In a message about Imp Advice (need some), BOB STILES wrote:
BS>I've been looking for information on the Imp, with only a little
BS>luck. Anyone out there have any experience / advice / warnings or
BS>general information on the Imp? Engine options, handling
BS>characteristics, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Some friends of mine owned and raced Imps in the late sixties. We
actually entered an Imp in the preliminary races to one of the Sebring
endurance races in that period. It made a fairly decent and cheap to
field race sedan. Unfortunately it was a poor second to the NSU and
FAZA's Fiats.
Main modification was to substitute DelOrto (spelling??) motorcycle
carbs for the stock carbs, swap springs and install competition shocks.
We also ran bracing between the front struts since they depended
primarily on the gas tank for stiffness. For Sebring (FIA rules) we
went to a standard racing fuel tank. The stock arrangement was an even
poorer design than the Alpine/Tiger twin gas tank and crossover
arrangement. A good shunt to the front would usually open up the stock
gas tank.
The halfshafts were very weak and needed to be replaced after every
race. The stock units had a cast line down their length and it would
look like a barber pole at the end of a race weekend. Oddly enough, the
rubber couplings would take plenty of abuse although we would replace
them along with the halfshafts.
The best feature was that it was extremely simple to remove the entire
engine when worked needed to be done. Uncouple the halfshafts,
electrics, gas line & throttle and out the back it would come. If
memory serves me right it was four bolts on each halfshaft coupling and
four bolts on the subframe. I don't recall doing much work with the
engine actually in the car since removal was so simple.
The street units were typical late sixties lbcs. Lousy electrics,
shoddy construction and rode like oxcarts. Lucas starters and
generators were particularly problematic. They had very small
wheels/tires which limited handling. Moving up to a larger wheel/tire
combination was automatic if you wanted any semblance of handling. Even
then it was very much a rear engine car with handling to match, good
training if you aspired to move up to a Porsche.
In spite of the above they were good fun and I remember them fondly.
Good luck!
- joe -
07/11/95 internet> joe.fitzpatrick(at)compudata.com
~ CMPQwk 1.42-R2 9017 ~Sorry... my mind has a few bad sectors.
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