Martha's
Vineyard Classic Car
Don's Austin Healey Project
Martha's Vineyard lifestyle
Austin Healey
Restoration
Don Macdonalds Antique and Classic
Car Garage
These photos
were taken shortly after all the rusted panels were removed. The Healey
is ready to re assemble and a new wiring harness was part of the program.
I managed to do the rear light and Chris finished the project. The
old Healey started and everything worked. The old harness was so brittle
I don't think it would have lasted much longer. Thanks Chris, you
did a great job, best of all you fit into places I would have found
myself stuck.
This is
the strip down phase of the project. More than I bargained for in
terms of rust repair. Both inner rails and door shut panels
were rusted beyond repair and needed to be replaced. The rest was
in the usual places. The garage remained a mess for 1 year.
I have owned this old Healey since 1968 and it has always
been garaged. All of the damage had been done before I purchased the
Healey. Paint covers a thousand sins. This Healey has been bumped
a few times as I would learn as the paint was removed.
The side
panels of the Healey are made of steel while the cowel or inner body
panels are made of aluminum. The parts should be assembled with anti
corrosion strips or well painted prior to assembly as each will react
to each other causing deterioration to the aluminum. I found some
signs of metal reaction, but not to be a major problem with
this project. All parts will be painted prior to assembly.
This project has been slow going though
with good intentions. Dash was removed, except the oil/water gauge.
The floor panels have been replaced and painted with por 15. Not sure
when I will be driving my old Healey again though I'm lookin forward
to the day.