beam warning lights; (b) tachometer, and (c) three-gauge clock from a FWD Triumph 1300 incorporating fuel-level, coolant-temperature and amperes, plus 4 x 2 inch gauges – (d) inlet-manifold vacuum, (e) voltage, (f) oil-temperature, and (g) oil-pressure, plus 2 x 60 mm 8-segment customised warning-light clusters. I also envisage fitting two fog-light switches with integral tell-tale lamps, a hazard-warning-light switch with integral tell-tale lamp and a brake-circuit failure warning lamp. Having nine gauge functions in total, plus twenty warning lights and three switches, is quite a reasonable compliment of equipment. There might even be space for at least another eight individual warning lights if needed!

Would I be correct in thinking that HRW might stand for Heated Rear Window? It never pays to make unsubstantiated assumptions, given that assumption is reckoned to be the mother of all disasters!

naskeet wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:37 pm Although I might have once known the answer, I now wonder whether it might have been possible to retro-fit the Dolomite steering-column-mounted, windscreen-wiper & washer switch, to the Toledo’s original non-adjustable steering column and retain the original Toledo's plastic nacelle; albeit with an extra slot cut in the nacelle to accommodate the extra switch-stalk!?!

It’s debatable how many Toledo owners, would wish to contemplate substituting a complete Dolomite steering column of either the fixed or adjustable variety, just to gain the advantage of having a windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch and main lighting switch, mounted on the steering column. However, many more Toledo owners might contemplate upgrading with just a windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch, if it could be easily installed on the Toledo’s original fixed steering column and simply cut an extra slot or aperture in the Toledo’s original two-piece, black-plastic nacelle to accommodate the switch stalk!?!

I’m no longer in a position to investigate this suggested option, so if any of you can usefully contribute any knowledge about this, then please do.

According to the Rimmer Brothers’ Triumph Dolomite Parts Catalogue, September 1998 edition, Page 32, there are two windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switches listed for the RHD Triumph Dolomite models:

1850 (upto WF 26607) - part No. 216949

All models / 1850 (WF 26608 onward) - part No. 218502

I do not know when the WF 26607 > WF 26608 occurred, but I suspect that windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switches for the 1976~80 Triumph Dolomite 1300, 1500, 1500SE, 1500HL, 1850HL & Sprint are probably identical and interchangeable.

In what way the windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switches of part numbers 216949 and 218502 differ from one another, I have yet to learn!?!

I can find no corresponding listings on Page 40 or 41, for the FWD Triumph 1500 or RWD Triumph 1500TC, which I believe were similarly equipped, as indicated by the illustrations in Figures J:8 & J:10 on Page 107, Figure L:11 on Page 126, Figure L:15 on Page 129 and Figure M:21 on Page 145, of the following Autodata DIY workshop manual, so I wonder whether these cars required a windscreen wiper & washer stalk-switch of part number 216949!?!

John Millward, Triumph 1300/1500 from 1965 ~ 1973, Car Repair Manual, Autodata, 1980, ACRM277, ISBN 0-85666-049-3.

OK, i'll try to simplify.

The 2 piece nacelle for the curved dash, adjustable column cars ONLY fits the adjustable column.

The 2 piece nacelle for plank dash fixed column cars ONLY fits the fixed column.

I cannot say for a fact, whether or not, of the 2 fixed column car's nacelles (Toledo <76 And Dolomite plank dash 76>) are interchangeable with EACH OTHER as I did the swaps 10 years apart. By the time I did the 2nd swap to the 1500SE, all the old Toledo bits were long gone.

The steering wheel boss pad embossed "DOLOMITE" is common to all models that had the alloy 3 spoke wheel (including the 1500SE where the wheel was painted black) EXCEPT the Sprint, which has a boss pad embossed "TRIUMPH"

I'm not sure of the differences (if any) between the parcel trays of the flat and curved dash cars. There ARE detail differences in the millboarding around the (early) Heated Rear Window (HRW) switch and (late model) rear foglight switch near the choke on curved dash cars. any other difference would, I think, be concerned with the height of the millboard in the centre to accomodate the curved dash car's extra central air vent and Choke/Cigar lighter panel. Since I dispense with the "knee knocker" on my own cars, i'm not much interested in them!

