How is the leading edge of the rear quater trim panel fixed on a AH BT7?

[fishyboy]

Hi all,
Having re-carpeted my BT7 I now need to re-fix the rear quarter trim panels. Previously the two trim panels (in my case made of sheet metal!) were riveted directly to the body and then the furflex pushed over the top. I think I once saw a photo showing a thin strip of wood between the leading edge of the trim and the body.

Any help welcome. Photos would particularly help along with any dimensions of the wood and what types of screes are used.

Phil

 

[Keith_M]

I hope I'm understanding your question... There is a vertical piece of wood right behind the door that attaches to the body and to the panel. That piece of wood is rounded on one side and the ends have complicated shapes. You would really have to have one in your hands to be able to replicate it. Here are a couple of pictures of my rear panels before I installed them. They aren't great, and you can't see the wood very well, so hopefully someone else will chime in with some better pictures.

 

[vette]

Here are some pics from Anderson & Moments restoration guide. An excellent source but It was hard to copy the pictures. I think I will put them in 3 different post because I am afraid to shrink them too small. Dave.

 

[vette]

the bristleflex is from MacGregor in Canada. Excellent stuff as well.

 

[vette]

Got my pics mixed up but this is also a BT7.

 

[vette]

I think this is from a BN6 or 7. It is in Anderson & Moment but not well identified.

 

[fishyboy]

Thanks all.
Looks a bit complicated to reproduce from photos, combined with my rather unusual sheet metal trim panels. I may have to stick with the PO solution.
Phil

 

[vette]

I believe the wood strip is just a backing for the joint since the original panels were made in two pieces. Attached is a pic of the metal panels I made for my car. there is no intent for them to be accurate reproductions. My car did not have original panels when I got it so I just made what I wanted. The bar in front of the seats is my idea of a grab bar for kids or a parcel brace when putting packages in. I know. its alittle crazy but I intend to wrap it and vinyl it as well.
When I did my door openings I did not know that the bristle flex was suppose to go up over the inside rear quarter trim panel for a little distance so I cut it off at the top of the door. But as you can see from the Anderson & Moment pics it should continue by bending over the top of the rear panels. Dave.

 

[British_Recovery]

Phil,
Don't get confused by the variations. The BT7 is what you need to reference. I'll see if I can find a panel in the garage and take some photos. Some of the photos shown are from the BN6/7 and BJ7/8 (folding top).
Bob

 

[British_Recovery]

 

[British_Recovery]

Phil,
The metal strip that the furflex seal clips to is probably available from Kilmartin, if yours are gone. British Car Specialists have a nice illustrated catalog and sells their line. There's a veritical strip and a lower corner.
You might want to post a picture of what you are starting with in that area.
Good luck, Bob

 

[fishyboy]

Thanks for all the photos. I think I might try to make the wooden piece as its a pain to drill out rivets every time I want to remove the quater panel.I assume that the wooden piece is screwed against the body.
Phil

 

[British_Recovery]

The wooden piece is flat on two sides and rounded to meet the plywood panel, so the vinyl covers the smooth transition.
You can see the screw holes for countersunk Phillips wood screws, I think.
Bob

 

[vette]

i'll try to get this pic in here larger. It is the same one shown earlier. If it comes in larger you can read that it is a BT7. the pic is from Anderson & Moment. I did show the picture of my car which is a BJ7 because if he was going to go non-original then that would be an option. My pieces are screwed (with phillips head screws) to a flange which is just inside of the knife edge that the Bristleflex is fitted to. The Bristleflex from MacGregor is probably one of the best replications of the original on the market. MacGregor himself worked for BMC in England as an interior specialist.

 

[Deamaker 5]

Is the metal piece on the wooden panel affixed with rivets or small bolts ???

 

[Deamaker 5]

I hope I'm understanding your question... There is a vertical piece of wood right behind the door that attaches to the body and to the panel. That piece of wood is rounded on one side and the ends have complicated shapes. You would really have to have one in your hands to be able to replicate it. Here are a couple of pictures of my rear panels before I installed them. They aren't great, and you can't see the wood very well, so hopefully someone else will chime in with some better pictures.
View attachment 36551View attachment 36552

Is that metal piece affixed with screws or bolts to the rear panel ?

 

[Rob Glasgow]

I don't have anything to add to this post but in looking at British Recovery's photos of his original panels, I noticed what appears to be a handwritten "E" in red marker on the inside of the panel. I found something similar when I did my 1960 BT7. A red "J". When I build the new replacement panels, I did my best to duplicate the marks.
I assume those were put there by the folks that applied the covering and assembled the panel. I read in a recent Healey club magazine about a woman named Maud that worked at Jensen that was paid piece work for the jobs she did in the factory. So maybe this is how they kept track of who made what and how much they got paid.
The photo on the left is the original, the one on the right is my interpretation. I'll bet the person that put the E on your panel knew the person who put the J on mine, and probably shared tea breaks together. At least I hope so.....