First start of custom built Honda Goldwing 1500cc flat six engine to be swapped into my car. Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-01-22 | I'm so happy! Wow. This has been a long time coming and its a huge milestone to be at this point. This first start is on the default base map loaded onto my megasquirt ms3x ecu. No tuning whatsoever at this point. I can only run it for a few seconds as there is no coolant system set up yet. The engine was originally a standard GL1500 Goldwing engine that arrived on a pallet - destined to fit into my 1965 Hillman Imp car.With its stock transmission built into the sump it was too tall and long to fit where I wanted.After stripping it right down I chopped the casing down in height, removing everything below the crank. I then proceeded to remake the engine to suit its location and bolt up to a subaru Leone transaxle. Custom parts I've made in our workshop include..Crank case lower and easily removable sump cover to suit.Oil pump system remade completely starting with original Goldwing pump, turned 180 degrees, driven by custom sprockets and a sturdy bmx chain off a custom crank hub. New oilways and oil filter moved to the side of the block on a custom pedestal.Custom flywheel with subaru ring gear. Custom bellhousing to suit Subaru Transaxle. Subaru clutch disc, Honda prelude clutch cover. Honda civic starter and alternator (goldwing engines rotate anti clockwise)Custom inlet with welded on injector bosses. Custom brazed steel sidefeed fuel rail to suit Nissan Micra injectors. Custom inlet plenum where originally there sat two carburetors. Honda integra throttle body. Custom stainless steel headers, matched length. Custom front plate with engine mount points.Many other things I have no doubt forgotten at this point but if interested you folks can read the entire build thread here... oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-hillman-imp-honda-flat-six-pommy-cars-and-their-power-of-incontinenceNext step is to plumb in a makeshift radiator and test the electric water pump and system for leaks. I can then tune the start and idle to a better state.
First start in 9 years of Honda CX650 Euro after a light restoration. Yellowhammer Workshop 2026-08-04 | I've given this bike a light restoration after having purchased it a couple of months ago. I could only run the engine for a few seconds as I've not yet filled the cooling system. Really happy with how easily it started up and also that it seems pretty quiet. Looking forward to the first ride!
Just arrived. Our 1989 Honda Goldwing GL1500 - about as close to a Tron bike as we can get. Yellowhammer Workshop 2026-02-02 | We scored this beautiful machine a week ago after having been on a search for a suitable one ever since fitting a Goldwing 1500 motor into my Hillman imp a few years ago. The bike arrived yesterday afternoon and it's first time ever riding a big bike, let alone a 400kg Goldwing. Quite a difference to the 70's Honda Sl125 I used to commute on. Wow. Its amazing !!! So lovely to ride and it sounds fantastic. In fact its a better sounding exhaust than the current one on my Imp (starts planning next exhaust build)I'll get some on bike vids soon.
Hillman Imp + Goldwing flat six drive bys with exhaust box version 3 Yellowhammer Workshop 2025-05-17 | I dismantled version one and it has gifted its shell for this new setup. Its now much simpler with added X pipe in the middle. Filled fairly tightly with glass mat exhaust packing. Still two in, two out but with the tail pipes now routed to each corner to catch the airflow and not get sucked back into the cabin.The exhaust note now has a deeper burble at idle and the flat six sound is far more evident at pace. Quiet when cruising along with no droning present at all. Really opens up and wails beautifully when giving it some jandal (or flip flops, thongs...but really, that just doesn't sound right eh?)Edit: I've since realised that my phone camera was set to low video frame rate hence the poor, grainy quality of picture. More info on the build including this exhaust can be found on my build thread here...oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-hillman-imp-road-trip/page/6/#comments
Exhaust silencer box version two. Work in progress... Yellowhammer Workshop 2025-03-11 | I the process of chasing the ideal exhaust sounds that I want from this little flat six I have built a completely new exhaust box. The original box was a straight through system with twin centre exit tailpipes. It had a bit of a drone and didn't really have the flat six sound at lower revs that I'm after. It sounded more like a straight six. Not a bad sound - as I am quite partial to a nice sounding straight six. But not what I want.We were also unable to stop the exhaust fumes from entering the car when the side windows were down, even after sealing up every single gap we could find. This new box I have constructed is a replica of the original classic 911 exhaust silencer. Fully stainless construction again. I'm still not totally happy with the sound. It is better when just cruising. The drone has gone. Best thing is we can now drive with the windows down and not have fumes getting drawn in!This box is work in progress. Since this video was taken I have already strengthened the base to stop thrumming and have more modifications to try. My aim is to get a bit more bass back in.More details of this exhaust construction on my build thread here...oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-hillman-imp-a-bit-of-interior-decorating/page/6/#comment-2699509
