1968 Hillman Hunter V8 Black Magic

[eviltwin]

This is my recently acquired 1968 Hillman Hunter V8 called 'Black Magic'. Now you may have seen this before in the for sale section, and apart from changing owners, it is still much the same.

I have been researching the history on the car, and I have found a little bit on it. It is powered by a 3.5 Rover V8 with a Boxer cross ram manifold and four SU carbs. The gearbox is a five speed manual from an SD1, with a narrowed Jag IRS. As the photos show, a louvre bonnet, artwork in the engine bay, fuel cell, cherry bombs, Centreline and American Racing wheels, skull headlights and plenty of other goodies.

I will make changes, such as changing the four carb setup, for a single carb, probably an Edelbrock kit. I still need to fix the front lights, as they are not working properly, and the tracking needs a little adjustment.

[BLACKROD]

be interested in the Boxer manifold and carbs if your selling them

[eviltwin]

I will be selling the Boxer set-up, as I have just bought an Edelbrock kit. I will probably get them swapped over in the new year, so I will let you know when it ready.

[BLACKROD]

Ok, will wait

[eviltwin]

Ok, will wait

You definitely have first dibs on it.

[Captain Scarlet]

I like the all black theme

I remember a RV8 Hunter at Thruxton back in the eighties,was Chris Newman's (now has black n candy red 32 coupe).
I think his was a Singer Vogue though.
Or was it badged Humber

[eviltwin]

Ok, will wait

Hi Richard, the boxer setup will be changed out at Thunder Road Speed Shop at the end of Feb.

[BLACKROD]

Hi Richard, the boxer setup will be changed out at Thunder Road Speed Shop at the end of Feb.

Ok, let me know when available and how much

[Acker]

Tidy good looking Street Machine. I like the carb set up on the rover. Is the body as good as it looks?


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[eviltwin]

Tidy good looking Street Machine. I like the carb set up on the rover. Is the body as good as it looks?


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Oh yes, it is better in person, and sounds good to.

[Happydaze]

Looking at the engine bay artistry and then at the straight black exterior, I'm finding it a bit hard to imagine that the exterior wouldn't have also had some serious work in its earlier life, but now repainted. Pure conjecture on my part, but someone who's clearly rather adept with the airbrush surely couldn't have exercised such restraint! Might have a bearing on the history search, or not!

Cool and interesting to see nonetheless. 70's / 80's survivor, probably built at a time when, let's face it, few had the resources/ knowhow to produce quality stuff. Typically cars were on their last legs (rust free from the factory, ie no charge for the rust!) and cobbled together with techniques of the time, whilst also being in daily use. Of course there must have been exceptions.

Chris

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[eviltwin]

Looking at the engine bay artistry and then at the straight black exterior, I'm finding it a bit hard to imagine that the exterior wouldn't have also had some serious work in its earlier life, but now repainted. Pure conjecture on my part, but someone who's clearly rather adept with the airbrush surely couldn't have exercised such restraint! Might have a bearing on the history search, or not!

Cool and interesting to see nonetheless. 70's / 80's survivor, probably built at a time when, let's face it, few had the resources/ knowhow to produce quality stuff. Typically cars were on their last legs (rust free from the factory, ie no charge for the rust!) and cobbled together with techniques of the time, whilst also being in daily use. Of course there must have been exceptions.

Chris

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The artwork was done in the last couple of years. The outside hasn't really changed much since the 80's, except the vinyl roof, wheels, grill and front lights.

[eviltwin]

New induction system has arrived for the Hunter.

[lemonsquash]

I owned this around 10 or so years ago for a short time. It had been off the road for a long time and looking pretty sorry, but pretty solid considering.

Originally built by Andy (?) in the 70's/early 80s. Andy has now moved to New Zealand and is still 'into it'.

If my memory is correct - It came out in primer, then red, then black. It didn't change too much in terms of configuration from how it was back then to how I got it.

I went through a load of stuff in it - some wiring, rear axle freshen up, re-made the dash - the one that's in there now with the recessed rev counter and no other gauges, panels or badges on it, they hung from underneath. Got it ready for the road and sold it. It wasn't 'black magic' then, didn't have any murals, had more 'period' seats, an edelbrock intake/carb, an auto box and the original fuel tank still.

One of the 'features' that andy remembers fondly is the moggy minor front sidelight/indicator units - recessed by use of baked bean tin. I believe it's still in there

Here's a couple of how I got it, and a before/after of the dash. I'll see what else I can come up with.


(?)

[Mattblackbus]

I had this for several years and done some major works on it, removed vinyl roof as the rust had got in, loads of rust repairs. I rebuilt all the brakes, front struts, stronger engine and box and respray. I sold it about 4 ish years ago, I’ve probably got a large file of pics somewhere if interested

[eviltwin]

I had this for several years and done some major works on it, removed vinyl roof as the rust had got in, loads of rust repairs. I rebuilt all the brakes, front struts, stronger engine and box and respray. I sold it about 4 ish years ago, I’ve probably got a large file of pics somewhere if interested

I would be very interested in seeing the pics. I take it that it ran an auto box when you had it? It has a manual 5 speed now, but I will be changing it back to an auto at some point.

[Happydaze]

My ageing memory tells me that the variants of that Rootes group car had phenomenally powerful brakes as standard...... I wonder if they had an eye into the future as to how their cars might be used? So presumably the jag rear is messing things up? I'd be thinking of somehow isolating the rears as part of a test. I'm also not sure about the idea that the jag calipers will take lots of fluid. Well they hold whatever they hold but the volume required to apply them will be quite modest. What does the pedal do if you pump it rapidly? My money is tentatively on a big air bubble somewhere. What's been the bleeding technique? So many variants and opinions! Suggest measuring the various bore diameters before swapping parts.

Chris

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[mygasser]

most all calipers use more volume of fluid to move the piston a given amount. that's simply because of area of the pistons, a caliper piston is much bigger area than a wheel cylinder piston. therefore to move a one inch square piston 1mm will take less fluid than it would to move a three inch square piston 1mm. basically the caliper holds more fluid than the wheel cylinder, it's all about displacement.
neil.

[Blackpopracing]

I'll throw a spanner in the works here, Phils pop that I did the brakes on has jag rears and Viva HA fronts with a single 5/8" M/c (no servo) and suprisingly the brakes are very good. So I'm not sure a bigger M/c will be the fix.

Bigger moves more fluid, but at less pressure.

I'm with Chris, there is probably a high point in the system that is holding air. Does the servo actually work?

[eviltwin]

My ageing memory tells me that the variants of that Rootes group car had phenomenally powerful brakes as standard...... I wonder if they had an eye into the future as to how their cars might be used? So presumably the jag rear is messing things up? I'd be thinking of somehow isolating the rears as part of a test. I'm also not sure about the idea that the jag calipers will take lots of fluid. Well they hold whatever they hold but the volume required to apply them will be quite modest. What does the pedal do if you pump it rapidly? My money is tentatively on a big air bubble somewhere. What's been the bleeding technique? So many variants and opinions! Suggest measuring the various bore diameters before swapping parts.

Chris

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I will have to check and see what happens when pumping the brake pedal fast, but Thunder Road Speed Shop bled the brakes. I am looking at different ways to improve the braking system, and I that many rods have had a similar setup.