Mike Riley Austin Healey BJ8
This project was for Mike Riley. He had a TR6 built by us back in 2019. We started the BJ8 shortly after finishing the TR6. He came to us and said “Now what?” He came in every Friday from the start of his TR till completion. We grew accustomed to his visits and so had he. Mike always wanted a Healey, so we assisted in finding him one, and we went and picked one up with him. When we got the car it was already in the beginnings of a restoration when, sadly, the owner passed away. That led to a great starting position for Mike’s Restoration. Upon purchasing the Healey, one condition was that he had to take the original owners wife for a ride, Mike agreed and bought the car. After getting the car back to the Ranch, Mike instantly began tearing the car the rest of the way apart. 3 long years later (6 month wait, 1 year paint and body, most all panels replaced. and roughly a year and a half of assembly) and the car is finished and in Mikes possession. Oh and through both restorations and the relationship we all had built, Mike is now a proud member of the BCR team!
Part 1: In the Beginning
![Mike Sitting in his BJ8 for the first time](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/60e66aaf-6e89-42bd-a237-379de797f591/1000005918.jpg)
Mike Sitting in his BJ8 for the first time
![Everyone inspecting the car before purchasing](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/749e0d2f-2ae9-467c-9e76-debdaad81c83/1000005920.jpg)
Everyone inspecting the car before purchasing
![Being prepped/loaded into the trailer](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/3dd6ce68-ae99-4758-8b2a-7626c9b59b3c/1000005921.jpg)
Being prepped/loaded into the trailer
![Engine and Transmission before work began. Can you guess which transmission belongs to Mike?](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/062f50b9-2892-4148-85e3-be5a8041088c/20220920_165421.jpg)
Engine and Transmission before work began. Can you guess which transmission belongs to Mike?
Part 2: Body Work
![Taking the car to the body shop and them wondering what they got themselves into.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/95984082-5cd1-4214-9460-5dd448dd96e2/20220210_153242+2.jpg)
Taking the car to the body shop and them wondering what they got themselves into.
![All the body Pieces that where removed](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/a215d99f-d78f-4aef-8eca-b1b1be2e1788/20220210_153858.jpg)
All the body Pieces that where removed
![Body guys really wondering what they got into](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/662cd6de-7641-4b31-8d91-23b9bafdf800/20220210_153929.jpg)
Body guys really wondering what they got into
![Stripped on the rotisserie. ready for body work to begin](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/fae0bbf8-e7be-4069-8e7a-7aa6720e7181/20220217_110849.jpg)
Stripped on the rotisserie. ready for body work to begin
![Mike inspecting progress](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/25ab10b8-34bc-4425-9e60-268d52ba8de6/20220217_111123.jpg)
Mike inspecting progress
![Metal work in process](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/52501b2b-86f6-476b-a7d7-fe38a9fc0952/20220309_114023.jpg)
Metal work in process
![More metal work in process](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/671cf640-d336-4d75-b245-9d5258e6969e/20220309_114127.jpg)
More metal work in process
![Basically the only salvageable metal on the car](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/2408177d-6060-48f9-9aa5-2cbc81fe7dff/20220408_094531.jpg)
Basically the only salvageable metal on the car
![More metal work](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/0b448074-9fdd-4dc1-9601-0e372bfaa745/20220408_094555.jpg)
More metal work
![Man the body guys do great work](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/05d48492-57dc-466b-a419-f3f393760665/20220408_094615.jpg)
Man the body guys do great work
![New metal being applied](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/34a05402-7de7-4695-96e9-e4af9b2e6cec/20220415_100645.jpg)
New metal being applied
!["Not a lot goes into those little cars can it?" Well do we have news.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/24fcd2bf-c21c-490d-aa3b-c49f6222a185/20220503_162425.jpg)
"Not a lot goes into those little cars can it?" Well do we have news.
![Panel fitment](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/1d66b888-3e69-44a0-b041-79870325f043/20220517_105731.jpg)
Panel fitment
![More panel fitment](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/9bcae0bf-bdac-4c30-9df4-6f66d7d76f3b/20220526_092832.jpg)
More panel fitment
![Back to rotisserie to begin primer](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/fba3622f-d43d-4ad5-b3c4-84c5cc33f3ff/20220713_092136.jpg)
Back to rotisserie to begin primer
![Primered (its hiding, Do Not Disturb)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/092d2d9c-5e22-4955-92bd-1a1a381a2c9f/20220720_093426.jpg)
Primered (its hiding, Do Not Disturb)
![beginning paint prep for panels/primer](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/0f76ea10-59b1-4723-aae2-935650a3d7f3/20220825_114637.jpg)
beginning paint prep for panels/primer
![Beginning its journey back to the Ranch](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/dbe11696-6dc0-408c-a816-d68b8625d0e9/20221014_131553.jpg)
Beginning its journey back to the Ranch
![Back at the ranch with some beginning work done](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/29ed03f1-5cd6-4d80-a524-9d2886a364ed/20221122_104851.jpg)
Back at the ranch with some beginning work done
![Inner body shot after just getting back with minor work being done](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/bd38e007-12fc-4623-9dc6-15d66f5b0c69/20221122_104934.jpg)
Inner body shot after just getting back with minor work being done
Part 3: The Itch To Have The Car Home
![Separating engine and transmission](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/f1e38ae3-95bf-4979-bcaa-24122e0137ee/20220919_081422.jpg)
Separating engine and transmission
