completely overwhelmed/intimidated where to start?

[1960AH_Pops]

Ok so I am new to the Healey's, I introduced myself a little while ago. My father passed and left me his 1960 BT7, he had torn the car down to start a restoration about 22 years ago. He had some "life difficultlys" and had to store the car. So it has been sitting in a garage for the last 21 years. I finally got the car to my home garage to get a better look at what I am dealing with.

Today is the first day I have been able to see what exactly I have, I must say I have no idea where to begin or what to do. I am so overwhelmed right now that I cant think straight. I am pretty mechanically inclined and have built my mustang from scrap to a jewel, but I don't understand how everything works on Healeys, it is quite different than my mustang and I am a fairly young guy(26) so this car is before my time.

I made a photobucket account so I can supply everyone with some pictures. I would really like to hear opinions on what everyone thinks. I do have some repair manuals including the original workshop manual and a haynes repair manual. I dont know if I should just start taking bolts out or what, I would really like to have a plan though on what order to go in. My garage space is limited so I would like to plan this out with that in mind, I do have storage means so I can transport parts to store while I work on other things.

Here is the pictures I have if anyone needs any other detailed pictures please let me know. I can tell that the frame looks to be in good shape for sitting so long. I do have every part that came off the car in storage, including alot of repair panels like the door sills and pilers.

All help and advise is appreciated and I look forward to the knowledge I will receive.

Here is the photobucket with the pics. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
https://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc226/Pops_Healey/

 

[BOBBYR]

I'M ALSO A NEW MEMBER.LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE QUITE A PROJECT ON YOUR HANDS.I WOULD START BY SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING WITH A PAPER AND PENCIL AND SOME BOXES AND BAGS.START TO ORGANIZE THE PARTS AND YOUR THOUGHTS AT THE SAME TIME.DON'T FORGET TO SMILE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO ACCOMPLISH

 

[stevebn2bj7]

Another very useful tool is the Moss Motors catalog. They have a very good blow up of all the various areas of the car. If nothing else, it gives you a good look at how the car goes together.

 

[1960AH_Pops]

Thanks, I do have the Moss motor catalog along with a Victoria British part catalog. I will try to make a plan I just dont know what to start taking apart first IE: interior/suspension/body ect...

 

[roscoe]

Howdy,
My guess is that droves of people are composing replies to you as I type this. To begin with it looks like you have a restorable project if you take it one step at a time and take the advice of those who answer you and distill it so you get the most logical answers for you. Nobody has to do this in quite the same way. However, there are certain things that are pretty much standard for restoring anything that is new to you. First take way more pictures than you think you need. Take close-ups of everything that has a screw or bolt in it, wire attached to it, piece of fabric on it etc. Not everything has to go back exactly the way it was, but you will be glad you knew how it was before you disassembled it. YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING about how stuff was put together so take the photos. Read the shop manual. The original has good descriptions of the systems , and their components. You will also pick up a few clues about taking things apart. I made an inventory list which listed the big stuff like body panels and whether or not they needed any repairs prior to refinishing. As you disassemble make note of what you don't appear to have as well as what you do have. You don't need to buy anything before you need it, except that prices always go up, and it is nice to know when you find a great deal on a used part that you do in fact need that at some point. Second, DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY until at least 6 months after you are really done (yeah even the mouldy seat covers and mouse infested bottoms). I ran into problems because despite the ever-growing pile of books and catalogs I often didn't have the exact picture of what I needed. Get a ton of zip lock bags and put all the hardware in them with a tag IN THE BAG, not on the outside, telling you where they came from. When you get down to a bare chassis you can decide how to proceed. It may make sense to repair and build the chassis back up before you worry about components like the engine or transmission (but you will probably want the drive train in there before you do the body work). The archives on this forum are invaluable, as is a Moss motors catalog. Theirs is perhaps the most comprehensive in terms of diagrams, but there are many other companies that have catalogs on the web. Last, for inspiration take a look at this website, https://www.acmefluid.com.au/larry/ , look at all his stuff and it will help you descide how much of it is do-able in a garage. Put a photo of your Pop in the garage and get to work. Don't let it consume you, but don't let it sit too long between periods of working on it either. Good luck with it and don't hesitate to write.

