A Californian drying out in South Africa

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 5:52 am

The Canon G12 camera agreed to work yesterday but only on a tele setting and then not for long

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Oct 10, 2016 6:35 am

My Sport used to be a light grey in the end of the exhaust after a good run I used to get very good mpg out of that as a standard Sport, a tank full would last me 2 weeks, £2.20

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 5:59 am

Blasted clean of whatever was on them and they looked a lot better.

The bulb holders are past their prime, if I can find an LED and with a wire tail I may well fit them instead?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 7:13 am

Where should they be positioned?

That was the question I asked Pbergs, he then measured up on his Sunbeam Stiletto for me.

The measurement is 10 3/4"

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 7:48 am

I have genuine Lucas red coated wire, its from another Imps wire loom.

Lucas wire and the Lucas SAEL69 rear number plate light fitting.

Ready to start!

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 7:57 am

There is a slight concave shape to the lower edge of the light fitting.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:02 am

Setting out was checked and then re checked, I used masking tape and a black ball point pen to mark the tape with.

Pebergs had told me that the center to center measurement was 10 3/4" so split in half that was 5 5/16" (strange for me to use an Imperial measurement these days ) with a center punch I marked the position to drill the first hole.

From a 3mm , then 6mm then 9mm then 12mm followed by a 14mm drill bit.

As the bulb holders on my Lucas fittings were quite rusted I had applied two layers of shrink tube, this increased the required hole size to the 14mm I ended up with, Normally a 12mm size will be large enough a hole?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:03 am

Where did you feed the wires through the rear panel?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 12:11 pm

The engine cross beam has a 15mm sized hole on the inside left and right, that hole can be drilled through the outer skin, grommets fitted and the rear number plate lighting wires can fit through there?

The picture shows the hole on the offside and on a spare cross beam I have.

Does the Stiletto loom pass through that way?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:52 am

Give or take a month or three it will be about forty years since I owned a Hillman Imp or similar with a Sport type engine cover and rear bumper lights fitted.

That was in 1976 and with my 998cc engined Sunbeam Stiletto which was sold when I decided to get on to a 38ft yacht and sail to Brasil.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Oct 17, 2016 8:23 am

The last few days have seen a new upgrade to my 1967 Hillman Imp Californian, my thanks to Pbergs and The Nun for sending me the information I required, you can view the process at the link below

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30829&p=295446#p295446

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Oct 17, 2016 3:49 pm

At least things do come apart these day, well they were only re assembled two years back!

I hardly get my hands dirty now, which saves on the hand cleaner of course.

When re assembled this side was given some Loctite 648 on the splines, I oiled one part of the assembly so that it could be split and removed, it came free easy enough.

This is the side that the brake shoes were binding on a couple of week back, it seems fine now.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Oct 18, 2016 7:22 am

Work in progress can sometimes be parts I have and while at this time I will not be using them, some future project may require them.

The plastic knob had been broken, using JB Weld epoxy I was able to effect a repair

The gear shift assembly is in good condition and ready for use.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Oct 19, 2016 7:52 am

I think my engine/transaxle is off center, I say this as the near side rubber coupler is really an issue to fit while the drivers side is easy, they are both Ford type coupler's and new.

I need to slacken off the rear engine mount bolts and pull the engine over 3mm??

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Oct 20, 2016 6:33 am

Well the Sunbeam script does look a lot nicer than the Hillman version it has to be said

John Simister · Post by **John Simister** » Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:58 am

Polished I reckon, but I'm intrigued to know where the rockers are in an Imp engine.

I'll get my anorak...

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:01 pm

The car work is taking a back seat for a few days, we have nice weather and just right to epoxy repair some wooden doors to our home

pbergs · Post by **pbergs** » Fri Oct 28, 2016 1:21 pm

You and I have this bromance Roy, as you know...but not in love with it. You did ask.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 12:50 pm

Seen in Hout Bay, South Africa, today, one rare Hillman Imp Sport coupe.

Well I have never seen one before?

You can read more about the badge and its position here viewtopic.php?f=12&t=30874

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:42 am

It is always best to provide a sub contractor with the actual part we need to copy or add to, in this case Peter the engineer can take the suspension arm and shock absorber to his work shop to do the actual sizing up.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 5:51 am

This picture shows what the inside of the petrol tank area looked like when stipped out.

What a lot of work I have done

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 5:58 am

With the new outer assembly now fitted (new old stock from Bob about twenty years back) I have the joy of a new chrome finish, the badge will be fitted at a later stage.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 12:45 pm

Now given that the general public will ( i think ) never know the difference, this nice new black and white badge does fill the empty space on the front of my car.

