Hi-Jet Pick-up Project..

nice work

to test it you should give it a verry aggresive 20 min drive
then park it up when still running and watch it for 10 minutes.

Have to agree with Scotia, it has been found that they can do the standing test fine but real test is when they have been or are under load. Mine was exactly same, worked a treat just stood on drive, fan kicking in etc but started to overheat and blow water out after a good run so be aware of that. Dont want to put a damper on things as fingers crossed its fine but just be aware of it.

scotia wrote:nice work

to test it you should give it a verry aggresive 20 min drive
then park it up when still running and watch it for 10 minutes.

"Honestly officer, Scotia told me to drive like I stole it to test the cooling system....I'll just keep it running while I sit in your car"

Raggy wrote:Have to agree with Scotia, it has been found that they can do the standing test fine but real test is when they have been or are under load. Mine was exactly same, worked a treat just stood on drive, fan kicking in etc but started to overheat and blow water out after a good run so be aware of that. Dont want to put a damper on things as fingers crossed its fine but just be aware of it.

Really appreciate your advice Raggy and Scotia, you can't buy experience but you can get sage advice from knowledgeable forum members.I'll be following said advice to the letter ... a good thrashing then leave it running to see if it pukes it's guts up...noted and will do.

CycleKart UK wrote:

scotia wrote:nice work

to test it you should give it a verry aggresive 20 min drive
then park it up when still running and watch it for 10 minutes.

"Honestly officer, Scotia told me to drive like I stole it to test the cooling system....I'll just keep it running while I sit in your car"

Up big hills is the best test, but that ain't happening in holland.

You may be surprised there, its not all flat!

HighlyJetted wrote:Up big hills is the best test, but that ain't happening in holland.

'cept I'm in Sheffield and you can't get much hillier...or bumpier...roads are shocking...loads of speed bumps and potholes everywhere...there was even a sinkhole reported the other day big enough to have swallowed a hijet..

So in truth my normal driving and route to work will be great for testing the cooling system , several long inclines, some 50-70 mph stretches and it takes me 20 mins. The return journey will be the ultimate test as I'm always late and there are steeper inclines on the way back.

You forgot to mention the deadly tram tracks!

I hadn't considered the tram tracks, the hijet's 155s will probably drop into the tracks and I'll be able to go to town without steering...

I re-fitted the final pieces of the interior, again between rain showers...seats in, wheel on, etc. added a gallon of juice and headed off on the pickup's maiden voyage,well a quick nip around the crescent actually..well 2 laps truth be known because it drives really well. I'd only driven it up the drive when it was delivered so good to actually go through the basics. I reversed it in this time so i've got easier access to the pick-up bed. That's the next bit coming off, there's a couple of rusty fuel and brake pipes that need replacing so i figured it easier access without the bed in situ. Any hints and tips on removal welcome ie is it a one man lift because my ickle helper is not too good in the muscle department.
   The other thing i need to source is an ignition barrel and key, although the key and barrel fitted is functioning the barrel is loose and any key or screwdriver works in it, so if anyone has one i'd be interested , pm me with price inc postage, cheers Mark

Bed is actually quite heavy, two man lift off is easier but it can be done lone ranger, but be careful not to bash the edges on the floor.

Brake lines are always knackard!

Only hints for the bed:-

Handbrake cables need removing from bed bracket. Undo all the bolts, unplug tail lamp wires, thats about it!

HighlyJetted wrote:Bed is actually quite heavy, two man lift off is easier but it can be done lone ranger, but be careful not to bash the edges on the floor.

Brake lines are always knackard!

Only hints for the bed:-

Handbrake cables need removing from bed bracket. Undo all the bolts, unplug tail lamp wires, thats about it!

Cheers HJ..i'll update with progress pics later in the week..

HJ gave me a quick heads up on the bed removal.I had some free time tonight so i set about the task and everything was removed relatively quickly and without incident. I was working alone so i tipped the bed off the chassis and onto some tyres (from last years potato harvest) that where in the wife's part of the garden.
The underpinnings of the pick-up are covered in very dry,light brown dirt/soil . This seems to have protected the majority of the chassis and it's components from the  elements with only minimal activity from the rust beetle to treat (or so it appears). Fuel lines and filter need replacing however a cursory inspection of the brake lines shows them in good order retaining the factory black coated finish. I'll have another look once the chassis is clean, but first impressions are good.The load compensator valve looks to be seized so that will need sorting and there is some surface rust on the underside of the bed and to the rear of the chassis that needs fettling. I'll get round to power washing the chassis and bed tomorrow hopefully and i'll be able to see what lies beneath the crud.    

That actually looks like white paint under all that clay dust stuff.

Rare find is paint underneath a hijet.

HighlyJetted wrote:That actually looks like white paint under all that clay dust stuff.

Rare find is paint underneath a hijet.

It all seems quite solid so far , just have to keep my fingers crossed that the power washer doesn't start blowing huge holes through the chassis members...need to search stripping the proportioning valve down now.

Just before you disturb anything, I need to tell you some stuff about the lspv.

HighlyJetted wrote:Just before you disturb anything, I need to tell you some stuff about the lspv.

You have my full attention HJ...do tell...

For a car that didn't had a rust protection treatment it looks pretty good! Only the fuel and vacuum lines appear a bit rusty. Or is that also dirt? I don't know what you payed for it, but for a gamble from ebay, i think you made a very nice deal!

