Greetings all, I'm new here, having recently found this brilliant resource. I'm interested to learn about the ultimate "hot" Oldsmobile Rocket 324 engine set up, for a local period '50-60's historic racing car I've recently unearthed..... The car, originally owned and developed by two brothers, is a very early '53 BN1 Healey 100 raced around 1956-1963 with a number of engine set ups. First, it ran the standard Healey engine, then the Healey engine with a 3-71 supercharger that protruded up and out of the bonnet, and finally it ran an Olds 324 bored out to "about 365" with a six Stromberg 97 carb set up. The alloy nose was custom rebuilt in the late 50s after a paddock ding to the original nose. In period the car held a number of local sprint and track records, and with its Rocket engine was written up in the Australian press as "....probably the fastest accelerating car in South Australia" and "the most powerful sports car yet seen in Australia...." (it's original owner told me it would lift it's front wheels a few feet in the air when under full acceleration). In the unyielding quest for speed and victory the brothers built a rail dragster and the Olds Rocket engine was transplanted out of the Healey. It then gained a 6-71 supercharger and 8 Stromberg 97s, and the custom gearbox & rear end was also lifted out of the Healey and bolted into the dragster. Picture a VW front end, two chassis rails, the Rocket engine, box and rear end, a chair and steering wheel. In full-anger whilst competing the engine in the dragster was lunched, as only a high speed miss-change from a mid gear to a low one will do. End of the Rocket engine, and the rails and Healeys racing career. Fortunately for the Healey after the dragsters demise the Healey was re-united with its rear end and gearbox and was parked and left. Its been off the road since 1963, and was purchased recently from one of the original owners, complete with pretty much everything bar the 324 donk, but also including the dragsters 6-71 & eight Stromberg 97s all set up as it last ran. Now, the search for a 324 and a manifold for the six by 97s begins..... Cheers Stew. Adelaide, Australia
Great Intro,.............Welcome to the H.A.M.B.............from Arkansas City, Ks. firstnomad www.angelfire.com/jazz/flatlandstudio
Hey Stew, welcome from below sea level. Original screen name. Funny nobody else thought of that one You must have more pics of the Healey as it thrashed it,s way around the track ?
Hi........I've got a '54 Healey 100 with a '59 394/418 Olds still running. I've had the 100 since '57 when I installed a 303/348 Olds. Installed the present 418 394 in '64. Also modified the nose to resemble a Cobra. Did a period restore in '99/'00. Runs a '37 La Salle trany, '55 Chevy posi RE. Weight is 2486#, F/B is 47/53. Its been featured in British V8: http://www.britishv8.org/Other/TomSchnerk.htm and acmefluid: http://http://www.acmefluid.com.au/larry/oldshealey.html Today it will run a 0 to 60mph in 3.7sec on sticky street tires.
Welcome Stew from the West Coast of Florida. Glad you found the place and hope it everything you are looking for.
Welcome from Melbourne, ring Keith Sutton 0408 289 302 Im sure he has the engine you are looking for, he may even have a multi carb manifold. cheers David
Swweeett what a cool story, early Olds engines are not too hard to come by, if 324 you will want a 56 eigne with #10 heads for the best bang for buck. I like the sound of Tomtorks one up there too, that would be a little fun for putting the s#$t's up some pretty flash cars at the lights :0)
Howdy Stew, Welcome. Im diggin the nose job on the Healey. Try a PM to Poverty Flats here on the HAMB in regards to an engine as he deals in old engines. But being in Kansas ,He aint just around the corner. Cheers, H.R.D.
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