dmulally’s 1965 Hillman Imp

[dmulally]

Slapped some colour on it this morning. How I paint is I do a very light coat and go a little heavier over anywhere that has rubbed through the primer.

Then one full wet coat.

Then walk away briskly to clean the gun for a few hours so I don't get tempted to "fix" mistakes. 

 

[dmulally]

Still have to put some chrome on and the rear window rubber.

Then it will be me and a paint brush for a couple of weeks getting inside sorted. I should probably order a carpet kit whilst I'm at it.

[dmulally]

A side mirror on the door means you're looking over your shoulder every time you see who is tailgating you this time.

Took the opportunity to drill a hole in the bonnet for an easier glance behind me. 

Only problem in an Imp is that everybody looks like a truck running you down!

[dmulally]

I fired up the Imp this morning to go and get some bread from the shops. As per usual I was hit on by a couple of boomers and the Imp performed flawlessly. I did notice that the WOF is due next month and I don't think I could be bothered renewing it. I know it will pass but I simply don't drive it enough. 

Time to put this thread on hold for a while whilst I clear out some more pressing projects. I already have a new motorbike engine for it (VTX1300 V-twin Honda) but frankly it works perfectly fine as it is. I always thought I'd blow the engine but in the thousand or so miles I have put on it over the last year it really hasn't skipped a beat on the road. The fuel economy is criminally good. 

Anyway, please enjoy a couple of pics before it goes for a long sleep and thanks for stopping by. 

[dmulally]

[dmulally]

TROUBLE IN PARADISE!

Whilst bogan tetris-ing my cars round the shed I found the Imp even harder to start than usual (still havent connected the choke yet). I checked the engine and noticed it was low on coolant. I could have sworn I always kept it topped up so checked the dipstick. It was a caramel milkshake in there. 

Ironically I decided on the weekend that I was going to sell it. I guess I'll have to spend a shit load of cash first unless somebody wants to low ball me an offer I can't refuse on it. 

Time for Phase 2 of the Imp project to begin. 

[dmulally]

Ok managed to source an engine. Looks to be in pretty good condition. 

Next on the agenda is to rip out the old one! 

[dmulally]

So this morning at about 5am I started on the engine removal process. Thankfully in an imp it isn't too hard. I have it held in by a couple bolts presently so it can just sit there for a few days so I'm not tripping over it every five seconds. Check out the forbidden caramel topping. 

So I'm not in this situation again I'm converting to a front mounted radiator. I've always hated the Imp water pump too so both are getting the boot. I have ordered a davies craig pump. Interestingly it was cheaper from Speed Science in NZ than it was from Davies Craig themselves. I still had to get the correct fittings from them still. Unlike Mr Fancy Pants with his pipes under the floor I'll be using the auxiliary rad pipes I already lost half the skin on my knuckles feeding through the bodywork cavities. Problem was that it was a proof of concept hose line I had laying around (it worked) and I should really replace them with new stuff. That will be the suckiest job that ever sucked. I've had to do it on three Imps now and all three jobs I remember clearly for how shit it was. 

Another job I wanted to do was prep and paint the parts I didn't get to paint. I'll start with the bonnet area as that is the grubbiest and also I need to get the grinder out due to a radiator going in there. Of which I am having a custom one build by A1 Cooling. Interesting to see how it comes out. I really need to sell this Imp but am approaching (likely past) the point of no return fiscally so I might as well do it properly so it can last another 60 years. 

The next thing on the agenda to sort out is to add louvres to the bonnet. I don't want to cut out the bottom part which I have done in the past as I want to angle the radiator with a slight forward lean so the hot air can escape out the top. There will be a lot of cutting and welding in there however. Might take the fuel tank out first however. Could get a little sparky. 

 

 

[dmulally]

GET OUT

 

[dmulally]

It's time to banish this green stuff for good. 

[dmulally]

Must. Not. Touch. 

[dmulally]

Right then. So the reco'd Imp engine suffered a setback. I was on my way to pick it up (Martinborough to Tauranga is a looooong way in a GMC) and 20 mins out got a call it had seized on the test bench. 

So thankfully my plan B was already decided upon and brought forward. 

I popped out to the LVV cert chap who gave me the green light to use the venerable EA81. It weighs the same as the Imp donk and only the gearbox requires some changes to the bodywork to fit. The EA81 is presently being reconditioned. 

