I was parked up next to a friend's BJ7 the other day. I have a very late
MkII BT7. (So my car could just about be later off the production line than
his!)
I agree with everything said below about HD6s being nicer than HS4s or 6s.
Bear in mind that the carbs will probably be worn in whichever Healey you do
buy, so they'll leak a little air here and there and the needles will be out
and the springs will be different etcetc. If you choose a car and, in the
Great Scheme of Things, make a list of Things That Have To Be Done to it -
put "Carb Rebuild" near the top of said list. Once done properly, even 3
HS4s will run pretty well together and don't forget what people say: "Most
SU carb problems are actually Timing or Valves!"
Having said all above, my own feelings were such that I took out my 3 HS4s
and stuck in 3 HD6s which I'd refurbished with kits from the excellent Midel
in Australia.
Has anyone mentioned the hoods/soft tops? The BT7 hood, once up, gives a
slightly cleaner/tauter line and, once stowed, also gives a flatter line,
there being no soft top piled up behind the rear seats. Likewise the wind up
windows necessitate that chrome bit across the door top which raises the
cars mid line profile.
But the BT7 soft top is a pain to put up and the BJ7 one is easy to put up.
And, they say, BT7's leak more than BJ7s.
It's all "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I prefer the older style
dash, so wanted a BJ7 or BT7. I'd have preferred a BJ7, having had a BT7
years ago.....I wanted the wind up windows and easier soft top. But I got a
BT7 in the end.
Oh yes, you'll find it easier to get a hard top for a BT7. The soft top has
to come off a BJ7 or 8 in order to fit a hard top, though I've heard that
Cape have on which permits it to stay on.
In the end maybe the best thing is to buy the best of either that your
budget permits. You'll have enormous fun with both.
Simon.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Alan Seigrist Blue 100
Sent: 19 July 2006 02:06
To: D HALL
Cc: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Which way to go
David -
BJ7s are a little more powerful (from the factory) but are also
heavier. The Centre change gearbox is defintiely better, it leaks
less. The downside of the BJ7 is it uses HS6 carbs, which I find
difficult to adjust the fuel mixture. The upside of HS6 carbs are
they are the simplest and most bullet proof carbs SU made. Once set
properly, they are set for life.
There are essentially three different versions of the BT7, Mk1,
Mk2sideshift, and Mk2centershift. The Mk2 tricarbs are finicky with
HS4 carbs... hard to adjust like the HS6s... you have to know what you
are doing to maintain it in good running order. The earlier Mk1s are
simpler with twin HD6s (which are my favorite SU carb). But my
preference is for the later Mk2 grill, but both are pretty in my book.
The other upside of the BT7 is you have space in the doors for stuff.
The BJ7 doesn't have door pockets, other than a thin one for about 3
pieces of paper.
Best Regards,
Alan
'53 BN1
'53 A90
'64 BJ8
On 7/19/06, D HALL <dthall@btinternet.com> wrote:
> Hi everybody; I am actually in the process of deciding between a BT7 and a
BJ7. Whilst I appreciate that both have got disadvantages and advantages, if
they were both inthe same state of health, what would you choose? I just
want a decent motor that I can restore and get some fun from it. Best
regards David Hall
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