vraksianrebel Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 So new car new problems. Over Christmas I picked up a new dolomite 1850hl, the car is great the bodywork etc is really solid and everything seems to be in rather good working order, sadly the engine is massively down on power to the point that pulling away is actually hard work and far more likely for the car to stall than actually start to move. If I pull the choke out a bit it sorts out most of the issue, it's not perfect but at least she's drivable. The carbs have been hard mounted with some solid steel tubes rather than the rubber shock absorbing mounts and I think they might be leaking and letting in air, I have ordered some replacements from rimmers and they assured me I only need 2 gaskets per car, is this right? If so which side of the rubber mount gets the gasket ?And is there any other suggestions for things to check to sort this lack of power out?I've replaced and gapped the points, New condensor, New coil, New leads and plugs. And I'm running it on shell super. Oh and the timing is spot on now as well.One other thing is the temp gauge never goes above the first marker 1/4 I know it has a thermostat and I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I maybe wrong but IIRC the gaskets go between the rubber mount and the manifold. Have you checked the rotor arm and the cap? This would produce more of a miss rather than low power so presumably it isn't misfiring? Those mounts are probably the culprits as the carburettors are probably taking in too much air. There is no need to use Super unleaded.Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Yeah the rotor arm seems to be fine. We checked over all the distributor first and other than a little slack in the fly wieght springs the dizzy seems fine.So you think the rubber mount goes straight to the carb body without a gasket? Seems weird that there's not one on both sides lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Put one on each side if you're worried…….M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Well I'm a bit worried but only have two gaskets so would have to wait for more if there's supposed to be one either side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 It's been a long time since I had an 1850 but I'm pretty sure you'll want gaskets on both ends of the rubber mounts. Fairly easy to make from cereal packets or similar cardboard.They are never that keen to move off as they have a very high first gear.Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trubac Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 It seems to me that you have a very weak mixture ... have you check the carb richness ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 That's basically what it feels like to me that the mixture is too lean. I assumed that this was being caused by an air leak, Is there any easy way to check the richness of the carb mixture? And if its the carbs themselves that are the problem how would o adjust them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 1218 wrote:I maybe wrong but IIRC the gaskets go between the rubber mount and the manifold. Have you checked the rotor arm and the cap? This would produce more of a miss rather than low power so presumably it isn't misfiring? Those mounts are probably the culprits as the carburettors are probably taking in too much air. There is no need to use Super unleaded.MarkIs the 1850 happy on 95 unleaded, Mark - I know that the handbook for the 1300 Dolomite specifies 97RON..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 1850 and TR7s will run on unleaded, not sure about Sprint but can't see why not. Iron headed Dolomites i.e. 1300/1500 will NOT be happy in the long run on unleaded.Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Look at the spark plugs to see how its running,white and glazed electrode=lean,black and sooty=rich,should be greyish brown for normal running.Adjustment is by lowering the jet with the nut underneath,downwards for richening.S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toledo Man Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Have you topped up the dashpots? I recommend using ATF in your dashpots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beans Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 1218 wrote:1850 and TR7s will run on unleaded, not sure about Sprint but can't see why not. ...Sprint indeed runs on unleaded without problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vraksianrebel Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Awesome well the second set of gaskets have arrived today so I'm going to try and fit the new rubber mounts tonight and see if that sorts the problems. If it doesn't then I will have to try adjusting the jets to enrichen the mixture but that might wait until this weekend as I don't really know what I'm doing without the correct tools which I can borrow on saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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