Honda Goldwing1500cc flat six idling quite smoothly at 650 rpm Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-08-06 | Just a short video I took while doing some more tuning today. I think its quite neat how this little engine can idle at such a low rpm considering its a got a very lightweight flywheel and the idle tune is nowhere near perfected. I have since wound the idle bleed screw out a half turn so its now idling around 750 rpm. This should assist with smoother take off from stationary etcI'm using a Megasquirt MS3X ECU running on the msextra code and set up on fully sequential injection and wasted spark. I've also built a new svelte expansion tank and covered the engine bulkhead for a neater cleaner symmetrical look in the engine bay.More info on the project can be found here...oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-hillman-imp-911-build-drive-by-vids-turn-the-sound-up/page/6/#comment-2656789
Honda Goldwing flat-six engine Hillman imp drive by videos Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-06-30 | Please watch on something with good speakers - this sounds terrible played back through my phone! There's some lovely bass to be heard. I love it!Only the 4th proper drive since the conversion but we are getting more confident with its ability to hold together with less fear that the engine or transmission might spew its guts out all over the road. Such is the way of a project with so many untried aspects to the powertrain. The tuning is still not bang on but for a few drive by squirts its fine and I even saw 6000 rpm in one of them. Its just soooo super smooth and effortless for such a little engine.For more details on conversion please see previous first drive video or you can read the full project thread here ...oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-hillman-imp-911-build-first-drive/page/6/#comment-2649236
Worlds first rear mounted Honda Goldwing flat six engine swap. Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-06-22 | First drive of my Imp with custom built Honda engine and Subaru transmission. This engine and transmission build had many experimental aspects to it and I was not going to know if they worked until I drove it. Very happy to find out that it all seems ok. It was a very wet drive and the engine is not yet tuned properly so I had to restrain myself.There are some teething issues I'll have to sort out and I'll be writing about those in my next build thread update that you can read here...oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-hillman-imp-911-build-flat-six-in-getting-tight-in-there/page/6Basic details of this engine build are as follows....After stripping it right down I chopped the casing down in height, removing everything below the crank. I then proceeded to remake the engine to suit its location and bolt up to a subaru Leone transaxle. Custom parts I've made in our workshop include..Crank case lower and easily removable sump cover to suit.Oil pump system remade completely starting with original Goldwing pump, turned 180 degrees, driven by custom sprockets and a sturdy bmx chain off a custom crank hub. New oilways and oil filter moved to the side of the block on a custom pedestal.Custom flywheel with subaru ring gear. Custom bellhousing to suit Subaru Transaxle. Subaru clutch disc, Honda prelude clutch cover. Honda civic starter and alternator (goldwing engines rotate anti clockwise)Custom inlet with welded on injector bosses. Custom brazed steel sidefeed fuel rail to suit Nissan Micra injectors. Custom inlet plenum where originally there sat two carburetors. Honda integra throttle body. Custom stainless steel headers, matched length. Custom front plate with engine mount points.
Exhaust valves on custom built silencer for car mounted Honda Goldwing flat six. Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-04-20 | As per title. Does what it says 'in' the tin :-) For more info see my build thread here...oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-hillman-imp-honda-flat-six-silencer-build-exhausting-work/page/5/#comment-2634343
Thrust washer that also acts as oil pump for Subaru Leone 1.8 fwd transmission. Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-02-21 | Due to the input into this Leone transmission is reversed in my application I had to make this item from scratch, an exact copy of the original, but fully reversed. After machining I fully heat treated, tempered and polished it as per original. Just a short video to show its pumping effect that drives the oil through the needle bearings within the gears.
That flat six overrun rasp. I love it! Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-02-05 | Moved the water pump into a lower position, got the cooling system sorted and finally had the engine running for a good decent time. Tuned the idle once off the warmup curves and gave the engine some proper jandal. It sounds fantastic!
Honda goldwing flat six engine with custom Mandalorian spaceship plenum chamber - for real... Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-01-31 | Now with added coolant system for more bench testing. See first start up video for more engine/project details.
3rd start - this time with temporary silencers attached. Yellowhammer Workshop 2024-01-28 | Some small issues to sort. Its got a makeshift cooling system but needs a bleed point adding on the top pipe between the heads as there's an airlock I cant clear. Until that's sorted I still wont run it for long.
