Vixen Vb1

[bhofner]

my new Project is the Vixen IMP from Keith Norman. The car has 10 zoll front wheels and at the back 13JA PEACE wheels. I need any informations also about colours anything to built the car like it was 1967.
I am looking for 2 wheels 13x7 JA Peace . Please post any informations.
greetings from freezing Austria
Helmuth

[ImpManiac]

That sounds like an amazing project, Helmuth! Have you any photographs?

Sorry but I am unable to help with any information about the car. Hopefully someone will be along with some information soon. In the meantime, perhaps THIS will be of interest and some help.

May I suggest that you consider starting a Readers' Cars thread so that we can follow progress with your project?

IM

[ImpManiac]

Helmuth, thank you for the photograph of your car in period that you emailed to me. Would you like me to post it on here for all to see this wonderful machine?

IM

[pubcrawler]

Hope you can post the picture as would love to see it
Just looked at the link, seems strange to see an Imp engine vertical

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Hope you can post the picture as would love to see it
Just looked at the link, seems strange to see an Imp engine vertical

+1

Although seen it before in the flesh it has me thinking now ...OK, gravity IS working with inlets but surely there is an offset with gravity working against piston/rod assembly? Yes it will work with it on the drop, but the Imp's semi-boxer configuration has distinct advantages inc lower CG.

[bhofner]

1967 Vixen Vb1 from Keith Norman

[TJB69]

Nice pic. I'm restoring a Vixen F4 just now it's a strange set up with the imp engine vertical and the imp gearbox upside down.
I've got the chassis done and suspension all back from plater's

Body has been painted just waiting for engine and box to be returned.

Should be nice when it's done

[ImpManiac]

They are lovely looking cars, in my opinion.

May I suggest that you start Readers' Cars threads.

IM

[bhofner]

I send you some pictures from my project

[Lars Hagermark]

Beautiful!
If only I knew I'd be living to be 90 (or more ) I'd like to have one.
Great birthday present for my youngest grand-child's 18th birthday.

[bhofner]

Hi to all!
Thanks for the informations and the comments. he works is going on and it Looks well.

[ImpManiac]

Your work looks to be of the highest quality.

IM

[rootesport]

I have a Vixen VB1 and the engine is not upright but canted over the opposite way to the Imp. This gives the standard advantages of slightly lower centre of gravity etc but also has the benefit of making the intake semi-downdraft. If I recall, mounting the engine this way in an Imp saloon for racing was experimented with by Emery or Nathan? I believe this was the way the works Vixens were built and if you study the picture of car number 125 which Helmuth posted you can see the engine is configured this way. I accept that there are cars now with the engine mounted upright (such as the blue car pictured in the link) but I have no idea why that is. All of the in period photographs I can find have the engine canted over. If you look at the period photo of a Vixen on the cover of the 'How to rebuild Imp gearboxes' book that is the way it is there, although in those early days they were running with twin Strombergs!

My car is for sale if anyone is interested. It needs re-commissioning, is complete but can be sold with or without the Carter 998. PM for phone number if seriously interested.

[Lars Hagermark]

It was Roger Nathan that canted them over "the other way". IIRC it was a whole 54º to the left.

[The Nun]

Be nice to see one of those at the traffic lights and get the low down on it

[bhofner]

The engine is now rebuild and back in the car

[cov_climax]

Looking good, what is the 'new water way' label actually on, looks like the oil drain on the head at first glance, if do you don't water in there. I appreciate the engine is canted the opposite way so you may have other modifications going on.

Brian

[benwick3]

Brian,

That's normal for an engine canted that way and reversed. The oilway from the head is blocked and then the oil drain is utilised as a water way by drilling into the water jacket. Hope that makes sense. I had a head modified that way and managed to convert it back by tapping the hole into the water jacket and fitting a threaded plug. I also had grind away the weld that blocked the original drain passage from the head.

Pete Richards

[cov_climax]

thanks for the insight Pete, i never knew such a mod was done, or needed? when the engine is lean't over the other way.

Brian

[Rsimps]

I take it that was done to get a straighter inlet from the carbs, almost downdraught?