What is the thing next to the battery?

Can't wait to see it all cleaned up!

PvdB wrote:For a car that didn't had a rust protection treatment it looks pretty good! Only the fuel and vacuum lines appear a bit rusty. Or is that also dirt? I don't know what you payed for it, but for a gamble from ebay, i think you made a very nice deal!

What is the thing next to the battery?

Can't wait to see it all cleaned up!

The thing next to the battery is a 7 pin trailer socket, I've not checked it out but I'm thinking it was what a camper plugged into. I'm waiting for the v5 to come back to see if it was registered as a camper ( I had a hpi enquiry on it and it wasn't conclusive) it would explain the missing gearbox access panel and lack of sides and tailgate though.

Not much progress tonight apart from a quick jet wash

Some Por15 rust treatment and some white stonechip on the rear of the chassis , i replaced the fuel lines,filter and the breather pipe from the tank to the filter. I'll be using stonechip on the top of the chassis rails and bed support towers, any rust has been treated with Por15.

Just for my own curiosity a before , during and after ( well so far )

Nice work! Watching this space intently to find out how you did those headlamp internals. Sure they'll pass the mot easily. Mine were quite orange and got an advisory last year so need to pull my finger out and sort them.

Who will win, the chrome spray thread or you mystery technique....? Gets popcorn...

Nice going man! You got some nice progress! To bad I don't had time lately, but hopefully upcoming evenings I'm able to make some time for my project. You brought that rear axle really back to life. Looks great. And Nice job on those fuel lines. Inventive place to put the fuel filter

Yours looks a lot like mine when I've bought it. Same places that needed attention. Only yours has a bit more rust on the back. But my chassis was pretty bad just behind the cabin. Where the overlap of the metal is.

I assume that it is just a thin layer of rust, or are some places rotten? Sometimes it looks worse than it actually is.

Looking forward to the next update and all the other plans that you have in mind

sputnik wrote:Nice work! Watching this space intently to find out how you did those headlamp internals. Sure they'll pass the mot easily. Mine were quite orange and got an advisory last year so need to pull my finger out and sort them.

Who will win, the chrome spray thread or you mystery technique....? Gets popcorn...

All will be revealed if they pass the MOT, ( i have my fingers crossed ) i don't want to give anyone false hope.

PvdB wrote:Nice going man! You got some nice progress! To bad I don't had time lately, but hopefully upcoming evenings I'm able to make some time for my project. You brought that rear axle really back to life. Looks great. And Nice job on those fuel lines. Inventive place to put the fuel filter

Yours looks a lot like mine when I've bought it. Same places that needed attention. Only yours has a bit more rust on the back. But my chassis was pretty bad just behind the cabin. Where the overlap of the metal is.

I assume that it is just a thin layer of rust, or are some places rotten? Sometimes it looks worse than it actually is.

Looking forward to the next update and all the other plans that you have in mind

I think i caught the rust just in time, its just surface rust, the POR15 rust treatment i have is very good but works best if rust is present , so with it being a chassis i have wire brushed the offending areas and then applied the POR15. The finish is not glass smooth but i then paint it with stonechip which is quite thick and gloopy , but ideal for the chassis areas. The axle was wire brushed and treated with POR15 then sprayed with hammerite smooth.

Its not a full nut and bolt restoration that i'm doing, but i think the little pick-up deserves a wipe with an oily cloth so to speak.

Quote "And Nice job on those fuel lines. Inventive place to put the fuel filter "

My local spares shop didn't have a Hijet fuel filter so i used a Corsa filter , i moved the pipes around a bit so the bed can be detached with 1 less bolt

After an agonising wait the DVLA have decided that they will issue a V5 for the pickup. Not remarkable you may think but this little fella has had a chequered past. Originally it was bedecked with a camper pod and used as a backup vehicle in the 2002 Mille Miglia for the works Piaggio Scooter and Sidecar Race Team. It was then sold to persons unknown who probably enjoyed some European camping trips in comfort and style before being stolen and used in the Hatton Garden robbery as the second get away vehicle. Probably chosen for its huge carrying capacity and slim hips the Hijet would have slipped easily between the congestion charge bollards , akin to a modern day Italian Job. Offers for the pickup have been numerous, Europe's most highly renowned collectors and museums amongst those barely interested, but this pickup isn't for sale yet. I can now subject it to the rigours of an MOT test and possibly The Neverbeenguring.

It's been a while since my last post, however I've managed to find the time to get it mot'd today. It passed without so much as an advisory so that was good. I drove the pickup to work this morning and the drive is certainly err entertaining. The first speed bump ( approached with caution ) was probably cleared by the back wheels the second speed bump was taken sooo much slower. Steep Sheffield inclines and a thrash on the A57 and the temp gauge was rock solid ( just above half way). Another thrash with speeds approaching 60 mph confirmed the cooling system and chocolate head gasket to be fine. I used a blue tooth OBD2 reader and Torque app on my phone to show me running temps of 93 to 97 deg C, mixture was a bit lean but I'm putting that down to not having been run on the road for so long, it was fine for the mot and will probably sort itself out after a long steady drive. So overall I'm quite pleased with the recommisioning, I'll get use to the driving, I'll post some pics tomorrow.