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Whatever you do, do not give up...!!!
You've put too much into this splendid old car to turn your back on it now, it is more 'you' than anything else and if it wasn't for your good self it would have met its maker many moons ago I suppose.
It may look bad but it is nowhere near as bad as things were when you first took this project on.
Anyhow, to quote what you said earlier...
"Its a hilarious car to drive. I belted it up and down our track a couple of times, it bloody flies compared to any other car ive owned, and the warbly exhaust and autobox make it sound like you're driving a 70s spaceship."
Surely if you hold onto thoughts like that all will come good in the end...?!
Keep your chin up sir.
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***GARAGE CURRENTLY EMPTY***
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bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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I gave up on my 1300FWD and I sorely wish I hadn't, take it from someone who has done it if you give up on it now after all the work you've put in you will sorely regret it!
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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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rope round tree, rope through the "septum" of your front grill, reverse car at snail pace
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TS
Part of things
Posts: 558
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ha, I tried that when I caved the front of a polo in. I'm either too cautious or Polos are too strong. In the end I painted it over and left it (wasn't too bad) - it lasted for another 5 years like that then we sold it.
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Hang in there. These challenges separate the men from the boys, and every project has them. You're not far from completion now. Close the garage door and leave it for a couple of days, come back with a fresh idea to get the bonnet opened. Once you've got in there, I think you'll be good to go for a repair.
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wodge
Part of things
Posts: 455
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Weld a washer edge on in the middle of the dent then use a slide hammer (improvised or otherwise) to pull it out enough to get the bonnet open and get in behind it.
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A real shame about your bump. Very tricky when you have such a big set back after making such good progress. We all have points in a project where we ask ourselves "why bother". I'm not going to be quite as definitive as the others though. Sometimes, these things are a temporary dip, but sometimes there are signposts. Do you think you will keep hold of the car for a long time? Because you like the look of it, like driving it, have a real attachment to it? If you answer yes to these questions, it feels like you should keep going. If you don't like a Dolly as much as other cheap cars that you could have instead, I would keep asking yourself about how much effort you want to put in. Conversely again, If you enjoy the project, and the challenge as much as the end product, then in some ways, it would seem right to keep going, to get the satisfaction, even if you don't see the car as a keeper. I had a Dolomite as a first car and loved it. I had a long term dream for a Sprint Toledo and finally got one 15 years after my Dolomite. The car has cost me an arm and a leg, but for me, it's a car I want and hope to keep hold of long term. I love it, and so I find it easier to justify the time, effort and money. If I didn't love it, I would resent it. No point spending a lot of time on something you don't love, or resent, life's too short. If you get them right though, there's a lot to love
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I thank everyone for your support and sympathy. As for your post alolympic, I'm not sure how long i'll keep it. When i bought it, i knew it had rust, but i didnt know it had THAT much rust. What was supposed to be a fix up and use jobbie turned into a '15 times the purchase price' jobbie.
It was supposed to replace my then only just sold mini. Then a week after i'd bought it someone t-boned me, the insurance saw it as my fault, i lost my no claims and i was stuck with the worlds worst knackered car for an entire year. Over the past 14 months ive been plugging away endlessly at this car, its cost me a fortune, and at the end of the day, if you step back, its still just a late 70s beige dolomite automatic.
I still like the car, its just factors like the amount of time its taken, and the amount of labour and money its cost me as well. Add the fact that it costs £230 a year to tax the thing and i probably wont keep it for more than two years, especially when you remember ive got a tax free P6 in stupendously good condition, which at present, owes me 1/4 as much.
I'm currently using a land rover defender, which drinks diesel like sluts drink lambrini. I will finish the dolly, and i will use it. All ive wanted to do since the mini went was drive a 70s car, so after a year of torture i need this car on the road, but ive got a month to finish it and i cant see this happening.
I again thank you for the support. Just after nearly 14 months of consistent expensive set backs, my morale is on the floor and i just want it finished now.
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As offered on Facebook, I have Sundays free, I like working on Dolomites, know them fairly well and I'm rather local. Always willing to lend a hand if needed. Can also go for a spin in the Lolomite if you want, that usually gets flagging enthusiasm topped up, it has that name for a reason...
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seconded! a drive in a well sorted example or a nice retro gathering or track day or car show deffo a good antidote
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Last Edit: Dec 4, 2013 9:38:12 GMT by darrenh
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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When I clocked the title, I feared the worse and was expecting to see the remains of soemthing that couldn't be rebuilt. Whilst this is a set back, its a minor one and compared to the time, effort and money already invested in this little beasty, getting it back on track wont take a massive amount more. What would be a plan though by teh sounds of it, once you've got the bonnet open (and the slide hammmer sounds a good starting point) getting the brakes up to scratch is a priority. at the end of the day, it can get an MOT with a bruised nose.
We've all looked back after buying a car and thought what we could have bought with the money ploughed into it, but even if you had have got a nice shiney looking one, who's to say it wouldn't have been as rotten under a ton of filler?
