PhilO
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 10:25 AM |
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Is Dolomite 1500 TC OK as a donor?
Hi, new member, please be gentle!
Saw and bought Ron Champions book 4 years ago with aim to build a car with my son. Couldn't find an Escort in our tight budget but rashly
bought a Dolomite 1500 TC as it seemed about right.
Years rolled by with nofurther action but now thinking of actually starting. Am I wasting my time with the Dolomite? Money is now even tighter, so
would prefer not to shell out for another donor, but I don't want to end up having to pay to replace unsuitable parts from the Dolomite.
Engine is mounted vertically, not slanted like the Dolomite Sprint I have been reading about in another thread.
Thanks
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mookaloid
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 10:36 AM |
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Don't see why not.
Not sure about the front uprights - I think I would find some cortina uprights, then the front and rear wheels won't match unless you find an
escort axle
it won't be fast but it should work
Welcome to the mad house by the way
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 10:38 AM |
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Might be worth looking at what the dolomite is worth? You may find it simpler to go for chris gs new book and use a sierra Donner?
Dan
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 10:47 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Bluemoon
Might be worth looking at what the dolomite is worth? You may find it simpler to go for chris gs new book and use a sierra Donner?
Dan
a friend of mine would be in tears by now reading of the donors demise 
Bet it's rusted to hell anyway, so should be to use.
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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nick205
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 10:50 AM |
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If you're building the car from scratch and already have the Dolly then it's definitely possible. There may be additional
work/fabrication to make some of the bits work for you, but then that should be more time consuming than costly. You'll still need to source
suitable front uprights (Cortina or Sierra) though.
Not sure how the Dolly compares to an Escort for track width etc, but you may need to make dimensional alterations to allow for an differences.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 11:03 AM |
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and in case you've not seen it, here's a great site that might be useful
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/rimmer/triumph/dolomite/dolomiteindx
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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MikeR
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 11:48 AM |
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isn't the dolly upright identical to what caterham used to use?
Is so you may have a complete donor package in that car. Only issue would be when you want to upgrade the engine, you'd have to upgrade / get an
adaptor for the gearbox and can the rear diff handle the new power level?
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ned
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 12:04 PM |
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robin hood used the dolomite some years ago in one of their early kits..
beware, I've got yellow skin
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itiejim
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 12:17 PM |
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Westfield used the Spitfire/Herald/Vitesse/GT6 type uprights rather than the Dolly ones. Having said that, if you're prepared to fabricate
wishbones to suit I can't see why the Dolly uprights couldn't be used.
The standard axle is, I believe, slightly narrower than the Ford one, though not by much if I remember correctly. A few people have used Ford axles in
Dollys as a way of getting a "cheap" LSD. The Triumph one should be good for 130 BHP and plenty of torque, lots of GT6s and Vitesses are
putting that out these days through the same crown wheel and pinion.
You've got plenty of options for gearboxes - though they start breaking before the axles, due to torque rather than BHP. A three rail triumph
box with the J type overdrive will take as much abuse as a tuned 2 litre 6 cyl engine can throw at it - the 2.5 can cause problems though.
If you're just going to run the 1500 engine you're never going to run into problems.
Of course if you wanted to upgrade the Sprint mechanicals would be an obvious choice - you can pick them up for very little money and it's a
cracking engine - better than that agricultural Ford rubbish (ducks and runs for cover)
If you need any help with the Triumph side of things let me know - I'm a closet Triumph nut - current stable includes a very modified Dolly
Sprint - 175 BHP, close ratio box and an LSD and a 2.5 litre Mk III Spitfire with the running gear all moved back about 8 inches to make it handle!
I've also got loads of spares if you need anything.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 01:16 PM |
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Just to be 100% clear we are talking about the RWD 1500TC, not the Dolomite or FWD 1500
Engine gearbox and rear axle and instruments are OK although bear in mind the 1500 engine is a little prone to big end problems and the gearbox is
weak although not as weak in this appication as the same box in the Marina.
Front suspension isn't really suitable --- don't try putting spring loads through the bottom ball joint as it will just pull out.
Although save the universal joints and other bits from the steering.
If you can find a Triumph Herald/Spitfire or Vitesse/gT6 front suspension and steering rack this is more suitable and was used on a number of sports
cars including Lotus and TVR.
If you look through classic car mags you will find a number of specialist Triumph Herald/Spitfire breakers which may help for front end parts.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 9/4/08 at 01:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ned
robin hood used the dolomite some years ago in one of their early kits..
Yes the 1500 & Toledo but for only a very few cars.
I would have real concerns over putting pullout loads through the puny bottom ball joints on these cars -- on the original Triumph the spring/damper
unit pushed down on the top wishbone.
In the Triumph the ball joint was the same from the 1300 fWd right through to the last Dollys I have seen a lot of really clapped out ones --- also
these days this pretty unique ball joint is in very short supply.
[Edited on 9/4/08 by britishtrident]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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PhilO
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| posted on 12/4/08 at 03:04 PM |
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Many thanks
Many thanks for all the advice. Sorry not to have caught up sooner, but I am overwhelmed by all the advice and help on offer. What a great bunch you
are!
Well, I can see that I have a lot to learn - there is obviously more to be considered than I had naively realised. I will certainly look for the
newer book that was mentioned.
I get the feeling that power and speed is what most seem to go for. I am not sure that I want that (don't want to give son opportunity to let
his testosterone run away with him!) and really just want something fun and different. This may also turn out to be naive position, so I will
research some more.
I am happy to modfiy wishbone design and the like a bit, but I take the points made about the bottom ball etc. Again, I will look more closely.
Thanks again to everyone, I will let you know what I decide.
Phil
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 12/4/08 at 03:09 PM |
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Good point about the speed and power issue - at the moment my engine gives a bit under 100BHP, probably nearer 90BHP, which is quite low when compared
with some of the cars on here.
However, when I'm out on the road it's very nippy - better than all bog-standard saloons on the road and it corners like it's on
rails.
Tons of fun without loony power!
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PhilO
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| posted on 12/4/08 at 03:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Bluemoon
... You may find it simpler to go for chris gs new book ...
Hi Dan
Sorry, I don't know who Chris G is and can't find a reference to the book. Could you give me his full name or book title?
Thanks
Phil
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RK
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| posted on 13/4/08 at 07:29 PM |
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http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/index.php
"Build Your Own Sportscar" by Chris Gibbs (says nothing about costing 250 GBP). A superior book to the very inspiring, but not realistic
(unless you happen to have had him as a school shop teacher),
"Build Your Own Sportscar, and Race It, for as Little as 250 GBP" by Ron Champion.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 16/4/08 at 02:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by ned
robin hood used the dolomite some years ago in one of their early kits..
Yes the 1500 & Toledo but for only a very few cars.
I would have real concerns over putting pullout loads through the puny bottom ball joints on these cars -- on the original Triumph the spring/damper
unit pushed down on the top wishbone.
Sounds like a rocker arm design might be usable for these uprights?
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PhilO
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| posted on 16/4/08 at 04:14 PM |
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I now have Chris Gibbs book, and I will considering my options carefully - but I still fancy using the Dolomite donor I have. Might make it unusual
and not quick but what the heck. This may be just my first one after all!!
I will be considering all that has been said about the uprights and the ball joints. I will ensure they only take loads they have been desined
for.
Thanks
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