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1966 BJ8 "garage find"

carlivar

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1966 BJ8 "garage find"

Hi everyone,

Just joined this board a few days ago. Last weekend I (with the help of my dad) made a "garage find" of a 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III. The neglected car was sitting in a dusty corner during the owner's garage sale.

A couple pictures of the car before it was loaded on the trailer to take home.

I'll add more pics as I clean it up.

It has original California black plates (1991 sticker) and barely any rust at all, anywhere. Almost completely original. The only rust is in the rear of the trunk (I mean boot) and it is not cancer, just some surface rust that needs sanding and paint. Turns out the car was originally out in the desert in Palm Springs which explains its solid condition. I found an old log of fuel fillups and maintenance in the glove compartment that covers 1972-1983. I am supposedly the 3rd owner.

It's been interesting cleaning it up the past couple days. Unfortunately there seems to have been a rat infestation in the garage because there were rat nests and crap <u>everywhere</u>. It took me all day to vacuum it and I still don't think I'm done. Filled up half of a jumbo-sized Shopvac.

There was still gas in the tank, which by now is a brown varnish. Inside of tank seems to be in bad shape and there is a bit of rust on the outside as well, so I've removed the tank and will try to get it "reconditioned". That's the first order of business mechanically. No brakes either - almost certainly needs a master cylinder rebuild. Clutch seems to need work too. Engine turns by hand though. Top is shot of course. Interior is not bad but the carpet has been destroyed in some spots by rats. I think seats will clean up surprisingly well.

I don't have an owners manual and have a shop manual on order. Can anyone tell me where the clutch reservoir is? It doesn't share the brake reservoir does it?

Thanks!!

Carl
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

Nice find. Brakes will probably need a complete rebuild, clutch hydraulics too. Brake and clutch share a common reservoir.

Marv J
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

Congratulations Carl. My car sat for many years also. The brake fluid had solidified. If you pull the cap off the reservoir, you’ll see a 1”ish diameter tube in the center of the tank. The fluid outside the tube is for the brakes, inside obviously clutch.
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

Thanks guys. Trying to bleed the clutch right now -- how do I get at the bleeder valve? It is impossible from above and very very difficult from below. My father is convinced we have to remove the fiberglass trans tunnel cover in the interior, but it seems like there must be another way? Thanks for any tips...
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

No CL, it is much easier to remove the clutch slave cylinder and then bleed it. Use a screwdriver to force the piston in when the bleed valve is open.---Fwiw--Keoke
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

Well we wound up getting the tunnel cover off which allows pretty easy access. Nothing at the bleeder valve so the master probably needs a rebuild to start with. Brakes are in the same condition. Going to take a while to go through everything. I think fuel pump might be gunked up also, plus it looks like water pump leaks. And of course I'm sure carbs will need to be gone through. I put new oil in at least, and starter does turn engine over when we briefly connected a battery.
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

Tony, on the MG board, has done a checklist for awakening a sleeping car, it would be very appropriate here...
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

OK JL< in the event you do not rebuild the hydraulics yourself due to pitting of the cylinders bundle them "all" up and send them to White Post restorations In Virginia for resleeving and rebuild. This approach is better than the aftermarket replacement units.---Keoke
 
Re: 1966 BJ8 "garage find"

carlivar said:
I posted some more pics in Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/9394028@N06/sets/72157603280322240/

The interior is all vacuumed out now, but no pics of that yet. Will be slower going from here on out since it's not at my house yet...

Thanks for all the tips! Will keep everyone posted on my progress. I'm sure I'll have quite a few more questions too!
I see a 3 Series Cabriolet in the background (post-carwash).

The Healey vs BMW driving experience lends perspective /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
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