Mounting rear shroud rain gutter

I'm installing the rear shroud tomorrow. Is there any benefit to riveting in the rain gutter before installing the shroud or can I just lay the rain gutter in place and hang it on the shroud afterward? As long as the gutter is under the shroud ahead of time its fine, correct? The rain gutter doesn't touch any other point than the shroud, correct?

Painting and installing. Nice holiday break!

Dale

Dale, my rain gutter was fastened to the rear shroud before the shroud was installed. This was done by the gentleman who did all my body and paint work. He specializes in British sports cars, and especially Austin Healeys so I suspect this is the correct way to do it.

Griz

Then I'll do it that way. Thanks Griz.

Dale

Right answer - have you checked that the gutter fits properly? I have yet to replace mine and all the information I have been receiving from the specialist restorers is that the replacement gutters need some modification to make them fit properly.



Bob

My gutter fit nice. Just one question. There are rivet holes in the front of the shroud by the gutter. I've figured out what most are for like to attach chrome but the one on top of the shroud seems to have no purpose. See pic. Maybe it really has no use?

Maybe this pic can help. My BJ-7 has some small angle brackets there.

Dale, I don't have much on this but I'll attach 3 pics of the area that might help. Mine is also a BJ7.
I believe your pic is showing a hole in the top of the chrome strip. I don't think that is suppose to be there. In on of my pics you can see the chrome strip and it has no hole.

Thanks guys. Those pics are very helpful.
Dale

Hi Dale,

Sorry for not responding sooner.

I too installed my rain gutter before replacing my rear shroud. I initially temporarily fixed the gutter to the shroud and fit the combination in place to check the fit and note the placement of misfits that could need pre-attention. As I remember, there no major issues found during the pre-fit of the shroud and therefore installed the gutter to the shroud and fixing the combination in place.

I found most of my shroud installation modifications were to the inner fender, as I had straightened those bends found when dismantling, thinking they were incorrect (no one to talk to in the mid 1980s. When fitting the shroud, I learned that the dents and bends were what was done at the factory to make body parts fit (the use of a hammer for fine body panels fitment was a common approach).

Keep in mind that your pride in your completed Healey will be anchored in the many issues you have overcome with your own creativity and imagination. Although many have generally followed similar approaches in addressing components of their Healey build, most have had to extend on these accepted approaches with their own ingenuity.

Enjoy your Build,
Ray(64BJ8P1)

Thanks for the tips Ray. I may have straightened a few bends that I should not have. So far no worries.

I know that many guys recommend against caulk between the shroud and outer fender. I'm guessing inner fender to shroud is a different story. I should body caulk the shroud, correct?

Dle

Hi Dale,

Yes, I would apply the seam sealer between the inner-fender/shroud and boot-floor/shroud joints.

After fitting the shroud and temporarily fitting the outer fender with bead, adjusting to where I was satisfied, I then removed the outer fenders and beads, I then seam sealed the inner fender to the rear shroud. Since I painted all under and interior metal Black, not retaining the original OEW color in these areas (I never liked the OEW showing through under the fenders or my black interior), and further sealed the rear inner fenders with a non-petroleum undercoating. To date, I have had no water penetrate into the interior from these areas.

RayI(64BJ8P1)

healeyblue said:

Maybe this pic can help. My BJ-7 has some small angle brackets there.

Click to expand...

That bracket should have a piece of rubber attached that closes everything off at that location. Mine is of aluminium and keeps bending, I think that it should be screwed to the metal return to which the general door seal is attached. That would keep it in place.



Bob

Vette/Bob,

The top of my BJ8 Phase 1 is secured to the rear gutter surround with clips and the surround is screwed onto the gutter channel. A flap extends from the bottom of the top on each side and falls into the gutters on each side to drain any collected rain. The door weather strip extends around and is fixed to the top front of each the rear interior panel and finished with the silver metal clip shown in your picture.

Although my BJ8 P1 has some differences with the BJ7, I have had no difficulty with water intrusion at that area. I am presently researching how to properly sew in a new rear window, with zipper, on my replacement top installed in 1971 purchased from Sears as my first attempt at sewing in a new zipper looked good but too often separated.

Hope this provides some help,
Ray(64BJ8P1)

Hey Ray , I see your location is the Jersey shore . Years ago there was a canvas shop on Long Beach Island and every now and then , they used to do work like that . Name of the shop was Quik Canvas . I think they're still there . I hope this helps . BobbyR

Hi Bobby,

Thank you for the reference but I am much further North, close to Red Bank. Although my top is old (I installed it in 1971), it is in reasonably good condition but needs a new window and zipper installed. I have removed the top from the car so can bring it to a sail, canvas, and top servicer. I have contacted a number of locals but all seem to see limited dollars and high risk for their time. All have indicated not being available to provide this service, or quote a price, but I expect their reluctance is motivated by the risk of top material separation from past sewing perforations further mitigated by the age of the top. I am still trying to figure how to do this by hand as sewing in a zipper around the turns in the window is more complicated then I ever thought.

Thanks again and suggest you get your car done so you can attend the Positive Earth Driver Club's "Brits on the Beach" car show in Ocean Grove.
Ray(teBJ8P1)