Hi all,
I've never been particularly good at maintaining build threads, but guess I'll give it a go again.
I imagine/hope some of you will remember the car and know of it all ready, but for those of you who don't, allow me to offer a brief summary of the car's history...
Bought when I was 18 (about 8 years ago now) with my first student loan payment, a beauty of a 22'000 mile minter
Then only a couple on months into ownership, this happened (driver error):
With no broken glass and just a big dent on the roof, it got fixed (to a point) and put straight back into daily service:
It went through a few sets of wheels:
Got used in all weathers (it was the daily after all)!:
This happened:
And this happened:
This also happened alot:
And as a result this happened alot:
Which also caused this to happen alot:
It even won "Used and Abused" at National one year... an appropriate and fitting award!
And then it gradually got into a worse and worse state. I got fed up of doing the minimum required to keep it going and on the road, rust started to set in, etc etc. So, I finally moved into a house with a garage and eventually decided that it was time to give FAF the restoration it deserves!
So, that brings us up to the present day pretty much! The car is currently in the garage mostly stripped and awaiting some much needed TLC.
The plan is full blown restoration and a vast array of modifications as well.
The "todo" list is as follows:
> Caribbean blue paint as per the original.
> All the original chrome trim replaced including the bumpers
> Substantially lowered, but keeping (as close to as possible) full suspension travel via remodeled front suspension geometry.
> Fuel injected motor with closed loop lambda control, AMR500 supercharger tuned for a flat torque curve throughout the rev range, limiting power to around 80HP (to avoid expensive clutches and broken gearboxes)
> Special 7J wheels... not being disclosed until they have arrived... not getting ahead of myself and tempting fate!
> Fully bespoke/modern wiring loom, made up as main harness/dash harness/engine harness to facilitate future additions/modifications
> Custom Xenon projector headlights
> Custom (discreet) LCD dash hooked up to ECU via serial connection
> Electric windows and remote central locking
Baaaaasically the intention is to turn it into Project "Turd Polishing". I just want lots of more of the modern comforts in the coolness of a Hillman Imp that will look relatively standard, but go well and handle like a demon. Even more than they already do!
A lot of effort that will never be worth it in money or time to anyone but me. I figure I have no kids and as of yet, no mortgage... so now is the time to do it huh?
Updates to come... Thus far a majority of the work has been on the suspension, so I guess they'll be the first updates to come!
I've never been particularly good at maintaining build threads, but guess I'll give it a go again.
I imagine/hope some of you will remember the car and know of it all ready, but for those of you who don't, allow me to offer a brief summary of the car's history...
Bought when I was 18 (about 8 years ago now) with my first student loan payment, a beauty of a 22'000 mile minter
Then only a couple on months into ownership, this happened (driver error):
With no broken glass and just a big dent on the roof, it got fixed (to a point) and put straight back into daily service:
It went through a few sets of wheels:
Got used in all weathers (it was the daily after all)!:
This happened:
And this happened:
This also happened alot:
And as a result this happened alot:
Which also caused this to happen alot:
It even won "Used and Abused" at National one year... an appropriate and fitting award!
And then it gradually got into a worse and worse state. I got fed up of doing the minimum required to keep it going and on the road, rust started to set in, etc etc. So, I finally moved into a house with a garage and eventually decided that it was time to give FAF the restoration it deserves!
So, that brings us up to the present day pretty much! The car is currently in the garage mostly stripped and awaiting some much needed TLC.
The plan is full blown restoration and a vast array of modifications as well.
The "todo" list is as follows:
> Caribbean blue paint as per the original.
> All the original chrome trim replaced including the bumpers
> Substantially lowered, but keeping (as close to as possible) full suspension travel via remodeled front suspension geometry.
> Fuel injected motor with closed loop lambda control, AMR500 supercharger tuned for a flat torque curve throughout the rev range, limiting power to around 80HP (to avoid expensive clutches and broken gearboxes)
> Special 7J wheels... not being disclosed until they have arrived... not getting ahead of myself and tempting fate!
> Fully bespoke/modern wiring loom, made up as main harness/dash harness/engine harness to facilitate future additions/modifications
> Custom Xenon projector headlights
> Custom (discreet) LCD dash hooked up to ECU via serial connection
> Electric windows and remote central locking
Baaaaasically the intention is to turn it into Project "Turd Polishing". I just want lots of more of the modern comforts in the coolness of a Hillman Imp that will look relatively standard, but go well and handle like a demon. Even more than they already do!
A lot of effort that will never be worth it in money or time to anyone but me. I figure I have no kids and as of yet, no mortgage... so now is the time to do it huh?
Updates to come... Thus far a majority of the work has been on the suspension, so I guess they'll be the first updates to come!
