1966 Sunbeam Imp MKII

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Sun Aug 10, 2014 12:17 am

Here is my new project. It came from Connecticut and arrived in it's new home here in Lancaster Clifornia on 7 August. So now it can start to dry out. No rot found, but some crusty surface rust on the rear parcel shelf and rear left quarter behind the left rear wheel. A few dents and dings, but nothing I can't hammer out. Plans are to keep it mostly original and will do Monte springs and upgraded bushes and shocks. Wheels will be 12x5.5 Cosmics. Will keep it white with red interior and will add a dark red stripe to the sides.

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The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:23 am

Remember to keep it looking standard looks virtually completely original at the moment, and the two IMPS next to it? is that a before or after or a bit in between?

colin rooney · Post by **colin rooney** » Sun Aug 10, 2014 11:26 am

nice looking car hope you enjoy restoring it

col

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:35 am

I do plan on keeping it looking original. The only divergent addition will be the Cosmic wheels and most likely will go bumperless. The other Imps in the background are another matter

One belongs to Mark Costello (daysineuropa) and the red car is my '65 work in progress, that car will be modified and more aggressively powered with a 930 or a 998.

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 12:43 pm

Lovely project! As Colin said, I hope you enjoy the restoration.

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:33 am

Connected a battery to the car today. Lights, signals, horn works. Only think not working was the right rear light, but someone had cut the wire so should be able to fix it and the starter solenoid makes no clicking to try to start the starter.

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 4:05 am

Did a little work on the Imp. Removed the fuel tank and surrounding covers .

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Took to cleaning up the area and thankfully all the wiring is in good condition and paint is well preserved.

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Next is to work on removing the front suspension and to restore the A-arms and brakes.

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kilty · Post by **kilty** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:35 am

Find any Diamondbacks lurking?

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 11:29 am

Looking good, whitebuffalo.

The car does look to be well preserved.

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 3:20 pm

kilty wrote:Find any Diamondbacks lurking?

Thankfully no Diamondbacks in this car. It came from New York state so very few snakes from that region. Thankfully I haven't found any evidence of spiders and no rodent activity.
I did find a few leftover snake skins in my Austin A50 when I first got it.

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Sat Oct 18, 2014 5:59 am

So found these for my car. Thanks to a club member I was able to get the twin SU intake/exhaust manifold and thanks to a Mini club member I found a nice set of twin HS4s. Now I just need a Sport spec motor to fit them to

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whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:28 am

Ok, after a long while, I am back working on my Imp. Was side lined by a car accident and had to focus on recuperating from an injured shoulder, but was without a classic to drive. Had to focus on the car closest to being on the road which was my '62 Mini Traveller. Now that is a drivable classic I can focus on the Imp so it can be a drivable classic. Took it in yesterday to get the title on it and since it was a car from out of state, I had to bring the car along for a VIN verification.

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More to come ....

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Sat May 02, 2015 9:31 pm

Glad you're on the mend.

You certainly cannot put a price on health.

whitebuffalo wrote:More to come ....

Be sure to keep us posted.

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Sun May 17, 2015 4:43 am

So, now that I have the car in my name, YAY! I have dug into the rear suspension. Took the old units out and wire brushed them down to bare metal and then painted in a good hard black paint. Rebuilt the axles and hubs , added the new brake shoes and brake cylinders. New pipes and braided hoses finish off the rear arms.

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New shoes and internals

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All done and ready to install

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While I was at it, I decided to clean up the engine bay and give it a coat of paint in the color I am going to paint the car in as well as add the Spax shocks.
From ugly and unappealing

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To a nicer shade of happy:)

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And now with the suspension arms and Monte springs installed.

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Took the motor out to get the transaxle ready to mate up with the rebuilt motor. Looks grubby, but only has 24,000 original miles
Finally put some time into the Imp after a year. Replaced the old red interior with a better, newer back interior. I also rebuilt the shifter mechanism and installed the radiator , water pump and all new hoses and heater hoses. The front cargo area covers were looking rather dingy so I painted them. Now I need to figure out a linkage set up for the carburetor and hook up some electronics and I should be ready to start her up and drive her for the first time since 1974.

Fresher looking cargo area.

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Fresher black interior and seats with door capping too.

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Radiator is in with new water pump and hoses.

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Replacing the weather seals so took the windscreen out and will add a new seal.

I also painted the dash panel as it was white and reflected onto the screen when in the sun so now black will blend in.

