JWHA - BJ8 Top Installation Instructions

This is a scan then pasted in copy of installation instructions for a BJ8 top that were found in an old top box. Not sure if they are BMC or not but interesting none the less..

Courtesy of Dave Giffin, Bluegrass Austin Healey Club


INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR l964-65 AUSTIN HEALEY 3000 MK-II & MK-III
This top has been designed and engineered for quick easy installation. The punch holes located at the
bottom of the rear section of the rear curtain are guide marks for placing and attaching the material to a
metal rail. These punch holes Indicate the amount of material that is folded over the rail. Also a
separating zipper is sewn to the top just above the rear window. This zipper pocket is sewn to the top just
above the rear window. This zipper pocket attaches to the rear bow in order to hold the rear deck and
curtain in Position. No cementing of material is needed. New screws are included with this top to replace
the ones that become damaged during removal.

A. HOW TO REMOVE THE OLD TOP

STEP 1 Remove trim tips and trim welt across front bow. Unlock front bow from windshield and lower
top to rear. Carefully remove rubber weather-strip from metal channel, by apply-ing small amounts of
gasoline to loosen adhesive and prevent weather-strip from damage. Take out Phillips screws from metal
channel and carefully pull off corded welt from front of metal channel. It may be necessary to drill off the
head of the screws due to distortion of the Phillips head. (New screws supplied with top) Also remove one
Phillips screw at side of frame to release small flap under metal retainer. Pry off old top from bow, raise
frame to windshield and lock into place.

STEP 2 At side of car, back of door, pull off corded welt from meal retainer. Remove screws to release
metal retainer and then pry off flap material from side of car.

STEP 3 On inside of car directly below rear windows remove 10 Phillips screws from metal bar that
extends around rear section of car. This will release the top from rear of the car so that rear section can be
lifted out. A small Phillips screwdriver with a large handle can be used to remove the two end screws.

STEP 4 Lift out rear section and place on top of car. With a sharp knife cut top loose from rear bow. Cut
material close to metal bow.

CAUTION: DO NOT CUT STRAP MATERIAL AT THIS TIME, THESE WILL BE REPLACED

AT TIME OF INSTALLATION SO THAT REAR BOW REMAINS IN POSITION.

Old top can now be removed from car frame.

STEP 5 Place top on table with inside facing upward. Carefully remove rubber molding by applying small
amounts of gasoline to loosen adhesive and prevent damage to mounding. Also remove metal clips to
release top from metal bar.

B. HOW TO INSTALL THE NEW TOP

STEP 1 Attach matching straps to top frame. Place new strap next to old one on car with left side facing
to inside of car. Allow enough material on each end for attaching. Remove only one strap at a time as the
old strap will help in holding the bows in place while you adjust and attach the new strap.

IMPORTANT: See sketch for proper spacing before attaching new straps to frame. This top is designed to
fit the car frame with the dimensions as indicated. The 2 rear bows must be set in position when attaching
new straps.

Cut off old strap from rear bow and remove screws and plate from 2nd bow. Pry off strap from front bow.

FORM # I S-1471 0 Page 1 of 3
3/31/65
STEP 2 Start with the 2nd bow and attach new strap with screws and plate. Pull strap toward front until
2nd bow is in position and tack strap temporarily to front bow. To attach strap to rear bow, fold material
under and over the metal bow as if in a sling. Adjust rear bow in position and staple material together to
hold bow in place. Apply some rubber cement, supplied with this top, where material meets metal bow.
This will prevent strap from slipping. With pointed tool, punch a hole through strap material approx. 1/2"
From metal bow. Attach black post and cap and hammer together by holding a piece of metal under strap.
Attach 2 sets of rivets in each strap. Remove staples and trim off excess material so that it does not show
on the inside of the car.

Spacing between front bow and 1st bow 20 1/4"
Spacing between list bow and 2nd bow .- l0"
Spacing between 2nd bow and rear bow 7 1/2"
Spacing between rear bow and body line 14 1/2"

STEP 3 Place top on table with left side facing upward and rear section toward you. Place metal bar at
edge of material below rear curtain. Be sure channel side faces upward. With a flexible measuring tape
measure the entire length of the bar and mark the exact center. Align the center mark on the bar to the
center mark on the materiel. Fold Material into channel making sure that the punch hole align to the top
edge of the curve. Attach metal clip, to hold material in place. Follow the some procedure and attach
material to metal bar with 2 or 3 clips on each side of the center clip. Be sure to attach clip over punch
hole .

