A Californian drying out in South Africa

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 11:01 am

Panic over I think, next is dressing the other shoe and make them a set, I will mark each shoe to the brake drum I have filed it to fit to.
The file does work, I will finish the job with hand sanding using 60 grit floor paper and a sanding block?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 5:59 pm

Hope that lorry wasnt carrying your parts from the UK?

If they could catch all the water your drought would be over, sadly I bet most just runs away to waste?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:48 am

For Sale, new (repro) Hillman Imp Saloon quarter light rubbers packed in coupe plastic bags.

I will sell at the buy in cost to me plus postage to buyer?

Now posted on the Imp Club forum under parts for sale.

They cost me A$75.00 each plus a Pay-Pal fee of 3.7% then insurance and postage etc.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Jun 10, 2017 9:29 am

How many Imp coupe quarter light windows make a pair?

It should be two but I had to import a lot more that two before I had a decent pair

The one standing and with the blue tape came off the drivers side door and is the original one, the closing handle had snapped off.

You may see a pair that are for the saloon, sent to me by mistake and from Ireland, they were then replaced by a pair of coupe windows ex Scotland and organised by the seller from Ireland

UPS were the carriers, very prompt too I might add.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Jun 10, 2017 9:34 am

All these windows did produce a nice pair that was usable, plus a drivers side rubber that is better than the one on the car now.
I will keep the rubber spare pending it being required for the car at a later date?

ImpManiac · Post by **ImpManiac** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:13 am

Roy, the roof gutter trims came up really well. Great work!

They really make a subtle change to the appearance of the car but it is a definite improvement, in my humble opinion.

IM

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Jun 17, 2017 8:51 am

An open and shut case?

I was in the process of checking the brake fluid level when this picture was taken.

So all systems are working well, plus I now have the upgraded rear brake shoes made by Mintex as well.

I suspect that any Hillman Imp using all drum brakes will see an IMProvement in braking performance if those brake shoes were fitted all round?

In my case the car is fitted with the excellent front disc brakes as supplied by Colin Valentine.

Can I call the rear shoes Mintex Sport brake shoes I wonder?

Available from Moose who is on this forum.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:56 am

I see that Colin Valentine has some Imp front disc brake kits for sale.

Having bought three such kits and fitted them to four cars I can advise that they are well engineered and work perfectly

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Jun 22, 2017 11:16 am

My own Ford Fiesta front disc brake set spent a year on the 1967 Singer Chamois we once owned.
When that car was sold I refitted the original drum brakes (re furbished) and then fitted the disc brake set to the Californian.

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:39 am

looks like its running weak to me

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:40 am

I went and collected the parts, the thread was 16mm, not sure on the pitch but I will ask.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sat Jun 24, 2017 2:24 pm

The manual states that hole when a cooler is fitted is obstructed by an oil cooler BYPASS VALVE, not a plug, without which no oil will pass through the cooler, so its a valve thats pressed in there not a plug as the hole needs to act as a bypass if the cooler was to become blocked so the oil will still get to the engine.
There are no pictures of it and that bit was not a service replacement part either.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:23 am

My adventure with the Sport oil cooler boss missing valve moved to another level yesterday.

I now have one but I had to waste a spare standard oil filter base to get it.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:27 am

It is a simple affair, load tested to suit the Imps oil pressure, when and if the oil cooler pipes become blocked, what would that pressure be?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:11 pm

If it collects money from folk it would be approved Roy, money talks as they say, and a few back hander tips

I bet they didnt like you turning around and going back without going through and paying?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 3:28 pm

Progress on the Sport oil cooler base today.

I have press fitted and bonded the valve in with Loctite 648 retaining fluid.

I will next peen the edges of the hole over in three places to make sure the valve never comes free.

That Triad device stops the valve from opening past a certain size.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:05 am

Ive seen someone using a bungie strap (elastic cord with hooks) in addition to the normal bonnet prop so theres no danger of the bonnet being blown open off the prop if its very windy when the bonnets up, when refueling for instance, I always worry about the bonnet doing a flip back onto the screen in such conditions as the prop doesnt really hold it really very secure to prevent it coming out?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 3:19 pm

My new RSA driving licence is ready!

My UK one, its the old paper type version and will expire in a few months, that cannot be renewed unless I am resident in the UK for some six months of the year

This seems not to be an issue now, as my RSA licence would be valid in the UK for twelve months and can be exchanged for a UK one if I require.

So a trip into town and then some industrial places.

I want to find out more about dowty washers

Dowty Washers are on my things to buy list.

Dowty washers from the Intertraco brand feature expertly bonded seals, making them perfect for high pressure hydraulic applications.

