[Healeys] A Christmas Story

Michael Salter michaelsalter at gmail.com
Sun Dec 27 16:44:02 MST 2020


Another really difficult correct part for the early cars is the back plate
and gearbox case with the 3rd starter bolt although apparently the 3 bolt
starter was not used.

M

On Sun., Dec. 27, 2020, 5:42 p.m. , <gradea1 at charter.net> wrote:

> Bill-the adjustable steering was used on the early 100s including your car
> 34 bodies from mine.  It used a chrome trafficator lever. From 149930 the
> non-adjustable unit was installed and it used the black "birds beak"
> (witch's nose) lever. The facia was also modified to have a smaller opening
> for the now skinny steering shaft (for looks only) and the seat pans now
> had sliding adjusters rather then bolted to the floor. This carried thru to
> the 100-6 era. Later the adjustable unit was brought back and continued on
> to the last BJ8 produced (using the same parts as the early 100).
>
> I'm not sure if my car originally came with chrome or black lever but to
> be concours correct I changed it to the chrome item. During the hurried
> rush to get the first 100s out the door the factory would use any available
> part on the shelf. Since the trafficator was an involved unit, they would
> have to be shipped in complete, and ready to go onto cars on the track at
> Longbridge.
>
> As Roland asked, is that the last of items I would want to change to make
> the car correct?  This was one of the items. There are about 75 various
> differences between the early BN1 and the later BN1s.It would be difficult
> to get one of these cars 100% correct.
>
> Glad you enjoyed my Christmas story...Happy New Year to all. Hank
>
> -----------------------------------------
> From: "WILLIAM B LAWRENCE"
> To: "Richard Kahn", "gradea1 at charter.net", "kentlambert1957 at gmail.com"
> Cc: "healeys at autox.team.net"
> Sent: Sunday December 27 2020 10:01:28AM
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] A Christmas Story
>
> Also known as shipfitters disease. You were lucky to get out of it while
> the car was still in one piece...
>
> I was unaware that there were BN1s made without adjustable steering wheels
> or that the switch lever was different. I guess I’m still alive if I’m
> still learning.
>
> Bill Lawrence
> BN1 #554
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Richard
> Kahn <tahoehealey at hotmail.com>
> *Sent:* Sunday, December 27, 2020 5:25 AM
> *To:* gradea1 at charter.net <gradea1 at charter.net>; '
> kentlambert1957 at gmail.com' <kentlambert1957 at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* 'healeys at autox.team.net' <healeys at autox.team.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] A Christmas Story
> That is what I refer to as the domino game. One thing just causes another
> to happen. A game you cannot win.
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of
> gradea1 at charter.net <gradea1 at charter.net>
> *Sent:* Saturday, December 26, 2020 6:08 PM
> *To:* 'kentlambert1957 at gmail.com' <kentlambert1957 at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* 'healeys at autox.team.net' <healeys at autox.team.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] A Christmas Story
>
> A Christmas Story by Hank Leach
>
> Friday, December 25, 2020
>
> 5:41 PM
>
> This is a story of a new trafficator lever, a lost filter and a new
> flashlight for Christmas. How all three items relate is the makings of a
> Christmas Miracle.
>
> It starts out by first obtaining the correct trafficator (directional
> flasher) lever to fit on my Austin Healey 100. That car uses the early
> adjustable steering setup so that lever is a curved chrome handle (same one
> used on the later adjustables). The non adjustable steering uses a black
> "birds beak" shaped lever. That one was wrongly used on my 1953 BN1. So
> with new part in hand, the procedure is to remove the trafficator indicator
> unit, disassemble it and replace the lever. Lets just say it’s a time
> consuming task that requires nimble fingers and a set procedure. Upon
> completion of the project its time to check the working characteristics.
>
> Turn on the key, listen for fuel pump to stop then check horn and
> flashers…uh, oh, fuel pump is not stopping…stuck float. So now move to the
> rear carburettor float bowl, remove lid and free up brass float, clean
> needle and seat and check float height. Reassemble, being careful not to
> drop any parts. Darn, there goes the fibre washer, brass filter and spring.
> The washer was laying under the car, but the filter was no where to be
> found. Looked everywhere on floor, within the engine bay, on the frame, on
> the suspension too, but it was not located…it just disappeared. I tried
> blowing out the area with compressed air, then a vacuum maybe to suck it up
> from some obscure spot. Not found. That was Christmas Eve.
>
> Christmas Day we open presents and one was a 500 Lumens flashlight from my
> Sister-in-law; she is so thoughtful. So, after we opened the gifts, I
> thought, why not try out this super-bright flashlight and see if I could to
> locate the elusive filter-its out there somewhere. Shined the light on the
> engine, under the carbs, on the frame and master cylinder-where is it? As I
> moved the new flashlight toward the frame support, it touched the edge and
> the lens fell out into the Healey frame. You know that spot. It collects
> any part you are unable to find, and it is curved just enough that you
> can't see to the bottom where it ends on the frame rail. I shined the
> lens-less flashlight down the frame and sure enough there was the lens…and
> the filter, and even a missing choke lever return spring lost during the
> re-assembly in 2015. With the help of the flashlight and a long armed
> grabber all items are now retrieved.
>
> Back to the trafficator, key on, horn and flashers work correctly with the
> new lever, so everything was assembled correctly, including the overflowing
> float bowl…a Christmas Miracle.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation  $12.75
>
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys
> http://autox.team.net/archive
>
> Healeys at autox.team.net
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/michaelsalter@gmail.com
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20201227/e9ac604d/attachment.htm>


More information about the Healeys mailing list