1974 Dolomite Sprint

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fried onions
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by fried onions »

Eddie Honda wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 3:06 pm
fried onions wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 12:53 pm Turning a knurled knob with fingers does not save anything over turning a 1/2" AF nut with a spanner.
You must walk around with a 1/2" AF spanner in your pocket. I have to hunt for mine first...
No, I just use a small adjustable.
mercrocker wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 3:22 pm Probably wrong (I usually am) but I just leave my earth terminal loosely wound up in storage. If I need to start the car or use any 12v power it is a push-on job rather than a spanner twirl to remove and replace it. Haven't had any issues starting it up like that although it is dry and fairly warm - a really cold start would call for the spanner.

Have to add, I do normally leave an open-ender in the car for that purpose although more than once have arrived home with it still in my back pocket...
Aye the terminals are tapered so it's basically a wedge like fit. I do the same with my stored cars.
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by LynehamHerc »

SiC wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 3:29 pm I was thinking something like this longer term:
Image
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-QUICK-REL ... 2163872109

A similar idea is used to keep my bike wheels attached to the frame.
This probably shows what an idiot I am but I fitted some of these to my T2 which then kept on stopping when they came loose.
Despite my best efforts and the garage trying a few times they still kept on coming loose so ended up being replaced by 'proper' ones. I got them from a reputable supplier so am still at a bit of a loss as to why it happened.
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by SiC »

Perhaps it needed a spring washer or locknut to replace the securing nut?
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by fried onions »

They are shite. And worst of all, people cut the original factory fittings off to fit this shit.
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by Hooli »

Or just fix the drain on the car? I've never seen a need for such things unless you're parking it up for months n months & then I'd just use a spanner as it was such an uncommon thing.
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by mercrocker »

Bloke where I store my van likes to have the cars isolated so I have to do mine twice a month or so while they are up there (I never leave a vehicle two weeks without running it up to temperature, around the farm yard a few times and then putting current through every circuit).....

@chadders - was the reputable seller of those terminals JustKrappers by any chance?
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by LynehamHerc »

I don't think so, I think it was someone like AES but I bought them about 6 or 7 years go so can't say for certain. I bought a load of stuff off them and everything else was fine.
I just thought that they were a good idea as the battery is hidden away in what would be the back of the rear wing in a normal car, you have to crouch down to get to it and the terminals are partly hidden. Not ideal in the case of an engine bay fire.
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by Eddie Honda »

fried onions wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 11:54 am No, I just use a small adjustable.
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by fried onions »

I know, I'm not a proper engineer.
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Re: 1974 Dolomite Sprint

Post by SiC »

Two Sprints have sold recently on eBay as auctions. It reiterates to me again what a great price mine was really. I have possibly more work (remember the diff whines on mine too) but I paid £1.1k less than the cheapest of the following. If a garage was doing the work, I could spend that
difference very quickly. However they're not and my time is free*.

First was this:
Image
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3612891122
No current MOT and body looked in similar state as mine. Also it's shit coloured.

Second one:
Image
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3881866269
No MOT and not had one in a long while. Body looks in decent condition and a very rare colour. But it's an automatic!

Dolomite Sprints don't come up all that often really. Seem to have nothing for ages and then a whole load come up. It's why I jumped at a chance of getting mine. Even if it does require a fair bit of attention.

MOT in less than two months too. Might postpone it until next year as I won't be doing many miles in it at all till Spring really. It's exempt of course and yes I still like to get mine tested - it keeps me happy.
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