Flat six Mandalorian spaceship Yellowhammer Workshop 2022-11-01 | Just a bit of fun in my engine build. I couldn't resist doing this after the idea popped into my head. Very happy with the end result.The engine is a 1500cc flat six from a 1988 Honda Goldwing. It has been somewhat fully re-engineered in order to fit it into my 1965 Hillman Imp.Some of the work involved so far includes... Ditching all of the original transmission then chopping the engine crankcase down in height by 60mm and creating a new sump. Changing the oil pump location, machining all new feed and supply lines, a custom chain drive system for the pump, oil filter mount. A bellhousing made to bolt up a Subaru Leone transaxle and starter motor, custom flywheel with a mix of Honda/Subaru clutch to suit. A custom front pulley and alternator setup.Most recently this - the inlet manifold setup to suit fuel injection with full standalone engine management. Then this plenum :-) Still a lot of work to go but I'm getting through it and its been a super fun project so far.
Dawn chorus at our place Yellowhammer Workshop 2020-10-22 | There's always some lovely birdsong here in the morning so today I thought I'd take a little video of it. Most of the usual birds one can expect to find singing in morning in the top of the south Island are here. My favourite are the bellbirds and the Tuis. Earlier in the morning there were the fun chortles made by the two kea parrots that have taken residence in the trees above us but they take off early before the rest for adventures. There's a mixture of native birds and introduced here. You can easily hear the neighbours cockerels over the road telling the world to wake up. The closest birds to me when filming was a pair of little fantails, happy that it looks to be a lovely sunny day for them.Missing is the sound of the grey warblers. They are around and I love their song but they never seem to be up singing as early as the rest.
Taking the Hino housetruck for some gravel skids Yellowhammer Workshop 2020-10-15 | Out and about in the 1985 Hino housetruck checking everything was fine for its road worthiness test the following day (where it passed with flying colours - yay! )I wanted to check that the brakes were balanced so on gravel is a nice simple way to check by looking at the skids/the way it pulls. One brake needed backing off slightly and they all came up good in the test.The truck has been sold to a local family so we shall soon start a fresh build - much excite at the prospect of a new housetruck project! Most likely build onto another Hino truck if we can find a suitable one.
Kill devil track, Golden Bay, New Zealand Yellowhammer Workshop 2020-04-09 | If you like long hard technical Mtb climbs then this is a good one! Fantastic views and very peaceful. Take lots of water because there's none available until you cross a steam as you head down from the highest point.
Bedford KM with Detroit 6V71 2 stroke diesels Yellowhammer Workshop 2020-01-17 | Spotted (and heard) these two beauties coming up the road, charging hard through the gears with the distinctive 2 stroke V6 engines blaring loudly. I pulled over in my Hillman Imp and took a quick video. Made my day... What a cool sound! These two trucks are well maintained and cherished by a local company here in Motueka and are often seen out on the road, the drivers grinning ear to ear, as they make all the shop front windows rattle.
Pendon Museum trains and dioramas Yellowhammer Workshop 2019-09-14 | A short video I made from a collection of clips I took on my phone. A simply amazing place to visit. The detail and effort that has gone into building the scene is fantastic. Well worth visiting even if you're not into model trains etc. The kids that were there at the time were also finding the models fascinating.
Hillman Imp with Datsun engine - first drive after a full restoration Yellowhammer Workshop 2019-05-19 | My first drive of the 1965 Hillman Imp that I have spent the last 12 months restoring, having rescued the shell from a field where it had been for many years. It required a lot of new steel inc sills, floors, guard bottoms, bonnet etc. The engine fitted is a Datsun A12 which attaches to the standard Imp transaxle via an alloy adapter plate. The Datsun engine is not a lot heavier then the standard Imp engine, is quite a bit more powerful, has much better torque and should make for a good reliable little workhorse. As is often the case with such projects this one took a lot longer and cost me a fair bit more than expected. But it was fun! I'm very proud of rescuing it and am very excited about driving it on the small twisty roads where we live. It went well in this first drive, sounds much nicer than I was expecting and what a lovely late Autumn day for it, here in sunny Tasman District, NZ. You can read more about the restoration of this Imp here.... oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/58204-yoeddynzs-1965-datsun-powered-hillman-imp-oh-so-closeand-then/&
Vauxhall Chevette with Mazda 12a Rotary Bridgeport Yellowhammer Workshop 2018-11-11 | Friends car that's come in for electrical work. I love it! Its so obnoxiously loud and just perfect while it sits with a gentle brap as its warming up, the subtle whine from the Gillez and the quaint smell of two stroke oil wafting about in the air. Oh how I miss my Rotorvette so. Its true what the great Uncle Era, Aka oldones, told me many moons ago - once Rotaries get in your blood you cant get them out.