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Right, things are looking very slightly up.
Again, i thank you all for your positive comments. Ive been cheering myself up by listening to John Otway, and then earlier today me and my dad managed to get the bonnet off, had to bend it a bit in the process, and then jacked the front end near enough back to where it was. Looks appalling and bent, but a very large tub of p38 will sort that out when i can afford/be arsed.
I think my first proper pay check after its MOT'ed will be spent on a DA sander and filler.
I also semi got some electrics working. Ive got the hazards working after fitting a new relay. No idea whats going on with the indicators but they don't work. The heated rear window didnt work, then i fiddled with a fuse and it did, and now it doesnt again. Only british leyland....
All the gauge illumination seems alright, so i just need indicators, front lights, brake lights, that rear screen and screen washers to work now. As far as electrics are concerned, anyway.
Sorry no photos, it got dark!
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captain70s
Part of things
Purveyor of knackered Triumphs
Posts: 34
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Good to hear you are getting somewhere with it. One must remember, Dolomites are horrible nasty, spiteful cars and yellow/beige ones in particular have a tendency to launch themselves at scenery. If it makes you feel better I'm pretty sure you've not spent as much on the 1850 as I have on the 1300, and that still needs a full engine rebuild before it can be used without the oil running out every 80 miles. That was planned to replace my Yaris as a daily driver! That worked out so well that, utterly sick of old motors, I replaced the Yaris with the Corsa that I can't afford, don't like and don't want and have now bought £800 worth of unpoven 1850 to use as a daily which I promptly put into a fence backwards... Oh, and as I couldn't use the 1850 I had to use the Corsa ,that I am trying to keep as nice as possible for sale, and opened the driver's door into a pebble dash wall. curse word up the paint on a metallic black, £10,000 car that is worth less than you owe for it and that you intend to sell... Yeah. Oh, AND there was a weeks delay in my halfshaft arriving, it was more money than I expected and the car is still at the garage waiting to be fixed 3 weeks after the accident because I was in such a foul mood I didn't want to sort it myself... Lord knows how much it's going to cost, but I'm hoping that working 50 hour weeks is just about going to cover it! In summary - Winter 2013, a curse word time to own old motors.
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Currently Own: '77 Dolomite 1300 - Heap of BL flavoured junk. '76 Dolomite 1850 - Log book still in my name, 200 miles away. '83 Triumph Acclaim - Reliable daily Honda. '05 Honda Civic - Unreliable dead Honda.
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You seem like the ideal person to go to the pub with to laugh about these things but you're conveniently the other end of the country!
I got really sick of old cars breaking and costing money so i replaced it with a more modern car, which was on cut springs (i only found this out after purchase) and its put me off ever wanting to own a lowered (or indeed 'sensible modern') car ever again. Add to the mix that the exhaust was blowing and would not seal because the engine mounts were that shot, so i had the worlds loudest, lowest most uncomfortable hideous car for an entire year.
Thats the last time I'm having a rash of sensibility, thats for sure.
I know my luck was not that bad, but i have my moments and all i want to do now is drive something old again!
Once its on the road, working properly, and completely resprayed looking beautiful, I'm sure i'll love it, but its a long slog till then.
Anthony, i thank you for the comment, i feel your pain, and for the good of your health, get rid of your sensible motor!
Onwards and upwards, anyway.
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Minor update, it pretty much all works. But you need the car running for it to do so. Ive got indicators, hazards, horn, brake lights, wipers and so on.
I still need to get the washers, temp gauge, heater and so on working. I'm currently working on the rev counter. I also need a new pipe for the servo which will hopefully fix its brakes problem.
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Right, no photos (again, sorry), i keep forgetting my camera.
Its now got a heater, one working washer - other needs attaching if i can find it, one wiper works, other one the springs are too weedy, so if anyone has a trico stainless wiper arm i'd like to purchase it!
All gauges work apart from the clock and the rev counter, i cant fathom the wiring and after wiring it in wrong it wouldnt run for more than a few seconds so ive left it for now.
With its new servo tube it stops like a car should, to think if i'd replaced this tube sooner i'd have a perfectly decent front end.
All it needs now for its MOT is working headlamps, the handbrake sorting out, exhaust finishing off, and an oil change.
Nearly, nearly there!
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bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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Give us a photo of the wiper arm you need I have a few stainless arms in the workshop of various Triumphs.
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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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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,880
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Glad to hear you're having a better day! Fingers crossed for you that the remaining issues are simple enough to fix and you can get out and drive it soon
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Give us a photo of the wiper arm you need I have a few stainless arms in the workshop of various Triumphs. I'll get a photo/some measurements tomorrow! thankyou kindly. Glad to hear you're having a better day! Fingers crossed for you that the remaining issues are simple enough to fix and you can get out and drive it soon Yeah its a welcome change! I'm certainly looking forward to driving it, just driving it up and down the track is nice enough. Thanks for the kind words.
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