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top on my 66 BJ8 Fit on BJ8 top

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bighealeysource

bighealeysource

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Hello all and Merry Christmas,
Been redoing the top on my 66 BJ8 and have a question or
two. I recovered the wooden pieces that attach to the top
frame over the window area and when attached as original
they seem to fit about 3/4 of an inch lower than the wood
pieces that go on the vertical area ( where the top is
actually screwed into the side of the actual top frame)
This is the original top frame and it is not bent but in
appearance does not seem to fit right. I have tried to look
at every picture of a top in the closed position and in some
it does appear that in the closed position it is not a
straight line over the window to the veritcal piece. Am
I losing my Healey mind or is this normal ? I almost
never have the top up anyway but can't figure out what is
wrong with the way I installed everything back as original.

One more quick question - I have tried to reuse the original
top as it is was in pretty good shape but in reattaching to the front bow, believe I lost about 1/2 inch of overall length so now I can't quite get a good close fit when all
closed up with the latches. Would y'all assume that missing
1/2 inch is preventing me from stretching it enough ?
Thanks for your input or advice.
Regards,
Mike
 
Hi Mike,
I believe your second problem is causing the first problem. In other words, since the top is short reaching the front bow, it is keeping the horizontal wood window piece from moving up into position. At least that sounds like what you're describing.?
 
Thanks Greg - That makes sense. I will probably go ahead
and get a new top and see what happens.
Regards,
Mike
 
Mike,
My wood pieces don't line up until I get my top frame ALL the way up. My top fits very tight and I have to pull forward on the metal bows to take all the slack out of it before the top can latch. When I pull forward on the bows is when the wood pieces line up like they should.
... Merry Christmas !
Ed
 
Mike,
Sorry for the delayed response but I haven't checked The Forum for a while. The other responses are surely appropriate but you should also check to see if you need shims under the base of the top frame where it is attached by the rear quarter panel. When shims are inserted under the rear of the foot plate then the verticle wood is pushed forward and will not allow the horizontal wood to mate up in a level manner. Take the shims out and see if your top will close on the windshield frame. If it does then you don't need shims and the wood will probably straighten out. If the top will not close properly and you feel it needs to come more forward then you need the shims in place on the rear of the base plate.

If you look at the metal frame as it is closing (top going up) you can see how the mechanism pushes the wood into the final position. When there is a shim under the rear portion of the foot plate you can see that the frame members do not fully extend before the front bow hits the windshield frame thus leaving the wood not lined up. The reverse is also true I believe. If a shim is placed under the front portion of the foot plate then the mechanism extends completely before the front bow hits the windshield frame but may not allow the front bow to line up well with the windshield frame. Someplace between these two points is where you need to be so experiment with the thickness of the shims to achieve what you want and are willing to accept as the best you can do. You will have to remove the rear quarter panels to access the spring mechanism and nuts. Loosen the nuts and pry up the foot plate against the spring resistance enough to add or remove shims as need through trials to get what you want. One shim (like those at body shops for fenders) makes a big difference. You might want to try thin aluminum shims also like the ones that go behind the door striker plates.

Good luck,

George Haywood
'65 bj8 (wood not lining up)
 
Hey George,
Thank you for the very thorough reply to my problem. I
really appreciate you taking so much time with your
reply.
Regards,
Mike Lewis
66 BJ8

PS - I'll be asking another question about the BJ8 top
under a new question
 
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