1973 Hillman Imp k-series powered

[pat1987]

here it is


I got it as a standard rusty shell a few years ago and it has since gone through various phases.
It was always going to be raced in some form so when I was welding it up I seam welded pretty much everything.

Current spec:
Engine: F*ked 1.8vvc Rover K-series (standard at the mo but I'm working on it now its out)

Body: Steel Imp shell with fiberglass bonet, front spoiler, rear crossmember, bootlid in the making, the roof is de-seamed, group2 front arches and heavily modified rear arches with a bit of group2 in them and a big hole where the rear seats went. Rollcage fitted and modified rear cage to semi space frame the rear end for mounting a Metro gti front subframe.

Suspension: Imp front arms which have been chopped bent and re-welded to get the camber I wanted, the tomp damper mounts have been moved up about 4" and it has Gaz coilovers all round with 475lb front springs and 850lb rear springs, rear suspension is Metro gti front suspension with a Rover 214 antiroll bar with rose jointed drop links.

Wheels/tyres: 13x7 superlites with michelin cut slicks, slightly bigger on the rear

Enough talk for now, more piccys and vids




s17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/pat_imp_man/?action=view¤t=combegood.flv



s17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/pat_imp_man/?action=view¤t=impvevo.flv

s17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/pat_imp_man/?action=view¤t=MOV00021.flv

s17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/pat_imp_man/?action=view¤t=MOV00022.flv

Enjoy ;D

[Rob M]

Seriously impressive!!
Thats gotta be a real buzz caning the a r s e s of much more exotic machinery.
Is it, has it been or will it be road legal?
Such a waste not to have it on Blightys highways otherwise.
Top work.

[xbo11ox]

What on earth! Class in a glass. Has it got an ordinary Imp gearbox?

[penski]

I love it!!!

metro front subframe in the rear? does that mean its now transverse, mid/rear-mounted instead of longitudinally rear mounted?

Details! ;D

*N

[slater]

Were you at CARS last year? i remeber i was behind a blue imp like this in the queue for RWYB

[pat1987]

It has never been on the road since I k-seriesed it, it will be on the road in a few years, but being only 19 and just losing my no-claims bonus all say not a chance for insurance at the moment.
I'm using an mgf pg1 gearbox, so it is tansverse and mid engined now.
Slater I was there, pretty sure mine is the only Imp that looks like this. I had a 1.6 k in then on twin 40's but I couldnt get it to run right, my best was a 15.6 then its a lot faster now

[akku]

great looking project.

[arthurbrown]

zOMGWTFBBQz00FATRON9000LOLz!

...is all I have to say on the matter. 876.5x10⁷⁸ out of 10!

[stealthstylz]

Very cool looks well purposeful.

Matt

[coggers]

proper project

[craig1010cc]

about time you posted it in here

it is a serious little machine and it's been interesting to see it develop over the last 2 years.

glad to hear that your going to make it even faster now that you've broken it (again), I must get a seat in it next time its out playing round coombe ;D

[skamanfrank]

Yup, what he ^^^^ said,

'bout time you got over here

[ImpManiac]

You made it over here, Pat! This car kicks butt and no mistake. I cannot wait to see it for real.

"I'm"

[needabeetle]

nice one mate, looks an absolute laugh...wish I had the time or money to do the same, I really do!

[HoTWire]

Was nice to chat to you at the C&SC thing at Combe,.. your car is immense.

[racer86]

That is superb! I love all the thought that’s gone into the suspension and where all the bits come from. It goes pretty well too!

However, WE NEED ENGINE PICS!!!

[pat1987]

Well anyone wants to buy me a track pass or pay half and I will take them out. Otherwise you slow me down too much I havent had a chance to see what I can do with it on my own yet.

Paul it doesnt look as good in the flesh I'm afraid, well it looks a lot less tidy, pictures hide alot, but its getting there I quite like me mildly evil front end.

Its time not money you need if you want to do something like this, if you pay someone to do it, it wouldnt be half as fun when you curse word all over porsche turbos and other expensive stuff.

It is starting to annoy me now though, each time I take it out I break it worse than the last time, first track outing at brands got some gravel in the cambelt and it jumped 45 degrees on the crank pulley, no harm done though new belt and I was away. 2nd time out was at Combe, first time I used 5th went for 4th and got 2nd at somehwere between 80 and 90 mph, bent one valve. 3rd time out last week after some new valves skimming the head and lapping it all in cam belt fell off at over 7k in 3rd and bent 16 valves smashed 2 pistons and cracked 2 liners and 4 valve guides. It was my felt the belt fell off though, I didnt do the bolt holding the auxilary pulley on F tight just tight DOH.

Here are a few more photos



And the only engine pic you will get as I'm not happy with my engine bay appearance at the mo so it doesnt get shown around


granada cossie rad to keep up with the cooling, pic was taken part way through setting up my swirl pot and feed pump.



Fiberglass rear end I'm working on


It currently weighs in at 693kg which isnt too bad, I can get a bit more out of it yet though.
So with around 150hp its got 220bhp/ton and does 0-60 in 5seconds ;D

[kee]

this is one nice imp



that looks amazing, i may have to copy if when i get an imp.
any chance one of those engines would fit in the boot, i like back seats!

[philball]

Nice project, similar to my mini pickup project (similar as far as engine layout goes anyway!)

What's it like with those springs on?

Only ask as I've gone nowhere near as high a poundage rate on my mini - not that I'm any sort of expert, I just did a bit of homework (and guesswork LOL!) on the net and came up with a spring rating as a starting point to work from - haven't had it on the road yet so yet to find out how well it's going to grip at the front.

[craig1010cc]

kee said:

this is one nice imp


that looks amazing, I may have to copy if when I get an imp.
any chance one of those engines would fit in the boot, I like back seats!

you would have to find a suitable gear box. An Audi one run upside down perhaps ? don't know if there would be enough length though? Plus the handling might be a bit funny with all that weight out the back. Coudl always go for a bike engine