trigger Posted March 26, 2016 Author Share Posted March 26, 2016 I've been a bit rubbish updating this thread, as posted on the New24 previously though I've now fully rebuilt all the brakes with new cylinders, shoes stripped and rebuilt the break master cylinder and servo, changed all the flexi hoses and then bleed the brakes about 100 times and now I have a non dropping brake pedal and they feel a lot more responsive. Yesterday me and dad made a start on changing the head gasket as it was leaking oil then running somehow on to the clutch making it judder. Give the car it's due nothing was particularly hard to remove. With the head off (which took some prising apart!) you could see the old gasket was very worn. I have to say the smell of old burnt oil is lovely, just like coffee! The head is in good condition and just needed a clean. So after a good clean of the block were again it was in really good condition with no wear I was ready to refit the new Payen head gasket. With the head toqured back on we readjusted the rockers and got the cover back on and that's about as far as I am so far so I ran out of time Just need to refit all the carbs and fill with water and I can road test it! The Moog, andrew e, alf892 and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 These are so easy to work on and very satisfying. trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 You have made this into a thing of great loveliness. Trouble is, I'm now sitting here thinking about what a good idea it would be to change some head gaskets even if they haven't blown. You make readjusting the rockers sound effortless but I fear if I tried it then a three day nightmare would be the result, involving a lap full of small oily springs, some Olympic class swearing and then a trip on a beavertail. (Memo to self: don't start with the V12.) trigger, anonymous user and Mr Lobster 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Trig, has your Dolly got the rubber bits on the top of each wing where the bonnet sits. They are secured into the wing with a screw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Just been through the thread again,, impressive momentum and a great result. The paint especially looks stunning. Are the original bits of paint holding up over time? trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Not holding up. Holding ON!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Lovely looking cars that you have there, hopefully I will get to see them at some point. trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted March 26, 2016 Author Share Posted March 26, 2016 Trig, has your Dolly got the rubber bits on the top of each wing where the bonnet sits. They are secured into the wing with a screw. I don't think so?. Just been through the thread again,, impressive momentum and a great result. The paint especially looks stunning. Are the original bits of paint holding up over time? Thank you! Yes, mostly! The bottom of the arch nearest the sill on both sides is starting to blister slightly but the rest still looks very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 I was just going to say that I have a new set sitting here doing nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted April 3, 2016 Author Share Posted April 3, 2016 Sadly as my nice camera is currently broke I've got some god awful shite phone as a loner from Carphone whorehouse temporarily which gives a worse photo quality than a potato which means no photos of the job but yesterday Dad came over and we managed to get the head gasket finished on the dolomite, other than a couple of awkward to get to exhaust manifold bolt sit all went to plan and seems to run very nicely now. Today i took it on a 30 mile road test with the wife and daughter to feed the ducks at Needham market, it's driving bloody lovely now, I'm still seriously considering selling the Cortina because i prefer much driving the Dolly and the Cortina is just sitting there unused, I'll see how i feel in a few weeks time. Anyway here's a couple of photos i took whilst out. nacho man, mat_the_cat, Dick Longbridge and 16 others 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat_the_cat Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Nice period looking photos with the phone box trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Great photos there Trig, and such a cool looking car. Don't you fancy using this as your retro commute this spring / summer? I know of so-called Triumph fans who dont even like these cars yet they pump £10k into a stag, cos stag. These Dolly's are far better IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 I agree, I don't rate the Stag at all, these are much more fun and user friendly. My original plan was to use this for work over the summer but now I've got it all nice i don't want to get it damaged plus we have seagulls the size of Pterodactyl at work which leave the car park looking like the aftermath of a over subscribed bakaki party. It's not nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 I've been rubbish at keeping this thread updated! I've spent the summer taking this to a few shows and generally just enjoying it. It spent a while at a local mechanics having a new clutch fitted and rear wheel bearings done, i wasn't overly happy with how long it took or the fact that it had to go back again to be sorted again as it vibrated but not to worry, it seemed much better. That was until i noticed that it was running in 3 cylinders, now