[Healeys] BJ8 frame

[Rich C]

I cannot personally comment on the product from SC made available in recent 
years. I would however caution a buyer about purchasing a chassis assembly 
complete with wheel arches, bulkheads, and all superstructure at arms 
length. There are a lot of critical dimensional areas where all the exterior 
body panels, trim pieces, etc. need to be able to fit correctly and well. 
With the known variables in panel fit of one Healey to the next, it's almost 
a certainy that there will be fitting issues.

I have seen and experienced chassis and superstructure assemblies that were 
purchased and then the restorer had to try to struggle his way through the 
fitting up of all the rest of the car after the fact. Grrrrr!!!

We have been having some really positive experiences in using Kilmartin's 
basic chassis assembly, transferring all the old superstructure over to the 
new chassis and replacing metal as needed. The outer body panels are present 
and are repaired as needed at the same time and in this way the fit of 
everything is guaranteed. True, not for the inexperienced or the faint of 
heart, but a truly excellent end result.

Rich Chrysler

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Varley" <varley at cosmos.net.au>
To: "Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 7:12 PM
Subject: [Healeys] BJ8 frame


> Guys
> A friend has a BJ8 that has a completely rotten frame and
> superstructure. It would be a huge amount of work to fix, the rust is so
> bad that even all the wheel arches are rotten. SC parts in England say
> they can supply a new frame and superstructure assembly primed and ready
> to paint for about $15000.00. They say they build them at their plant in
> England and have so far made 18. Most have been sent to America. Is
> there any experience out there on this as to build quality and
> dimensional accuracy? For the interest of the group they also insist
> that they are made in England and not India as some rumours suggest. Any
> feedback would be appreciated
> Cheers
> Larry Varley