ManiacImp - 1966 Singer Chamois

Post by **chris d** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:08 pm

well done for starting paul
keep at it and you will soon be wizzing around in it again
chris d

Post by **ImpManiac** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 4:24 pm

Well it may not sound like much progress but I have now stowed my engine and transmission in a corner of the garage under my work bench. It should be safe there.

It took two of us to lift it as one unit and I needed to move a lot of stuff around to get the power train in its spot, so the garage has been partially rearranged again!

We had to position the engine more upright than an Imp engine is used to, so of course one of the transaxle output shafts popped out and transmission oil spewed out onto the floor.

I wedged the shaft back in and it seems to have stopped the leak. Anyway, I planned to change the oil before the car went back on the road.

I also found that I already have some thick mild steel plate that should be ideal for tying the roll cage in to the body shell.

IM

Post by **Richard Claydon** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 5:48 pm

That's good now keep up the IMPetus and don't stop!

Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 12:37 pm

I made a quantum of progress last night. I removed the clutch slave cylinder and drained the clutch hydraulics by pumping the pedal. I have left a jar under the dangling flexi to catch the drips of hydraulic fluid that were continuing to emerge apace last night. This evening, I hope to remove the hydraulic fluid reservoirs, their mounting bracket, the pedal box and anything else that I can see that I can remove with a spanner or a screwdriver.

After that, I want to remove the Superlite alloy wheels and then the brakes so that I can put my slave steel wheels on the car and store the alloys, most likely in the loft. That should avoid the alloys getting damaged.

The steel wheels only fit at the front with thin spacer plates because they foul on the calipers slightly.

The only thing is that at least one of the steel wheels doesn't hold air.

I am considering trying a can of that tyre foam stuff (I already have two cans in the garage) in it just to enable the wheel to hold air for slave wheel use. The steel wheels would be blasted and repainted before being used on the road again anyway. The 12" tyres are good, though and were brand new, I think. They may be on the old side for road use now, though; I need to check.

If I relieve the calipers ever so slightly, I could use the steel wheels on the car as an alternative to my beloved Superlites. So I think I shall!

More soon.

I'll try to get the car out on the drive at the weekend (weather permitting) for some photos.

IM

Post by **Bobbycham** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 6:57 pm

ImpManiac wrote: (weather permitting)

You're having a laugh?

Bob

Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:19 pm

The pedal box is out, as are the hydraulic reservoirs. I also removed the blanking plate from the passenger side of the front compartment. I managed not to cover everything in hydraulic fluid.

Here is a photo.

I'll remove the brakes next, hopefully later in the week.

IM

Post by **19James** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:16 am

Bobbycham wrote:
ImpManiac wrote: (weather permitting)
You're having a laugh?
Bob

I bolted up the front suspension and steering rack assembly in the pouring rain by myself on my back, that was err..fun

Post by **AlastairC** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:33 am

Good job Paul - looking good

Post by **pubcrawler** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 7:19 am

You're moving on a pace Paul

, well impressed

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 8:37 am

Post by **ImpManiac** » Thu Oct 31, 2013 11:06 am

pubcrawler wrote:You're moving on a pace Paul , well impressed

A pace? I fear that you omitted a word there: a snail's pace!

I am getting in the habit though of stealing time to work on the car whenever I can. So whilst progress is not meteoric, it is happening almost daily at the moment.

I'm not dragging the car outdoors if it's raining because there are areas of unprotected bare steel. The car is in a reasonably watertight garage and that is where it's staying unless the weather is dry. That is all.

IM

Post by **ImpManiac** » Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:18 pm

I spent a few hours on the car yesterday. I removed the spare wheel spindle and one or two other minor parts. Then I set about trying to remove the flat steel plate that is welded over the rear parcel shelf. I tried parting the spot welds with a chisel and a hammer. No joy.

So I thought I'd get violent with it and attack it with a grinding disc on my angle grinder.

Success! Well, partial success. I've removed about a third of it thus far, as the photo shows.

I feel vindicated in removing the panel too because, as I suspected, the condition of the metal beneath it is less than ideal.

Some of my hammering and chiselling has damaged the parcel shelf but I think I can weld it up. It will take some work to restore the parcel shelf to its former glory. I ground it a bit thin in places but shall try to build it up with weld - carefully and slowly to avoid distortion.

More grinding this week, if I can free up the time.

