What's Happening....
Healey Journal
What I am doing now....
After an extended hiatus I'm now back at work on the Big Healey. It's not like I've been entirely idle, but the Jensen-Healey now has a rebuilt and greatly uprated engine, rebuilt and uprated suspension front & rear, odd rust spots fixed and the doors replaced, (it's not entirely done either- I need to weld new metal in on the underside of the front of the bonnet and paint it; and maybe re-wire it, too) and the Rochdale has had a few little things done- sorting out the fuel system (but it too leaves the odd job yet to be done- new upholstery for the seats and a new headliner, minor stuff really; and new carpeting just to make it look really nice...)
I'm giving myself a job to do per month on the Big Healey- something that can be done in a good week-end's work (or two....). So, the plan for the rest of this year and next is:
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black on light blue- task DONE! black on yellow- task TO DO! |
Austin-Healey |
Jensen-Healey & Rochdale Olympic |
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January, 2010 |
Jensen: Installed shifter extension on transmission. | |
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February, 2010 |
Jensen: Installed transmission on engine. Finished Pedal Box |
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March, 2010 |
Jensen: Finish minor bodywork & painted & installed hardtop. Rochdale: Rebuilt & installed transmission, rear hatch stays. |
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April, 2010 |
Mount Pillars & Trial Fit Doors, Mount B Pillars; probably need to re-skin the doors.... |
Jensen: Install engine & transmission with front suspension- fabricate transmission mounts & modify driveshaft. |
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May, 2010 |
Trial fit Outer Sills & Rear Shroud, Repair Rear Shroud | |
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Paint Chassis & Inner Body, Repair Rear Shroud |
Jensen: Install Interior & reconnect electrical system. | |
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June, 2010 |
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July, 2010 |
Mount Front Suspension & Steering, Mount Rear Suspension |
Jensen: Final Test, MOT and on the Road! |
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August, 2010 |
Install Hydraulics & Fuel System | Rochdale: Install new carpet & dye vynil. |
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September, 2010 |
Rochdale: Install voltmeter and fix heater. | |
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October, 2010 |
Install Wiring & Electrical Equipment | Rochdale: Install new headliner and weather stripping. |
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November, 2010 |
Paint Exterior | Rochdale: fabricate rear engine plate for overdrive gearbox. |
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December, 2010 |
Install Interior | Rochdale: Rebuild overdrive gearbox. |
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January, 2011 |
Install Glass & Dash | Rochdale: Install new seats |
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February, 2011 |
Rochdale: Rebuild Metro turbo engine & modify for in-line mounting. | |
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March, 2011 |
Install Top and Boot Trim | Rochdale: Install Turbo engine & overdrive gearbox. |
| April-Summer, 2012 | Rebuild & Install Engine.... |
Jensen: Rebuild convertible top frame & install soft top. Repair bonnet and rear wings/B Pillars as may be needed. |
So, this plan should get me to the end of next year and have an all-but-complete Big Healey except for some relatively minor trim installation and the rather more significant and expensive rebuilding of the engine and its installation. I have virtually all of the non-engine mechanical components and other bits & pieces. The only thing that will cost non-trivial money is the interior, but if I set £100 aside a month between now and when the time comes to do it I'll nearly have enough with what's already in the kitty.... But mid-2011 will then get really serious financial cash flow issues with the Engine components & rebuild work... how fast do I want to go? Of course, I could put a relatively stock (= cheaper) engine in and get it on the road, and acquire a second engine (as I did originally, but sold to help financing the rest) to rebuild at leisure to a more sporty specification.