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tahoe healey

tahoe healey

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While I ponder my other post I had a serious air leak in the convertable top at the windshield. Can another BJ8 owner look to see it the bead on the seal on the hood goes forward or to the back. The PO put it to the rear and the air comes through easily with force since it doesn't compress and seal. This seems wrong to me a but none of my books show this part.
Thanks
 
My BN2 may have a different seal setup. The seal is at the back part of the bow joint but still gets compressed against the windscreen back top edge.

The BJ8 seal appears to be different. It is shown here as item 11;
https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=36381
As to whether it goes to the front or back, If it were at the front would you still be able to get the top latched down?

I don't think it leaks much air but, it leaks water like crazy in a heavy rain at speeds above about 40 mph. I keep a towel on the seat beside me to mop the water off the inside of the windscreen. I think it needs wipers on the inside also.

Michael Oritt told me that he arranged a pull down cable on his BN1 to hold the center of the top bow down. It tends to lift at speed. Claims it stopped the leaks. Guess he drives a lot more in the rain than I do. I only have the problem about twice a year.

Afraid I'm not much help.
D
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[ 03-09-2004: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
 
While I sincerely wish I could provide wisdom and guidance on this one, I cannot. Indeed I have the same problem! Watching anxiously for the definitive answer on this one!!!
 
Most Healey's have this problem. The fact is Healey's just aren't meant to be driven in the rain with the top up. The top is merely to be used when the car is parked, and they work quite well when used properly. I've come to this conclusion since most windshields are curved, and the wood top bows are straight. Thus, you have a gap in the middle. It's designed that way so when parked, and the top up, rain is kept out, while enough air is let in to keep the windshield and side windows clear.
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Johnny:
The fact is Healey's just aren't meant to be driven in the rain with the top up. <hr></blockquote>

I have said for many years (based on the Healey, of course) that the only difference between driving in the rain with the top down and driving in the rain with the top up is that not as many people laugh at you. You get just as wet either way!
 
Here is a picture of the front top seal on a BJ8 that DOESN"T leak, even in a Florida frog choking rain!!! I put this on in '96 so I don't remember if I followed the previous installation or took someone elses advise. The top didn't come with instructions so it was either the copy or listen approach.

Healey%20Top%201.jpg


I'm told the reason it seals well is, because there are "good" sources for front rails and "the other JUNK" I'm not sure where this top rail came from, because the guy that rebuilt my engine gave me the "correct" top rail as a bonus during the rebuild.

I'm not saying it is the correct concourse top rail, but I will attest to the fact that the interior does not get wet when motoring through a driving rain (Well, at least not from the top seal!) It's still no fun in the rain, because the de-mister can't keep up and the other leaks at the side windows.

I once owned a Spitfire that required a towel for dealing with Florida rain. Not to dry the inside of the windshield, but to dry the driver at the end of the trip. I think that experience makes me appreciate the nice seal that this BJ8 has.
 
The windshield seal is made up of two pieces. The main seal that wraps around to the joint in the top frame at the side windows slips on over the lip with the rubber "bulb" facing forward. The finished fuzzy part is the only thing you can see from inside. The second seal piece runs from windshield pillar to pillar and goes in front of the main seal. The tube part faces forward and the flat lip is glued under the rubber bulb of the main seal. Mine seals nicely even in rain, but gaps a little at the windshield pillars creating a lot of wind noise to compliment that wonderful exhaust note.
 
Great picture Thom. As always very helpful Thank you.
On examining mine compaired to yours, it looks about the same. It would seem to me that the larger tube attached to the furry one should get compressed against the flat top of the windshield chrome. Mine seems to sit alittle behind and not compressed. I'm thinking a little soft weather strip between the two tubes???? It should but against the top chrome.
 
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