ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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1979 Triumph Dolomite SprintChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Jun 22, 2012 23:45:50 GMT
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Ever fancy scratching an itch that has been there for some time, but with the same token you know that you should ignore it? Well in this case I did not. Impulses really should be controlled The day started with me finding a Dolomite Sprint that seemed to tick the boxes. After a brief chat with the owner over the phone, he did seem quite genuine. Train tickets were booked and so I went down South to be greeted by one very basic train station, which soon was giving me the vibe of being in the 1960s (I don't seem to recall much being there bar a hut, but then I went down to buy a car, no admire railway architecture!). After having a long chat with the owner in addition to taking a look around the car, it seemed to be a risky buy, but hey what the heck? Money was exchanged, the car came into my ownership. Now for the small issue of making it back from near Basingstoke to Warwick! What could possibly go wrong? Well, considering it has an iffy ignition switch, an a few electrical glitches, probably quite a bit! Still, cruising down at 70odd MPH down the motorway certainly made for relaxing times : So why am I writing this post? Generally when I buy some retro material, it involves enlisting the help of a low loader, a trailer and items of that ilk (I think I once used a tow rope for a local car....) even with a reliable lump of pig iron under the bonnet! It was quite nice to be greeted by a half decent seller in addition to a car that, well, made for a pleasant and long(ish) journey back home for a change .
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Last Edit: Jul 24, 2012 20:29:11 GMT by ChasR
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speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member
"Nice Cortina mate"
Posts: 2,277
Club RR Member Number: 118
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1979 Triumph Dolomite Sprintspeedy88
@speedy88
Club Retro Rides Member 118
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Great! And a good buy. Great colour too. One day I will have to scratch the same itch and I expect it'll be very expensive and full of pain. Maybe I should dip my toes with a 1850 first...
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AMG-Al
Part of things
Posts: 21
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That looks good - I love Dolomite Sprints, just never been brave enough!! Good luck.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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1979 Triumph Dolomite SprintChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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I shall admit, I am going more into my 'list' of cars I would like to own, but do my utmost not to due to some pretty serious issues and repair bills! (Jag XJS V12 may be in that list...). Saying that, I have started dipping into that list as of late. Let's hope I don't get my fingers *tooo* burnt .
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I had a 1500TC that colour, loved it, went pretty well for its engine size until it threw a rod out the side of the block.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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Jun 24, 2012 17:18:17 GMT
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Dolomite FTW!
You'll get plenty of support from the dolly club who have a monthly meet at the hotel that was built on the old Canley Factory on dolomite ave.
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Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44 1974 VW Beetle 1303s 1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV 1988 VW LT45 Beavertail 1998 Volvo V70 2.5 1959 Fordson Dexta
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Jun 24, 2012 19:31:11 GMT
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Lovely Chas, we went out for a ride in it yesterday and its in really good nick for the money! ;D Even more jealous now! Get some better pics up! ;D I will just leave this 'shop here- Dolomite Sprint Photoshop by hoopsontoast, on Flickr
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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1979 Triumph Dolomite SprintChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Jun 24, 2012 20:36:56 GMT
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Pffft, stop giving me ideas Rob . Although dropping it a small amount would improve things.... Pics shall arrive soon when I get around to it (and constructing the obligatory Readers' Rides thread .
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Smiler
Posted a lot
I no longer own anything FWD! Or with less than 6 cylinders, or 2.5ltrs! :)
Posts: 2,492
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Jun 24, 2012 20:42:18 GMT
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I'm liking that very much! A triumph of some sort is on my 'itch list' aswell.
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www.Auto-tat.co.uk'96 Range Rover P38 DSE (daily driver) '71 Reliant Scimitar SE5 GTE 3.0ltr Jag V6 Conversion '79 Reliant Scimitar SE6A 3.0ltr 24valve Omega Conversion '85 Escort Cabrio 2.0 Zetec - Sold '91 BMW 525i - Sold '82 Cortina 2.9i Ghia Cosworth - Sold '72 VW Campervan - Sold '65 LandRover 88" - Sold
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Jun 24, 2012 21:03:15 GMT
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That looks like a nice one!
I had a magenta Sprint years ago. It was born auto, but was so much better once converted to manual with overdrive - rapid, relaxed cruiser and economical too.
They do go well, but they don't stop well. Mine was good for one , maybe two good hard stops from speed - then you were in trouble. There is a conversion using Mondeo parts that improves matters greatly.
