Nods news , A fixorage happened

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:02 pm

/\/\ Well, without wanting to get the can opener to a fresh tin of Tesco Value Worms, all you need to do is suggest a new Award category for the National that only your car can enter !

How about :-

The Best Car with a Shiny Black Bonnet and Fabulous Electrics.

That should do it, mate

Andy G.

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:37 pm

This week 25 years ago something happened , it was this very week that I first set eyes on the Singer at Vince Frosts ( old ) garage .
The deal was already sorted on the phone so ----
Me and a mate Paul drove up in my old Stiletto ( ARX 220J ), ripped everything off of it , bolted all this on the Singer , got it going and MOTed in 4 days then drove the 240 odd miles home in the dark with crap wipers , no heater and enough salt on the roads to restock the Atlantic . Ive still got the MOT , its written in half Welsh and half English

I Never would have guessed that a 1/4 of a century and over half my life later id still have the very same car.
Ive no idea where the 25 years bothered off to but it seems only yesterday , perhaps that explains why the Singer looks just as good if not better .
It was only yesterday , my life is in fact a dream

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:51 am

That's a great story, Noddy!

So you've owned the Singer for more than half of your life, eh? Awesome! You made me think (darn it

) and I've owned my Triumph Stag for over half of my life.

I must get it to the point where I can actually drive it some day!

Do you think that folk like us are unusual?

IM

bks974c · Post by **bks974c** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:26 am

No Paul your not alone.

I've owned BKS for 67% of my life. Karen's already at 40% of hers

Where does the time go

Scott

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Thu Dec 13, 2012 1:19 pm

Trust me Tim , you are unusual

,
Just for the record
In 25 years its!
Failed its MOT once ( 1988 front wishbone holed )
Broke down once ( 998 grenaded itself )
Failed to get me home once ( see above )
Has always been on the road except for 4 months over one winter when i had no money and the odd day or two for repairs .
Had H/G fail once .
Had a gearbox fail once.
Wiring fail ( read fire ) once.
A tyre blowout ( once )
Apart from the 998 insident has largly been utterly reliable.
Hours spent working on the Singer , many many 100s at a guess

Money spent , dont want to know but its surely in negative equity now

Milage covered by me 140.000 ish .

james · Post by **james** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:12 pm

I've had my Imp for 32% of my life - no wonder it feels odd being without it.

Can't wait to bring it back to the road.

oli · Post by **oli** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:35 pm

My Imp was in fact my first car, bought in December 1987. I still have it, and though it has had periods of being off the road, it has a current MOT. That's 25 years ago I bought it this month, and I'm 'only' 42.

long_gone_John · Post by **long_gone_John** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:58 am

..... I had just recenly ended my Imping Adventure :<(

However I had just bought a Skoda 130GL - absolute hoot!

I still drive like an imper..... 101% committed!!

LGJ

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:05 pm

Well another year has sailed on and its not been that busy at Noddy towers . In 2011 22 pages were added to this waffle .
Only 14 this year .
Theres nothing planned for the rest of this year so heres an early epilogue

Been fairly quite on the blew up , caught fire and grenaded itself front , more of an improve whats there year .
Major job of the year was the re-wire of the Vusky in January and apart from wiper switch fail on the way home from the national and the fitting of the high level brake light the Vuskys had very little done this year and just plods on as normal.
The Singers had the most activity this year
In no real order.

New rear window stays from Andy G.
Lowered some more.
New interior.
Oil filter housing change.
Hinge pins on the drivers door .
Fuel pump cover.
Headlight bowl mod .
Rear transom panel change .
Stainless rad guard .
high level brake light .
Plans for next year , well none really , i was going to redo the Singers bonnet foam grey but i still like it black, I may redo the front rad plumbing on the Vusky but only if it fails in some way

No im going to take is easy in 2013 ,semi retire and just drive things instead of faffing about all the time,

Thanks to everyone whos read my natterings this year , hope ive not bored you too much

kilty · Post by **kilty** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:10 pm

You forgotten about the windscreen seal and hole repair already?!

bazzateer · Post by **bazzateer** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:22 pm

Loss of recent memory but can recall events from decades ago? Same thing happened to my old Gran. He'll be putting the bins out in the nude next!

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:55 am

I think I need therapy as im getting a tad fussy with stuff , when i changed the screen and rubber I noticed that where id moved the sunvisors onto the roll cage id just left the original roof mounts as they were

Like this

So ive modded some old visor arms to make up some blank covers , No one has ever noticed this nor were they likely too ,
I guess im a fussy sod

bazzateer · Post by **bazzateer** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:04 am

Bit of a smudge on the glass there Dave, I'd get the glass cleaner out if I were you!

