Dolomite SE all finished... For now!

[trigger]

I was eyeing up a set of 155/80's in Falkin rubber for £115 for 5 but wonder if a slightly wide profile would handle a bit better, although anything will handle better than 30 years old ditch finders...

[Richard]

I think 175/70 x 13 is the direct replacement for 155 x 13. IIRC 165/70 would replace 145s and 185/70 would replace 165s.

[trigger]

As I've been posting on the News24 thread I've been doing a bit more to the Dolly this week, namely flatting back and polishing the paintwork, It's been a slow a laborious job and I've only managed the bonnet, roof and boot so far but the results have been outstanding and very promising. 

 

To be honest my photos don't do it justice but you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also had a go under the bonnet, I've managed to get it looking better but i didn't remove the wax, only the bits that were on the bonnet stickers and vin plate, I also removed and cleaned the washer bottle, and replace the string holding it non.

 

Now here something, the lady before me paid £19 for a new washer pump and another £35 to have it fitted by this garage that ripped her off, i thought I'd try the old pump as it's still there and see if i could fix it, unbelievable it worked straight away and there nothing wrong with it! So I've removed that nasty plastic one now.

 

 

 

[purplebargeken]

If that is the worst of it on your sills then it'll be a piece of piddle. A weekend or two with a knotted wire brush or the like, some Kurust, some acid etch primer, a couple of coats of red oxide, grey primer and topcoat will have the sills looking like new.

[trigger]

I was going to DA them back to metal again and etch them, primer them and possibly run some stonechip along them before painting. The other side isnt quite so easy as it had a dent in the sill and that big dent in the wing, oh and the valance is quite snotty too.

 

It sounds daft but I'd sooner have a shiny car to give me that base to work too rather than a tatty one with no goal in sight.

[fordperv]

Looks great trig, keep up the good work

[trigger]

Yesterday I got slightly side tracked and made a start knocking out the dent in the wing before finding myself removing the bumper (and breaking of the clips on the ends). I also removed the front chin spoiler to do the valance which is a bit grotty, so I'm going to do a professional job of fixing it by filling it will fiberglass, cause that's how i roll.

 

 

 

 

I've also ordered the new tyres yesterday. After shopping around I found the best deal to be from blackcircles, 4x Yokohamas 155/80/13 delivered for £111. I don't think that's too bad.

[greengartside]

The more I see this on here the more I love it, that bonnet shine is amazing - hopefully the rest of the paint can follow suit. Will be a top-notch Dolly when it's done.

[purplebargeken]

It'd be easier if you strip the front end completely, the bumper irons have two nuts each to undo, Copaslip the fuckers when you put them back on. Saves you from hitting your head on the bastards as you move around. Might be worth you ordering some new screws and gaskets for the sidelight/indicator combo, they are only a couple of quid. Give the inner bits a clean too. Actually, Copaslip everything  

 

If you replace the 2 x 3 very small headlight surround screws with stainless that will save hassle in the future.

 

Trust me on this

 

Looking good!

[purplebargeken]

Also whilst the wheels are off, take off the plastic shit shields and give the hidden bits a good clean/inspection.

 

I bought one of those plastic profile things from Wickes, much easier then trying to get the shape of a panel when filling/sanding.

[trigger]

I took the front wheels of the dolly this evening and attacked the valance with a grinder, I wish I hadn't bothered.

 

 

 

 

Not good. My plan was to fiberglass it and cover it all with underseal but it's too bad for that. Thankfully I have a friend who's offered to come over and weld in a new section for me, not for a few weeks but that means I can just get on with the wheels and other jobs for now, like the sills!

 

[purplebargeken]

They almost all do that, don't stress too much over it. 

 

Relax and tackle the other bits. It is good to have a distraction away from the crap.

 

Think of me when I tackle the underside of the green Dolly. You ain't seen nothing yet

[trigger]

It's like my mate said, it's a nice car so it's worth doing probably. If I get it plated inside it will be much stronger and easier to repair too.

[purplebargeken]

Yep indeed it is and well worth spending time and effort on.