Nick
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1967 Triumph Vitesse convertible (old friend) 1996 Audi A6 2.5 TDI Avant (still durability testing) 1972 GT6 Mk3 (Restored after loong rest & getting the hang of being a car again)
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maf260
Part of things
Posts: 513
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Jun 25, 2012 12:09:18 GMT
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Tahiti blue, my favourite colour of that era. A friend had a Triumph 2500S in the same colour - looked bautiful when polished up.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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1979 Triumph Dolomite SprintChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Jun 26, 2012 20:31:32 GMT
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Thanks for the kind comments. It's not too bad . Dean, does that mean you are interested? It is a fair shout regarding the overdrive on the 'box Neil. Motorway driving is surprisingly relaxed, dare I say it, moreso than the Stag once the overdrive is engaged. You're not kidding about the brakes! I had driven a couple of Sprints before this one and the brakes on them were not far off atrocious! Despite this one comes with new calipers and cylinders the brakes are not fantastic when compared to the Stag or 205 (that is an unfair comparison I admit!), although they are now what I would deem to be acceptable (MG Midget brakes are far worse IME!). Already cracking on with the 'to do' list. Considering the PO had a well known MG garage rebuild the front suspension I was surprised to see that the tracking on the front wheels was set to 5mm toe out on both sides! Quite a difference when comparing it to the book figures (0-1.6mm toe in). Suffice to say, it takes corners in a much more neutral manner with no squealing of the tyres upon turning the steering wheel.
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Last Edit: Jun 26, 2012 20:32:20 GMT by ChasR
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Sinky
Posted a lot
Run Baby Run......Please!
Posts: 1,395
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Jul 24, 2012 12:02:33 GMT
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Lovely wee car mate. Brings back a lot of memorys. I'm jealous.
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2001 Volvo XC70 wagon
2003 Piaggio X9 Evo
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1979 Triumph Dolomite SprintHARDCORE
@hardcore
Club Retro Rides Member 190
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Jul 24, 2012 12:34:36 GMT
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and constructing the obligatory Readers' Rides thread Did you wanna use this one mate? I'll move it over if so & you can amend the title - seems a nice way to start
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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1979 Triumph Dolomite SprintChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Jul 24, 2012 13:24:36 GMT
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I guess it may as well be moved over! I was going to originally create one for the car (since this thread was meant to be about going down and getting a working retro for a change!), if you could move it that would be great ta .
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Jul 24, 2012 13:36:10 GMT
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Very very nice. Not jealous. At all. Much. And in no way shape off to ebay/carandclassic/etc....
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Scruffy looking' nerf herder.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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1979 Triumph Dolomite SprintChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Jul 26, 2012 22:47:04 GMT
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That's a fair comment . As for progress, not much, and I have not really driven it! Whilst I had the car running better than it did when I initially drove it, I still wanted more from it (but don't we all?) The idle when warm was near the point of cutting the car out and well, the acceleration of the car was not what people had piped it up to be, or maybe I was expecting too much (after all, I was expecting this to be on a par with my old Pug GTis (well, the 106 GTI) . But then again, 70MPH in this + overdrive is a relaxed affair so maybe I was after something I would never really achieve without serious thoughts and cash. And so I checked over the carbs again. Balance and mixture were fine, so I reset the idle speed when hot (now that I can!). The dashpots seemed a little emptier than I remembered them. I remember that my Porsche specialist (he owned a Sprint and Stag a while back) and a certain member here known for having a few Dolomites in his time suggested using ATF fluid over normal engine oil in the dashpots. I was sceptical for quite some time as to using ATF (both sources I would say are pretty trustworthy) so with trepidation I topped the 'pots up to the right level with some of the well known red stuff . Suffice to say on the first drive out I must admit that the mentioned parties have a point! It pulls fine low down (more than well enough to get out of a junction, and it is fruitier than I remember at the top end. The latter I am befuddled over in all honesty (I was under the impression that the dashpot oil affected initial acceleration (i.e snapping the throttle open)). I am quite a happy chappy indeed with this car now . And well, I guess this is an example of nothing ventured nothing gained, or at least to a small degree (I only ever used 20W50 oil in dashpots for years which seemed fine).
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786
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Damn you and your Sprint. This isn't helping my 'want' for a small (or large) Trump saloon again! I spend too much time on ebay as it is. As for the dashpots, I'm currently running WD40 in the Strombergs on the Vitesse. Improved throttle response no end and cured the hesitation
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