Projects Austin Healey pulled from field, anyone know these?

Just remove the knock offs, pull the wheel and mount the tire as usual. Grease the splines before reassembly and knock 'em back on. The tool kit came with a copper hammer, but a lead hammer will work. If the "undos" are all battered up, then just use a big ol' beater. Make sure the E brake isn't stuck and keeping the right rear from turning. It may take some work to loosen it up. Spray liquid wrench or some sort of solvent into the drum if you have to. The linings are probably no good anyway.
All of the trim is available through Moss Motors and a few other suppliers.
Emblems, handles, latches, fender bead. Everything has been repoped for many years.
If it were mine, I would stick a battery in it and see if it will crank over. If so, shoot a bit of gas into the carbs and see it it'll fire, even briefly. If it does, invest in a couple of carb kits and see if she'll run. Those engines are bullet proof. The aim is to get the thing to run and move under it's own power. Rebuild the clutch hydraulics, stick a temporary gas tank in it to gravity feed the carbs. So far, you've spent, maybe, a hundred bucks, but you have also increased the value of the car significantly. If all of this goes well, I might consider rebuilding the brakes and getting them in working order. Stop right now. You're done. It won't be real cheap, but, again, it'll pay off when you sell it, which is what I think you should do. I don't know what you gave for it, but I think you're gonna make a bundle on it. Someone may even want to trade for somethin more to your liking, you know, like a 32 roadster with an Ardun in it or the Hirohata Merc

 

Carl, you've been super helpful so far and I appreciate all of your input. I'm sure I will have a lot of other questions for you in the next few weeks if you don't mind.

I tried to turn the engine over by rotating the fan with the belt on and I couldn't move it, but that's as far as I went. I might spray some lube down the cylinders and let it soak a while, although my guess is that this motor is going to need a full rebuild.

Good to know that all of the trim and misc. stuff is repopped, since that's what this car will need. I have a feeling that I will end up selling this in the end, but for now it's tucked away safely in my garage. The more I read about these cars, the more I realize that this is a pretty desirable car and was an excellent score.

 

That's what I'm here for............well, that and to mock those weaker than I and to inseminate their women, while they watch and cower in fear

 

For as long as I can remember, Ted Seipel has been drag racing a '56 Austin Healey 100-6 Roadster (with a SBC) ... Ted (and son Kyle) still successfully campaign the car in NHRA's "Super Pro" class:



NOTE: Ted's wife Georgia drove the (hot pink) Healey from 1976-1987.

 

Can't be a 56. All 56s were BN4s (100/4s). The 100/6 didn't come out until 57. Nice car whatever it is

 

Carl La Fong ... thanks for the correction ... I guess that's what I get for using Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin-Healey_100 ... just goes to show that you can't believe everything (or anything) you read on the Internet!

The Seipel family always listed the car as being a 1956 Austin Healey ... so I guess it was originally a BN4 ???

 

this car must have been one hell of a ride.......good times in a small package

 

I did done do it

 

It was engineering that NASA would have been intimidated by,
I was waiting for the daggers to fly to the tune of what,you butchered a beautiful sports car?

 

Damn it.

I've never stopped looking at Healey ads. It's getting worse ... and I'm out of garage space.

Interesting thing about this thread. There's not that many who have driven, let alone owned, a "big Healey." Someone posted something about "go find a restored one and drive it." Decent advice.

This is a car that is an "experience" to drive.

Sounds like at least one guy in the thread may be a pilot ... a similar experience would be flying certain vintage aircraft. I personally would like to know what it is like to fly a P-51 or a Spitfire ... there are faster aircraft for sure, but the touch, smell and SOUND of those aircraft ...

However, to each his own.

(For those who haven't seen the video below, turn up the sound. There are faster, more powerful airplanes ... engine swap? I don't think so.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvDDDKnNhuE

 

Don't part it out, you would be supprised what these thing bring restored. Nice find!

 

I've seen that one before, Love it! You are so right, there is a certain feel and sound to a Big Healey and nothing like the sound of a Merlin. I own a TR6 and it has a Good sound to it but it still falls short of the Healey, I've also owned and flown a quite a few airplanes but never a P-51 or Spitfire.

 

Nice find. Long-time lurker who had to register to respond to this post. My first car was an Austin-Healey bugeye Sprite and I've owned my present one for 33 years. I've owned my 1963 BJ7 for almost 25 years. I'm a long-time member of the Austin-Healey marque clubs and consider myself pretty knowledgeable.

Don't know how much work you're capable of doing yourself, but figure anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 to turn this car into a nice driver, not a concours restoration. The mechanics are pretty simple and rugged and most parts are available. If you decide to wade in, pm me and I can give you a number of resources to help you out.

It's unlikely you could turn a big profit on this car if you decide to restore and sell. There's just too much work there and the BT7 is not one of the Healey models that brings the really big dollars.