Using high-grade rubber, dowty washers help to create leak-free joints in high pressure hydraulic applications. Available from HAW, the range caters for a wide range of applications, and comes in varying sizes between 1/8” and 2”.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Jul 02, 2017 12:54 pm

Having new Dowty washers I can see how they should work?
The Sunbeam Sport oil drain pipe is a perfect match, yet the sport oil cooler is not.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Jul 02, 2017 12:57 pm

Did the Sunbeam Sport oil cooler elbows also use a plain washer?
The larger lock nut I purchased two days back, that lock nut will work with the Dowty washer but the standard sport lock nut on the left will not.
The fix is simple, I will purchase a second 1/2" bulkhead nut next week, it was R12.50 so about 75 new pence?

Was this spare sport oil cooler take off supplied to me with the wrong sized nut? there was just the one.
The second picture shows the oil cooler take off on the car now, that one looks good?

IMG_2241.JPG

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Jul 05, 2017 1:58 pm

I had really not expected the re purchase to happen so soon, It seems that once we had haggled and the price was agreed the car was soon to be on its way and to me in Hout Bay.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 9:26 am

Waterless cleaner?

http://www.biomagic-uk.com/index.html

I have some car shampoo here with the lable that Biomagic UK uses.

Inside the container is a standard type car shampoo which I will be using.

The lable uses a picture of a Jaguar 3.8 ltr similar to one that I once owned.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:33 am

These polishes they advertise as waterless type, no need to wash you car as the suffactants in the polish when used with a microfibre cloth supposed to clean it up without scratching, well they do scratch, if one looks in the right kind of light theres many fine swirls in the finish after youve used it that doesnt show in normal daylight which is how they like you to see it.
So scratchless no they arent.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:02 am

The area around Ouderkraal is well known for scuba diving, just a cross the road from where I am parked is a second parking area and access steps down to the small beach below.

You need a wet suit as the average water temperature is normally 13c

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 7:57 am

We seem to have around ten art galleries in Hout Bay, two are next to each other and a third is just across the road from them.
They have moved their art onto the wall outside!

Post by **Lars Hagermark** » Wed Jul 19, 2017 9:40 am

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Aug 04, 2017 1:46 pm

The failure of UPS to deliver spare parts does not stop me from driving the car, in recent weeks a small squeak has started in the front suspensions again.

I think that the extra performance of the front disc brakes adds a greater load to the fastenings on the stub axles?

I checked both sides and found one bolt could have the lower nut tightened a little more.

I also greased the king pins on both sides while the car was up in the air.

The car was moved, the squeak has gone , success comes in small parcels sometimes

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:22 am

UPS look to have lowered their collection and delivery service?

They were two days late on the UK collection from Notty in the UK and only made it to me last night in South Africa and after 7pm.

The driver said they were on contract to UPS.

UPS posted my package out for delivery early yesterday, then it was back in their store, all can be seen with the tracking.

So by 5pm I gave up on delivery, never give up seems to be the message?

The pistons Bob sent me are oversized 0.030” and to be honest are unmarked, Hepolite is the best brand name too, I was fortunate the Bob had them for me and that I have stocks of new Repco rings.

What was in the box?

Most parts are back up items and those that I may require in the next year or so?

The Glacier box contains small ends to suit the fitment of the oversized pistons, the other small boxes contain an oil and water sender unit.

Sunday, 5 pm and a message from UPS :

Your parcel has been delivered.
Delivery Date: Friday, 2017/08/04
Delivery Time: 18:40

At the request of Roy McBride, this notice is to confirm that the following shipment has been delivered.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 7:39 am

The new parts batch included two universal joint grease nipple extensions, such is the depth and scope to The Imp Clubs parts stock.

One is for InfraZA and his 1971 Imp Deluxe, the other is a back up to the one I fabricated some time back for my own car.

It is just as well I tried the new nipple on the new UJs, it is larger and does not fit

Being hardened steel I am wary of trying to use a die and re size it? as I tried that with another extension and ended up messing the thread up, as the die I have just would not re cut the hardened steel nipple extension I had. In the end I silver soldered an extension on in mild steel and made a thread on that instead

With samples of known threads I found that the older UJ has a thread size the same as those with the 'Auto' casting on an Imps 1/4" bolt, so UNF.
The new UJ accepts a thread size which is a metric 6mm fine, that is the one with the countersunk machine screw in it.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Aug 08, 2017 7:15 am

Cleaned and boxed in the original Hepolite carton.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 7:55 am

With the winter weather back here once more, today may be a good one to fit the correct petrol tank sender unit gasket that was sent with my parts box from the Imp Club Spares department.

For some reason the car has a feint smell of petrol in the cabin when the door and windows have been closed for a period of say twenty four hours?

The self made gasket I have fitted now was fabricated from some spare gasket material in a Perkins 4108 diesel set.

The genuine Imp one is made from cork.

The spare sender unit has one made from a thick gasket paper.

The job is now done and I made an interesting discovery

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:43 pm

With the sender unit assembly back in the tank I now need to wait a few days to see if the smell of petrol returns?

The brass washers will be a reminder of what I have done, there is also a sheet of clean white paper laid over the sender unit so that I can check for vapour leaks.

The new cork tank gasket has been fitted clean and without sealant of any sort.