I have a weird single seater called a Quantum 4 powered by a Saab 2 stroke engine. I carnt see it being mega competitive although it can run in FJ. The great thing will be two stroke noise and smoke! I wouldn't mind a Johnny Walker JW4 4 with a Saab stroker in it, which would have run in the same class in F4 as the Vixen, although a Saab engine could never match an Imp unit.

Pete:- Have you got any good ideas of how to mount a 6 point cage into the clan? I know your shell is the race shell with a cage boned in, but I seem to recall the guy that use to do the 750MC events years back with you had a 6 pointer that had cross tubes that went through the centre tunnel.

Rich

[benwick3]

Rich,
I've actually got a six point Rollcentre cage kit in my original Clan as well as the built in original cage. Have also got two other Clans with bolted in 6 point cages. My current race Clan has an original Aleybars cage, with slight modifications to include door bars. This in my opinion is the best cage as the main hoop mounts onto the rear crossmember and the rear shock towers The front section includes a hoop that mounts through the floor. The third Clan we have has what I believe to be originally a Rollcentre kit with modifications as it was originally going to be used for rallying. It originally belonged to Steve Jay who raced the other Clan you mentioned.

You're welcome to check them out for ideas if it's of any help.

Pete Richards

[Rsimps]

Thanks Pete,

My car has a rear cage mounted like the back half of yours, cross member and damper mount. I think I will get away mounting to the damper mount on safety grounds. So all I probably need is a very large bearing plate and plenty of bolts to spread the load to the floor near the sill/inner arch.

Link to the Quantum page for those who like strange single seaters with small engines http://www.formulasaab.com/
I don't know if there is any sound on there, but if they are running the original un-silenced exhaust the noise is ear shattering.

Rich

[bhofner]

HI, I had many works in the last days and no time for my car. Now I want to send you some new pictures. I have 3 setups for
the 998ccm engine which one do you think is the best one.
First the old CD 150, second WEBER IDF 40 on modified Janspeed manifold or third WEBER DCOE 40 on and old dubios manifold.
many greatings from sunny and hot Salzburg
Helmuth

[bhofner]

PS the Dashboard and the gearbox is in the car

[ImpManiac]

The car is looking lovely, Helmuth.

Do the regulations for the motor sport that you wish to participate in dictate the type of carburation that must be used? If they do, then let that be your guide. Another consideration is the specification of the engine - camshaft, cylinder head modifications, etc.

In theory, the twin Weber/Dell'Orto setup ought to be capable of releasing more power. Do you have a good pair of Weber/Dell'Orto carburettors that you could use?

IM

[Hillmaniac]

Hello from Malta,
Well not exactly a Vixen but this is what my good friend and Maltese Imp Guru Joe "Sly" Mifsud built some years ago from scratch. Bodywork is borrowed from a Chevron (forgot which one) engine is a 1296 cc Imp engine mated to a Hewland gearbox. Goes very well and he still takes part in a hill climb every now and then. Naturally he is up against all the young lads in their bike powered single seaters but still manages to beat a few of them!

Cheers from Malta!

Bob

[bhofner]

Hi, to everybody. My Vixen VB-1 was running at the first time on the Salzburgring.

[bhofner]

[SimonBenoy]

Looking great - well done

[bhofner]

The car runs well and everything was fine

[bhofner]

THE ROOKIES

[Lars Hagermark]

Excellent!

[skamanfrank]

Well done, your car looks great!
I'm in love with these things at the moment! Especially having seen one out hillclimbing a few times this year. How many were made/still exist?

[ImpManiac]

The car looks superb! It is great to see that you are helping to train up the next generation of Vixen racers too.

IM

[mikedao]

998 engine for sale on facebook go strat in a vixen reg patten built and maintained mike

[Blimp]

Can you share the Facebook link for that?

Thanks

[mikedao]

my facebook is michael chapple

[mikedao]

sorry michael john chapple allso on hillman imp facebook page mike allso the mk9 hewland f3 gearbox was in sumbeam stiletto special saloon mike