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'60 BT7 Advice

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Bugeye58

Yoda
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I'm loosely contemplating buying a friends '60 BT7. Other than the frame issues I've seen discussed lately, and the general mechanical status, are there any particular gremlins I should be looking for?
Jeff
 
You mean like the one with his hand in your wallet? It's like having children. They can be a lot of fun but they always demand your time and money (except your can always get rid of the car, the kids keep coming back).
 
Not to many gremlins just some mechanical, a few electrical one or two suspension, a couple of fuel delivery, a handfull of structural and some I forgot to mention. I have a 59 BT-7 and wouldn`t trade for a million bucks. Skip
 
Tahoe, if I decide to get it, this would be my first big Healey. However, I've restored a lot of other LBC's over the years, and am on a first name basis with the gremlins that reach into my pocket. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Skip, right now this thing is a comfortable driver. No scuttle shake, no clunks, rattles or bangs, no twitchiness over bumps, etc. It runs and looks like a driver. I can't remember the exact mileage, but I think it's about 50k.
Probably around $12k, which makes it attractive.
Jeff
 
I like the BTs since the rear seats come off easily to allow easy access to fuel pump gremlins and rear brakes.
 
Watch out for speedbumps and other muffler grabbers...these things are LOW to the ground. On the upside;(1) the interior is more spartan and therefore less expensive to maintain.(the replacement costs for center consol items on a BJ8 are rather high) (2)the BT7 is closer to what Healy started with. (My BJ8 seems a bit too "civilized" and plushy...I liked my old 100-6 better)
 
I love my 60 BT7.....all my problems have been traced to Mr. Lucus.....everything mechanically has been great, just the electical. Also, the rear shock bolts have a tendancy to get loose and fall off from time to time.
 
My 60 BT7 was very road worn when it found me. It still has a long way to go. It has been modified and hacked at. I am slowly but surely putting it right. I drive it all the time and it is fun and puts a smile on my face and makes me feel good when nothing else does. Hope that helps.
CDK
 
Rick,
I was having the same problem with my rear shock nuts and bolts. Just switched from the lock washer and nut, to a tension nut (not the nylon variety, but steel). One of the problems, especially for the forward nut and bolt, is holding the bolt with a spanner while tightening the nut with a socket. Not much room for the open end wrench on the bolt, and difficult to get really tight in the first place.
 
Jeff: I am on my fourth BT-7. Next to my Bugeye, they are my favorite model of the Healey. Watch for rust. Most other problems are easily remedied. They have reliable mechanics and, once sorted out, make extremely reliable cars in good weather. If the car you are looking at is fairly rust-free, grab it! AL Bradley
 
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