Final touches- a few detail questions for a BJ7

[Fairview]

I hope you don't mind if I post a few pictures taken today with related questions. Perhaps the answers are in one of the several restoration guides, but I haven't decided which one to use or buy. Others are more general. You may remember I'm back in the Healey fold after a 30 year hiatus, so my recollection of the details is dimmed by the years. Here goes...

The questions are all for a 1963 BJ7:

1) What color should the brake drums be painted?



2) What color should the front calipers be painted?



3) Should the piping under the headlights be painted?



4) Should my car have an ashtray?



5) The channel at the front of the sidewindows travels up and down with the glass- can that be right?



6) My badge has lost silver in some of the letters, numbers, and edging. Can this be fixed somehow? If not, how good are the reproduction badges?



7) Does the oil pressure look okay to you?



8) And finally, is it wrong to love a car this much?



I have four or five more questions, but I'm afraid I've already worn out my welcome!

Best regards, Jeff

 

[John Turney]

I can give you answers on some of these.

1) warm silver, same as on painted wire wheels
2) same warm silver
3) No
4) Probably, but if so, you should be able to feel a rectangular depression under the carpet between the shift lever and arm rest. That's where it would be.
6) I've heard the reporductions aren't that good and they can't be repaired.
7) It looks fine
8) There is a song that goes "If lovi'n you is wrong, I don't wanna be right." You could do a lot worse.

 

[elrey]

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Jeff,

3) Should the piping under the headlights be painted?

No, the piping does not get painted. The piping should be a silver/grey colored material.

5) The channel at the front of the sidewindows travels up and down with the glass- can that be right?

The glass has a thin metal frame pressed against the front, bottom and a little around the back edge. That frame has some nylon clips attached, that fit into the window frame guides. Yes, the frame/clips that are around the glass, does travel up and down with the glass.

See the Moss exploded view below.
(I noticed you're missing the rubber end cap on the top of the window channel)

Beautiful car by the way!
Roger

 

[Bob_Spidell]

5) Yes (assuming by 'channel' you mean the nylon guide)

 

[Healey_Z]

I was fixing some cosmetics on a wheel this weekend and found Duplicolor Cast Aluminum 500 degree rattle can paint to be spot on the original wire wheel color. Very light on the metallic and heavy on the gray. In fact, I think someone here recommended it.

 

[Johnny]

As a fellow '63 BJ7 owner I do have an ashtray behind the shifter. Nice car, I'd buy a copy of "Roger Moments and Gary Andersons" restoration guide for reference.

 

[HEALEYJAG]

Good lookin car..My favorite color!


Pete

 

[PAUL161]

I don't own a Healey, but your car is one that would be very easy to fall in love with! Beautiful! PJ

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

I was fixing some cosmetics on a wheel this weekend and found Duplicolor Cast Aluminum 500 degree rattle can paint to be spot on the original wire wheel color. Very light on the metallic and heavy on the gray. In fact, I think someone here recommended it.

Eastwood also has a "wirewheel" paint. I used it and it looks very good.

 

[vette]

Fairview,
My car is suppose to look like yours. Hopefully one day. (yours is beautiful) Can you tell me what paint that is?

Thanks,
Dave C.

 

[Keoke]

Regarding the front badge. Yes it can be repaired . However. it is very costly and and is along delivery time item. I might suggest you search among the forum members or keep an eye on E-Bay. Very nice car--Keoke