By the way, what DID you do about the choke/lighter panel since you have a curved dash with a Toledo heater?

It's a long time since I did the Carledo, but i'm absolutely certain that I DID try fit the curved dash crash pad into the Carledo and got as far as having it fit flush to the screen and bolted up to the brackets on the A pillars. This was the point where I realized that not only did the underscreen fittings not tally up, but, on my car at least, the heater control arms didn't protrude through the control panel as they should, but ended about an inch inside. Being slightly under the cosh for time, I abandoned the curved dash and went back to the plank, keeping the adjustable column, with it's easy access switchgear, which was what I most desired anyway. I also swapped out the wiring loom at the same time for a Sprint one, this not only aligned better with the engine I used but solved a mismatch on the column switchgear both in wire lengths and plug type.

I've never needed to do it, but I suspect it would be no bother to put the updated switch gear on an early Toledo type fixed column, so long as you use the correct indicator switch holding clamp since the wiper switch screws to this clamp and not to the column at all. Then either modify the nacelle for the wiper switch or, if possible, use a nacelle from a later fixed column car.

The difference between the 2 wiper switches 216949/218502 (and the accompanying part number change on indicator switches) is in the plug joining switch to loom. Earlier cars have the grey moulded "rubber" plugs and later cars have the Rists type plugs. As far as I am aware they are otherwise identical in form and function.

My 72 model 1500FWD has the 216949 rubber plugged switch and I know for certain that early 1850s also have this type of switch/plug. I also know that ALL Sprints have Rists plugs from launch in June 73 (though all of the first 2000 Sprints were built by the launch date, some as early as Feb 73) Contrastingly, my Dec 73 built Carledo came originally equipped with rubber plug loom, so there's no fixed date for a change from one sort of plug to the other!

I suspect the WF 26607 change point applies ONLY to WF (1850) comission number cars and that other models will have their own change points. Or it may be referencing the body number which is WF for ALL the "long tail" cars, whatever powerplant was installed. What design was used (most likely a mix) on 1500TC models, I really couldn't say, i've never owned one let alone enough to build a statistical universe.

Steve

Posted: **Fri Mar 04, 2022 6:33 pm**

Carledo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:12 pm By the way, what DID you do about the choke/lighter panel since you have a curved dash with a Toledo heater?

When I substituted the early-model Triumph Dolomite 1850 sculptured dashboard into my 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300 in Spring 1984, I did NOT have an associated choke/lighter panel, circular-knobbed choke-control cable or circular-knobbed cigar-lighter with socket.

I refitted the Toledo’s original square-knobbed choke-control cable into the left-hand side of the concave instrument panel. This proved to be satisfactory, but I would have needed to disconnect it from the carburettor to provide some slack, if the warning-light bulbs or instrument-illumination bulbs required replacement.

Here is a picture of someone else’s L-registration, modified Triumph Toledo, in which they appear to have retro-fitted a “four-headlamp” Dolomite sculptured dashboard, but have retained the Toledo’s original fixed steering column & large 16 inch steering wheel, and transplanted the dashboard-mounted, square-knobbed, main-lighting & windscreen wiper & washer switches.

Good view of late-model RHD “four-headlamp” Triumph Dolomite dashboard & instrument panel in situ, in a modified, L-registration Triumph Toledo with original Toledo steering column and switches

www.balloon-fish.co.uk/lets-go-for-a-dr ... /img_7307/

www.balloon-fish.co.uk/lets-go-for-a-dr ... /img_7285/

Interestingly, the author of the following review, seems to have no inkling that he or she has reviewed an extensively modified example of a Triumph Toledo!

Balloon Fish, Let’s Go For A Drive – Road Tests: Triumph Toledo 1300, 8th March 2013

http://www.balloon-fish.co.uk/lets-go-f ... ledo-1300/

Carledo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:12 pm It's a long time since I did the Carledo, but i'm absolutely certain that I DID try fit the curved dash crash pad into the Carledo and got as far as having it fit flush to the screen and bolted up to the brackets on the A pillars. This was the point where I realized that not only did the underscreen fittings not tally up, but, on my car at least, the heater control arms didn't protrude through the control panel as they should, but ended about an inch inside.