IM

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:29 pm

Wouldn't a spot weld drill do it in no time?

Post by **ImpManiac** » Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:36 pm

Yes, I think it would. But I wanted to get the plate out right away, so I tried with what I have in the garage.

Anyone know where I can get a decent spot weld drill.

One that does the job with minimal damage to panels and stays sharp?

IM

Post by **bornagain-imp** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:15 pm

ImpManiac wrote:Yes, I think it would. But I wanted to get the plate out right away, so I tried with what I have in the garage. Anyone know where I can get a decent spot weld drill. One that does the job with minimal damage to panels and stays sharp?

IM

Great to see your making progress

little bit at a time it'll soon get done

I got my Spot weld drill from Machine Mart, only because they have a branch a couple of miles from me

Rod

Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:36 pm

I'll take a look at Screwfix, I think. There's one of those down the road from me. Thank you, Rod.

The car will indeed get done. I am just starting out but shall pick up the pace. It's just a matter of when!

IM

Post by **pubcrawler** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 5:53 pm

mmmm.....you've got me thinking now Paul, should I remove my plate as well

My daft question is.....What is the difference between a spot weld drill and a normal drill

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:32 pm

pubcrawler wrote:My daft question is.....What is the difference between a spot weld drill and a normal drill

Spot weld drill (with spare cutting/drilling bit)

The centre tip is for initial centralizing. It's spring loaded so will be pushed in as you apply some pressure to you B&D or whatever.

Post by **philgsmith** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:41 pm

Well done Paul. Keep up the good work.
Lesley

Post by **gnatman** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:23 pm

I removed that plate from mine too, Paul. The underside appeared to have been bare metal....

I also used the grinder !

Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:47 pm

Well, I didn't manage to find a spot weld drill bit down the road this evening.

Now I've read that you removed your plate with your grinder, Don, I am minded to save myself a few bob and crack on - for now.

The bit I would have bought earlier didn't look online like the one that you posted above, Lars. So it was possibly a cheap alternative. I'll get one in due course.

More on the car in a few days.

IM

Post by **ImpManiac** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:49 pm

The plate is out.

Not much left.

All gone.

The parcel shelf needs some localised repairs. I might start tomorrow, once a few other chores are done.

More soon.

IM

Post by **gnatman** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:31 pm

All that hidden grot... Bet you're glad its getting sorted now

Post by **ImpManiac** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:09 pm

Yep!

As you said, there was no protection whatsoever under there, either on the parcel shelf or under the plate! I'm amazed that it hasn't rusted more, frankly.

IM

Post by **gnatman** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:26 pm

Are you going to replace the plate ? I didn't bother in the end. Too much hassle !

Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 12:38 pm

^^ Nah.

The way I see it, it doesn't bring anything to the party. It creates an area where corrosion can set in unseen and is more difficult to repair. It adds weight too.

I am hoping to spend some time on the car this week to wire brush the rust off that area and try some rust killer on it. I want to protect it for now, pending welding up the holes and thin areas shortly.

IM

Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 10:50 pm

It's been a couple of weeks and I haven't been completely idle.

I have dismantled the pedal box, the brake bias adjustment mechanism of which was seized.

I got there in the end but the whole of the original adjustment mechanism is junk. Luckily, I have another new or nearly new one to use when I reassemble the box.

I have also dismantled the rear transom panel, which on my car is a cosmetic panel only because I have an Impspeed tubular crossmember.

On top of those relatively minor but still time consuming chores, I have also done some more tidying and sorting in the garage.

There was a blocked drain that needed attention and I have organised my tools much better, which will save time finding them in future.

I shan't be able to get much done this week. I am out tomorrow with the Stevenage AC posse for Christmas dinner.

Wednesday, I have a very long day at work. Thursday it's the Stag Owners Club regular meet. Then at the weekend, Mrs. IM and I are away for one night. Next week should be quieter.

I am going to stow some trim parts in the attic in the coming weeks. The seats are going up, along with assorted other trim bits. I also have a complete Triumph Stag interior to go up. That should free up a lot of space in the shed, which will in turn free up space in the garage when I shift stuff across. Then I'll get into the Chamois shell itself. Or that's the plan.

