1972 Triumph Dolomite 1850

[Grumpy Northener]

I'm happy with the finish for an amateur with no real pro kit

Orange without an orange peel finish - that looks like a top job to me - you should be well chuffed with that

Chris

[mach1rob]

I only photographed the good bits

There are areas which aren't perfect, but may improve with another going over, in one light they look spot on, in another you can see the imperfections. I'll get the rest of it done then perhaps go back round on any areas I'm not 100% happy with and see if they can be improved, even if it means a spot of paintwork. Thankfully the rattle cans at my local car accessory emporium are a perfect match.

[arceye]

Looking good


and very Orange

[vulgalour]

Sterling stuff. You were right to go orange, goes really well with the interior and the black bits.

[mach1rob]

MOT 1100 am, EEEK! On the plus side, it now has 4 doors that shut properly, headlights that point in about the right direction, although I have left the surrounds off so they can be tweaked on test (they're good like that), so hopefully, a new test and tax disc will be on it tomorrow. crosses fingers, toes and anything else I can cross...

[mach1rob]

Well, not quite as expected, I toddled off to the test station, got there in plenty of time, only to be told, "You're early", apparently it was booked in for 11:30 So after a brew it was up on ramp, and to much delight of the tester (as said a BL man) as it was the same as his first car, managed to get a good look underneath it too, and a few welded repairs have been done in the past, but it really is as solid as under there So, after much prodding, poking and pulling, that lovely piece of white A4 printed paper was handed over.

Just waiting for postie to bring the insurance cert and I'll wander down PO for a new disc, did think about doing it online but can't be bothered to wait for new disc to arrive.

[mach1rob]

The Tangerine Dream is having a hissy fit it appears! Went out to a totally flat battery, which was odd, but thought maybe I'd left the radio on or boot open. Charged it yesterday, and all was well, out today and nothing, not even a dim glow from the interior light, so it looks like we have a drain to find. Hoping it's something simple, but I'll do a drop test in the next day or so, but knowing my luck it'll be the alternator

[TerryG]

It could be the battery itself, I had exactly that issue with my focus and spent a couple of days chasing ghosts before fitting a new battery and problem solved
(my money is definitely on alternator or the ignition switch for the drain being that quick if it's not the battery)

[mach1rob]

Battery is only a couple of months old, and while I know it's not unknown for them to just die, it is a Lucas one so it err yeah, probably is, I'll take it back and get it tested

[Toledo Man]

It is very easy to test the alternator. Make sure your fanbelt is tensioned correctly and take a voltage reading when the car is running. If the alternator is working then you should be getting about 14 volts. Don't trust the dashboard voltmeter. Take a reading across the battery terminals with a multimeter to get an accurate voltage reading.