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Restoration on my Hillman Hunter
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 8:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whilst checking the fluids on the hunter I found the radiator to be a bit low so topped it up and went for a ride, then when I got back, opened the bonnet to find water on the top tank on the radiator and small bubbles coming out of the top tank. Therefore there are one or more pinholes which I'll have to investigate after taking the rad out yet again!!
Oh the joys of old cars!!!
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Never touched the radiator, yet, but had some dilemma when it was taken for the VRT (MOT in Malta) and the headlamps were pointed at saying they would not pass the car because one of the headlamps had some (very light) surface rust on the reflector.
I was going to separate the glass bowls from the reflectors and tidy them up but found out it was quite difficult and risked damaging the glass bowls by doing so. Another option was found when I called a friend who had lots of these hunters throughout the years and dismantled many of them for parts and I was lucky as he had a pair which looked almost brand new. They had some rust on the outside so I sanded them down and repainted them in a darker shade then fitted them to the car and whilst at it put some new halogen bulbs on too. The result was great.
However it was not over yet as it started misfiring badly and after checking the electrics (which by the way almost all were new), the culprit was found to be the stromberg carb so a kit and new needle was ordered together with a new gas pedal and new gas cable (I had broken the original whilst fault finding).
The difference this made to the car was amazing. Last weekend it was taken for the VRT again and passed so it will now grace the maltese roads for another two years at least.
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colwyn500



Joined: 21 Oct 2012
Posts: 1745
Location: Nairn, Scotland

PostPosted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great news that Bob. You have 2 year MOTs?
How many miles a year would the average person cover in Malta?
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh well I do not travel much, but my average on the daily is around the 8000 kms per year.
The others I have found out they barely do 250 miles per year!!
The most used of my oldies, my blue mini, does around 500 miles a year!
I still service them once a year changing oil, filters and coolant and its getting rather expensive.
I service my daily twice a year too!
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Last sunday took the hunter out again to a localish family park, pleasant drive to and from and lovely weather, very hot for this time of year!!!
As usual no camera at hand so no photos!!
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 11:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yesterday I took the hunter out for a run together with wife and kids on board. It was a pleasant drive to a local wood and the roads once there were nice and twisty.
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, been some time since I updated this thread!!
Well The hunter behaved marvelously throughout this time but lately, towards christmas time, I took it out for a drive only to find out there's something amiss with the brakes and also some of the electrics not functioning!!
The electrics were easily atributed to a duff fuse, number 1 to be precise, after following the circuit diagram on the haynes (who says haynes manuals are useless!). The brakes are still pending since I haven't had the time yet, so it is not getting any use!! I have also trouble with my green mini right now!!!
Oh dear!!!! Rolling Eyes
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

checked the brakes on saturday and found out the servo unit is the culprit, its pissing out hydraulic fluid so since I knew I had a brand new old stock similar unit in my stock of spares, I went to search for it at my mum's house. Found it and its ready in the boot so that nexxt sturday I will hopefully have the time to swap them over. Will try and find a kit to rebuild the original one though and keep it as a spare!

Anyone know whether you need to bleed the new servo once its installed?
Never did it before.
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 11:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So on saturday I took off the old servo unit and put in the new one I had lying around.
Started the car and bled the brakes and all looks ok. On Sunday took it out for a family outing to a nearby wood and it performed as normal, though there are a couple of issues more which I need to investigate. Some sounds when pulling off and a different sound when braking. I could also smell petrol from inside which is not normal and checked the carb for over fuelling but it looked ok. Will investigate further next time when I take it out for a short run on my own.
I am preparing a list of to dos on all my cars!!
Looks like it never ends!!
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 12:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So radiator on the hunter was leaking a bit from the top tank, it had small pinholes in some places so decided on taking off and handing it over to a specialist to have a new top tank fitted and the radiator cleaned.
Will see when its ready now!!!
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So the radiator was re installed a couple of weeks ago after it had received a new top tank. Before though, some polishing of the new top tank was done and some new paint on the rest as well!!
Last week it got a couple of new universal joints between the shaft and diff and the gearbox and all the aforementioned (in the other post) noises went away. I will now be ordering new bushes for the rear springs, a new diff oil seal, as its leaking slightly and a kit to repair the old servo unit.

Looks like I'll never have some time to relax though with these old cars!!

However on sunday i.e. yesterday, a good run was given to the thing and it performed faultlessly and was quite fun to drive around in. Right now its the best its ever been since I've had it. I am sure I will continue to find things I could improve on so stay tuned Wink
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Last sunday, I had the hunter out and about for the whole day. Used to commute and for family outings and never missed a beat!
It got loaded up with my children's bicycles in the boot and 4 adults (me included) and my two daughters seated comfortably inside and I had fun driving it around. A week ago the ignition light came on and stayed on and when checking with an auto electrician friend , the reply was it needed a new or better control box. I managed to set the points on it a bit tighter and is now ok. Probably the gap was a bit too big since the points in the control box are a little worn. Will do for the time being. I do have a used spare if needs be.
New ones are available for around 30 GBP so not expensive either.
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 3:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So my hunter is still going strong too. Its had other faults though!!
It should be almost a new car by now as I've practically changed everything!!
Over a year ago the steering box let go in a big way whilst doing a 3 point turn!!
Had to tow it back home. Thankfully I had another steering box in the loft but when that was fitted, the feeling was a bit awkward and vague. I got another box from a friend and got him a thrust bearing from speedy spares as payment!
This box I gave to an engineering shop to renew the internals. After a couple of months of calls from my side it was finally ready to fit back to the car. This was duly done and the result was great!
Then the radiator started pissing out water from the bottom tank so it had to come out once again!!
It was sorted and I as usual had to respray it as I was not liking the polished finished on the top tank anymore!!
A rubber washer was found and shoved in the radiator cap for a better seal, and I also took off the white walls since they were getting a bit tatty with the idea of getting a new set but I liked the look without more and that's how it is sitting now!

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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Hunter has now gone to a new home.
It is now residing at our sister island, Gozo.
Might point the new owner in this direction if I remember!!

I do miss it sometimes!! Sad
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Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Oct 21, 2020 4:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bob2 wrote:
The Hunter has now gone to a new home.
It is now residing at our sister island, Gozo.
Might point the new owner in this direction if I remember!!

I do miss it sometimes!! Sad


Have you replaced it with something else?

RJ
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