Hillman Imp front suspension mounting

Seen here the Fraser replica front suspension was being assembled on the bench.

The parts have all been bead blasted,serviced an painted and are really as close to new as we can make them.

Note that Rootes Scotland used special quality hi tensile bolts on the Imps front and rear suspension, they may be marked on the head of the bolt with the word 'Auto', keep them in a safe place, they can not be easily replaced.

Note that there are at least two pick up plates or boxes, this is the later Mk2 version.

Assembly with spotless parts is a real pleasure!

The lock tab on the two large bolts is still to be fitted and to be folded over the bolt heads. The two square plates with the threaded studs are the front spring top mounts. The studs go through the underside of the front wings, a second fixing can just be seen as a bolt, two of which pass through the side of the wheel arch.
Roy

Whats in your garage?

The service department? It looks that way, the Fraser replica was now the right way up and I had time to refinish the Toylander, note the addition of the ply panels, they had been cut by the CNC machine ok but I had failed to fit them.

The Imp was later set on its wheels and will soon ship the UK, the Toylander was given some primer on the new plys, stripped of its engineering parts and given a full respray.

Roy

Fitting disc brakes to your Imp

The trick is to use the right suppliers, we did and last year two such kits came into Cape Town by courier, not a cheap fix but the quality speaks for its self.

There are a few tricks, nothing much, you can fit the parts on the bench easier but you can also do it direct to the car as well.

The mount plate is a part of each kit, you will need to supply a 10mm high speed drill bit yourself,use it at low speed to drill the two 8mm holes out or you will burn out the drill. The existing suspension parts have been bead blasted clean and spray painted with Hammerite smooth black paint.

 Note the special long wheel studs.

Note the white plastic peg or hook in the center of the hub, thats the speedo drive found on the near side or left hand side of the car.

With front disc brakes and rear drums you will not require a servo, it is said that the sport Imp 0.7 master cylinder works better with discs but a road going car done recently with the standard size cylinder feels just fine.

How hard can this be.

Roy

In the drivers cabin, the racing seat

The seat is the main issue in a race car, it needs to be type approoved and very strong, it has a time life span and if the car is in an accident that seat may be scrapped.

Cobra brand seat that was an import, two only just fit in the car due to the wings on the seat.

Special side mounts come with each seat, one pair a seat, you will need special 8mm hi tensile bolts to fit them.

Do not remove the lables.

Note the internal roll cage.

The office is quite bare, white side covers were later fitted to the two doors to tidy the place up, we used a very light weight ply, painted white it blends in.

Roy

Two Imps

One is staying and one is leaving, in fact its going back to Scotland were it was built around 1966.

The Fraser replica race car and the 1967 Singer Chamois . It is the white and blue car that we are exporting.

Roy

Terence will drive over land to England in 2013

Finally I have managed to get a tiny bit of momentum into the preparations of our Jolon Imp.

Suspensions sandblasted and nicely painted. The interior cleaned up and readied for painting. Exterior bodywork also a work now well in progress. And what’s exciting for me is the fact that through Johan’s teaching I am learning how to panel beat, body fill and also to spray paint. It’s hot ahd hard work but I’m lovin it and I DON’T EAT MCDONALDS!!!

I am still needing some good sponsor to assist us in some finance for the trip!!!

http://jolonimp.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/some-movement-at-last/#comment-14

Our first choice of route will be through Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethopia, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, France and through the Chunnel to England. However this might quickly change depending on the political situation of the various countries we plan to traverse.
I hope to be joined in Paris by two of my brothers who were inadvertently responsible for my becoming an Imp collector, they both owned Imps when I was still a lazy schoolboy in Ireland. So Ciaran and Sean will drive the final kilometers with us from Paris to Coventry.
Our journey will begin on Valentine’s Day 2013 when we head north out of Johannesburg and cross the border into Botswana by nightfall.

Imps and Cowboys

Who else but cowboy kids could enjoy the Imp like this.

Note the opening tail gate, was the Imp the first hatchback I wonder? I am sure it was the last car sold in Britain with a crank handle as standard, check the opening in the rear bumper.

This is an early Mk1 Imp,yet again another bright colour.

Roy