I also put the new carb in and found a linkage that I bought ages ago and modified it to work on this application. I bought the 32/36 DGEV for a Fiat 850 I had back in 2003 and got a different carb to work for it so had the Weber sitting around all that time.

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Now with a scrub and lots of high pressure water

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Then it was outside to give the girl a wash for the giggles of it

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Engine bay with Porsche Signal Orange in the sunlight

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More to come during the week.

bazzateer · Post by **bazzateer** » Sun May 17, 2015 10:05 am

I do like an orange Imp!

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sun May 17, 2015 12:56 pm

Firecracker.

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Sun May 17, 2015 6:17 pm

Was the engine bay painted using rattle cans?

It certainly does give the car some sunshine!

Excellent work!

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Mon May 18, 2015 3:12 am

Yes, three rattle cans of the orange, my trigger finger is tired

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon May 18, 2015 9:44 am

whitebuffalo wrote:...my trigger finger is tired

I sympathise, having painted an Imp engine bay using aerosols in the past myself.

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 1:30 am

A box from club spares arrived, now I can get to Imping!

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ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 11:14 am

Christmas came early!

What's next for your Imp then?

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:22 pm

A mad dash to get the motor and trans in and get it running by the 19th of July

for a car show. Not at all unrealistic is it ? Darn, can't find the sarcasm button on this keyboard. Well, I do plan on getting the motor and trans in and see how far I can get. If I don't get it running by the 19th I will trailer it to the car show.

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 4:41 pm

Gave up on the idea of trying to rush to get the car to the car show this weekend, rather do it right and enjoy the build than to try to enjoy the car show with the Imp. Will take my '62 Mini Traveller to the show instead.
So, work on the Imp continues, started to build up the motor. Added a new clutch and am in the process of getting the water pump assembly built up. I also added a new release bearing to the 'box and fitted new mounts. Will paint the output shafts to make them look better and keep rust away.

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To take a break from the motor I then was able to remove the rear window without any problem. I was ready to break off screw heads and curse a lot, but every one just unscrewed as they should. I then added the new seals on the rear window aperture and hatch itself.

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whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 3:58 am

Finally got to work on my Imp. Added disc brakes to the front, switched out the 12 inch wheels for 13 inch and they fill the arches really nicely. It will get lower as the coils settle and the weight of the motor and other ancillaries sit on the suspension.

Today was a productive day, was able to fit engine and transmission as well as the light weight engine mount. The transom panel fits up nicely and I will have to figure out how to mount it to the car.

13 inch wheels with lowering springs.

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Engine and transmission finally in place! :thumbs: Note to self, always make sure locating dowel pins are removed from one side or the other, two pins opposite each other makes it difficult to fit trans to motor!

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Transom panel fits well, needs holes or brackets to affix it to the car somehow.

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The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 11:01 am

whitebuffalo wrote:The transom panel fits up nicely and I will have to figure out how to mount it to the car.

If its only a skin fix it on using the tapped hole fixing in the end of the rear chassis rails, that the rear bumper would normally use?

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 3:45 pm

Yes, it is only a skin and I now see the holes for the bumper so will use them to hold the panel in place, thanks!

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 10:06 pm

It's coming along nicely.

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 6:19 pm

Finally put some time into the Imp after a year. Replaced the old red interior with a better, newer back interior. I also rebuilt the shifter mechanism and installed the radiator , water pump and all new hoses and heater hoses. The front cargo area covers were looking rather dingy so I painted them. Now I need to figure out a linkage set up for the carburetor and hook up some electronics and I should be ready to start her up and drive her for the first time since 1974.

Fresher looking cargo area.

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Fresher black interior and seats with door capping too.

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Radiator is in with new water pump and hoses.

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Replacing the weather seals so took the windscreen out and will add a new seal.

I also painted the dash panel as it was white and reflected onto the screen when in the sun so now black will blend in.

I also put the new carb in and found a linkage that I bought ages ago and modified it to work on this application. I bought the 32/36 DGEV for a Fiat 850 I had back in 2003 and got a different carb to work for it so had the Weber sitting around all that time.

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The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 6:31 pm

Looks like youve got an indicator stalk missing? It would help you to fit that before you fit the screen so you can see what youre doing behind the binnacle better, loads of wires.?

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Thu Jun 29, 2017 6:49 pm

The Nun wrote:Looks like youve got an indicator stalk missing? It would help you to fit that before you fit the screen so you can see what youre doing behind the binnacle better, loads of wires.?

