1972 Triumph Dolomite 1850

[mach1rob]

It's been a good few days, Everything has gone back together with little drama, the only issue I had was why the dash lights would only half light up, and things got warm. Bit of prodding found that the auto selector bulb wasn't lighting up either, problem traced to the wire for that being caught in the lower dash shelf mounting bolt, loosening bolt off, removing wire from under washer and reinsulating it, saw everything working as it should. She fired up first go too. Which was nice. Also found out the old bits of carpet that were in the boot when I got it, as they match the rest, so no longer does it have brown household carpet along the sills.

Hopefully roof will get painted this week, then aerial, and roof lining can be refitted, then once that's in, screens can go back in, along with door felts and sill trims. Door cards are next on the list after a clean up, then once that's all done, comes the lovely task of adjusting the doors up to fit a bit better, cut the paint back under side trims and refit those, and get some new vinyl to recover C pillars. Just about ready for the MOT then, and the insurance renewal lol!









Now, just because, I wondered what it'd look like with the tail panel still in orange, but I think it'll look better in black to match the roof!

[vulgalour]

That's looking excellent. It hardly looks like a car trying to be a chocolate orange at all Black panel should look neater too, looks a bit odd with the back orange, but I'm not sure if that's because I'm just used to seeing the rear black on these.

[mach1rob]

Considering it's only a couple of screws and nuts was quick enough to throw the bits on, just to see, but I do think it has to be black.

[Toledo Man]

That back panel needs doing. Satin black is the one you need to use.

Top job. Fancy a trip "up north" to give me a hand with mine? I've finly settled on Damson as the final colour of choice.

[mach1rob]

I agree, I've just done a 'shop and it looks 100% better with the black tail panel. As the roof will be gloss black I'm thinking doing the rear to match, I think it may look odd with gloss and satin, but we'll see.

I'd love to come and help, but it's a bit of a trek, but the wife wouldn't mind as her cousin live in 'Uddersfield! However, I'm kind of out of action as the back has popped again this morning so I can just about walk let alone work on cars, I just hope this episode is over quickly, but sods law says it'll be the usual weeks on end

[Toledo Man]

It won't be anytime soon anyway, there's the rest of the stuff that I can remove (I haven't even touched the nearside yet!) and the headlight panels will need some attention before any paint can go on them.

[JPB]

I agree, I've just done a 'shop and it looks 100% better with the black tail panel. As the roof will be gloss black I'm thinking doing the rear to match, I think it may look odd with gloss and satin, but we'll see....

I've seen a couple with the tail done in gloss rather than the strictly "correct" satin black and they looked fine. I'd agree that it may look slightly odd with a mix of gloss and satin but the very rare factory black Dollies would appear to have been finished in exactly that way and they looked alright. Up to your good self but gloss on its arse end would work, IMHO. Or maybe matt olive green. No idea how that might look but as far as I know it hasn't been done so you could be the first.

Think about Alolympic's amazingly orange Toledo; would anyone have thought that covering its roof in scale replicas of album covers would have worked? If someone had said that to me I'd have laughed but having seen that remarkable car, the roof really does look good so based on that logic, I think you need to get the paint on the rump of yours and if it looks wrong then you can always flat it back and spray it again.

[mach1rob]

I think it needs to be black. I'll do it gloss to match the roof, if I don't like it, or it looks a bit OTT, I can always give it a coat of satin to tone it down.

[Toledo Man]

I wasn't wrong about my headlight panels so the painting of mine has been put on hold until I've got some fresh metal welded in.

Looking good. Gloss black on the rear panel might just work...

[mach1rob]

Well it was a lovely morning, the back is playing ball and not too bad now, so moving is manageable, so popped to car shop for some paint, broke out the masking tape, and erm well cracked on!















Can now get head lining back in, then screens refitted, along with back bumper, then it's just odds n sods to finish off.

Then it's the joys of changing hub seal, and thinking about the MOT, but I have a funny feeling my insurance is also due for renewal at end of teh month, so something may have to wait for a while