i suspect it had been like this for a long while but i hasn't noticed as it was only noticable when revved as it spluttered slightly, anyway me and dad removed the head again for a closer inspection to find that one of the valves was a bit of a mess. Bum... During the week the head went off to a specialist to see if it can be repaired, turns out that it's probably crack and has been letting in water causing the corrosion and isn't really repairable, so if any shitters on here have a spare 1500 head for sale in good condition then please let me know! If not I've found a Triumph breakers in Bungay who want £100 for a good used head from a scrapper or £295 for a unleaded converted head. In other news whilst it's been in the garage i've made a start at sorting the faded paintwork again, I'm fed up with it looking like a chalk board and what with spending the money on the head i want to enjoy the car again. I've been flatting it with 1500 wet and dry then 2000 & 2500 before mopping with G3 combound paste and some G10 polish, the results are quite remarkable. Sadly my phone photos don't do it justice. I'd just done the boot and rear quarter here. I still have the front wing and bonnet to do and it needs a good hand polish with some Poorboys Black hole and a wax. Hopefully it won't fade off again! anonymous user, alf892, oldcars and 12 others 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Most excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timewaster Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Is this the same engine as the Spit 1500? I would try TRGB near St.Ives for a 2nd hand head. I love the way people here think. "I know, my engine is fucked I'd better polish the roof" Conrad D. Conelrad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 Ha! It made sense at the time! Yep its the same head as a Midget 1500 and the Spitfire 1500, I'll give them a call for a price. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeJay Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 1850 DOLLY CYLINDER HEAD 1850 Dolly Cylinder head £20 ONO. Distributor £10 ONO. Head Spring Compressor £15 ONO. Tony Bailey (North London) Click to contact the Club Don't know if this would be any good for you.It's on the TSSC site. I'm not a member so can't find out any more. http://www.tssc.org.uk/tssc/classifieds.asp trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 Thanks but sadly the 1850s are different, they are alloy were as mine are cast heads, if it was alloy I'd be able to get the old one fixed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Nice work Trigger, the paintwork looks glorious! It's such a good looking car in black, really suits it I think.Shame about the head but they shouldn't be too hard to find surely.In the pic of the damage is that a couple of cracks visible just inside? Might just be casting marks though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamworthbay Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 PBKen is a font of knowledge on Triumphs, he may know someone. There is a guy local to me who has a load of stuff but I can't remember his name for the life of me despite having been up there a few times. Ken put me onto him I think so he would know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 In the pic of the damage is that a couple of cracks visible just inside? Might just be casting marks though. We spotted those cracks when we removed it and had our suspicions, the engineering company who's currently got it also thinks that;s the problem but wants £90 just to check it but it's not worth it if i can get a replacement for head £100. danthecapriman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 looking good, pity about the head. Are you getting an unleaded one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 If you go onto the FB Dolly thingy, send a message to Alun Nicholas. He might be able to help. I asked my mate Bruce but he only has 1300 ones which would make for silly compression ratings. trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 I did put a post on the Facebook group which Alum commented on but he never said that he had a head. I'll make some phobe calls tomorrow and see if there's any local. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 looking good, pity about the head. Are you getting an unleaded one?I was but I've been told that for the sake of £200 that it's not really worth it, especially if your using additive, I'll see whats available and for how much cort16 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 I suppose you could ask on the Club Triumph site if you haven't already mate. trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymous user Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I do like these and remember them being sold new where I worked at the time. black paint, tinted windows and pale velour, it's the whole package trigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted October 17, 2016 Author Share Posted October 17, 2016 It's hot sex on wheels, that's what it is. purplebargeken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arfur Foxache Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 I have a 1500 head (need to check state of it). It may need building up but I believe it's ok. Yours for the cost of getting it to you. I will message you details trigger, Skizzer, mat_the_cat and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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