Tools & optional items

[JodyFKerr]

I was reading through the Austin Healey Service Parts List for my 3000
BT7 today. There's something about thumbing through old parts catalogs
that I really enjoy. I think it's the incredible quality of the
diagrams.

At any rate, I noted on the second to last page (8.1 just after figure
R.59) it listed a "Tool Kit" consisting of a screwdriver, valve tool,
hammer, grease gun, jack and other nifty items. did these come with
the cars when they were delivered to the owner, or were they optional
items? I know that my car has none of these things (it was a basket
case) and i wanted to know if i'll need to add them to my "to be found
list" to ensure my restoration is complete.

Thanks!
Jody

 

[Editor_Reid]

The tool kits were supplied with all Healeys, so unless it got sidetracked somewhere between factory and first purchaser, everyone who bought one should have received a tool kit.

Note that the tool kits changed considerably over the 1953-1967 production life of the big Healeys, beginning with an extensive kit of about 20 items, down to just a very few items at the end. Many of the original items are now difficult to find, although with some perseverance it is well possible to assemble a complete kit.

 

[JodyFKerr]

Reid,

Thanks, That's about what I surmised. The trick now is to figure out what kit came with my car. Anyone with a '60 BT7 that has a full kit? I now need to determine which bits toadd to my Santa list.

Jody

 

[AUSMHLY]

I'd like to jump in with what tools were supplied with a 64 BJ8 phase II?

Last Sunday, I entered my first Concours, the 2008 Niello Concours at Serrano California. Two judges, with clip boards, were going over my car at the same time. Looking at everything and asking me a lot of questions. One was do you have the original tool kit. Being me, I replied, you mean with me? There were a couple other things I was dinged on, but knew I would be. When tallies were in, I was presented with 2nd place.

Side note, I filmed all the cars and I'm in the process of editing it on moviemaker. When done, I'll post on Youtube. I'll make a new post here later, if anyone would like to view some of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen.

Cheers, Roger

 

[JodyFKerr]

Congrats on the second place! I've learned that the toolkits can be the final differentiator in this process, so you and I are looking for the same thing for the same purpose. My goal, with my project is to get as close to gold concours as possible. I'd hate to lose to another because I don't have the right hammer in the tool kit.

Cheers!
Jody

 

[bob hughes]

I recall that my father had an Austin 8 from new and his tool kit was once intact that was a 1947 ish job.

The screwdrivers, of which there were two - large and small, had a long pear shaped handle with wooden inserts on each side, the grease gun was a staight end fill and push unit and all the spanners had Austin written on them. We did have a cross pein hammer but not sure if that was from the kit. All was kept in an oilcloth type black roll with stitched compartments for the pieces and a flap that folded over the top before rolling and tying. After that my memory is shot.
I have aquired several of the Austin spanners some of which are duplicated ( poor memory of what I have collected ) and also a typical grease gun of the erra, getting a full set is a nightmare but attending the auto jumble sales is fun.

Bob

 

[JamesWilson]

If you're a member of the Austin Healey Club USA (www.healey.org) they have an informative article (with an illustration and a list of the different items for each model) in their technical archives that are available to memebers:

https://healey.org/content/view/273/168/

I don't think you can see that unless you're a member, but you ought to consider joining if you're going to be keeping, using and working on the car....

 

[JodyFKerr]

James,

Thanks for the link, the article cleared up a lot! I can't believe how much variance there was in the tool kits over the years.

I should really spend more time over there reading. I always forget about those sorts of sites.