I also found that the Toledo heater-unit’s heating-control levers were too short for the Triumph Dolomite 1850 sculptured dashboard, so I substituted the complete heating-control lever assembly from a “four-headlamp” Dolomite heater-unit, which was fully compatible with the Toledo’s original heater unit.

Carledo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:12 pm I've never needed to do it, but I suspect it would be no bother to put the updated switch gear on an early Toledo type fixed column, so long as you use the correct indicator switch holding clamp since the wiper switch screws to this clamp and not to the column at all. Then either modify the nacelle for the wiper switch or, if possible, use a nacelle from a later fixed column car.

Hopefully, a Toledo owner will try this upgrade in the future and report back on their experiences in this topic thread.

Carledo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:12 pm The difference between the 2 wiper switches 216949/218502 (and the accompanying part number change on indicator switches) is in the plug joining switch to loom. Earlier cars have the grey moulded "rubber" plugs and later cars have the Rists type plugs. As far as I am aware they are otherwise identical in form and function.

That’s useful to know!

I prefer the later setup with the Rists clear-plastic connector-blocks, because it’s relatively easy to remove the connectors from the connector-blocks and reconfigure them; either using alternative connector-blocks with a different number of connector location-holes, or insert additional connectors if there are vacant connector location-holes.

Intriguingly, the main instrument-panel wiring loom that I salvaged from a 1979/80 Triumph Dolomite 1500HL, has three Rists clear-plastic, connector blocks [5-way, 7-way & 9-way; all of which are male] with a total of 20 connections, and a moulded black-elastomer, 6-way connector block [3 moulded-in male bullet connections & 3 moulded-in female bullet connections]

Carledo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:12 pm The steering wheel boss pad embossed "DOLOMITE" is common to all models that had the alloy 3 spoke wheel (including the 1500SE where the wheel was painted black) EXCEPT the Sprint, which has a boss pad embossed "TRIUMPH"

The “four-headlamp” Dolomite steering wheel in my Toledo, has satin-finish alloy or chromium-plated spokes and originally came with a centre-pad embossed with the word “DOLOMITE”.

Eventually, several months later, I found an alternative steering-wheel centre-pad, embossed with the word “TRIUMPH” (more appropriate for a Toledo!) at a local car breaker’s yard, but I don’t remember whether the donor car was a Triumph Dolomite Sprint or even a Triumph Dolomite of any description, as I was checking in all Triumph cars for a steering-wheel centre-pad of this kind.

I found the satin-finish alloy or chromium-plated plated steering-wheel spokes, to be a visually very-uncomfortable & distracting source of serious glare from reflected sunlight, when driving in certain directions at certain times of the day, at certain times of the year. In the short-term, it would have been expedient to cover the reflective upper surfaces of the spokes with black PVC electrical insulating tape. I either need to find a substitute steering wheel whose spokes are already painted satin black or paint the spokes of my existing steering wheel; remembering to first radius the spoke’s right-angled sharp edges to improve paint-adhesion and paint-film thickness.

Carledo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 11:12 pm I'm not sure of the differences (if any) between the parcel trays of the flat and curved dash cars. There ARE detail differences in the millboarding around the (early) Heated Rear Window (HRW) switch and (late model) rear foglight switch near the choke on curved dash cars. any other difference would, I think, be concerned with the height of the millboard in the centre to accomodate the curved dash car's extra central air vent and Choke/Cigar lighter panel. Since I dispense with the "knee knocker" on my own cars, i'm not much interested in them!

As my Triumph Toledo has nearly always been used, as an all-season, all-weather, any-time daily driver, for short, medium & long distance journeys, with or without passengers, I have always needed easily-accessible in-car storage, for things like road atlases, town plans, map-light, condensation-wipes, squeegee, ice-scrapers, isopropanol de-icer fluid, high-visibility waistcoats or jackets, hand-held H3 spotlight, etc.

There would not be enough space in the glove compartment for all of these! As well as having a full-width front parcel shelf, it would be useful to have some large front-door pockets. Perhaps someday, I might mould some full-length custom door pockets out of GRP – glass-reinforced-plastic; much as I did in 1990, to fabricate the blister-moulding cover, for the retro-fitted rear-window wiper motor, in my 1973 VW Type 2 motor-caravan.

The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades

Re: Triumph Toledo / Dolomite, Front & Rear Window, Wiper & Washer Upgrades