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Air gap between hood bow and windshield

Michael Oritt

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Someone on the Healey team.autox list posted yesterday about having a gap between the windshield and hood on his BN1. I described a solution that I came up with a few years ago and said I'd send him some snapshots. However, since this is a common problem on BN1's and BN2's I thought that I would post a description of the solution and some photos to the BCF. See the photo attached to this post for an overall shot of the part and photos attached to the three following posts for different and closer views.

Basically it consists of making a stay, one end of which attaches to the top using the (existing) center triangular chrome "header rail retainer" and the other end of which passes down through the scuttle and allows you to tighten the hood down via a wingnut or knurled nut from behind the dashboard.

The parts are available at any West Marine store and the tools to cut the wire and swage the fittings are provided free to use at the store on the rigging bench. You will need to buy:

1. Approximately 12" of 1/8" diameter clear vinyl coated 1x19 stainless steel wire (West Marine part #131862 @$1.19/foot).
2. Johnson Marine swage fork for 1/8" wire (West Marine part #113383 @$12.99).
3. Johnson Marine swage threaded terminal for 1/8" wire (West Marine part #172124 @$6.99).
4. A short 1/4" clevis pin and cotter pin or ring to attach the fork to the "header ring retainer" through the hole where the rubber buffer normally goes (maybe $2.00).
5. A 1/4-28 wingnut or thumbnut to tighten down the rig under the dash (less than $1.00).

Fabrication is as follows:

1. Attach fork to the retainer using the clevis pin.
2. Drill a 5/16" diameter hole in your scuttle just in front of the rear view mirror, matching as best possible the angle of the windshield and pass the threaded terminal down through the hole so that there is a sufficient amount of threading to allow you to easily attach the wing or thumb nut from behind the dashboard.
3. Measure the amount of wire that will be needed to attach the two fittings together, cut the wire and using the nicopress tool at the rigging bench insert the wire into the fittings and attach them. Put two or three crimps in each.

That's it--after you erect the top and fasten down the standard clamps simply pass the threaded terminal down through the hole, reach under the dash and pull the top down tight against the windshield. Assuming your gasket is intact and reasonably in place that will be the end of your air and water leaks from between the top and the windscreen.

FWIW no one has ever noticed the hole in the scuttle of my car when the top is down and no one has ever commented on the stay when the top is up. This modification also reduces scuttle shake and mirror vibration.
 

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Here's a closer shot of the fork end attached to the retainer on the hood.
 

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Here's a closer shot of the threaded terminal end.
 

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Here's a different view of the whole device "erect". You can see that the stay pivots on the triangular "retainer" so when the hood is stowed it folds away easily and does not have to be detached.
 

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Michael - That is a great solution!!! I have the same gap on my BN1 between the hood and the windscreen - I read your comments previously, but your photos simply made it easy for even me to understand how to solve the problem.
Thanks
Jim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Jim--

Yes--I had My People all set to file the concept with the US Patent Office so that I could sell the world-wide production rights to Moss Motors for a few million $$ and buy a jet plane or mega-yacht, but then I decided "No, why not share it with my Healey buddies in need?" So there you have it--make it yours!
 
[ QUOTE ]

, but then I decided "No, why not share it with my Healey buddies in need?" So there you have it--make it yours!

[/ QUOTE ]
Spoken as a true Healeyite, concerned for his fellow healey buddies in need /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
jim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Hi Michael,
I’ve noticed over the past few years that you find a lot of solutions to your healey problems at West Marine (and good ones at that). I’m just curious, do you call the driver’s side port? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi Michael,
I’ve noticed over the past few years that you find a lot of solutions to your healey problems at West Marine (and good ones at that). I’m just curious, do you call the driver’s side port? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Argh matey--My other passion is boating and when it comes to electrical parts marine stuff is very often a good choice: Wiring has tinned conductors, oilproof jacketing with high heat ratings, switches have good corrosion protection, etc. West is a good resource and will price- match.
 
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