[Healeys] Chassis Damage/Failures -- was: Re: Digest N0.4, Enquiring minds want to know

[Alan Seigrist]

The mechanic that taught me most of what I know, Mike of John Bull
Auto from Walnut Creek CA, he told me back in the late 80s that 6-cyl
AHs have a tendency to crack the rail just behind the shock tower
because of the weight of the motor and how the shock tower is welded
to the rail.  Worth a spot check once in a blue moon.

On 8/20/10, Tom Felts <tomfelts at windstream.net> wrote:
> I'm happy this discussion came up.  Although i "feel" my frame is solid, I
> don't really know.  I'll be doing an inspection.
>
> tom
>
> ---- Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> =============
> I'll add my own.  My BJ8's front left wheel had been crunched by a PO,
> probably by a curb or parking stop.  I'd always known that the the A-arm
> brackets were bent back a little, but saw no other damage and it drove fine.
>
> I was underneath the other day and happened to notice that the welds on
> the inside (engine side) of the rear bracket  were slightly torn towards
> the bottom of the bracket.  The adjoining chassis metal was also torn
> and I saw one small crack.  At first I thought that the fairly recent
> addition of a larger sway bar had exacerbated the original damage, but
> when I looked closely the injury looked to be older (but it's sill
> possible the larger sway bar contributed).  I re-welded the bracket to
> the frame.  It looks to be a good repair, but I'll keep my eye on it.
>
> In addition, I've had to weld up cracks on the shock tower mounts--these
> are fairly common from what I hear.
>
> These accounts suggest we should get under our cars--preferably on a
> rack--and inspect the chassis closely.  That's why I started this
> thread--to hear what other owners have encountered so we know where to look.
>
> So far:
>
> - shock tower mounts
> - A-arm brackets
> - chassis rail behind shock tower (but could be anywhere)
>
>
> bs
>
>
> Alan Seigrist wrote:
>> I nearly had my BJ8 chassis collapse on me when I hit a very severe
>> dip in the road which created a crack on the rail just behind the
>> shock tower...
>> It was welded up and has been fine since, The guy was a good welder.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>
>
> *******************************************************************
> Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net
>
> *******************************************************************
> _______________________________________________
> Healeys at autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation  $12.75
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/tomfelts@windstream.net
>
>

-- 
Sent from my mobile device