What should we name it now I wonder?

I also have the new chrome mounting it would normally fit.

What about a straight swop , my Chamois badge for your Californian badge?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 1:15 pm

Oh dear, its now a Champortifornian bit of a mouthful.

InfraZA · Post by **InfraZA** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 5:58 pm

A "Californication"..............

Rob

998 Sunbeam Super Deluxe

Swellendam, South Africa

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 04, 2016 2:25 pm

Progress comes in some surprising ways?

I had all but given up removal of the genuine Hillman Imp Californian badge from the front mounting, the picture shows my success, tomorrow I will tell you how it was done

The plastic disc is near unmarked, I can polish it so that it shines once more.

The gold letters are in fact a trick of light, they are silver as is correct.

Note the small notch at the lower edge, there is a bump on the chrome housing which matches that notch

I will be using my late fathers eye piece tomorrow, only then can I clearly see what still must be cleaned and what is ok.

The paints are in stock I used them on the Californian side badge that Oli supplied

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Nov 05, 2016 2:36 pm

With luck this refurbished and original to the car front badge, will be fitted to the front of the car tomorrow, have I now finished the car I wonder?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 9:10 am

What is now drying out on this 1967 Hillman Imp Californian is the white Dow Corning 813c silicone sealant behind the re painted front badge.

That badge was hiding there all along!

My first attempt at painting it was just with a pale blue enamel, this time I have the right shade of blue, plus red and silver added.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 9:11 am

The car is at long last re badged and correctly.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 8:24 am

The toilets look like a prison cell block but all the prisoners have escaped and left the gates open?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:07 am

The Nun wrote:The toilets look like a prison cell block but all the prisoners have escaped and left the gates open?

Yes, they are all let out at 8am so that they can go and steal and feed themselves?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:11 am

Now at home safe and sound!

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:55 am

A long time ago, this was the front corner of the car and when the car had arrived.

I know that the car had a rear end shunt, this was easy to see as both transaxle alloy arms had been welded back on, the rear cross member had been worked on and sported about 15mm of body filler on the outside of it.

The forward Stromberg carburetor bowl had been seam welded around where the brass jet adjuster screws in.

Plus the cranks flywheel pulley was part Imp and part some other car, the pulley part was cast iron that had been welded onto the center boss

Oh, I forgot, at some stage the previous owner had managed to smash the rear window, plus bend the special stainless steel glazing trim on the drivers side.

Both of the roof line stainless trims are also damaged, in my hands they are unusuable, I need a bead roller ?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 12:34 pm

African Imp wrote:This was the condition of the brass center jet adjuster that was in the other carburetor

At least its a bodge that you can clearly see.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 2:08 pm

Some Imp rally guys may know what it takes to break both arms of an Imps two transaxle mount arms?

In this case all I had to do was remove one from a spare transaxle unit and change them over.

The mind boggles at what my car has been put through?

Note, this was not the cars original transaxle, that was making a noise, that top shaft roller bearing I suspect, so I fitted a spare transaxle unit from my stocks.

I have the bearing in stock to change it over one day?

This exchange one works really well too, so you see I am in luck, even with all the damage my car has had in its life

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 2:32 pm

Imp crank pullies are all steel but when my car was rammed up the backside the original one was wrecked?

The car then had a " Special " made up using some other pully of a similar size?

It may be that the car just rolled backwards all the way down the hill they parked it on, Cape Town was next?

Check the condition of the top of the rear seats.

I was really only able to remove that rubbish demister stripping once the back screen was on the bench and I could razor blade it off, even then I had to power compound the glass clean.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:45 am

A discovery made?

I was detailing the thicker rubber front badge mount rubber with some ' Fluid Film ' (lanolin) using a small artists brush that was an easy fix, the rubber really came up black then, its as new anyway.

The Hillman Californian badge came off that same chrome mount and the rubber pad came with it.

Then I moved on to the inside of the fake alloy grill and discovered it was part painted black!

How do they apply that paint I wonder?

The effect is a lot more striking now I think.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:47 am

The front badge now has around six coats of clear lacquer on it, in normal views you cannot see the small cracks, the Canon G11 digital camera did though

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 09, 2016 11:46 am

Beach days, that is the sea water of Hout Bay in the background

The hill side is what is known as the Chapmans Peak Drive.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 5:55 am

Post election day, the Imp work must go on.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 10:47 am

Lets go shopping?

On the list was a flasher unit that is suited to the LED rear stop lights.

