[Healeys] length of cockpit

[simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com]

51.5" on mine. Mk11 BT7.

Mind you, my hardtop isn't a brilliant fit either. Lengthwise, I'd say it's
good but it seems to sit up a little at the rear centre. It doesn't quite
sit down flush. A few mm out. Nothing too serious.

Simon

 

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Mirek Sharp
Sent: 11 May 2020 04:57
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] length of cockpit

 

Dear listers, I have recently spent a fair bit of time fiddling with getting
a good fit for the hardtop on my '59 BT7.  It is definitely a bit long, and
when clipped securely to the windscreen it overhangs the rear cockpit trim
just a bit more than I would like (just barely catching the rubber seal  on
the hardtop).  It was a challenge getting  a good seal with the side-screens
as well and although I eventually achieved an excellent fit on the passenger
side, there is still a bit of a gap (1/4") between the hardtop and the rear
of the driver'-side side-screen, for the first 6" above the door.  However,
overall, I am relatively happy with the fit as the hardtop was purchased
about 7 years ago and did not come factory-fitted back in '59.

 

I understand from talking to others that there is considerable variation in
the hardtops; they are not all identical.  Despite this, I have wondered if
the issue with the less than perfect fit is because the hardtop is too
"long", or if the distance between my windshield and the rear aluminum
cockpit trim is too short.   The latter is possible as the body was removed
for repair and paint 6 years ago.  That work was undertaken by my late
friend Rich Chrysler and his crew, who knew thing or two about Healeys and
whose work is impeccable, thus I am inclined to think it is the hardtop.
Also, I have moved the windscreen as far forward as possible without
compromising the fit against the front shroud (there is a shallow "hump" in
the shroud which locates the rubber windscreen seal).  The rake is
determined by the angle of the side-screens and getting the base of the
windscreen pillars satisfactorily located on the rubber pads, so no
adjustment there.  The body panels fit beautifully, so I will not
contemplate adjusting those to achieve a better fit for the hardtop.  

 

So, more out of curiosity than anything else, (and as part of my personal
commitment to keep us all productively occupied through the present crisis)
I would be grateful if any listers out there with BT7s could measure the
distance from the windscreen to the rear aluminum moulding around the
cockpit so I can get some idea what variation exists, if any, in the
"length" of the cockpit (I don't know how else to put it).  To ensure the
same measuring points are used by all, I suggest the measurement be taken
from the centre of the top windscreen frame, at the top of the rear lip of
the frame (hook the tape measure over the lip)  to the middle of the
aluminum trim at the rear of the cockpit (i.e., along  the centreline of the
car).  There is a very short segment of  aluminum trim, about an inch long,
held by a single screw, which conveniently denotes the centreline at the
rear.

 

Many thanks to any of you who can shed some light on this question for me.

 

Mirek

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