1979 triumph dolomite 3500HL

[jikovron]

this is what I bought for daily driving
A BL product.........underneath is as good as the top!!! and everything works (apart from the overdrive sticking on when warm)
engine is A1 and starts perfectly from cold with efi style smoothness and no smoke(and its meant to be a british car)

I have no idea about the engines power potential (may need more)

[dollywobbler]

Excellent. Be wary tuning them up as the bottom end is a bit of a weak point. Struggles to cope with standard power!

I love them though.

[Lewis]

Lovely choice - as dollywobbler says, the 1500s have a reputation for weak bottom ends - they have a long stroke so can't really do any more than 5500RPM sustained.

However, on the flipside, I've had many a 1500 and thrashed them with no ill effects. Keep an eye on the vital fluids, maintain the levels and use a good 20/50 and it should last well.

Also, don't sit on the clutch indefinitely - it's bad practice and knocks the thrust bearings out, causing a nasty failure - just pop it into neutral if you're coasting or sitting in traffic and it'll blat along indefinitely!

Tuning wise they respond well to the typical SU mods, bigger K&Ns, better ignition system, a full service, better HT leads, electric fan, sports exhaust and so on. You'll have a good 80, 85BHP then, on a healthy engine

If you get into wanting more power than that the easiest route is to switch in a Sprint engine and subframe, to take it straight up to 130BHP and 120ft.lb.

Thermostatic oil cooler is always a good addition as it helps maintain not only the oil temperature and thus pressure but also the life of the oil

The hot overdrive problem's one of the following things:

- A Sticking solenoid valve
- Cone clutch sticking
- Control orifice between solenoid valve and relief valve clogged
- Faulty circuit in electrical system

So seeing as the electrics are quite easy to get at, I'd start there.

Also, I'd do the overdrive filters and transmission fluid as it's usually neglected - in doing so the problem may fix itself!

[Seth]

What he said /\

And in the mean time (in case you don't know) DO NOT ENGAGE REVERSE IF THE O/D IS STUCK ON!!!! It very quickly wrecks things.

A perfect daily driver otherwise

[jikovron]

thanks for the trouble shooting (i definatley won't reverse it when its engaged)

i heard the thrustbearing is really underspecified being from 800cc origins
80 to 85 bhp is plenty enough for my needs (that may change)
i guess the 16v would require the salisbury axle to replace the current one

i will get on servicing it this week

[Lewis]

Good stuff!

Yea, if you were to Sprint it, you'd need the Sprint back axle, engine, brake bias valve, radiator, engine bay loom, complete subframe and various other odds and sods......Easily collected though, if you're so inclined.

The 1500 makes a good little mill though with a pleasant blat, even through the standard exhaust, more than entertaining enough A bit more pep, like you say, and it'll be a fun machine!

[jikovron]

if the car was really mechanicaly i would go for a sprint motor but it has done 70000 easy miles with loads of new bits fitted to it so i'll give it a little fettle ,it was a bargain to my mind
it sounds like you(lewis)have been there before swopping bits around

[dollywobbler]

Yup. The 1500 is actually very nice, despite the bottom end issue. Should have said that above! It certainly isn't all doom and gloom.

[jikovron]

due to my lack of money,,time and space i have discounted buying a scrap dolomite sprint to ravage for running gear,,,,,,,,,so i'm trying to upgrade the engine/box/rear axle as and when bits come up,,,,anyhow i have bought a sprint gearbox and but don't know if it will fit the car as it is now until i get a tr7 motor to fit with the sprint subframe

[xbo11ox]

Why soup it up? Sounds llike it is cracking just as it is! If you wanna soup one up, get one with tired engine or summert!

[jikovron]

yeah i see youre point on giving it more muscle BUT,,,,,,,,,,the engine is boiling the coolant even without a thermostat fitted,,,,first gear makes a rattly noise and the diff whines (all within the last 1000 miles)

if i can replace the rad and diff then i'll just replace the spitfire box with the sprint box i bought,,,,then enjoy a strong transmission with the 1500 engine

[jikovron]

with the chance discovery of a 1850 with very good condition dark blue and black interior i decided to buy it all to replace the tan,brown,mud,biege,1970's,uncool/cool coloured interior that came with the car



also refinding 2 slotmag wheels made me fit one to see what it would look like

just need's lowerage or stick impactage ;D

i found that the offside damper had it's bottom mount broken off somehow,,,so a pair of dolly sprint ones were substituted (which has given it raised rides height )

the gaz dampers will be fixed because they had adjustment for everything,,,,compared to the stock springs they eliminated understeer completely

[PandaSelecta]

Good to see that the dolly i found could help, have to say that the interior looks ten times better than the pictures suggest, as the donor car only had 28000 miles on the clock and the interior is mint and very comfortable.

Sorry about the raised height, hopefully will get it back down to a proper height soon . In all it was a good day, sadly the cold seems to have got to my back a bit (old age does that to you ).

[jikovron]

i was thinking about upgrading to electronic ignition for a while to clean up the running but at £70 i couldnt justify it
then while looking at a dolly in the scrapyard I chanced upon a (tatty)electronic ignition system on a totally trashed spitfire ,,,,,i thought what the heck its got to be worth a try despite me being convinced it was beyond saving

along with new plug's,lead's and dizzy cap I stuck it in


initially the engine wouldnt start because of a break in the red optical signal wire so a few crimp connectors and it instantly started into a smooth thrum (a good use of £10)

[mclellanmac]

I had a Dolly last year loved it, only a base 1300, but with the skinny tyres could still kick the back end out, loverly job!

[jikovron]

after a chance ebay auction of some wolfrace slotmags in 3.75" PCD fitment on the bay I couldnt say no (mainly due to my new found opinion that every car should have them ;D )

they're 13" 5.5J 1/2"offset ,,,so some 175/70/13s will be the desired type



wheel nuts may be a problem,,,due there being about 6 different standard types (all unsuitable)

[qwerty]

AHH Slot's and Dolly's do together like me and kebab's!! MMMM MMMMM

[LivingMyBoostLife]

Dolomites FTW! 1500's go well enough as they are, stick with it ;D

[jikovron]

Feb 22, 2009 23:29:30 GMT LivingMyBoostLife said:

Dolomites FTW! 1500's go well enough as they are, stick with it ;D

i would be fine to stick with the 1500 engine,,,,,i even thought it was quite quick,,,,,but the crankshaft and the valves have given up the ghost
having said that,the car has absolutely no rust underneath at all,,,,the fronts of the sills behind the wings is totally free of rust,,,,as are the chassis rails that run under the transmission tunnel so i reckon this one is well worth saving ;D

[montythemole]

Like the slotmags. After a set for my Dolly as well. Have you trial fitted yet? Wish the Dolly was a more common size PCD, loads of nice old wheels on ebay but mostly Ford or VW fit!