The salesman did not know if it will work?

It does not

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 12:13 pm

Is Christmas a little early this year?

Two items in our post box today, one is the November issue of Impresssions, the delay in delivery is normal.

My congratulations to Simon Benoy for monstering the gremilns that trashed his car, again he has won the HSCC ByBox Historic Touring Car Championship, is this now three years running?

The other item in the mail box was an SAPO parcel collection slip, wow!

Is it for the Kangol magnetic seat belts from Tony or the Imp Sport later model distributor that Notty posted?

Note, Notty only posted the dizzy, I had bought it at least six months earlier and from Colin, an Imp Club member who sent it by UK mail to Notty to send on to me. This dates back to early April 2016, this is the kind of time delay sourcing and eventually getting such parts can take

Both items must have been posted in the UK about three months back, we have a tracking number and Tony's parcel arrived in South Africa around September 9th?

Either way its taken the SAPO this long to scan it ( whatever it is? ) and send it down from Johannesburg.

SAPO, have a motto " we Deliver, what ever it takes "

I have to pay about R55.00 I wonder what is in the parcel?

The image shows two of the three Kangol magnetic seat belts that Tony supplied.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 1:10 pm

The news is it was Nottys parcel that he forwarded to me from Colin, my thanks to all of those involved

There look to be some new points and a new slide in connector also, the new rotor has a piece broken off but not missing.

I wonder can I super glue that back together?

These Lucas type parts are quite hard to find out here now.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 2:38 pm

The assembly has now been cleaned with Castrol water soluble cleaner, then air blasted dry.

I will next bead blast everything cleaner.

With the 17 degree stamp and the springs in place it looks correct for the late type Sport 41190 distributor?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 5:17 pm

African Imp wrote:The assembly has now been cleaned with Castrol water soluble cleaner, then air blasted dry.

I will next bead blast everything cleaner.

With the 17 degree stamp and the springs in place it looks correct for the late type Sport 41190 distributor?

Yes thats correct 41190 is from the 1970 Sport 25D4 with a side entry cap, after that they changed to the 45D4 top entry cap for the IMP range and the Sport was a 41457.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:45 am

The pleasure of cleaning and re assembling the Sport 41190 Lucas distributor was all mine this morning.

Bead blsted clean inside and out, the blown clean with an air line (wear protective goggles) I was then able to put the parts back together.

I did not remove the internal balance weights.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:50 am

Time has removed whatever electro plating was on the vacuum device, same with the two spring clips, so some clear lacquer was applied.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:54 pm

A new discovery?

I went ahead and fitted the later 41190 Lucas 25D distributor, as it is only by trying it out I can compare with the early one to the later one?

Right away I discovered a difference, they work 180 degrees out to each other!

What I did was simply to line up number one piston to TDC, then change the two distributors over.

I used the same cap and HT lines, they were not removed in any way.

What I got when trying to start the engine, it was warmed up an hour ago, was nothing at all.

I then tried some choke, what I got then was a very large BANG!

Now when I had the head off and front cover, I of course had to re set the oil pump to the distributor setting.

When I came to start the engine ( two years back) I found that the HT leads were out by 180 degrees, I moved them over thinking I had set the drive peg slot wrong?

I have just moved the HT leads to their correct positions and the engine started right away, it was too advanced and I was seeing fumes from the oil filler pipe, turning the distributor some way anti clockwise has sorted that issue out.

So Lucas changed the drive positions over!

Imps, I learn about them daily it seems?

I will drive the car in the morning and see what the engine feels like then, for sure it ran well with the early distributor.

I have to assume that if Rootes/Lucas changed things it was for a performance reason?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 11, 2016 1:22 pm

I searched for the topic just this morning and can still remember reading these words

NOTE: BEFORE removing the cam, make a note of the relative position of the offset drive dog w.r.t. the notch in the cam shaft for the rotor arm. Failure to do this could mean reassembling the distributor with the timing 180 degrees off and you'd never find out why!

Read the full story here: http://www.simonlacey.com/pages_new/con ... ebuild.htm

So my early distributor has been taken apart at some stage and re assemble incorrectly

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Nov 12, 2016 11:58 am

Saturday, 12th of November 2016, this is a milestone day for me but done in kilometers.

After fitting the later sport Lucas 41190 25D distributor I drove along the coast road to Bakoven and return.

The car has far more power now with this correct distributor and I also saw the odometer pass into the 23,000 kms sector

Note, the glass and internals are really not that full of dust, its just that the Canon G11 digital sees so much more.