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My BJ7 restoration photos

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[ QUOTE ]
John,
I think I recall that you are going to try the engine install through the painted body work is that correct? Please be careful.

Where did you get the rivet squeezer if I may ask?



[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Lin,

I recall seeing a photo of the Austin-Healey assembly line with the engines being lowered through the bonnet opening so it should be do-able! I plan on having extra hands and take it slow and easy.

I was able to borrow the Tatco Rivet squeezer from a friend who does airplane maintenance. They are avail. from Brown Tool. https://www.browntool.com/

Even with the tool it was difficult to install some of the rear shroud bottom flange rivets. The factory placed the rivet holes high on the flange near the bend which made it difficult to get straight squeeze pressure. I am planning to redo a few of the rivets by setting them with a long punch or perhaps a rivet gun if necessary.

Thanks everyone for the positive comments ... can't wait to get it back on the road.

Cheers,
John
 
Congratulations. You've made great progress. I can't wait to see it painted. I like your color choice too.My BJ7 is coming along pretty well, but I have a way to go before painting and probably six to eight months to completion. Here's a brief update:
-- There was a lot of rust on the frame and I considered just buying a new one. However, I heard that a new frame takes a lot of fiddling to make it work so I hade all the rusted parts of the rails etc. replaced. Came out pretty good. I added all all the reinforcing suggested in a recent atricle in the AH Club magazine.
-- All the instruments have been rebuilt by MoMa in New Mexica and they look absolutely beautiful.
-- The trans and overdrive have been completely rebuilt (most of the gears were shot and had to be replced).
-- Suspension, brakes and rear end have been rebuilt.
-- Just got the engine back from the machinist after a complete rebuild (20 thou overbore) with Denis Welch aluminum head, fast street cam, pistons, aluminum sump, etc. Don't believe them when they tell you everything will bolt in.
-- Generator, carbs, etc have all been rebuilt.
-- Body panels have been stripped (blasted).
-- Engine, tranny, suspension, and rear have been loosely installed and the car goes back to the body shop to have the body panels fitted.

The car shold be concours in all repects (that you can see!) except for color... OEW over pale primrose with a biscuit interior. I've got tons of pictures which I will post one of these days. Steve Gordon of Vintage Auto in Oakland has done most of the work and Brian Hoyt of Perfect Reflections in Hayward did the frame and body work. I wish I had the skills necessary to do the work myself, but I don't. I admire what you have done yourself. Way to go! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nopity.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I can't wait to see it painted.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Tony,

The last pages of images have been updated to show the completed paint. It sounds like you are well 'over the hump' since the last time we talked and you've really made some great progress! Please post some pictures if you get a chance.

I still have quite a bit of refurbishing to do as things get assembled but it feels like I'm getting into the 'fun' part of the restoration.

Cheers,
John
 
[ QUOTE ]
Henri and Johnny,

Color ... that has been a hard decision. I'm stepping out of bounds in terms of originality with a very very dark green (almost black) and OE White side coves. I already had redone the interior a few years ago (black) and that had an influence on my choice also.

Cheers,
John

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know why that should be so difficult of a choice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I sort of like the green/white color combo.
Glad I finally have some company. I was told once that when Donald Healey first seen this color combination at a US car show, he said " Had I been shown this color choice I would have approved it".
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
John, really looks great. I've seen a similar dark green on an MGA once. It was called Jaguar BRG and indeed was almost black.
On another matter. I'm about to have my BJ7 dipped and wanted to ask you if you removed the window channel inside the doors? It looks quite difficult to get out, and most likely difficult to replace.
Also, what color piping are you going to use on the interior. I used black/ivory and like the sharp contrasts.
Thanks in advance.
 
Wow, John,

That is some really beautiful work you did on the car. I commend you for restoring such a beautiful car to its former beauty, but to a standard that never could have been afforded in the 60s.