 

Mine will be going over to my mates place next week. Just wait till you see the piccies of that. You have nothing to fear from yours

[trigger]

Another quick update, I've spent a few days tidying up the nearside of the car, I made a start with the grinder and zip wheel.

 

 

 

 

I don't know why but there was a fair lump of filler in the front wing under the molding where the sill joins, God knows why as it does look like it's been damaged or had a hole in it, I wonder if it came from factory like it?

 

Now I must admit, I didn't take many photos but you get the idea, I also fixed the dent in the front wing.

 

 

Once it was all primered, rubbed down and stone chipped I licked some PMA black over it.

 

 

Annoyingly the lower wing reacted so I had to flat it down and start again.

 

 

I've also done the surface rust under the rear bumper which has come out well.

 

Then today I've polished the side down and have it a good hand rub.

 

 

 

 

 

I have to be honest, I'm really pleased with how well it's coming up now considering how shite it did look, my wanky phone photos don't to it credit, the only thing letting it down in the rear wheel arches now, I'll decide what to do with those later.

 

 

Tomorrow I'll spin the car around and make a start on the offside, I still need to tidy up the wheels so I can fit my new tyres too.

 

[Rusty_Rocket]

Looks great Trig

[purplebargeken]

Whoohoo         

 

Looking very nice indeed.

 

The TDC do wheel arch repair sections if the worst comes to the worst. Yours look reasonable and should do ok with a bit of filler. Close up piccies to make sure?

[trigger]

It's all surface rust I think, they feel mint behind, hang on, I'll go and take a photo

[purplebargeken]

[cort16]

Looks great although you missed the opportunity for an awesome tide line.

[trigger]

Looks great although you missed the opportunity for an awesome tide line.

My dad said I should just paint the car in bitchumen, glad I didn't listen to him!

 

Here's some photos hot of the press.

 

 

 

 

And behind the arch.

 

 

 

Not too much to worry about I think, I will be undersealing behind here anyway.

 

The front valance still needs welding and painting.

 

 

I've bought a second hand grill of eBay from a breaker for £25 to replace the damaged side, you can see the difference in the paint here, this is how the whole car was.

 

[purplebargeken]

£25? Sigh.

 

Always, always ask on the TDC site first mate, 99% of the time someone will have what you need.

 

Pfft, those there wheel arches look fine, a smidge of filler will have them looking like new. Nothing to worry about there at all. 

 

I'm bloody dreading mine going over to my mates place (now delayed slightly as he is extending his shed).

[HMC]

Good progress. Looks loads better down there. Your Dad sounds old school what with his bitumen and that.

[captain_70s]

Pfft, those there wheel arches look fine, a smidge of filler will have them looking like new. Nothing to worry about there at all.

Wot 'e said. Just a bit of surface rust, rear arches are usually the first bits to go. My Dolomite 1300 has repair panels tacked/riveted on top of the rotten originals which have now rotted out themselves, I'm dreading what I'll find behind them...

[trigger]

I might tackle them myself at some point then. Is £25 for a grill expensive then? I also need a set of good chrome wheel rings as My are corroded now I've polished one up. I thought they would be plastic but they are metal, I did wonder about repainting them with chrome paint?

[captain_70s]

I think Chic Doig does sets of both chromed steel and stainless wheel embellishers. I was speaking to a 1500SE owner from up near Inverness who bought a set.

[greengartside]

Trig you do know about the Dolly that's being broken near mine don't you? Could provide a wealth of parts for yours?

 

 

[trigger]

I didn't know about that one Pete. TBH I don't think there's much I need now other than possibly rebuilding my brake master cylinder again and the Servo. I think that ones a 1850 HL, shame as if it was a 1500 I'd have that stainless exhaust of it!

[purplebargeken]

Hmm, that rear bumper mid section looks better than mine

 

If you are going anywhere near with a large tin of PlusGas and some spanners

[captain_70s]

A sad sight. I knew I'd seen that car somewhere before, there is a picture of it on Flickr from 2013! Apparently it is/was an 1850 auto.