The gearbox I have decided upon is a "freeway flyer" VW box. 0.87 4th and 3.8:1 final drive. A massive improvement over the super short Imp box. 

Some challenges remain in that the selector is out the top rather than the bottom. So the gear linkage will need to go on top of the tunnel rather than under it. The handbrake and rear seat platform are in the way but I can sort that. Don't really have a choice not to. 

I have started on the mount and am up to version 3. I'm trying to use the original Imp mounts and a bracket linking the box to them. 

I have a shit load of other things to do but am rushing to get the mount done so I can sort the half shafts. The engineer said he would get back to me on what is acceptable which is fine. I'll get Howat Engineering to sort so I know it will be acceptable. 

In other news I dropped off the front seats to be retrimmed. I was going to use original seats but the modernish buckets I have are super comfy. I also had a custom front radiator made for it which I havent taken out of the box yet. It will be fed with the original water pump suplimented with a davies craig ewp Ill put at the other end to help push the water around. I got the springs lowered by Aechers but I think it is a little too low. Might stop being a tight ass and invest in some adjustable coilovers. 

It's all happening! 

[dmulally]

So after about four attempts I got the gearbox mount bracket sorted. For the welding I couldnt grind smoother I used the tig to flatten out. Sadly I can't box it but I will add some 8mm thick gussets which should be ok but will leave it up to the cert man to let me know. Happy to use the original mounts which is one less drama. 

I needed to do some panel beating inside and ended up cutting away the gearbox tunnel which I'll replace when I get some fresh steel. 

So the half shafts would bolt right up to the VW cv's if they had the same bolt pattern which is annoying. Maybe a fraction too long so I cant fit an adapter but I will explore it. That would save some farting about with engineering half shafts but not fussed. 

Next on the agenda is finish painting the awful green inside and then I might start on the radiator mounting for a break. 

[dmulally]

So the new radiator arrived and it looks pretty schmick. It is a bit thinner than I thought it would be but that's not the end of the world. I havent decided if I'm putting a heater in it yet or not so have some Y fittings with individual taps the same size as the original heater lines off the manifold. So I could run it to an auxiliary radiator in the back in summer and a heater in winter. Or just the aux rad. See how I feel. Future winter me will be pissed off if I don't put in a heater box inside. 

I was going to just use the bottom fresh air vent box hole thingy for the radiator but half of it will get nothing. So I might punch a couple of 2" holes where the badge used to sit above the bumper bar to get more airflow in. I might sleep on that one. The bonnet is punched full of louvres so that should get the air out. I have to purchase some sheetmetal anyway so might look at some ducting and a mini scoop where the number plate is to help direct airflow into it. Here are some before and during pics. The rad is off to starboard as the fuel filler hose is in the way. 

 

[dmulally]

Some before and progress pics of the running gear. 

The word running is used liberally here.

 

[dmulally]

[dmulally]

Welded this back on. I need to give the underside a bit of a grind and paint. Also left some holes incase I want to get fancy with a heater core.

[dmulally]

Note to self:

1: 185

2: 185

3: 180

4: 175

[dmulally]

So she is in but it isn't all sunshine and lollipops. I have the wrong water pump so have ordered the right single row pulley one. I can use this one on the EA81 hopefully. 

I have taken the carbs off to rebuild properly. I have the old single carb still there but am in no rush.

Lots of little jobs to do now. I'll try and do one a day to keep things ticking over whilst I wait for parts. 

[dmulally]

Now then. A fair bit happening but it's inching forward. The clutch with the mini slave has been installed and bled with a broom through the rear hatch to the pedal. It isn't adjusted though so when I wire up the starter I'll start it gear with the clutch in for movement. It has plenty of adjustment on the pushrod so I'll have a play. 

I also found some radiators in the bulk parts I got so will look at twin radiators in the rear. One of them looks like a modified van one. I checked for leaks by filling it with coke and letting it sit for a few minutes and then swishing it about before emptying and flushing with rain water. 

Also thanks to that rad cunt @Adoom who gave me some sheet metal so I could finish off the ducting to the front radiator. It's all done now. I have painted the front and when it dries I'll reinstall the painted fuel tank. Of which I let it think about what it has done with a chain taped up on the inside and left in a cement mixer for 20 minutes. Gave it a good scrub out with a brush sticky taped to a stick for a laugh too. Naturally it fell off so I had to fish it out through the fuel sender hole.