If you choose to restore it and keep it, be careful about the parts you buy. There's a lot of "offshore" repro parts of inferior quality but still cost plenty. Nevertheless, you'll have a great classic once you're done. On the other hand, you could stick it on eBay and expect to get $3,500 - $6,000 as is.

So what's a sporty car guy like me doing on the H.A.M.B.? Can't help myself, I grew up around hot rods, muscle cars and sports cars and love them all. Enough that I'm swapping a SBF into my Healey, even if it will drop the value some. You can check it out here: http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,8264

Anyway I can help, shoot me a pm.

Rick

 

Very cool! Hollywood Sport Cars ran one of the fastest big Healeys on track back in the day. And Doane Spencer is a legend, particularly among Sunbeam Tiger guys: http://www.racingalpines.org/Jerry Titus and Davey Jordan/Jordan.html

 

Thanks HealeyRick, I'm sure I'll have questions, I appreciate the info.

 

Not all 3000s have roll up windows. Roll up windows came out with the 3000 Mk II. Mk 1 3000s have side screens with plexiglass sliders.

 

If you're looking for ideas ??????

 

Just another of my anal retentive replys. The First A-H 3000s were not officially called MKIs. When the MKIIs were introduced, people began to CALL them MKIs to differentiate them from the newer cars. As I used to tell people, why call it a MK1 unless you KNEW there would be a MKII. FWIW
Also, rollup window came out on the MKIII, BJ7s, not the MKII. Incidently, if you run across a MKII BN7, that is a two seat, triple carb, center shift Healey and the price is right, BUY IT!!! They are the rarest of the regular production cars. I forget, I think less than 100 were built

 

Good point Carl. It's about like these "First annual" car shows that we see listed all the time.

That car still looks like it has a lot of potential for restoration in the right hands.

 

my buddy jst brought a 1964 AH sprite up from sherman tx.. we plan to shove a v8 in it ..yours wuold make a right nice platform for same.dooley

 

looks like a cobra killer if you ask me ...dooley

 

Here is one that is on Denver CL for $750

 

I got my driver's license in '68, and all my friends and I had Big Healeys for about 2 yrs. My first was a 100-6, traded it for a BN-7 that had a triple-carb manifold. No one has mentioned (that I saw) that the most common malady for these cars was engine fires -- the fuel lines would blow off and the fuel pump kept running. I saw a brand new one burn to the ground in front of my high school. My BN-7 had burned, that's why I got it for $200.

Don't underestimate the potential for structural rust damage, the frames were light gauge steel and even in the late '60's they were suspect. The disc brakes were a POS, some only lasted a matter of months in humid climates (don't forget to use the Girling fluid!).

Here are some vintage pics from back then; my BN-7, a friend's gorgeous BJ-7 (he sold it for $1750, BTW...), and another friend's blue 100-6

 

She's beauty.

 

I've had a Bugeye and a MGB but I've always wanted a 3000...

 

I bought a LeMan 110/4 for $500 in 1960. Repossession from credit union in Santa Barbara. Had polished rods in it, and a burnt valve with burned piston. New Piston and did head, and turned around and sold it for $1,250,
Wonderful sounding 4 cylinder and fun to drive. Replaced it with a TR3, with bad gasket.
should have kept them all,.

traderjack

 

the fire problem can be fixed with a modern rpm sensing fuel pump safety switch. if the engine stops so does the fuel pump. I replaced the banjo fuel inlet fittings on my SU's with threaded inserts TIG welded in to the fuel bowl tops, this let me run braided fuel inlets,plus the banjo bolts can't loosen up and fall out. the bottom of the bowl lines to the carb can be replaced with modern corn resistant pieces,and always put in new line clamps.

 

Well, looks like I did have a 3000(?) badged as a 100-6 ... bought it from an older gal who was unlikely to have swapped out brakes and engine. So, 100-6's did roll out of the factory with disc brakes and the 2.9 engine.

http://www.healeysix.net:80/BN7%20&%20BT7.htm

 

So, this morning I post my earlier comment on 100-6's and head off to look at some flathead parts. This guy has two warehouses with parts. As I get to the rear of the first one, there are two Austin-Healeys.

I told him that it was quite a coincidence since I had just been on this thread.

I told him that I had a '59 100-6 with disc brakes and almost certain the 2.9 engine .... and that I was told here that AH didn't produce such a car.

He quickly replied, "Sure they did. I have one." And he does.

Anyhow, he has 10 Austin-Healeys, 8 of them roadsters, and has been collecting since he was 16 ... about 40 years. He keeps his "good ones" at the house so I didn't see those.

Hate to be a pain in the ass, but this thread has reenergized my interest.

 

That's a pretty killer feild find. Big Healys have gotten to be worth quite a bit. Send pictures to Classic & Sportscar magazine with your phone # for their "Discovered" section and then sit back and wait for the offers to come in.

I'd skip the hot rodding part and go for the cash.

PS: Denver CL guy, you should have run down there with $750 instead of posting that here