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| Joined: | 04-07-2022 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 87 |
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Not much in the way of earth shaking Healey news to report, but I have managed to get a couple more things done on Rusty.
The engine is at the machine shop getting over bored for my new pistons. They have had the engine for four weeks, they quoted 6-8 week lead time as they are buried in work. Not a problem since I have lots of other stuff to tend to.
I got my glovebox back in the car - a small victory I know. I was missing the retaining spring for it, but my local Ace hardware had a perfect substitute so the glove box no longer falls out when you open it, as when I first received the car. =:-)
I reinstalled my foot well vents. Those little buggers use plastic hinges, and the hinges break after being flexed a number of times. So instead of plastic hinges, I found some 2" hinges at the hardware store and pop riveted them to the dampers. I could have then riveted them to the foot well, but instead used some riv-nuts so that I can unscrew them if need be. No drilling or modifications were needed, everything fit albeit with a slight misalignment of the holes in the hinge to the damper. See the attached picture.
I reinstalled the column lock, and connected the heater/demister hoses to their respective vents. I used a silver felt tip pen to restore the silver trim on the eyeball vents. Looks very good.
I also installed some new horns that I picked up at a swap meet for $20. Beep beep.
I reassembled both bumpers, and polished the stainless steel. The rubber bumper strips were toast as the rusty square head screws all snapped off when the nuts securing the stainless trim were removed. I had to cut and twist some of the fasteners which chewed up the rubber strips as well. New screws cost almost $4 each from Martin Robey (ack!), and new bumper strip assemblies are almost $300 for both, so I said "not going there" and instead used a roll of 1/2" x 1" black rubber from Amazon. Looks very professional - put it in using super glue and sheet metal screws. Cost $20 - I can always go back and replace them with something closer to original but frankly I am so happy with the results I doubt I will do so.
The rear bumper is now installed, but I am foregoing installation of the front bumper until the motor is in. I still need to install the driver switch panel and clock, steering wheel, and the center heater controls, but then the interior is done. Wow, I may be able to drive Rusty this summer. Cautious optimism here, sport fans.
That's all for now.
Attachment: JH Vent damper.JPG (Downloaded 21 times)
Last edited on 04-03-2025 02:17 am by vnavaret