Note, as the screws are now, I went for a test drive and saw that the dash petrol gauge did not work, with the screw with the original copper washer re fitted the gauge started to work

So the new brass washer to sender unit was not a good enough contact?

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:21 pm

Those screws should all be turned to align with the radius of the circle of the sender flange. Have you NO shame !?

Andy G

Pog · Post by **Pog** » Wed Aug 16, 2017 1:02 pm

Well it's only taken me the best part of 3 weeks of on-and-off reading, but I have just finished all 167 pages of this thread - I have to say that this has been such an incredible transformation! The car is a credit to you Roy and is easily one of the best finished Cali's around. Your attention to detail is superb and the way you're able to tackle pretty much any task at hand is remarkable - you're a wizard with epoxy!

Many thanks for your detailed posts and photos, I do hope they remain on the forum as they are - I'd like to be able to refer back to them once I finally have a restoration project of my own.

A true inspiration and well done for keeping the Imp alive - particularly in such a part of the world where parts are scarce and hard to come by.

All the best,
Pog

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:37 am

Have you checked the steel pipe under the car, they can rust after all this time if its still the untouched original especially behind the rack mounting plate, though I realise there you only have wet weather once in every blue moon in a month of Sundays.

briang · Post by **briang** » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:39 am

Have you checked the breather pipes around the filler pipe area.

briang · Post by **briang** » Sat Aug 19, 2017 12:47 pm

As I said above, the breather pipes in the same area, although they look ok, they may not leak but they may be just as porous, fumes may be leaking out.

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Sat Aug 19, 2017 3:28 pm

Do you have junk E10 ethanol fuel in SA ? When ethanol was first introduced into the UK there were loads of problems, especially with leaking hoses on older injected vehicles where the rubber has gone soft and hose clips became loose.

Andy G

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Aug 20, 2017 11:58 am

Modern petrol issues?

This underlines just how careful we need to be when selecting new petrol lines made from rubber?

Viton is the product to use, The Imp Club spares department has Viton in stock.

Found on an Imp related web site today:

Just been back in the garage to have another look at the imp , it only gets better , the modern petrol has eaten through the the little rubber hose from the float to the carb and all that petrol I just put in is all over the garage floor , what next ?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:53 pm

Metal tee and viton rubber replacement?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:41 am

Universal ones 60mm dia to click into 47mm hole?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4pcs-New-Car-Wh ... 2163033915

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:28 pm

Checking the hard copy folder to the 1967 Imp Californian I note that in 1995 I asked for the following?

Imp Club spares I guess? 26/07/1995

This was to convert the cars original engine block to a close sport specification.

I had a spare series 180 cylinder head in stock, complete with sport inlet and exhaust manifolds and twin CD125 Stromberg carburetors.

Sport oil pump and bronze gear
2 Reintz head gaskets
Sump & timing cover gasket
Big end bolts
Set of standard piston rings
Spigot bush
Two Stromberg overhaul kits.

Also that the sport head was serviced by the Viglietti Ferrari service shop, new valves and guides plus BMW valve seals were fitted.

Which will be good reason to have an engine that runs so well, sorry about that oil leak of course

The picture shows new Imp Sport sized valves with bronze guides, I am not sure if the oil seals are BMW?

For sure the oil use in my engine and a lack of smoke says they work well.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:57 am

Plastic is probably best, they wont rust or even less liable to rattle, the Rostyle wheels originally had a cap that clipped in from the front though, but if they can be done from the rear then at least they become thief proof?
You could even machine some from hardwood and paint them matt black?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Wed Aug 23, 2017 2:31 pm

Yes they are basically the same as our Vauxhall Chevette as they were called here, awful tinny cars about as basic as you could get the starter model.

617sqn · Post by **617sqn** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:43 pm

Won't seal the breather pipe

Andy G

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:31 pm

The vent pipe under the front wing is always open there's no valve or anything to prevent the smell coming out of the tank even with the cap all sealed.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:22 am

The steel pipes do survive well on the IMP I think they were originally coated maybe a zinc of sorts, I dont think they are just bare steel? but the pipes do rust badly in time behind the rack mounting plate where they fester unseen and can get quite severely corroded, I seen cars pass an MOT only to have a pipe fail a short while afterwards due to corrosion that cant be seen properly unless the suspension is taken out of the car, a reason why just because a car has a recent MOT doesnt mean all is ok.

Another bad area for pipe corrosion is the brake pipe fitted to the top of the rear suspension arms, often buried in mud and the steel pipe clip doesnt help matters.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:46 am

Yesterdays work left a neat pile of dirt and dust on the garage floor, I used a cordless drill and some suitable wire brushes with a 1/4" drive shaft.
I was never really aware just how exposed the various fluid pipes are at the front of an Imp.
now to drop that cover plate then clean and paint inside there as well

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sun Aug 27, 2017 8:36 am

You would have thought they would have designed the undertray to come up at the front really wouldnt you rather than stop it where they have??

Dave ' Linwood ' Lane · Sun Aug 27, 2017 10:10 am

7103412 never made production - probably why ive never seen one