Well done,

Ted
 
[ QUOTE ]
Jaguar BRG and indeed was almost black ...
ask you if you removed the window channel inside the doors?
Also, what color piping are you going to use on the interior.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Johnny,

Yes, one of the Jaguar BRG's is almost black
[image]https://media8.motorcities.com/04FKA085402312B.jpeg[/image]

I did remove the window channel hardware. It's actually straight forward to remove and replace. The only difficult job is replacing the window glazing if necessary. The moss supplied glazing was too thick so it's better to go to an auto glass supplier for thinner glazing or use windshield adhesive to set the glass. Do you have a Mechanical Service and Body Service Parts List? The exploded views and parts numbers make putting everything back together much easier.

My seats are black with black trim. I think a dark green trim would look great with this color scheme but since I just installed them before starting the frame off restoration they won't be changed for a long time.

Cheers,
John
 
Very nice looking combo!
Congratulations! and......keep up the fine work!
 
Hope to have some pics of our project VIN # hbj7 24937 up on a website soon for comments
Cheers,
 
John,

Gorgeous and done meticulously well! There's no more I can say other than I can't wait to see the car completely re-assembled. I especially love the fact that you made a trip to the body shop yourself to apply the seam treatment! Post the latest as soon as you can, I'll be watching the progress.

Brian /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
John,
I can't wait to see the car completely re-assembled.


[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Brian, I can't wait to see the car completely assembled either! My latest purchase was a Caswell Cad/Zinc plating kit so I'm learning how to replate all the fasteners and bits that get this treatment. I'm also going up to Santa Barbara with relatives this week and will probably spend most of the time at the Moss parts counter looking at the quality of parts on my "parts needed" list. How's that for 'killing two birds with one stone"?

Cheers,
John
 
Hi Alan,

Welcome back! I was looking over your restoration photos and it prompted a question for those with BJ7's. My BJ7 is an early model which had some different trim details (2 piece vent window rubber, different profile to U shaped trim at rear surround, etc.)Factory photos show what I believe to be a softer rounded door top rail for the early BJ7 (see below). Your restored pictures show the later type of door top rail (more triangular in shape, sharper edges) that was used on the later BJ7's and BJ8's. Does anyone have good pictures/dimensions on this earlier part fron their cars?
Cheers,
John

GrahamRobson.jpg
 
Hi John
Very observant of you!...
Mine are incorrect as they are BJ8 units. When my car arrived as a wreck from the States, one of the frames was missing, and there just happened to be two BJ8 units in very good condition in the workshop, so you can guess the rest...!. You're correct that the top rubber sections are different for both models, but I seem to remember that this isn't very apparant if you look at something like the A.H. Spares manual which just lists one piece for both models. No photos I'm afraid.

Regards

Alan
 
I've been working on refurbishing front suspension and brakes along with many of the fasteners and chrome bits. The website has been updated with some new pictures on page 5. I have tons of other pictures but concerned that it will become quite the album to slog through. Perhaps I'll organize it into a proper website when I get done. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/computer.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif But for now, here's the link:
https://www.loftusdesign.net/restorationweb/

Cheers,
John
 
Hi John, Who did the Chrome it looks great.---Keoke
 
[ QUOTE ]

Who did the Chrome...---Keoke

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Keoke,

I used a place called Buena Park Chrome. A small shop (which I think is an advantage)..they have been around for a long time (referred to me by another Healey owner who has used them for the last 10 years) and they do really nice work.

7425 Orangethorpe #G
Buena Park, CA 90621
(714) 670-7803

Talk to Vic.

Cheers,
John
 
OK John, thanks are they pricy? Im just curios don't mind paying for good chrome work.I use Christian and he is pricy as well as slow being a top shop.Sometime need a quickie done and an alternative would be nice.---Keoke
 
Keoke, Yes somewhat pricey. The large oval grille surround was $150. What you see in the picture (minus about 6 small parts that weren't finished or needed a redo) were $1100. I had quite a few parts done a few years ago by another shop and it was cheaper but the finish was not nearly as good and they took so long that I was concerned about ever getting all my parts back so you get what you pay for. This batch took about 2 to 3 weeks which I consider fast. A friend had a few parts for his BMW that he needed quickly and they took care of him in a week (with no upcharge). Hope that helps!

Cheers,
John
 
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