The Dark Wob

Looks like you've learned a lot since buying that welder! I was just thinking that was quite crusty but it's good you aren't phased, I expect not needing it for work the next day helps

Not needing it nor the space it's sitting in for the next 4+ months helps a lot, yes!

You have certainly jumped right in there with this one. It certainly isn't the AS way to go about it. You should stop and ask opinions from them before even picking up a spanner. As long as you can keep the mojo going it will soon get done. This does enforce my lack of interest in anything 1970's as there is far more rot to deal with than my 85 year old French heap.

TBF, I do tend to ask for thoughts along the way. Mostly as I end up looking at something and spending ages trying to figure which is the best way to go but never end up making a decision.

Mojo has been low on this to be honest. Picking up a bit now though. Just need a decent heat source in the garage, as the cold weather approaching makes it less appealing being out there.

When taking out the dash on this made me think about you saying your thoughts of 70s cars and how they were much more mass market built. It was the electrical wiring that is the noticeable difference between my '68 1100, '74 MGB (which really is a 60s car) and this. Both the 1100 and MGB use individual bullet connectors on each part of the loom while everything pretty much getting connected as one long circuit. I imagine in the factory, a lot of time was wasted figuring what went where. However the Dolomite uses multi-way connectors everywhere. Much quicker in a factory assembly line to connect and also clear each sub-assembly could just be put in.

Removing the dash clocks on the Dolomite is a case of a couple of multi-way connectors, Speedo drive and four screws. Both MGB and 1100 have the clocks as integral to the dash. So removing those are either individual affair or the whole complete dash section comes out.

Of course modern cars have multiplugs everywhere and directly to what they connect to.

Again the heater on the Dolomite is a single unit with all the levers directly part of that one module that pretty much pulls out as one. Both 1100 and MGB have the heater unit, then a bunch of bowden cables that actuate the flaps.

By the '70s, owners will almost certainly been more likely to be treating vehicles as disposable objects. Unlike previous generations where they were more of a novelty/luxury item that needed to be treasured. Even more so by the time it was the 80's and the 70's cars were just old cars but pre '60s cars were starting to become "classics".

Way above my level. I'd manage to take it a part but welding and putting it back together? No.

With garage heating I never used to bother, if it's really cold run a space heater for a short period. I have a gas one here somewhere that I used to use before I moved down here to the west country. When I did use it in my old 4 car garage it would only be on for about half an hour to take the edge off. They need good ventilation and will create a lot of condensation. My current workshop is part of a bloody great greenhouse with just cladding on the outside. It gets bloody hot in the summer and not exactly warm in winter but I only have a super ser in the office. Trying to heat a workshop is pretty futile and expensive.

Re workshop heat, can you run a couple of pipes across from the house and tap in to the existing central heating circuit? Or if you can be strictly disciplined about keeping flammables away from it then a wood burner with a desk fan behind it gives you the chance to play with fire - and a decent fire is always good for keeping up enthusiasm.

Make an oil/wood burner out of an old gas cylinder? Gets rid of old engine oil too, plenty of designs on the internet.

My garage doors have a good inch gap underneath them, so there is plenty of ventilation - which is part of the problem. Mid/longer term I want to replace the two up-and-over garage doors with a long insulated single roller door.

Debating whether to get a little gas heater to blast it to take the edge off, or get a 12v diesel heater. Diesel heater will produce no condensation (exhaust goes outside) but a bit more work to fit.

Anything with an open fire, I'm not too keen of in the garage. I don't have a good history with such things
Also I tend to only go out for 3 hour periods. So by the time I've got it nice and warm, I'll be coming back in again.