So i have the bits of the Jigsaw - How do i finish the car ?

[chicken]

I have the BJ7 up and running and want to get the hood on so i can actually drive the car this summer to my wife's sisters wedding ! Its been a while since i last uncovered the car.
I have the hood folding frame with a wooden bow, i think i have a tonneau chrome moulding, the Ali finisher strip, seal strip

I need a new drain channel as mine is shot, the book also shows a rail trim hood rear ??

I am a bit confused as to where to start.

1. i need to mount the hood brackets

fit a new drain channel

i can then get my trimmer to fit a new hood but want to understand how all the bits/finishes go together, please help so i can impress my sister in law !!

 

[DerekJ]

Best bet is to find a club member close by with a BJ7 then go and inspect it and take some photos.

Do you have the AH Spares catalogue? Those diagrams should also help.

 

[chicken]

Derek, good idea, yes have a AH spares book and others (allthough old ones)

Any BJ7 members on here from Norfolk !!

 

[Randy Forbes]

I did a BJ8 top a few years ago, and took a slew of pictures during the process; you might see something there that will help...

The whole job here: https://spcarsplus.com/gallery3/index.php/reMKIII/top_work For more detail, opened images can be clicked on a second time for full resolution.

 

[stevebn2bj7]

Hopefully you do not have the rear half of the body permanently attached. That drain channel needs to be attached to the rear shroud BEFORE you rivet it to the chassis. Impossible to get it in otherwise.

 

[chicken]

Steven, Oh that may be a problem then, rear shroud is all fixed !!!

Any suggestions, tricks on how to fix the drain channel in situ ? shrink to the size of an ant and have many hands ?

 

[stevebn2bj7]

Unfortunately no. You may not have to remove it entirely but the fenders would need to be removed if they are installed, then the two large pop rivets would need to be removed to rotate the shroud up. The lip of the drain channel needs to be behind the lip of the shroud.

The only other thing I can think of is to bend the shroud lip up, insert the drain channel and then bend the shroud lip back. But that leads to great risk of damage to the paint and body work.

Sorry for the bad news.

 

[stevebn2bj7]

From Randy Forbes' photo gallery. Notice how the drain channel is behind the shroud.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Hopefully you do not have the rear half of the body permanently attached. That drain channel needs to be attached to the rear shroud BEFORE you rivet it to the chassis. Impossible to get it in otherwise.

The body shop that did my Healey forgot to put the drain channel back in. Options were to undo half of the shroud, maybe including rear fenders. A call to David Nock of British Car Specialists confirmed that it is very hard, 50 50 chance, of installing the drain channel after the shroud is in place but it can be done. The body shop was(with a lot of twisting) able to install the drain channel without removing any other body parts.

 

[chicken]

Steven

So it lips behind the back section of the shroud, i will investigate further, seems a shame to start dismantling the car when i'm so close to finishing !

2 steps forward 3 steps back !

 

[chicken]

Thanks Randy for the pictures, certainly shed some light on the issue.

 

[chicken]

Patrick

Any idea how they did it ? does it just rivet on ?

 

[British_Recovery]

If twisting and bending doesn't work to get it in place, maybe cutting it into two parts would allow it to be placed. Then reconnect with a small plate and seal. The metal strip that the top mounts to will help unify it all. Just a thought. The original construction has a welded seam near center.
Good luck,
Bob

 

[stevebn2bj7]

Steven

So it lips behind the back section of the shroud, i will investigate further, seems a shame to start dismantling the car when i'm so close to finishing !

2 steps forward 3 steps back !

Unfortunately that is correct. Cutting it in two as stated here may work to get it in place but I would be concerned about it leaking at some future time.

Another common mistake I have seen on the BJ cars to try and avoid. Put the windshield, or windscreen, in place before you put the dash top pad in place. Many times I have seen that center bracket placed on top of the dash pad.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Patrick

Any idea how they did it ? does it just rivet on ?

I'll see what they did and get back to you later.

 

[chicken]

Bob
Can Anyone help with this ..
Just had a quick look and think i can tuck it under the shroud, bit tight but should go. Do i then lip up behind the shroud and rivet from the front ?

Is it actually seen when the hood is on as just wondered about painting it, should it be body colour or black.

She's a bit rusty in places with lots of small holes so thinking best to weld a cover strip over the back and bottom (which i guess aren't seen) think spotting the holes will blow them open more.

Rob