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Dec 20, 2007 15:58:01 GMT
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As mentioned yesterday, after ummming and aaaahing alot I gave in and bought a dolomite. It's a 1500cc and the HL model which I believe is why it has the sprint goodies- wheels, spoiler, etc. Loads of miles, just about to go round the clock infact. Paints a bit pants and the interior is fairly tatty but I didn't pay minter money, so I don't expect a minter! Picked it up yesterday and ran back from Leicester to Leeds. Was very strange going from imp to dolomite. The imp is a like a little go kart- especially as mine is lowered at the front and has a tiny mountney steering wheel. Got into the dolomite and I felt like I was a driving a flippin' boat with wheels!! It is however much nicer on the motorway. 70 is fairly comfy and unlike the imp there's much more torque for when you're cruising along and then pull out to overtake. Seems to run well, idles pretty well and as I say 70 is fairly comfy. It's weeeeeeeird only having have the revs I'm used to though- the imp revs to >8k RPM! I think that the ignition timing needs tweaking slightly. When you turn the engine off, occasionally it will try and start itself again. If I'm right and the timing is slightly wrong, do I advance, or retard it? There aren't any plans because I just intend to use this until I get the imp working properly/better. Want to spend as little money as possible, aka next to nothing, so that I can spend it all on the imp instead. It would however look the nuts lowered, so I feel I may need to enlist the help of someone with an angle grinder! Might get those stickers off (think they look pants personally) and give it a tcut, but that's about all. Anyways, a few piccies for you. They flatter it a bit because the paint isn't great, but hey, I'm not complaining        Apologies for the poor quality, was the worst peice of point and click cheapness I've ever seen! Must get a proper camera one day (and learn how to use it!) |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,543
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Dec 20, 2007 16:06:10 GMT
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Cool Look forward to seeing it at the ace on awards night? Not sure that HL's came with those Sprint bits. Ours certainly didn't I bet it does feel all posh and modern compared to the Imp  Ignition might need retarding a smidgen to solve the running on but if its not too bad and its not pinking at speed then you may as well leave it as is since retarding it might make it loose a bit of power. Would be worth checking the points gap too. |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Dec 20, 2007 16:12:46 GMT
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Cool Look forward to seeing it at the ace on awards night? Cheers Certainly shall! That was one of the deciding factors on whether or not to buy something I will check out the ignition bits, cheers. |
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Dec 20, 2007 19:08:59 GMT
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Takes me back seeing your Dolimite , i had two of them many years ago a 1500 toledo and a dolly sprint. You didn't say if it was manual or Auto ..if manual does it have the overdrive switch on the gear knob ? As to the engine running on, make sure the idle speed is correct before mucking about with the timing, once the idle speed is set and if it still runs on, it could be the timing or the engine might be running hot, so further investigation maybe required...good luck |
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Pie
Part of things
Bacon pancakes bacon bacon pancakes
Posts: 322
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Dec 21, 2007 14:37:37 GMT
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Looks like its in decent condition.
you still interested in coming to the ring?? the websites up, and we're trying to get as many different retro cars on the run. Would be awesome to see either the dolly or the imp on the run.
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"Its a small world, but I wouldn't like to paint it" if your not about 'show' then WTF is drifting all about?! its marked with scorecards like strictly come dancing FFS ;D ;D |
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Dec 21, 2007 14:50:46 GMT
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Nice one, should be the ideal tool to keep ya mobile while ya sort the IMP, specially if you remember which one is the project. easier said than done!  Stickers off N tidy I agree. |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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Dec 22, 2007 11:31:59 GMT
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Haha yup, it's tricky to not think naughty thoughts like. "I wonder where I can get a 1850 +o/d box from" !!! Put the imp in a garage the other day, so at least she'll be out of the worst of the weather. The dolly made it back from Leeds to Essex completely trouble free yesterday Had to to up with oil and tighten the (new) fan belt, but other than that can't complain! 70mph is fairly comfy, and there's still a bit left for pushing a little bit and overtaking! The sunstrip has come off now, stickers will come off soon! Pie- Still trying to decide about the 'ring. Got a co-driver etc sorted, but now that it's moved back a week it's going to clash with a few things I was hoping to do this year (including my bday!). Still, haven't decided yet. |
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,961
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Dec 22, 2007 11:36:05 GMT
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Looks good. When you goin back down to essex? I'll give you a hand chopping em if you're in Leeds.
Matt
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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Dec 22, 2007 19:40:57 GMT
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Glad you made it back safely Frank. If I don't see you before hopefully I'll see you at the Ace, Rob's coming too. Have a good Chrimbo mate!
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport
1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2
1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome
2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily)
2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily)
2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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Dec 22, 2007 19:44:11 GMT
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Looks lovely. |
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Dec 23, 2007 14:57:56 GMT
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Took the stickers off today. Bit of a pain because the one on the drivers side took a couple of bits of paint with it, fairly chunky sized areas as well but never mind. Passenger side however came off without any objection (took more care and spent more time with the hairdryer on that side). Looks much better without IMO. After that, took it for a clean because it was fairly obvious it needed one, and I reckon it looks cracking! Would be nice to give it a polish or a tcut though...    |
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Dec 23, 2007 15:00:08 GMT
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Next on the todo list is change filters + fluids, get the tracking sorted and check the brakes, it's pulling left slightly under braking but shouldn't be anything major. Might check tappets/valve clearances too at some point.
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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Dec 23, 2007 15:27:48 GMT
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That's a honey! Yeah better without the stickers for sure, but I do like those go faster stripes! Lovely looking useable classic, nice one. |
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Dec 23, 2007 15:28:38 GMT
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That looks lovely that, all clean and washed. Always had a soft spot for dolomites after my dad had one briefly |
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Dec 23, 2007 16:01:30 GMT
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Looks good. When you goin back down to essex? I'll give you a hand chopping em if you're in Leeds. I'm back down in Essex at the moment, but if you're around in jan I'd love to lop a coil off those springs ;D ;D Cheers guys, both this and the imp are very much the driven type of cars! |
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Dec 23, 2007 17:27:09 GMT
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thats looks cool, wouldnt mind one of these one day
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Dec 29, 2007 16:28:36 GMT
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Well, I've done over 1000 miles in it now in just over a week, fairly trouble free. There's a few rattles and the like, but **touchwood** it seems to work OK!
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Dec 29, 2007 18:54:37 GMT
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Nice little motor. Should do you proud!
Just remember to keep an eye on those fluid levels, don't sit on the clutch (i.e. around town at junctions) and it should motor on indefinitely ;D
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Dec 29, 2007 18:59:19 GMT
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I've topped up the dashpots and checked the pistons move freely so that's all good. Took the plugs out and gave them a clean which **touchwood** seems to have solved the running on. Still doesn't always like idling so I'll perhaps order a new spindle from the carbs. Can't decide with there's a bit of spindle wear or play in the linkage tbh. Getting through a lot of petrol as well... only about 20-25mpg at the moment :s Plugs aren't suggesting that it's running rich, and I don't think I'm booting it around all that much.... oh well! |
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Dec 29, 2007 21:31:36 GMT
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Sounds excessive - could be there's a small leak somewhere, or it just needs leaning out more You have to have 'em running really, really rich before they start showing signs of it (in some instances). I.e. my 1850 had a leaky float that was pouring fuel down the carb's throat, yet it still ran and drove perfectly fine - and if you didn't know what it was like beforehand, it was very difficult to spot. |
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