Now find the last punch hole and align it to the end of the metal bar. If necessary, stretch material so that
it lines up exact. This procedure assures the top to be equally divided on each side. Be sure to attach both
ends. Finish attaching material to metal bar keeping punch holes in alignment with top edge of curve.
After you have installed a clip over each punch hole, attach a double clip to each end and divide the
balance. Replace rubber molding into channel and secure sides with rubber cement. Align small holes in
rubber molding to holes in metal bar

pointed tool, align the center holes in the metal bar to the center holes in the drip rail and install a truss
head Phillips screw. Be sure metal bar seats itself on top of the drip rail-not in front of the drip rail as
water would enter the car. Install balance of screws on one side and then the other in same manner.
Someone may have to hold down the end of the metal bar with a piece of wood, from the outside of the
car, in order to install the last Phillips screw. Attach separating zipper sleeve to rear bow.

FORM # IS-14710 Page 2 of 3
3/31/65
STEP 5 Roll up door windows. Be sure front bow is locked to windshield. At front of car stretch material
forward and down in alignment with top edge of door glass, and tack material to edge of front bow. Do
not drive tacks all the way in as they will be removed loter. Do the same on the other side. Also stretch
material in center and tack temporarily to edge of Front bow. By stretching materiel forward, rear curtain
will also stretch smooth ard taut. Do this adjusting until the entire top fits smoothly on the car frame.
Make sure that the door windows do not catch at the sides of the top due to excess stretching. Check the
straps that extend from the 1st bow to the front bow. If there is any slack merely untuck the Front of the
top rnaterial and pull the strap material forward a little and then tack strap securely.

STEP 6 Unlock front bow from windshield and raise top half way. Fold material over front bow and tack
securely. At sides of top, carefully cut the stitches that hold the binding to the side rnaterial. Cut only up
to the edge of the front bow. Also cut the stitches that hold the rain gutter to the sides of the top. Cut only
up to the edge of front bow. Fold end of top materiel and tack under front bow. Trim off excess top
material only. Fold rain gutter material under and tack to front bow and then fold binding materiel under
and tack to front bow. Trim off excess material on both pieces. Remove tacks from edge of front bow.

SPECIAL NOTE: Recover front metal retainer with new matching Material supplies with this top.
Remove old material and apply rubber cement to metal retainer and material. When cement is dry attach
to meal retainer.

STEP 7 Attach metal retainer to front bow. Align holes and Install new screws Also attach the small flap
underneath metal retainer at sides of car. Apply rubber cement to front weather-strip and attach to metal
retainer. Snap corded welt to inside of metal retainer. Lower top and lock to windshield.

STEP 8 Tack double wire on trim welt to front bow. Tack it flat against bow so that you can see the wire
and small round beading downward. Start even with the inside edge of the rain gutter and the small
round beading covering the srnall space between the front bow and metal retainer. Place tacks approx.
3/8" above round beeding and 1” apart. When completely tacked fold large flat beading over tacks and
hammer lightly for finished appearance. Attach chrome tips over edges of wire on welt.

STEP 9 Tack side Flaps to sides of car. If necessary small wrinkles can be pulled out by stretching and
adjusting flaps. Do not stretch too far forward as top could catch in door. Replace metal retainers and snap
on cordwelt. Trim off excess flap material.
Supplies Required:

1 unit - Top ~483
1 roll 5'4" Wire on Trim
2 pcs Wire on Tips
2 pcs Wire on Screws
10 1/2 x 6 Truss Hd Type "A" Phillips Screws
9 5/8 x 6 Flat Hd Type "A" Phillips Screws
4 Speedy Rivets (caps o. posts)
1/8 lbTacks
1 tube Rubber cement
2 pcs Matching Straps {2 1/2 x 48)
1 Front Trim Strip (2 1/2 x 48)

FORM # 15-14710
3/31/65


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