Hey guys, got a buddy that has a 1959 Healey and its been sitting in a garage for 35 plus years.. It's in super shape but not too sure on the drive line.. Inline 6cy with wire wheels and nice patina.. I was at the hotrod powerfest and seen a BBC stuffed into one.. A BBc is not my cup of tea but a SBF of SBC ...Any thought or feeling on the idea .. I need a project Thanks continental
If you go with a V8, make sure the wires are tight and true. Either one (sbc,sbf) should fit okay. Sounds like fun.
I believe HRM did swap articles on both Ford and Chevy conversions on these in the sixties. They also covered stuffing a Vette engine into a bugeye sprite...
There fun cars, and weight distribution is 50/50 with a 302. It's a tight on the front accessories drive but a SBF fits. If it's solid take it, every car I looked at was rotted. My buddy built this 1955 last year, it was swiss cheesed when he found it, almost every piece of steel or aluminum in the car was replaced. He's an old school ruler with Paxton and McCullough blowers, he used a vortech on this one.
My dad used to tell me a few tales of racing against some concoctions like that in the early sixties. From what he said, the favorite motor swap for that car was an SBC. Apparently they really tear it up with combination. Although he did hear of a guy who used a Caddy motor once but I have to ***ume that he had to rip the front end off and build it around the motor and then reattach the sheetmetal. LOL Hey if you or your buddy don't want that car, PM me and we'll talk a deal. That's one car I'd be willing to use my Olds money on. BDE
I was in Germany from '67-'69 and sorely missed not having a hot rod. My buddy, Richard, and I found a 59 Austin Healy roadster with a sick 6 banger. We searched all over for a sbc for this car but could only find a 348 with 3 speed ****** and Hurst shifter... I think the engine was too heavy for the little car and the car's wonderful handling characteristics went right out the window. Plus, my buddy moved the steering box over 4 inches to clear the engine. Whatever he did there really made the steering slow. When the car would begin to go sideways [most of the time] the slow steering couldn't keep up and we'd go around backward every time. The car was so low, we never did get mufflers on it. Man, it was fun tho...
Check out http://britishv8.org/swaps/ Beatnik, that car is awesome. Do you know what the paint color is? That thing's just gorgeous! --Matt
Other one to look at would have to be the Olds/Buick/Rover Alloy motors ? I bet they have been used before, would be good for weight..... damn the Poms made some sweet looking sports cars.
There used to be a MGA around here that had a SBC with the rear fenders widened. It was very well done, cream yellow with black side exit pipes. Looked like a Cobra from the back. I believe it belonged to a pilot at the base and was only around for about a year, damned sweet car.
If you do decide to do what was known as a poor-man's Cobra, make sure that you do a real through check of the front suspension. The big Healey's had a fully boxed ladder style frame that was really pretty stout. However, they were really prone to rusting out (to a car, they all have rusted fenders between the door jam and the rear wheel). Mostly it is cosmetic but there are a couple of places where it can become "exciting". The upper towers where the top A-arms attach is where the tin worm often resides and when this lets go, you have no steering to speak of. Especially if you're driving like you should with a V8 innit! Then things can get exciting. E ticket; definetly. Might also want to bring a pair of clean shorts along too... Anyway, if you go this route, probably best to cut off the old towers and fab up new ones.
Wow Beatnik, that Healey rocks!!! she has to fly too.. My buddies healey is clean, he bought it in Cal 1965 and went to the service.. Came back and moved to Il, parked her in the garage and never drove her from then on..... No rust out in the body but will have to look at the ch***ie more.... I'm a ford guy so it would be a 302ci , dig the idea of a supercharger too but ****! Holy **** !! what she gonna do in the 1/4 mile with healthy 302 and a blower...... Humm.... Dig the idea of weight to Hp and a 50/50 balance on her too... Any ideas on the suspension they use in them??? Stock just a bit tweeked Got to give him a call tonight.... When's the Hamb Drags???
He kept all the factory suspension, it's leaf spring rear. Some guy in Canada specializes in Big Healeys, so when they rebuilt the car he had the luxury of making the wheel wells a little wider and moving the rear springs in a bit, all very small changes. Dominic wanted to be able to get a 10" tire under it without it really being noticed. He used a 9" axle, GM 700R4 with an adapter behind a stroked 302 (347) with AFR 185 Heads. The combo is capable of some big #'s and even with the SBF it only ways in at 2200lbs. He will eventually dyno it at another buddies of ours named Dyno Dave. He's reliving his youth, he had a similar setup but with Gurney Weslake heads, he built in the late 60's that he road raced and street raced here in Detroit up until the 80's. He's had all kinds of cool **** and I'm alwasy trying to get him to show me old photos. Here a shot of the his original Healey, restored by the present owner.
[ QUOTE ] I believe it belonged to a pilot at the base and was only around for about a year, damned sweet car. [/ QUOTE ] Vance? 1yr = student pilot (but you knew probably knew that)
Beat.. Excellent cars you posted !!! BTW... Me too wanna know about that color ... Can you ask him about it , or is this Polished aluminum with a clear-coat ... ( That color would be perfect on my `63 Riv )
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