IM

Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon May 19, 2014 3:08 pm

I did a bit more work on the Chamois yesterday - nothing major. I have fitted the steel wheels to the car because I don't want to ruin the Superlites during the forthcoming grind-a-thon and weld-a-thon. I've already managed to wreck a perfectly good toughened windscreen with sparks from cutting out the steel plate that was affixed to the top of the parcel shelf.

The steel wheels would not fit comfortably on top of the Fiesta brake discs, so I have removed the brakes front and back too. I left the rear backplates on for now to avoid the need to remove the rear hubs.

I have been reminded lately quite how much I enjoy working on cars. So I hope to have more progress to report soon.

: Imp 2014-05-18.jpg (23.89 KiB) Viewed 17395 times

IM

Post by **cov_climax** » Tue May 20, 2014 10:06 pm

I can see the papers now, "ImpManiac in grafting shocker"

Glad you're back on it Paul, just try and do one job a week no matter how small it seems, it's all progress and if you put the updates here it'll help boost your mojo. Be good to see it at the national..

Keep at it
Brian

Post by **pubcrawler** » Wed May 21, 2014 4:43 am

cov_climax wrote:it's all progress and if you put the updates here it'll help boost your mojo. Be good to see it at the national.
Keep at it
Brian

It does help

Glad to see you back at it Paul

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Wed May 21, 2014 8:09 am

Glad you've made a "re-start".

Post by **bornagain-imp** » Wed May 21, 2014 9:39 am

Glad to see you're back at working on your Imp

Keep some pic's coming, everyone likes plenty of pictures

Rod

Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed May 21, 2014 11:28 am

Thanks, guys.

Next job is to remove and replace the door hinge pins, so brace yourself for an order, Brian!

I'm not sure which size to opt for yet, though.

Once they're done, I'll cut the sills off and see what the damage is beneath. Then I'll work my way around the lower portions of the shell - floors, suspension mountings, etc. Then I'll work upwards from there.

bornagain-imp wrote:...everyone likes plenty of pictures

Not least me!

IM

Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:27 pm

Well it was 49 years ago today that my Chamois came off the production line, according to factory records.

With that in mind, I have set myself the target of getting my wee beastie back on the road in time for its fiftieth birthday.

As many of you will know, restoring a car well within a year is entirely feasible. You will also know that I have not been very good at keeping up any sort of momentum with my projects in the past. However, with some considerable focus, I think it can be done.

Anyway, we'll see.

Whatever happens, I'll keep this thread updated as I go.

IM

Post by **cov_climax** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:19 pm

Excellent, thought you've been quiet of late and perhaps you'd been getting into it.

Would it be inappropriate to say roll on next year

Sorry I couldn't resist.

If it's solid then it is do-able in a year, try and find a couple of evenings a week to dedicate and at least half a day at the weekend if possible, keep nibbling away a bit at a time and the bits of progress will all join up eventually. Or sub the bodywork out to a reputable place and refresh the mechanicals yourself.

Cheers
Brian

Post by **ImpManiac** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:55 pm

cov_climax wrote:Would it be inappropriate to say roll on next year Sorry I couldn't resist.

Yes it would! Funny, though!

As usual, Brian, your advice makes sense. I'll most likely end up doing just that. I think that my shell is reasonably sound but who really knows what they're getting into with an old car bodyshell until they get stuck in, eh?

IM

Post by **philgsmith** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 10:00 pm

Get stuck in Paul... we want to see you driving it at next year's National.

You gave us lots of support and encouragement on the forum when we were doing Hilda - we want to give you the same encouragement!

Just got back from Cardiff for the area meet - passed an Audi TT on the way! I think he was reading texts - looked shocked when I waved my phone at him as this 40 year old Imp went past !!! Enjoying the results of our hard work - so come on, get stuck in and the enjoyment will come sooner.

Best wishes

Phil

Post by **bazzateer** » Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:03 pm

Back on the road for 2015 for a year of fettling and then you can join us in convoy to Going Dutch 2016!

Post by **pubcrawler** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 4:40 am

Looking forward to reading your updates Paul and finally seeing your Imp back on the road

Post by **ImpManiac** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 11:06 am

Thank you.

Going Dutch 2016 sounds like an excellent plan.

I'll get the doors fitted properly first. That means new hinge pins and mounting screws, probably followed by some fiddling with shim plates and/or some brute force. Mind you, they're not bad at the moment, so maybe I'll get lucky.

I'll get some photos of the car at the weekend.

IM