My new shite...

[M'coli]

I picked up my new shite on Monday, but due to various things I've not had much chance to drive it properly until today.

 

It's cav_estate's Hillman Imp - thanks! Photos will be included, I just haven't been arsed enough to take them!

Edit: here's a couple from when I went to look at it last week:

 

I've owned 3 Imps in the past, 2 of which were 1972 models and one a 1976, but the last time I drove one was in 1998.

 

How the story unfolds:

 

Last November I sold my Avenger to a guy who flew over from Norn Irn and drove it back. This meant that I could now look at buying an Imp. The problem lay in that I had several conditions that it had to meet:

 

It couldn't be too nice but had to be sound. I don't like the idea of owning something pristine and having it trolley-dinged in a carpark.

It needed to be a Chrysler dashboard - this was important - the Imp thing is very much unfinished business and if it was the earlier dash it justr woulodn't be "right".

It needed to have an MOT.

It wasn't to be red...

 

H'mmm, three out of 4 ain't bad, but it's a very nice shade of red!!!

 

I've done a bit of fettling to it already - new bulb for the oil pressure/water temperature; tyres pumped up; bonnet release sorted out; engine lid hinges and stay greased; idle and choke tweaked; new fan belt; ignition timing checked.

 

Stuff I need to do:

Replace most of the hoses - they have a fair few cracks in them.

Replace the temperature sender - I think it's eff'd.

Fit a temperature gauge - ridiculously, 6 years after the wee buggers had started boiling themselves dry due to lack of cooling, they still didn't have a temperature gauge.

Add some more cooling capacity - Polo breadvan heater matrices fit the bill, and I have them in my possession. Later there will be some experimentation with motorcycle radiatiors and other such nonsense!

More power. Lots of more power!

Also, fit an alternator - the battery light is glowing, but it seemed to be a voltage thing rather than an amps thing...

 

So tonight was the Imp club's Yorkshire meeting on the other side of York. I'd been to Harrogate during the day in it, and visited Hebden's scrapyard at the quarry in Killinghall, for the last time - he's selling the yard, it changes hands next week. The new owners apparently have plans to continue in the same vein, they even have some cars in already including a LHD 'S' reg Triumph 2500TC, complete with Supercover sticker in the window.

I set off for the Yorkshire meet, and choose to drive through York rather than take the ring road. I need to change the tyres at some point - they're 165/60s rather than 155s, the gearing's even shorter than standard! Just beyond York citycentre on the Hull road, I'm flashed by a truck behind me and see the wisps of steam rising from the back so I stopped to check the water - there isn't much in there. I'm also concerned by the glowing charge light on the dash...! Abandon the mission, head for home, methinks - good choice!

 

Just outside of Long Marston on the way back, I notice a slight misfire, along with very dim full beam - change back to dips and it stops misfiring! Full beam is 100 watts, dip is about 80 (IIRC). I make it home, but don't fancy trying to start it in the morning!!!

 

I've been looking on eBay for suitable alternators, and have just realised that there's a 65 amp Cavalier one in the shed - I think that I'll see if that'll fit tomorrow!

[HillmanImp]

Cool that you have it now. I know Cav_estate was keen for it to go to someone who would look after it and give it the fettling it needed. Once you do the hoses etc, I think you really need to get underneath and scrape off the surface rust, give it a good coat of hydrate 80 and a lick of paint. Once that is done you are sorted.

 

Does the Chrysler Dash not have a temp gauge? Been over 15 years since I owned a Chrysler one so cant remember? Not even been in a working Imp for about 3 years.

 

If you needs any bits and bobs let me know as I am only down the road. Have a stock photo of the car.

 

 

Did you get the wheels with it? Looking at the prices Imps are going for these days, I think even with a few probs it was a right deal.

 

Mines a dynamo too so cant help you there, but I have a 915cc engine with a competition clutch on it which I "might" consider selling. But I doubt it. However I am looking at buying a new house, so never say never.

[Baz]

My Dad had a Singer Chamois Sport when I was a baby....My grandparents had, I think, three Imps....Yet I was never really a fan of them, until I drove one....Fantastic fun, but flawed little cars.

 

Yours looks fantastic though....Love the rims....

[M'coli]

I've got a later Chrysler dash with a temperature gauge, but I'm not convinced of the sensitivity of it! I know I need to sort the rust, and yes, I did get the wheels. Does the 915 have the Sport drain? I've got an L4 head (bought in 1995!) and a set of single Terry springs somewhere, so moar powr should be forthcoming at some point once I've stopped it losing water. EDIS can sort out the ignition.

 

There's an interesting puzzle - it's got a D45 distributor - my '72 deluxe had a D25...

[HillmanImp]

Does the 915 have the Sport drain?

 

I cant remember, and it piled under a load of stuff at the mo since I rolled the Imp back over. REALLY need to get out into the garage and tidy up, but have spent all my time on the Rocco recently which is now roadworthy .

 

I have no idea about what distributers.

[dollywobbler]

That's lovely. Nice work!

[Marshall]

I've said it before and I will say it again but I need to get an Imp really soon.

 

That looks like a nice one. I know what you mean about the later dash too - much better!

[Torsten2001]

To my deep regret I have never owned an Imp, that one looks superb!

[M'coli]

Thanks! The older dash isn't a problem as such, as I fancy a Singer Chamois with the old dash. I don't know why!!!

 

The Cavalier alternator won't fit - I'll have to look out a Metro one or similar.

[Rusty Pelican]

To my deep regret I have never owned an Imp, that one looks superb!

Your missing out on something special

[boobydoo]

That looks fabulous! Love Imps!

[M'coli]

I'd forgotten how little they roll when cornering - and this is a car with NO anti-roll bars whatsoever! Turn up at a tight corner, bang on some lock, let the car do the rest...

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Imps are great, and yours especially. Red is a good colour on them.

 

I never really realised how rare they are until I started casually looking at them a while ago. I can only remember seeing a handful in the wild, and that was all on one day in Brighton.

[steve austin]

MMMMMMMM, Hillman Imp, gaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, (simpson styleee haha!)

[Station]

What's the big thing about Chrysler dashboards? Again, one car I feel I must own at one point.

[M'coli]

What's the big thing about Chrysler dashboards? Again, one car I feel I must own at one point.

 

Mid-life crisis, trying to re-capture my (relative) youth, that sort of thing. Nothing more!