Aluminum molding in cockpit

[jcsb]

I've noticed that several 1960 BN7's have had the aluminum molding go from the doors all the way around full circle. Mine goes from the back along the top of the doors but stop at the dashboard where I have a padded dash. Is this right?
john

 

[Randy Forbes]

I've personally never seen the cockpit of a 6-cylinder__2 or 4 seater__trimmed that way, only the 100s (4-cylinder Big Healeys). When I was redoing my car back in the 80s, I bought a 100 aluminum cowl trim piece with the intent of fitting it to my BN6 2-seater, but the shape was quite off, as if the 100s have a higher cowl. It would've taken a fair amount of annealing and reshaping__beyond my skill set__so I abandoned the idea.

Do you have any pictures that show the aluminum trim at the dash top on a 6-cylinder car?

Edit: to clarify, ALL the 6-cylinder cars that I've seen (used to work in an Austin-Healey shop and have owned my car for thirty-six years) have had a vinyl covered wood & padding dash top, like yours does.

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

As Randy says, all the 6 cylinder cars came with the padded dash. I've seen several modified to be like the original 100's. Pictures below!

 

[jcsb]

As Randy says, all the 6 cylinder cars came with the padded dash. I've seen several modified to be like the original 100's. Pictures below!




View attachment 32075

View attachment 32076

I really like that look!! I guess then whoever was selling them, must have modified them.

John

 

[Bob Claffie]

When I was "restoring" my 1959 100/6 there was no dash pad with the car. I covered the dash with the same vinyl I used for the door panels and finished it off with a 100/4 aluminum dash strip. No rework needed at all outside of the hole locations which IIRC were off by a bit. Bob

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

When I was "restoring" my 1959 100/6 there was no dash pad with the car. I covered the dash with the same vinyl I used for the door panels and finished it off with a 100/4 aluminum dash strip. No rework needed at all outside of the hole locations which IIRC were off by a bit. Bob

I'm in the process of restoring my '58 BN6 and liked the look, so I purchased an original 100 trim piece. Mine also fits the curvature except for the mounting hole locations.

 

[Randy Forbes]

I'm in the process of restoring my '58 BN6 and liked the look, so I purchased an original 100 trim piece. Mine also fits the curvature except for the mounting hole locations.

Wow, the one I bought (and must still have in the attic somewhere) had distinctive "offsets" and each end, to raise the center portion. I attributed it to the 100 engine having a 1" longer stroke than the 6-cylinder. The trim piece was also 1-1/2 to 2" too long, requiring both ends to be trimmed/mitered to match up with the doors.

On the one hand, I'm glad I didn't waste any more time than I did trying to gat that piece to fit, and on the other, might give it another go. The top of the shroud under my padded dash top is aleady painted and waxed...

Duane, where did you source your trim piece from? I don't have a clue where I got mine, but the invoice surely exists in the collection (which I have VOWED to never add them all up...).

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

Wow, the one I bought (and must still have in the attic somewhere) had distinctive "offsets" and each end, to raise the center portion. I attributed it to the 100 engine having a 1" longer stroke than the 6-cylinder. The trim piece was also 1-1/2 to 2" too long, requiring both ends to be trimmed/mitered to match up with the doors.

On the one hand, I'm glad I didn't waste any more time than I did trying to gat that piece to fit, and on the other, might give it another go. The top of the shroud under my padded dash top is aleady painted and waxed...

Duane, where did you source your trim piece from? I don't have a clue where I got mine, but the invoice surely exists in the collection (which I have VOWED to never add them all up...).

Randy,

I've heard the new ones from the usual suspects need to be trimmed to fit. I was lucky and found an original in the "Yates Garage" near me in Anaheim CA.

Mr. Yates ran a British car shop but unfortunately he passed away in the '80's. His wife passed away a few years ago, and the family house was sold, and the very large two story garage on the property was full of vintage car parts, almost all Austin-Healey, untouched since the '80's. A friend of mine knew the new owner and helped him sell off the inventory. (I bought way too many things!)

There were engine blocks, heads, windshields, tops frames, seats, hardware, tools, etc, just about everything you would need for a Healey. Some of the stuff was sold on EBay, and a large portion went to a collector in Holland, I think. There was even a used 100S grille! (Picture below.)

I believe all the trim pieces were sold in one lot to someone, I'll check to see if I can still find one for you.

Duane

 

[Randy Forbes]

Thanks Duane, is that where my trans tunnel came from?

Now, you just need to build a car around that grill

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

Thanks Duane, is that where my trans tunnel came from?

Now, you just need to build a car around that grill

Yes, your tunnel came from there. The grill sold for $4K to someone in Europe who was building a 100S replica. It was fun to see one in person, it was surprisingly heavy!