Front Shroud replacement

[AUSMHLY]

Hi guys,
If any of you are following the missery I am going through with my body shop, please, please work on my car, saga, he just asked me if I can get a new front shroud. Yikes, I just found out how much they are. Soooo, just by chance, I took a look see on ebay. And what do you know, someone is selling one.

I have a 64 BJ8 phase II. The one on ebay is from a 62 BT7. Are they the same? I think the turn signal diameter is different, maybe fixable. Any other areas? What's your thought on the condition of this one? Here's the link.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Austin-He...568880741QQrdZ1

The body shop bead blasted my car, so my front shroud shows all the poor previous body work done, and lots more needs to be done to correct the privious guys. Heard this story before?

He can repair mine, but it will require a lot of work aroung the grill, hood lip and left headlight area. Plus he will need to add the no no, bondo. Which he says he doesn't want to do, but will end up doing if I keep mine.

Looking forward to your thoughts.
Thank you, Roger

 

[Keoke]

Yes and NO ASMHLY, Since your body man can not do finished metal work the Phase 11 front shroud is different from that of the BT7 if he could do finished body work then the earlier shroud could be reworked. Similarly, I rarely see a shroud that is not litterly rotten that a finished metal man can not restore with out using Bondo. I think this guy is BS'N. That thing on ebay is a glued together piece of junk----Fwiw---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

That ebay seller stretches the heck out of the truth.

 

[John Loftus]

Roger,

I would be inclined to fix your shroud with it's known problems rather than buy/ship one with 'unknown'problems. I've heard that swapping shrouds (even between the same model) is not easy .. nothing lines up correctly. Besides, doesn't the Phase II BJ8 have separate turn signal lights up front?

Working the aluminum shroud should not be too difficult for an experienced bodyman. They should be able to get it back to where only a skim coat of filler is needed to smooth out the top surface. I could recommend someone to do the work down here (orange county) but is probably farther than you want to drive!

Cheers,
John

 

[Keoke]

Yes John, working an aluminum Healey shroud is a difficult task and if the shop does not have a finished metal man experienced with soft Aluminum it isn't going to get done properly and these panel beaters are expensive today and few and far between. Sometimes you may just have to settle for less---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

 

[zblu]

I've tried the shroud swap and because they were all hand made generally they dont match up like the original, had a new boot and bonnet in ali made up by my panel man (did his time with R/R making ali bodies) as the replacements offered by various suppliers were not a good fit; wasnt much diff in the cost either!

 

[Keoke]

HI zBLU, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif Thats the type crafsman it takes to properly fit or repair a very damaged Ali Shroud. They learned it right during their apprenctiship.There just are not to many of those old guys around any more and the new breed never learned how to do it.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Hmm, I wonder if that RR trained fellow might like a 2 month vacation in LA Calif.--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hey, hey. I'm in San Leando, not LA. Don't pull the rug out from under me. Tell that RR guy, I'll throw in a cup of coffee and a doughnut to vacation here in San Leandro. Seeing what condition my pride and joy Healey's in, is no vacation however. It will get done. It will get done. My chant. OK, thanks for the input guys. I'll keep my shroud. Roger...that.

 

[anthony7777]

hay keoke,i agree,that THING on e bay had long ago gotten its nose job.doesnt even look like the seams were welded and finished.

 

[Keoke]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
Oh My Gosh, ASMHLY, You don't stand a chance!!.I will pick him up at the airpor in a MK11 Jag with the Parlor Maid included to serve him Hi Tea on the Picnic tables located in the back of the front seats.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angel.gif

 

[MGACoupe]

Hey Guy's new to the forum but not to aluminum shrouds. Just wanted to stick up for some of the craftsmen that are still here in the good old USA. I guess I'm fortunate that I work for an aircraft company, I took my stripped 100-6 front shroud to work last week, I fitted new flanges where they broke out at the bottom front lip, made them up at lunch with some .050 aluminum. After work one of our heil-arc guys stayed after work and welded everything up. The shroud was in pretty good shape to start with, but it did have some stress cracks, splits, typical stuff for a 45 year old shroud. Amazing to watch, he flowed it like butter, reinforcing both sides. When I ground them down they were invisible. I know if I tried it I would have had a molten mess! So they can be repaired just be persistent, oh yeah, the cost for his labor 30.00 dollars. I just put it in primer this afternoon,life is good!

 

[zblu]

did you have any problems melding the old and new ali together?, as this has been a fear of some panel repairers to even go near 50+ yr old ali in my case!

 

[MGACoupe]

Not really, the areas we were working did not have any corrosion, he could see some impurities when he welded up old cracks but did not effect the outcome. He did mention that the old aluminum was "dirty" meaning it had more impurities then the new material. For our repairs I believe we used 2024 T-3 which has the temper that matches the old material. If you used O temper it would be to soft, he felt the original was probably formed in O and then heat treated.
When the old and new material were ground down their was no differece in color or texture.

 

[GregW]

Sorry to dig up an aging thread, but I gas welded a few cracks in my shroud last week. I also didn’t have any trouble bonding with the old aluminum. 4043 rod is what I used. Hey Ausmhly, how’s your shroud repair going?

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Greg,
Thanks for asking. Sadly, it has not been touched. I visit the shop every friday. Beginning of this post, the shop worked on the car 3 days. And to date, my car has not been touched in 6 weeks. I plead with him, but it's all lip service. I need another shop. I can't find one in the Oakland area. This shop has had my car 7 months now. I would say he has put in 6-8 days of work. He promises finished by end of nov. Right. Heard this story of, I'll work on your car. Sorry for venting here. But thanks for letting me.

 

[Keoke]

HI ASMHLY, Sorry you can not deal with that shop but I knew months ago what you would be up against.---Keoke

 

[AUSMHLY]

HI KOKE,
thanks for remembering. U understand how i feel.

 

[Keoke]

Yep ASMHLY, as the Brits would say "Gutted"---Keoke

 

[GregW]

Hi Roger,
Sorry to here that. You must feel sick to your stomach every time you go to the shop. Could British Car Specialists do the work? I think they’re about 60 miles from you. I’m not sure if they do body work, but they may have a suggestion. I’m going through the same issue (but on a much smaller scale) with my carburetors. This last Monday I was promised (again) that they would be finished this Friday. Done or not, I’m taking back my stuff. I just looked at your shroud, probably beyond my ability to do “properly”, but looks fixable. One way or another, I hope things start moving forward for you.

 

[tahoe healey]

British Car Specialists farms out the body and paint work. (Don't ask how I know - its a long sad story). They did a fine job (sort of - I did the final rub out of over spray)but wouldn't tell me who did the work. I guess they get a mark up and that's OK especialy if they are doing a restoration. Thats what they are in business for. They are a wealth of knowledge and parts and mechanical skills using the right tools for the job.
If you are in the Bay Area I would suggest talking to our Golden Gate Healey Club for recommndations.

 

[Keoke]

Yep ASMHLY, TH'S Suggestion is a good one if you just go across the bridge and then up to LosGatos you should be able to find a good shop.---Keoke