Probably has a Floor dip switch fitted as its American spec

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 10:01 pm

Thanks Nun for looking out for me, but as Dave said, it is a US model so dip switch on the floor.

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Fri Jun 30, 2017 11:33 am

You could replace the missing stalk and use it for an electric screenwash pump. Or front facing machine guns hidden behind the indicator lenses. Rear smoke screen ? Oil spray ? No. Hold on. Being an Imp it with all have that fitted as standard.

Keep the updates coming.

Andy G

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Tue Jul 04, 2017 6:24 am

Installed the new rear window seals and painted the door window frames and B pillars to have them blend it with the seals.

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Sun Jul 09, 2017 7:37 pm

For those not on Face Book, here is a short video of the car running! Hope to have it's first drive today after 43 years of being off the road.

https://youtu.be/HuzvaoP6hTo

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:34 pm

80 miles of driving and loving every minute of it. Got to get use to the reverse being to the left and back as opposed to right and back on the Minis. I have stalled it a few times trying to get the clutch catch just right. Got to remember to take it out of gear and let go of the clutch as if you try to push the clutch in and start it, it turns very slowly, if clutch is released then it turns properly.

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617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:52 pm

That will be down to the release "bearing" being made if a graphite material which isn't as slippery as a proper ball race bearing. When you have the conversion done, the revs rise when the clutch pedal is pressed down. The opposite of the original type.

Andy G

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Wed Jul 12, 2017 10:46 pm

Thank you, good to know. I was worried that I had the RPM too low as I have it idling at around 1000 right now and seems fine, just dips down when I push the clutch in.

John Simister · Post by **John Simister** » Thu Jul 13, 2017 1:44 pm

That tendency for the revs to drop when you press the clutch pedal is greater with a Quinton Hazell clutch like yours. It has a stronger spring than the original Laycock type, which gives a heavier pedal and slows the engine more. My car is the same, but I've managed to find a NOS Laycock clutch which will make the car nicer to drive.

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 7:22 am

But the modern bearing is even better and eliminates the tendency to stall at junctions completely, plus you can reduce the tick over rate anyway, as a bonus !

Andy G

Dion · Post by **Dion** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:49 am

617sqn wrote:But the modern bearing is even better and eliminates the tendency to stall at junctions completely, plus you can reduce the tick over rate anyway, as a bonus !

Is there a supplier yet for a modern ball racing bearing as replacement for the old graphite bearing? Or is this still a DIY thing?

John Simister · Post by **John Simister** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:29 pm

What release bearing are you using, Andy? As I'll be changing the clutch soon, now is the time to get the right bearing.

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 7:44 pm

It's a conversion using a VW bearing (generally) and various experts supply them with modified arms. Reg Patten is one, and possibly Mr. Weeden.

Andy G

John Simister · Post by **John Simister** » Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:23 am

Excellent, thank you.

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 2:08 am

My Imp at a local car show on the 16 July. Was parked between a brace of Tigers. Did 192 miles and only problem was a duff starter solenoid. Push start and got home safe. Now have spare solenoid in spares box in the car.

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617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 1:28 pm

John : I recently bought a spare release bearing to put in stock "just in case".

The part number on the website is as given on another thread, but its from "Machine7.com" part number 213.100.10 release bearing 1300-2000cc - 70.

It looks the part

whitebuffalo ; Looking cool in among the Tigers. Keep the images coming (via a web hosting site, of course).

Andy G.

Stan

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:08 pm

Andy G. Had to change everything over to the forum image host as Photobucket wants too much for sharing to third party so have to find a very free or exceedingly cheap hosting in order to do a web hosting site.

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:13 pm

^^^ If and when you find one - please tell us. I'm sure your grateful audience will be quite big.

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 1:17 pm

whitebuffalo wrote:Andy G. Had to change everything over to the forum image host as Photobucket wants too much for sharing to third party so have to find a very free or exceedingly cheap hosting in order to do a web hosting site.

Have a look at the first post here. I have not tried One Drive for this myself - yet. But I have an account, so may give it a go, when I have the time. It may be a viable alternative.

IM

whitebuffalo · Post by **whitebuffalo** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 11:09 pm

Installed adjustable height GAZ shocks. A bit too low on the bottom setting so will take it up a couple of turns to add some space between the arch and the tire. Also trying out the OneDirve set up.

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 7:56 pm

whitebuffalo wrote:Also trying out the OneDrive set up.

I'm considering that too. I have an account anyway. Might as well use it.

IM