Triumph mk1 2500 PI running megasquirt fuel injection - one of the first drives. Yellowhammer Workshop 2018-11-11 | A friends lovely tidy Triumph Mk1 2500 which has been uprated. Bored out to 2600cc, fast road cam, PI ITBs, MS2 ECU running MS Extra code. Only the second day he's been driving it so still lots of tuning to do. Cant yet rev it beyond 4000 rpm due to running in. Lovely sound from a Chris Witor exhaust. Check out his goofy happy smile! :-) You can read more about the project here on the awesome forum oldschool. His build thread... oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/50398-gozzas-68-mk1-trumpet/&tab=comments#comment-1598929
Vauxhall Viva with Mazda quad cam V6 first drive. Yellowhammer Workshop 2013-04-07 | After three months since I pulled out the previous turbo charged Mazda 12A rotary engine we are taking the Viva for its first run with the new engine. Its the fourth different engine this car has seen in my hands. This time its a Mazda MX6 engine. Its the higer spec JDM version which as standard comes with about 200bhp. Normally fitted transversely in FWD cars I have adapted it to rear wheel drive with an adaptor plate I made from 10mm alloy plate and steel inserts which allowed me to fit it to the Rx7 gearbox already in place. Pretty bl--dy happy...
Bedford CF on Ford Falcon chassis Yellowhammer Workshop 2012-12-14 | First test drive in the Bedford/ Ford Au 1999 Falcon combination I have been building at work. Drives very well and very happy to see it moving. It is a Falcon front from the dash down- front chassis, entire front beam and suspension and drivetrain. In fact just think of it as a Ford Falcon with a CF van lowered on top. Will be a very nice van to drive! So far it certainly seems that way ;-)
1968 Vauxhall Viva HB 12A turbo rotary first drive vids Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-10-31 | These are the first drive-by videos I have taken since the car became fully road legal. We took the car for a spin up the Dashwood hills near Blenheim, NZ. It goes pretty well but never seems as quick when watching it on video.
Driving through Pembridge, UK, in my Rx3 coupe, past 800 year old buildings. Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-10-08 | Such a cool town on the A44 that we would often pass through on the way to Wales for mountain biking trips. This town is well known for having lots of very old timber framed buildings. As you drive through you can see how wonky the timber frame work with some of the houses on quite a lean.
NSU spider single rotor engine Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-10-08 | Worlds first rotary powered production car. Quite rare little beasties. This one was at Rotechnics re-opening day celebrations. I wish I had taken more vids of it.
Trial run in Mazda 12A, Elford carb turbo, powered Vauxhall Viva HB Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-10-07 | Setup is a lightly street ported 12a with 1980's Elford engineering carb turbo setup. Small turbo sucking through a SU carb, providing 5 psi boost for circa 170 bhp.
Maine coon cats going for a country walk. Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-09-27 | We would often go out for a long weekend afternoon walk in the country side where we lived near Oxford, UK. Our two Maine coon cats, Ren and Stimpy, just started coming along with us and loved it. It became a regular activity for them. We would stop at a little wooden bridge over a stream, drink some beer, while the cats would chill in the sun.
1968 Viva with carbd turbo rotary. Some idling sounds - post a mild tune Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-09-19 | Taken via my phone camera so a bit 'noisy' + the cooling fan making is making most of the noise in the engine bay. Still not quite right yet- I think the SU carb dashpot oil is a touch thin as it leans out when I stab the throttle. Very much looking forwards to getting this one the road!
Our house on the move Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-08-22 | Following our housetruck on the big move from Blenheim to Nelson over the Whangamoa hills.
Cunning storage solutions in our housetruck Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-07-19 | After much careful planning we were able to build storage areas for all the important items needed in a housetruck. See our housetruck build here...http://oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=21684
HRD-Vincent motorbike taking off from outside work Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-07-19 | Beautiful bike- awesome sound. Just lovely! Video took outside Summertown cycles in Oxford.
Starting my 1972 Mazda Rx3 coupe up after having restored it. Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-07-19 | Re-powered with a 1985 series 3 Rx7 12a engine. Slightly rough Idle due to a couple of vacuum pipes being left unhooked on manifold.
Mazda 1972 Rx3 coupe driveby in Oxfordshire, UK Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-07-19 | Out enjoying my 'new' car after I had fully restored it in Aug 2008. I was the second owner and apart from the uprated engine is completely original. I re-powered it with a 12A from a series 3 Rx7.
Vauxhall Chevette with Mazda 12A rotary engine first start. Yellowhammer Workshop 2011-07-19 | I finished building this car in May 2007. Was a very very fun car!