Seriously though, your cars are superb examples mate, wish I had the time and skills............

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 6:41 pm

^^ What Dave said!

Keep up the great work.

IM

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:21 am

Back in May I picked up these two light covers from an autojumble for a few quid then mislaid them almost immediately , Found them in the loft with the crimbo decs a few weeks back.
Having a close look im convinced they are modded and not factory , ive access to Lucas parts books going back to the war and they arnt in any with these little marker lights on the back.
Ive no clue what the red lenses are from nor do I know if they are even legal

What do you recon , legal or not , good or not

Two minutes to swap back so no trouble to try.

OFF

ON

And a night view

james · Post by **james** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 11:18 am

Optional rear position lights - the only requirement is that they are red. So yes, legal.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989 ... le/10/made

kilty · Post by **kilty** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 12:45 pm

Cool. Stops people crashing into your numberplate! You' ve started something now mate.

bazzateer · Post by **bazzateer** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 12:48 pm

You could re-purpose a couple of those parking light doo-berrys to do the same!

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:16 pm

Kim is far better looking

Heres a closeup of one of the lights , lens is shaped like a top hat and pushes in from the back and sticks out proud by 2mm ish , the glass keeps it in .
Still no idea what they are from , id imagine copying this wouldnt be that hard though.

moose · Post by **moose** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:21 pm

Dave noticed the screws are not lined up, sort it please.

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:46 pm

Sorry, Dave, but Mike is right. It's one of the things that decent carpenters, engineers, anally retentive Imp owners etc are taught from the word "GO". More common when using slot head screws, of course, which really MUST align, vertically or horizontally. But really .......... tut tut

As he say's : Get it sorted.

Andy G.

impmann · Post by **impmann** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:50 pm

They are v cool, Mr Lane.

However, I *think* I saw similar on the door of an old Le Mans car - they were used to light the numbers on the doors but I'm fairly sure they had red dots on the other side. I can't find any pics via Google, though... so I may have dreamt it!!

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:04 pm

WELL EXCUSE ME , SORRY FOR BREATHING!!!!!!
So sorry ive miffed you all by not lining up the screw heads

Ive now corrected this most heinous crime so as not to upset all you anally retentive Imp owners any more,
You can all now relax and chill safe in the knowledge its all sorted , il even get a new screw out the loft to replace the " very slightly not absolutely 100% perfect slightly damaged not quite as shiny with imperfections " screw you so hate and loath on my otherwise " never ever one a first prize not quite so perfect " pile of utter utter shite that is my Singer .

( Hope the red lights dont hurt your poor retina,s and does this mean im demoted from fontdom for crimes to Imps

)

moose · Post by **moose** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:38 pm

if the shims have not been used then this will need to be judged in the most used and abused catergory

moose · Post by **moose** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:40 pm

no need to scrap it just leave it alone for a while and build another one say FFG549D??

moose · Post by **moose** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:07 am

when i got home from work i went straight into the workshop and checked the front indicator screws as i had fitted these the other day just in case a picture of them appears on here could not live it down if they were not in line

HARTWELL MK1 · Post by **HARTWELL MK1** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:24 am

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:29 pm

/\ /\ Haha.

You know what ? I reckon there will be more than just moose out there checking for misaligned screws !

I think I'll do the ones on my dash too, just in case someone peeps in there as well. Oh dear ...... what have we started ?

Andy G.

jetmech · Post by **jetmech** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:52 pm

Did Rootes align the screws? I doubt it. Originality can be an advantage

Simon

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:18 pm

Well after Jeffs comments about needles and out of centre rev counters I decided to have a go at sorting out one of them.
NOT the needles as Im happy with the look but the out of centre rev counter.
As I posted earlier it was put there to hide a split in the crash roll
So what to do about it

.
Well there is a big problem using a Chamois padded crash roll , that is with 8mm of foam stuck on top its really hard to get anything bolted on it tight .
So the answer seemed to be a non padded standard crash roll which although has no foam padding does have one big disadvantage .
The ashtray is exactly where the rev counter needs to go

.
So after a bit of thought I did the following .

Hack the bottom off the ashtray.
Remove the lid.
weld in a plate over the top.
skim with filler to get it nice and smooth .
cover it in genuine vinyl cut from some odd bits ive got.
Fit it back in and secure with two small nuts and bolts .
Drill hole for rev counter and refit the it all back.
Result is this which will do until i find a better solution , it is at least dead centre and secure

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:11 pm

Hes there , you can just see his feet in the second picture

Its because the rev counters now in the middle.
That is what you wanted --------------- isnt it

GURNSIMPS · Post by **GURNSIMPS** » Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:28 am

Slippery slope to the mg club!