Jon

 

[BIBBER]

1960AH_pops...looks like Roscoe summed it up nicely.
Lots of info here on the BCF...the Restoration fourum
is a GREAT place just to set down in the evenings and
peruse through each of the postings...you'll be amazed
at the tips you'll pickup and things you may have not
even considered...and when it comes to a specific issue
post away...your questions help all of us...GOOD LUCK

 

[1960AH_Pops]

roscoe, I appreciate the very sound advice, that is some great information. The part about putting up a pic of Pops is a brilliant idea for motivation, I wouldn't have thought about it but now that you mention it that will be my number 1 reason for NEVER giving up on this project, I really thank you for that idea, in fact I am going to do that right now!

Chris

 

[2CylindersDown]

Re: completely overwhelmed/intimidated where to st

Well, I probably can't offer too much more than empathy. I, too, just inherited an Austin Healey from a family member. Similar to you, I am familiar with classic American iron, but am completely stymied by this crazy little British car.
I figure if nothing else it's a good chance to learn something new and hopefully expand my skills a bit while trying to restore the family "heirloom."

I had the "oh-my-gosh-what-have-I-gotten-myself-in-to" feeling for weeks. Don't worry, it will get better eventually! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

I found a few good book recommendations that have gotten me started.

"The Healey Story" by Geoffrey Healey. This won't help you with the restoration, but it should provide a bit of background to the marque and all of the models and designations in which you're about to be immersed.

"Original Austin Healey" by Anders Ditlev Clausager. Good background and lots of nice reference pictures.

"Austin Healey 100/100-6/3000 Restoration Guide" by Anderson and Moment. Similar to the above book without the pretty pictures, but slightly more detail.

"How to Restore British Sports Cars" by Jay Lamm. Not Austin Healey specific, but once you have the Healey specifics down from your other reading, this will provide a broader overview for your restoration activities.

Also, see if there's a local chapter of an Austin Healey club in your area. My local chapter has been very helpful and I've met a lot of friendly, knowledgeable folks so far.

As for myself, I'm not going to rush in to anything. I'm trying to learn, and make a good solid plan in advance. This forum has been wonderful so far, and I'm slowly but surely starting to gain confidence. Stick with it and you will too.

Best of luck!
Mike

 

[GregW]

Hi Chris,
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of measuring distances and angels of any structural part that you may need to remove and replace. I have been very fortunate that a fellow member here (John Loftus) has put up with my coming over with a tape measure to scrutinize his Healey. I thought I had it covered but many small, but important pieces of information had been overlooked.

I setup many photo sub folders in my computer to keep like parts grouped; suspension/ brakes, engine bay, engine disassembly, interior, etc.

To keep moral up, I set smaller goals for myself like refinishing the dash. That way I get a sense of accomplishment, which helps me move to the next goal.

 

[tahoe healey]

I agree with all the above but would add that these cars are simple to work on with practically no plastic parts. Almost everything can be rebuilt either diy or with many an aboundance of specialists. Everything is straight forward and with the aboundance of help here you will do fine. Go to the LBC car shows and inspect and take pictures of others's cars. Ask questions here and to the parts suppliers like the Nocks at British Car
Specialists and others. It is overwellming at this point but as suggested, do a single task at a time and pat yourself on the back. There are no failures, only learning experiences. I did a Jag XK140 form a basket without all the parts and no internet support. Relish every minute and every little victory. The reward is something you will carry all your life.
TH

 

[Randy Forbes]

... Also, see if there's a local chapter of an Austin Healey club in your area. My local chapter has been very helpful and I've met a lot of friendly, knowledgeable folks so far...

Best of luck!
Mike

Hey Mike,

We must be in the same chapter; SEMAHC.

Look me up if you ever get down to Toledo.

 

[roscoe]

Chris,
Not to get maudlin about it all, but my dad was watching me go through my BN-2 and looking forward to a ride, but that was not to be. He also died last year. When my mom and I were going through his stuff I found a really nice pair of black deerskin driving gloves. Never saw him wear them, don't know why he had them. I wear 'em now, and carry momento of his time as a B-17 pilot during WW II, in the glove tray.

Jon

 

[glemon]

All good advice so far, especially about getting asociated with the local club and taking a lot of pictures. I would also add you don't have to tear everything down to the last nut and bolt all at once. You may want to pull componenents, motor, carbs, transmission etc, and rebuild them insead of tearing it all down and then putting it all back together, keeping the job inot more manageable chunks.

