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First Drive in 30 Years!

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Lin

Lin

Jedi Knight
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Today was a big day in the Rose household, as you can see from the photos provided at the following link: Just click on a thumbnail to see a larger image or watch the whole slide show.

https://homepage.mac.com/linwoodrose/PhotoAlbum59.html

I was able to drive my "Bloody Beast" for the first time in 30 years. I bought it in 1971 while in college - first car I ever owned, and still have it! It was a little cool (about 40 degrees here) and I was missing a few body parts, but I hardly noticed. The engine is running beautifully. I zipped around the block 3-4 times and had great fun.

I did discover that I had a fuel leak on the front carb (rebuilt HD8s) that I will have to explore. Didn't look like any problems with the float bowl. It was dripping from the bottom of the carb chamber, but that is just the lowest part so that is where it would drip. It is hard to see these things to examine, even without the shroud in place. I hate to have to pull the carbs off, but that is probably what I will have to do. I want to get it sorted out before I put the rest of the body on.

But, hey... if that is all that is wrong after a total restoration and 30 years of sitting, I don't think I can complain.

I did get the right rear wing on this afternoon. That beading is as bad a job as everyone claims, but I got it on with no scratches to the new paint.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way. I could not have done it without this Forum and other helpful Healey people.

Cheers,

Lin Rose
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
Congratulations! You're work looks stunning, and you look happy! As well you should.
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

Ok Lin, Congatulations on getting the beast to run. Regarding the fuel leak if it is not the bowl then the jet's diapham may be defective.--Fwiw==Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

But, But how he gonna fly he ain't got no wings!--- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Hi Lin,

Congrats on the first drive in 30 years! It makes my 5 year restoration seems like a pit stop in comparison! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Wow .. lots of nice touches on your car! Really purdy and glad to hear it's running well too.

We ended up using electrical tape to cover the metal straps that attach to the beading .. then pulled the tape off after all the fender bolts were in and when bending the tabs over. Don't remember exactly how we held everything in place but it was a two man job and a pain but in the end it all went together.


Cheers,
John
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif Very nice!

One observation please. That silly grin on your face - the same thing happened to me the first time I got to drive Agatha A Healey. It must be some kind of drivitis virus.

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif
 
Hi Lin,
Jaw droppingly beautiful! A project you should definitely be proud of. A tennis court however, does not constitute a drive around the block. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Awesome!!!

Just got a case of goose bumps looking at your pictures.

The smile is priceless.
 
Congratualations Lin. That is one gorgeous car. Once you get it finished you will have a hoot booting it through the back roads. And you will not loose that smile.

I visited some of your other photo sites and found them to be quite interesting; especially your "Favourite Healeys" photos and "Hardtop Restoration" photos. When you get to actually restoring the hardtop, do make a lot of notes. The rest of us with hardtops awaiting restoration sure could use them. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

--Scott Morris; Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
'60 MkI BN7 & '62 MkII BT7
 
...Hey that is great, what a wonderful feeling that must be!
Nice to see those Bug Eye bumpers on the rear, I think they really compliment the shape.
 
Hi Lin

FĆ©licitation et bravo !!!

Nice looking car , we can see that 30 years past too fast for some and too slow for others.....




gilbert
 
Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the compliments and comments! It has been a labor of love, but I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now! I will be assembling the hardtop last and will post the results when finished.

Just for fun, I added 4 images of what I started with in 2002. I guess I let her deteriorate a little between 1977 when I stopped driving her, and 2002! That will not happen again.

https://homepage.mac.com/linwoodrose/PhotoAlbum59.html

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
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