Dolomite SE all finished... For now!

[eddyramrod]

Ha! I'm not planning on selling it just yet! Dare I say it but before it broke down it was nicer to drive than my Cortina, I felt really planted and precise like a little sports car, I can really see the appeal and I can also understand why people said they were better than the Mk2 Escort at the time too.

I had a Toledo when all around me had Escorts, back in 1981.  I couldn't understand why one would buy the tinny, noisy Ford over the smooth, relatively luxurious Triumph.  BMW now occupies what used to be Triumph's niche, and they're polluting it...

 

Nice buy, btw, all the fixes should be relatively simple.  Many happy miles!

[purplebargeken]

Toledos are ace

[purplebargeken]

Ok, to access the door bits you need to do the following:

 

Unscrew the door handle (2 large philips screws) and the push down black plastic pin (just winds off). With a nail or something similar, push out the short pin that secures the door handle (between the chrome and the round black plastic bit. Don't loose it. You should then be able to prise off the door panel but be careful. The wood trim is held on by a couple of philips screws and that is your lot. 

[trigger]

Excellent, cheers. Also does this mean anything or is it something fitted by the owner?

 

 

It's also got a Unipart alarm and immobiliser fitted with a key to turn it on and off on the wing, I won't be using it though!

[quicksilver]

The door moulding on the passenger door is held on with fuck tape but again that will restick again.

The door moulding on mine was held on with fuck tape too - it was a case of 'fuck it, I can't be bothered to fiddle with all those clips so I'll just tape it on instead'. Good to see an SE saved, they've always been my favourite model of Dolomite and the Spitfire wheels really suit it. It doesn't look too rusty so a bit of TLC should hopefully have it back to its best before too long.

[wuvvum]

The door moulding on the passenger door is held on with fuck tape but again that will restick again.

Hmm.  My autocorrect normally changes "fuck" to "duck", not the other way around...

[stripped fred]

That looks like an excellent buy that with a minimal amount of fettling should have you a nice, usable car. Well done!

[purplebargeken]

That looks like an owner 'add on' and could mean anything

[purplebargeken]

Good grief. Two whole days and NO updates? Disgraceful

 

What kind of Dolomite owner are you?

[jonny69]

I've genuinely never seen a wheel bleeding to death before. Well done.

 

Agree that it sounds like the brake was binding and dragging and the excess heat has melted that grease out. I'd also try a new thermostat before tackling the OMGWTFHGFBBQ.

[trigger]

It won't be until Saturday before i get chance to look at the car again as it's about 30 miles away at dads still, plus funds are a bit low at the moment after buying this and buying a new daily yesterday to replace my unreliable Focus (Sensibly I've bought another diesel Focus to replace my unreliable current diesel Focus...)

 

I'm going to get a new stat ordered up now and see if i can get some new pads too.

[purplebargeken]

 

Don't forget the gasket as well

 

You know the definition of madness is repeating the same behaviour and expecting a different outcome, right. This applies even more so to Ford Focii.

 

Good luck and all that

[trigger]

 

You know the definition of madness is repeating the same behaviour and expecting a different outcome, right. This applies even more so to Ford Focii.

 

Good luck and all that

 

Tell me about it! I'm just hoping my old one was the Friday afternoon car and that my new one is the Monday morning car after a good team hug car!. Still I've never been so excited about getting a new modern car, even if it has just cost me more than 18 times than the Dolomite has just cost me! 

 

[purplebargeken]

Ouch!

[hairnet]

eek

 

i40 woulda been good

[trigger]

I've just been sent this from the last owner, it's the car with her daughter back in the early 80's!

 

[purplebargeken]

That's cool!

[Anglevan]

Love the picture of the dolly? Great to receive those.

That focus is same as mine including year. What spec/ engine?

[trigger]

 

 

That focus is same as mine including year. What spec/ engine?

It's a 1.6 TDCi Zetec S Estate in Race red. I've been after the hatch version for a long while but with the baby on the way it was the perfect excuse for a sporty wagon. It has quite a few upgrades for a Zetec too including the power button. DAB radio and door edge protectors that pop out when you open the door. The stop start will be getting turned off though.

[Anglevan]

Mines the titanium, same engine. Bloody useful as an estate moving all my car shite around. Mine has done 58.9mpg from new - now at 54,000. Just 2 front tyres and that's it. Will probably be ready to swap early next year. (Tis a company bus) only extra on mine is the sat nav.

[trigger]

Back to proper cars again, this morning i received a big package though the post containing all the cars history, it's a real treasure trove of awesomeness, all the receipts from new, the Supercover paperwork which hangs from the mirror, the original brochures and even newspaper cuttings that he's cut out about the car! Amazing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KruJoe]

 

OK, so who skinned a Womble to make the carpet?

[Rusty_Rocket]

What I love about this one Trig is the fact the old boy that bought it new obviously really appreciated it and was proud to own a special edition. The fact you've saved it from an uncertain future is great and I'm sure the old boy will be looking down on you, pleased it has gone to the right person... if you subscribe to such a theory anyway

[Rusty_Rocket]

And that definitely is skinned Womble on the inside!

[Noel Tidybeard]

so basicaly its a big engined/posh toledo

[Timewaster]

Love the Dolomite. I used to see a 1500SE around here until a few years ago.

As for the focus, Ha Ha you bunch of tarts. MY 2014 Focus Estate is the povo spec Edge with crap wheel trims and the wheeziest 88g/km 1.6 Ecokinetic Derv. Proper modern shite.

The stop start is okay once you are used to it. It only cuts out at a standstill, in neutral with the clutch up and starts again as soon as you touch the clutch, or let the handbrake off and let it roll away.

I keep wondering why my other cars don't cut out at the lights?!

[trigger]

I can see the Stop/Start getting on my tits and getting switched off.

 

I've been out and bought a Wix oil filter (WL7213 which hopefully has the non return valve?), a 88° thermostat, some Borg & Beck brake pads, some 20/50 oil and some antifreeze so Saturday I'll be ready to get down a dirty with my Dolly. 

[michael1703]

Add brake cleaner,red rubber grease,copper slip,G cramp to that list

[twosmoke300]

Surely the starlet would be a 100% reliable daily trig?

[trigger]

The Starlet is ace but I've kind of got myself into a pickle! I've bought this Sierra and I need to use it for a bit to justify the money I've spent getting it back on the road and in a few months Mrs T will be off work for a year with a baby so the Starlet will be too small for her hence the Focus Estate.

 

I'd sooner use the Sierra for work as I'm not a big fan of using little cars plus the Sierra is a more practical size.

 

The downside is that I need to sell the Starlet which is a good reliable car that the wife loves to make way for a expensive old Ford that's been of the road 9 years and could end up being unreliable.