ChrisBenoy · Post by **ChrisBenoy** » Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:26 am

There appears to be a fair amount of peer pressure going on here. Sadly Noddy appears to be rather susceptible to it

Post by **Cally** » Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:27 pm

I've got at least one NOS cowled 80mm Yazaki { Dave has used smaller version} if anyone else is considering doing the conversion on a earlier car

imp.sport · Post by **imp.sport** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:51 pm

/\ Will have to see it in the flesh. Looks like a photoshop job to me..

Grahame59 · Post by **Grahame59** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 5:14 pm

Noddy wrote:

I have always admired your Chamois' interior but the best just got better!

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Wed Jan 02, 2013 8:59 pm

Grahame59 wrote:[
I have always admired your Chamois' interior but the best just got better!

Big thanks Graham , coming from you thats a real compliment . Thought id show you what else ive been up to ,
Some of you may remember I got hold of a front centre console made specifically for an Imp , I never liked it in the front but when butchered beyond believe the very front part did fit in the back under the rear seat .
This was the last image i left you with probably a year ago now in a "part finished not quite sure what to do now state "

Anyway I still wasnt happy as I wanted it to look like a factory piece , so as well as adding the wood I also added some bits of Chamois stainless trim on the console and on the rear seat shelf , also added a bit of carpet and an old Rootes badge as well as cover the shelf in black vinyl.
It now looks like this , finished about 6 months ago but never posted on here

Rootes bulb and box lives in it as a spare .

HARTWELL MK1 · Post by **HARTWELL MK1** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:24 pm

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:56 pm

Just fitted a new pair of Cibie headlights in the Singer , had to modify the headlight carrier as i have sidelights in the headlights.
Anyway I also fancy some upgraded bulbs , you know the + 30 , + 50 etc .
Any makes or recommendations of ones youve tried.
Bulbs are H4s.

MuNi_rider · Post by **MuNi_rider** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:41 pm

I use osram nightbreakers in all of my cars, they are fabulous! Nice colour, not a chavvy white/blue, and seem to produce a lot more light!

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:45 pm

That looks a good site, Moose !

Dave, I have a pair of weird halogen bulbs that I got with a second hand H4 conversion set from a local club member a few years back. They give out a light which seems to have some UV in it because it picks out white items, such as signage and the road markings, very well indeed. I can never remember what they are, but I'd buy a new set in a flash. Perhaps Ian G-R (supersport on here and the original seller) might recall and read this thread sometime. The Night Tech ones on the PIAA website look good though if your in a hurry.

Andy G.

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:18 pm

For a good while now my Austin 1100 expansion bottle has had a slight leak , try as I might I couldnt find another one anywhere so have finally gone for the same as the Vusky and fitted a Triumph Stag one , clear view and takes an Imp rad cap , you can buy new brackets as well as the bottles ( which are expensive BTW ) but in typical Noddy style i made my own.

Old Austin one

Newness Triumph one

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:23 pm

Just fitted the new Allycat wheels I bought from the advert on this forum ,( THANKS CHRIS )
As new 7 x 13 rears and 6 x 13 fronts
Some pics in the imps in snow thread

I IZ A HAPPY BUNNY

HARTWELL MK1 · Post by **HARTWELL MK1** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:57 pm

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:03 pm

617sqn wrote:/\ S'funny. I can't see any wheels

Andy G.

Here you go

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:06 pm

Ah, that's better. However, your Imp seems to be heading the wrong way Dave. Your fuel consumption will be terrible if you reverse everywhere

Andy G.

TJB69 · Post by **TJB69** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:16 pm

Wee cars looking great. Wheels suit it perfectly

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:43 pm

I like Alleycats too. (... And Superlites... And Dunlops...

) The car is looking fabulous, Noddy.

IM

classiccapsule · Post by **classiccapsule** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:11 pm

A car so clean it makes the virgin snow look dirty. Money well spent Dave!

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Sat Jan 26, 2013 2:29 pm

Fially managed to get it outside in daylight for a proper look , made up some covers for the rear wheel hubs and then went up my local friendly garage and borrowed their beam setter for the Cibie headlights.
Rear wheels are proper old school genuine Allycats made by Twogate wheels , Fronts are slightly later and although still cast Allycats between the wheelnuts they arnt marked Twogate wheels .Allycats made now are unmarked beween the wheelnuts and are just plain

Have a couple daylight shots