![Closer look of what the engine was](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/2f7ffd10-77bd-4a10-90ea-000e212661fe/20220919_140337.jpg)
Closer look of what the engine was
![Inner engine](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/a5219cb1-9467-4b9e-bd00-b7c413cb2a73/20220926_154721.jpg)
Inner engine
![Engine work began](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/655fbad5-cf72-46ee-82f8-5bef90f29c0e/20220930_140615.jpg)
Engine work began
![Beginning differential inspection](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/8c42e42c-9366-499e-b307-5cf95e15992e/20221017_092917.jpg)
Beginning differential inspection
![Starting the dash work](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/08d66dac-165f-4cba-afd5-5d86cb3e4827/20221209_131340.jpg)
Starting the dash work
![Body starts install](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/ede4a879-9630-4c35-8cc3-ec4ca1e38f0f/20221217_090614.jpg)
Body starts install
![Shrouds on](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/4e28d1c2-60d7-4e69-be34-6d8c6d5a79d0/20221217_090621.jpg)
Shrouds on
![Tony fitting the doors](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/91fbf563-093c-4986-84d7-3de792f496c9/20221217_114220.jpg)
Tony fitting the doors
![Front of car with panels mostly on](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/6e4aaa87-6957-4a53-a4d9-be1e423671b5/20221217_114356.jpg)
Front of car with panels mostly on
![rear view after some more work was done](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/90eecb0c-adfe-4b28-9553-30dddc6cd4b9/20230112_121706.jpg)
rear view after some more work was done
![inside the mysterious transmission (no there is not a elf that lives in manual transmissions, but rumor has it, in Automatic transmissions there's a Gremlin that lives in there.)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/8cc29d4e-a0d5-40bb-ae51-a6e6eb4f2405/20230718_075234.jpg)
inside the mysterious transmission (no there is not a elf that lives in manual transmissions, but rumor has it, in Automatic transmissions there's a Gremlin that lives in there.)
![sneak peak at some interior work being done/seeing if we like the combination](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/11bb3ed9-cfbd-4757-a334-3f2dc395f29a/20231018_111154.jpg)
sneak peak at some interior work being done/seeing if we like the combination
![What the engine began to take shape as. What A Beast!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/ef0c8005-05a8-44a1-a485-5b4c63482c3d/20240123_091143.jpg)
What the engine began to take shape as. What A Beast!
Part 4: Beginning of the End
![Slight peak at some interior choices](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/6122012f-7e49-4762-96ad-dbe014e210cb/20240117_085536.jpg)
Slight peak at some interior choices
![Beast of an engine just before 1st test run](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/7a60e88b-1b04-442a-991b-16f82fd6af3a/20240123_091231.jpg)
Beast of an engine just before 1st test run
![Dash being installed](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/3c7edd96-2f85-43c1-b7c0-6481f46b2073/20240125_144934.jpg)
Dash being installed
![A lot has changed. Look at how nice that red pairs with the black and the dash!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/9aaeb544-6715-4a85-b894-2400795783a1/20240214_092811.jpg)
A lot has changed. Look at how nice that red pairs with the black and the dash!
![Engine finally in the car](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/4d106a4f-0058-4e86-90fb-e7e7f48c9dc8/20240214_092927.jpg)
Engine finally in the car
![So much details just in this shot alone that people don't see because of the grills](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/8a273d9d-1c76-4e5a-9b82-57a2871df724/20240214_092954.jpg)
So much details just in this shot alone that people don't see because of the grills
![Interior actually going in](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/38d242a8-a98a-4bab-8443-5bbe21081485/23523.jpeg)
Interior actually going in
![first door panel hung and in](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/6b7d4e3c-79a4-401e-8026-6dce50015915/20240202_135217.jpg)
first door panel hung and in
![New Top, Looking good!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/11d7b652-5471-4978-a28f-3cfbd0a092a9/20240412_155250.jpg)
New Top, Looking good!
![Interior mostly finished](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/0d89b059-09bb-4656-a4c0-c13d10d9d3a0/20240422_134934.jpg)
Interior mostly finished
![Interior and Tonnue done, ready for Classy Chassis](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/3333e2f6-64bd-43a2-97cc-20a54f77a95d/20240503_151024.jpg)
Interior and Tonnue done, ready for Classy Chassis
Part 5: The Finale
![Finished interior](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/7f9d38ee-52a1-4027-88e3-e96ed01ab961/20240422_134904.jpg)
Finished interior
![Finished Exterior](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/8c7999e7-b5f5-47e9-aafd-60ead0698bbe/20240503_151002.jpg)
Finished Exterior
![Made our goal of joining the Classy Chassis parade!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/ef869756-1c4b-45f4-a9b4-6470003e16b7/20240503_182237.jpg)
Made our goal of joining the Classy Chassis parade!
![The final beautiful engine](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/09e864f8-42d8-4f95-8e82-806265050309/1000005947.jpg)
The final beautiful engine
![Front view of the engine bay](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/527c0af3-1763-4816-8b61-4fa30d8c64f7/1000005948.jpg)
Front view of the engine bay
![1000005985.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/5cb0c584-1841-42b4-b375-8bf84fc06de6/1000005985.jpg)
![1000005986.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/7f80213d-defb-4206-9d23-a0f20a1f0361/1000005986.jpg)
![1000005989.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/2f55c2fb-bb0b-4de5-9a44-ef89ec08a781/1000005989.jpg)
![1000005990.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/623bb41de22e197c5aadd42b/d355895f-e3cb-4d1a-8b71-dabe117f604b/1000005990.jpg)