Thanks to the wonders of the internet you can access almost any part (between the major british and specialty healey distributors and e-bay) andgt advice on most any healey originality or fis it issue. After having Sprites, Triumphs and MGBs in the past I think of the Healey as a "big" car, although it is not really much bigger then the Bs anf TRs. They are great and rewarding cars to work on, look at, and drive. I still go out to my garage from time to timejust to admire the lines on my car, even after 8 years of ownership.

 

[bob hughes]

For what it is worth, and from the photos that are in Photobucket, your car is far from being a basket case and should not therefore be a dificult restoration insofar that you don't have miles of major welding to do. It has all been said above really, but just remember you will need about 2 - 3 times the area of the car to keep all the parts in, as you remove them. Sort through what is usable and keep records of what needs to be replaced, buy new or go for used parts - that is upto you, sourcing parts can be fun and you will make a lot of new friends. A few parts are unavailable as new, stock exhaust manifolds for instance, but good used ones are available. Do not throw anything away until the bitter end, and even then, some one may buy something from you to repair and re-use.

Best of luck and good hunting

Bob

 

[healeynut]

You may be suprised to hear this but my dad flew a B-17 into Arctic Russia in 1960 and flew back... alive! If you've ever seen the movie Thunderball, the B-17 at the end of the movie is the plane my dad flew.

My dad helped me restore my BJ8 in 1985, thankfully he's still alive, but definitely not the man he used to be, but he's the same person to me no matter his physical condition.

 

[62BT7]

Dear Pops: Besides the very good advice above, note that British Car Specialists (Stockton, CA) sells what they say are complete sets of restoration photos for a few series of Healeys. I think they are fairly comprehensive but I personally have not seen them since I'm not doing the frame off thing(I have both catalogs, however, which are excellent and worth the <$10 price). Still, it looks like there are lots and lots of photos and I think between the manuals, photos, and catalogs you'll get there in short order. As I recall from the BCS catalog they also had a short checklist of sorts on how/where to get started on a full restoration. Many ways to peel an apple but their approach may at least get you going. Finally, for those detailed questions you can't answer, this Forum is invaluable. Lots of smart Healey-heads here more than happy to help out. Good Luck!
-Tom

 

[Johnny]

I might add to the great advise Roscoe has offered. Above all be PATIENT. Try to enjoy the small advances you make, try not to hurry the job hoping to get-it-done, you'll be sorry on down the road.

Here's a website that might be of use to you;
https://members.aol.com/BGAHC/index.html

Follow the Healey adventure links.

 

[Cottontop]

Tell me about your Mustang and what you did to it...

There IS a parallel work path.

Tim

 

[1960AH_Pops]

Tell me about your Mustang and what you did to it...

There IS a parallel work path.

Tim

Thanks for the great advice everyone. When I bought my Mustang it was a T-bone accident car. I only planned on replacing the front end but things got a little out of hand. The order I worked in was a little strange because I didnt really know what I wanted. So First thing I did was remove the front end IE: Fenders/hood/bumper cover/headlight bar ect.. I then replaced all this with new, then I did the rest of the body work (rust repair, door dings ect..) After I prepped everything I took it in to have it sprayed.

Then I decided to do the interior, I stripped it down to nothing and replaced it all with new from the bottom to the top(including radio/steering wheel, it was bare). After the interior I decided to tackel the engine, took it down to the short block and inspected everything, put on a set of aftermarket heads/cam/intake/fuel system/cooling and topped it off with a Vortech supercharger. I also added a programmer and wideband o2 so I could tune it correctly.
(dynoed 365rwhp 390rwtq on low boost)

Then it was time for the suspension, new spring/shocks/struts and then I did a brake upgrade on it changing the stock 10" disc to 11" disc with stainless lines and replaced the rear gears with a set of 3.73's and added a King Cobra clutch while I was under it.

It wasnt a frame off but I did replace just about everything and all work was done by me, with minimal help. Like I said not really the way to do it but it worked out in my favor in the end.

 

[anthony7777]

1960 ahpops, first thing i think you should consider is to what level/extent you want to restore the car, from your pictures it appears you have a viable subject, do you just want to bang around in something youll always be working on? perhaps a good clean, safe driver, or a concourse total restoration, remember the cost difference between these levels of restoration become exponential. these would be my first considerations. in any event good luck. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif