New Norfolk imp

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CS2605
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New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Hi all, after needing a project back in my life, and being on the hunt for an imp, I found one less than a mile from my house looking a little sorry for itself. So I decided to see if the owner was looking to sell. Thankfully for me they were and a deal was done. It needs a full resto, sills are rotten and the parcel shelf is in a sorry state. I've just began stripping the shell to put on a rotisserie then I can begin the metal fabrication. The end plan is to build a race styled road going car. I've previously sprint and hill climbed an anglia 105e so would probably build it to Msa under 1400cc road going spec, in case I fancy a punt at that again. Here it is as I picked it up yesterday. I hope the link works.
Chris

http://rs661.pbsrc.com/albums/uu336/cs2 ... 0&fit=clip
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by ganderson888 »

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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by oli »

Hi again Chris,

I see you have managed to find one. I heard about a White and Red Imp languishing somewhere between the Cromer road, and the Reepham road about six months ago - looks like you have found it, and as I know you are near the airport, it was obviously still in that area?

Does the reg start 'NAA'? If so, I know some of the history of the car from many years ago.

Get in touch sometime - I would like to come and have a look.

Oli
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by MattorMatty »

Glad you found an Imp Chris looks like a good project!

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CS2605
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Certainly is a project, I thought on first glances it looked reasonably solid, but as with all these things the further you dig the more you find. At least it will know everything is solid and rot free by the time I'm finished
Chris
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by ImpManiac »

CS2605 wrote:It needs a full resto, sills are rotten and the parcel shelf is in a sorry state. I've just began stripping the shell to put on a rotisserie then I can begin the metal fabrication. The end plan is to build a race styled road going car. I've previously sprint and hill climbed an anglia 105e so would probably build it to Msa under 1400cc road going spec, in case I fancy a punt at that again. Here it is as I picked it up yesterday. I hope the link works.
Your plans sound very similar to my plans for my Chamois. :) I look forward to following your project as you progress.

IM 8)
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

With jobs on the house to do progress has been slow but steady. I am waiting for some sills to be available, and once they have been done will purchase floorpans. So I have plodded on with other bits in the meantime. Parcel shelf with removable panel made due to it being non existent. It was unbelievably rotten. I shall bead roll a piece of aluminium sheet this evening. Made the rotisserie, and to my surprise and luck, it rotates as needed in my small garage. I made it on wheels as I Expected to have to move it outside to rotate it.
A little bit of lightening of doors has been done and some stitch welding to bits of the shell that are good.
I shall try to update this thread with progress
Chris

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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Hi all, I’ve been terrible at updating this build thread but much has happened on the imp. Inner, centre and outer sills have been done on both sides, fwd floor pans, inner arches, strut tops, rear spring mounts. Pretty much every where I looked, more needed doing. I shall search out a few more pictures and post. I’m just about ready to get the car rolling and begin to tackle the body work.

Chris


http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=1&o=0

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=1&o=4

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=1&o=5

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=1&o=1
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=0

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=1

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=2

After a lot of thought about what to do with the engine, I decided to use as much of the original car and plan to turbocharge the 875 motor. Some attention got turned to the engine recently, it was in remarkably good condition so was well pleased with that. More pics to follow as updates happen.

http://rs661.pbsrc.com/albums/uu336/cs2 ... 0&fit=clip


Chris
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by oli »

Hi again Chris,

if you are looking for any fabrication sections, or possibly a complete shell, I am just about to cut up a very rotten Mark One car over at Blofield, and I still have a late Mark Three car to strip.

Good to see you are still on the case.

Oli
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Oli, if you could let me know when you are heading over that way, would be useful to tag along to have a look to see if any sections may be of use to me, I’ve made everything from scratch so far, except outer sills, I need some rear lower 1/4 repair sections but can imagine they are likely to be rotten on the donar cars too?
Chris
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

So I’ve gained some momentum now with the imp, a buddy of mine had a good Garrett turbo kicking about which was free, so that was that direction sorted, I had some DHLA carbs, kicking about so have decided to get the turbo conversion for them and machine them accept the o rings and top cover. I know fuel injection would be best, I am very keen to keep a period look so will try this route, I know guys use a hif 44 no problem, but time will tell I guess.

http://rs661.pbsrc.com/albums/uu336/cs2 ... 0&fit=clip

So I got the imp off the rotisserie last night. I can do the rest of the welding and bodywork easier like this. And can roll it out to get a look at panel gaps and getting it looking nice. Just need to add the rear sill to arch piece on the drivers side, I did the passenger side on the rotisserie but noticed I’d distorted the rear 1/4 panel in the process, as space was tight and the problem went unnoticed until I’d welded it in. A little time with some panel pins, dolly and beating hammer and a little heat soon had it looking ok again. I’ve set the car the height I want and will modify the rear wishbone spring seats to sit like this on the Monte race springs. Next I’m going to hang the box and block to make a lightweight engine mount. When it’s a fine day I shall wheel it out for better pics.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=2

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=1

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=0

Cheers chris.
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by oli »

Chris, I will let you know when I am next over there. The mark one shell is definitely getting cut up, so there may be some usable bits for you. Bottom rear corners are gone. (As in disappeared altogether type gone). I am going to cut the entire front windscreen pillars, scuttle and the front six inches or so of the roof off in one piece in case anyone ever needs a repair section.

Oli
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

To be fair most of this shell is now solid, so il keep plugging away making repair sections, it’s served me well so far and will keep the costs sensible, the window surrounds have a few pin holes in, but I’m sure these can be dealt with pretty easily. But keep in touch and let me know, never know what might be there and of some use.
Cheers chris
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by ImpManiac »

It sounds like you are making progress, Chris. :) I'll try to remember to take a look at your pictures later. I cannot see them from this computer.

IM 8)
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

So, recently I’ve turned my attention to mocking up the engine mounting, I decided to mount the engine from the rear bulkhead and lighten the rear valence, I will look to add a steady bar in the future as required, I’ve just tried to make it as lightweight as I can, it seems nice and solid but I guess time will tell if I have got it right or not
Any thoughts much appreciated, cheers chris

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=2

http://rs661.pbsrc.com/albums/uu336/cs2 ... 0&fit=clip

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=0
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Just a little update, I began removing the necessary bits at the front end to get the front rad mod in. Will more than likely use the popular cinquecento one, I also got some manifold flanges off eBay, I think if I’m correct they are made by luke soanes off here. They look really decent and in my opinion a good price, so saved me the hassle of cutting them out myself. eBay saved searches saved me plenty of time there!! so il begin getting that tacked up to mount a single DHLA then fit the dellorto kit to seal it up for turbocharging. il plan to mount the carb a little higher to clear the chassis rails and allow the air box fitment, il get some pics one it’s mocked up.

http://rs661.pbsrc.com/albums/uu336/cs2 ... 0&fit=clip

http://rs661.pbsrc.com/albums/uu336/cs2 ... 0&fit=clip

Cheers chris
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by ImpManiac »

It is great to see that you are making progress, Chris. :)

IM 8)
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by oli »

What head are you planning to use Chris? If you are going with a Turbo or Supercharger, I have a sub 20k mile 930 head if you're interested? (Will give a lower comp. ratio.)

Oli
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by oli »

I also have a set of low compression Van pistons too if the bores in your block are good enough to get away with new rings..?
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Oli, I may be interested, I have pm'd you,
But failing that I've done some calculations and with a custom copper head gasket I can get a comp ratio I can work with.
Cheers chris.
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Hi all, No really big jobs done on the imp recently.
I’ve been tackling the rear arches where they have been badly repaired in the past, I’ve ended up tubbing the inner arch up and will be fitting some standard profile Fibreclass arches with lower quarters on too, chris made up just the lower bits of the wings he sells, it fitted my particular needs well, so will post on them when they are fitted up.

In the meantime I’ve been on the search for a bucket seat, eBay cane up trumps with a sparco circuit, the listing was very vague and only had one picture, I took a punt on it, £60 buy it now inc delivery, to be fair I didn’t expect much as what I paid, but what turned up was very much to my surprise, on unpacking the seat it turned out to be the full carbon job!!! So that’s my eBay bargin luck over for a while I think,
Anyhow I set about mounting it, I’d previously put seat bars in between the sill and tunnel, these required lowering to get the seat in a position suitable for me, so new mounts were added.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=5


http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=6

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=9

I’ve also been working on the dash panel, I fancied a change so started putting some switched in the dash and making a wiring box.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=3

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=2

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=7

I shall post more updates as the wings go on.

Cheers chris
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Following on from my last post, I’ve done a little more on the rear arches, and snapped a few pictures. Inner arch was rotten and had been previously repaired with a new arch tacked on top of the rusty original metal. I tubbed the inner arch up and joined it to the rear wing. So the outer arch is only single skin.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=3

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=4

As you can see here a lot of the inner rear wing was rotten too, I’m undecided whether to add some thin wall tube to support this area and the rear corner, repair with thin sheet as near to original or neaten it up and have part or rear inner wing removed, any advice would be appreciated.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=5

Here the arch sections are roughly skin pinned in place, I’ve removed some of the lip to allow tyre clearance at full travel, once I got past the idea of keeping the whole car steel, the arch repairs and lower rear wings will save me a few quid and hopefully a little weight.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=2

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=1

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=0

My little brother works with carbon fibre so I’m currently prepping the steel boot and bonnet for him to pull some mounds from and make the carbon item. Pics as progress is made.
Thanks for looking chris
CS2605
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Re: New Norfolk imp

Post by CS2605 »

Today I managed to get the car rolled out to check how it will sit and be able to check out the arch position from various angles and distance. All looks ok to me so il get this side put on properly.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=3

I ordered some suede material from eBay and had an afternoon pottering about the garage fitting it to the existing glare shield / dash. I was concerned it may look a bit tacky, but it turned out ok, I’m quite happy with it. Getting a bit ahead of things with doing bits like this, but progress is progress.

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=2

http://s661.photobucket.com/user/cs2605 ... sort=3&o=0



Chris
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