Notes from Rich Chrysler

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From the Healey mailing list
13 December 2005

Thanks to all that replied about detailing my engine bay. I decided to do it with the engine in place. I'm in the process of stripping out everything except the engine. ... is there a source to show me what areas should be painted body color and what areas should be black?

Thanks in advance!
Bruce Harding
61 BT7

The basic rule of thumb by the time your BT7 was built they had worked the process out to the point where you can figure all the parts that were required to hold, position and fasten all the body panels in place were painted body colour. This was of course to also include left vs. right hand drive blanking plates because this was already determined when the bare complete body shell was painted at Jensen's.

Therefore, all mechanical parts and hardware that were installed later at Abingdon would be black or plated, not body colour. For example, the mounting plate for the bonnet latching mechanism was painted body colour as were it's mounting screws, but the sliding mechanism was plated because it was required to slide freely, while the release rod and bell crank bits were painted black.

The engine mount brackets and their rubbers were prepainted engine colour, their bolts to the frame zinc plated. The gusset plates and fasteners to support the shroud lip to the upright supports were part of the body assembly, so painted body colour.

One exception is the cross brace in front of the radiator. This was hand brush painted dull black so it wouldn't show up through the grille when the car was viewed from the front.

The left and right side splash plates immediately inboard of the headlamp buckets were another exception in that though they had to be installed much later after the grille assembly was installed, they were body colour, but their bottom corner steady brackets were black so they wouldn't be seen where they come across to fasten to the lower outer grille bolts.

I can't immediately think of everything, but this should get you a long way. Any more questions, ask away!

Rich Chrysler

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