BJ8Healeys
Jedi Warrior
Offline
Hello, Healeyphiles -
During assembly of the bodies of Healeys at Jensen Motors, a number was stamped in three places: on the fixed part of the bonnet latch, just in front of the radiator; on the driver's side bonnet flange to which the hinge is bolted (LHD cars. Maybe passenger's side for RHD, but I don't know), and on the tab on the underside of the boot lid to which the prop rod is attached. This number generally has a preceding letter followed by one, two, or three numerical digits (e.g., P429). The general consensus is that these numbers were stamped to ensure that the parts so stamped stayed with the car during subsequent disassembly/reassembly of the parts at Abingdon (e.g., removal of a bonnet to install the engine) because Jensen matched and adjusted them for best fit with the chassis.
As a part of the BJ8 Registry's contribution to our knowledge and understanding of how things were done at the factory, I have been documenting as many as possible of these numbers (which I call the "body parts code"). My initial goal was to see if there was a pattern that could be used to identify the car that originally had that part. Unfortunately, as with so much of this data, there is no strict correlation between increasing body parts code numbers and the chassis numbers, but it is possible to get pretty close. The more of these numbers I can document, the better the results will be.
I have a rather early BJ7 (20111) that has the body parts code A936. The earliest BJ8s have the letter E (the 10th BJ8 chassis, 25324, has E10). I need more information about when these numbers started (model, body parts code). It is also helpful to document the batch and body numbers from the body plate in the top center of the firewall.
I am requesting that you send this information to me if you would like to participate in this project to increase our collective knowledge. For all 3000s, I would like:
Chassis number from VIN plate
Batch and body numbers from body plate
Body parts code from latch, hinge, and boot lid
If you know the build date(s) of the car, that would be helpful, too.
Please send direct to me at: sbyers@ec.rr.com
Thanks!
Steve Byers
BJ8 Registry
During assembly of the bodies of Healeys at Jensen Motors, a number was stamped in three places: on the fixed part of the bonnet latch, just in front of the radiator; on the driver's side bonnet flange to which the hinge is bolted (LHD cars. Maybe passenger's side for RHD, but I don't know), and on the tab on the underside of the boot lid to which the prop rod is attached. This number generally has a preceding letter followed by one, two, or three numerical digits (e.g., P429). The general consensus is that these numbers were stamped to ensure that the parts so stamped stayed with the car during subsequent disassembly/reassembly of the parts at Abingdon (e.g., removal of a bonnet to install the engine) because Jensen matched and adjusted them for best fit with the chassis.
As a part of the BJ8 Registry's contribution to our knowledge and understanding of how things were done at the factory, I have been documenting as many as possible of these numbers (which I call the "body parts code"). My initial goal was to see if there was a pattern that could be used to identify the car that originally had that part. Unfortunately, as with so much of this data, there is no strict correlation between increasing body parts code numbers and the chassis numbers, but it is possible to get pretty close. The more of these numbers I can document, the better the results will be.
I have a rather early BJ7 (20111) that has the body parts code A936. The earliest BJ8s have the letter E (the 10th BJ8 chassis, 25324, has E10). I need more information about when these numbers started (model, body parts code). It is also helpful to document the batch and body numbers from the body plate in the top center of the firewall.
I am requesting that you send this information to me if you would like to participate in this project to increase our collective knowledge. For all 3000s, I would like:
Chassis number from VIN plate
Batch and body numbers from body plate
Body parts code from latch, hinge, and boot lid
If you know the build date(s) of the car, that would be helpful, too.
Please send direct to me at: sbyers@ec.rr.com
Thanks!
Steve Byers
BJ8 Registry