• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Nasty boy project

Country flag
Offline
As my TR250 project will be finishing up in next couple of months, I am thinking seriously on which way to go with a A/H 100/6 I have. Its a roller, it did have a V8 installed in it many years ago. I have A/H motor and trans that I can put in but thinking since its already modified maybe do a Nasty boy. Its a steel wheel car which will help with mod look. My question is which engine do I want to use. Not looking for a high HP engine. Rather go simple old school like small chevy or ford, something still carbed maybe.
Marv
 

HealeyRick

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Marv,

Welcome to the Darkside! If your choices are between a small block chevy or ford, then I'd probably go with whatever V8 was in the car before if it was done well and the motor mounts are still there. The Ford has one advantage over the Chevy in that it's narrower and requires less cutting of the footwells to fit. Going carbed and relatively low power means you won't need to change the rear end and also mess around with fuel injection. Headers are a concern that you should think of in advance. You can get an idea what I did for my Ford here: https://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,8264 Let me know if you decide to go this way, I've got lots of info on Ford and Chevy old-school swaps and will be happy to help
 

Mickey Richaud

Moderator
Staff member
Gold
Country flag
Offline

Mickey Richaud

Moderator
Staff member
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Enjoy!
 

gonzo

Jedi Warrior
Gold
Country flag
Online
HealeyRick, so you're the "Exploder"! I followed your build when originally posted but did not make the connection until now. I enjoyed the journey and challenges you shared like waiting for the shop to warm up above freezing to continue work etc. GONZO
 

Bob Claffie

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
Many years ago there was a fledgling car club at the brand new Berkshire Community College. The organizers ran several auto-crosses on the college property. There was an "everybody drives it" 100/8. Can't remember which engine was in it but it was an automatic. There was no known owner, the car just showed up one day and lived at the school. It's most memorable feature was steering the car mostly with the loud pedal. The Healey would never pass the Mass state inspection so after the autocross season the car disappeared as smoothly as it appeared never to be seen or heard from again. After many auto-crosses and multiple drivers it never (seriously) broke. I bet it would be a blast to drive on the street so best of luck with your project.
 

dougie

Luke Skywalker
Country flag
Offline
Marv's looking for a big Healey V8, not a bugeye :devilgrin: Never seen a 215 in a big Healey before.

The best Healey V8 I've ever seen was an all British conversion using the Buick/Rover aluminum V8 on a 100-4 at the Rendezvous 2003 in Lake Tahoe. I wish I had took some pics, but it was well before cell phone cameras. Very keen engineered and all the performance you'd need tucked discreetly under the hood, a classic sleeper and Porsche killer......
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
The best Healey V8 I've ever seen was an all British conversion using the Buick/Rover aluminum V8 on a 100-4 at the Rendezvous 2003 in Lake Tahoe. I wish I had took some pics, but it was well before cell phone cameras. Very keen engineered and all the performance you'd need tucked discreetly under the hood, a classic sleeper and Porsche killer......

That would have been the late Kenny Deringer. The 215 had dual Stromberg 2 barrels. He was a fabricator for Dan Gurney on the Eagle project.

See:
https://passionatspeed.blogspot.com/2017/03/v8-healey.html
 

HealeyRick

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
The best Healey V8 I've ever seen was an all British conversion using the Buick/Rover aluminum V8 on a 100-4 at the Rendezvous 2003 in Lake Tahoe. I wish I had took some pics, but it was well before cell phone cameras. Very keen engineered and all the performance you'd need tucked discreetly under the hood, a classic sleeper and Porsche killer......

I stand corrected, Dougie, and what a beauty. I'm used to seeing the 215 in MGB swaps as it's pretty much the same motor as was installed in the BV8. Think I'd still go with a Ford or Chevy. More available and cheaper parts.



That would have been the late Kenny Deringer. The 215 had dual Stromberg 2 barrels. He was a fabricator for Dan Gurney on the Eagle project.

See:
https://passionatspeed.blogspot.com/2017/03/v8-healey.html

Thanks for the link, Steve. I passed it on to the Modified Healey facebook page where it was quite well received
 
OP
Marvin Gruber
Country flag
Offline
I have a couple of 215s squirreled away. Hadn't thought about using one of them. If I can find an old 289 I think I will go with that. Jury is still out. I found out about a couple of 100/4 projects yesterday, that may change everything.
Marv
 

Keoke

Great Pumpkin
Country flag
Offline

glemon

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
I hadn't seen that one with the 215, I think it looks great, and I am sure it is a blast to drive.

Had this engine been available, and the Healey still been a Healey without the Austin involvement I wouldn't be surprised if Donald and company might not have gone more in that direction in further development athe car.

If you want to go small block Ford here is a link to my favorite small block Ford nasty boy.

https://bringatrailer.com/2010/11/28/impressive-build-1956-healey-100-gurney-weslake-v8/
 
Last edited:

Legal Bill

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
Go with a Honda S2000 engine. The resulting car will weigh about 2100 pounds (340 pounds off the nose end) with 240 HP, a slick six speed and a nice 9000 RPM red line. Only about 152-162 ft/lb of torque, but I suspect the finished product will be a lot faster than an S2000 that weighs 2800 pounds. Keep in mind, that car is capable of a 5.4 0-60 and 14.1 in the quarter mile. Plus the differential will be able to handle that torque and you could run 175-185 tires just fine.
 

AN6-TX

Jedi Hopeful
Country flag
Offline
I found out about a couple of 100/4 projects yesterday, that may change everything.
Marv,

You seem to have a knack for locating project Healeys. I am awed by your success...
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
dougie Fresh Nasty Boy - Well Done Austin Healey 3
Healey Nut For the nasty boy lovers Austin Healey 23
maxwedge5281 bought back my first nasty boy conversion!! Austin Healey 6
aero3113 56 Nasty Boy on eBay Austin Healey 1
aero3113 Unique Nasty Boy Race Car On BAT Austin Healey 1
aero3113 55 Nasty Boy on eBay Austin Healey 12
aero3113 100-6 Nasty Boy Austin Healey 28
aero3113 1956 Nasty Boy Austin Healey 34
aero3113 1954 Nasty Boy Austin Healey 14
maxwedge5281 no affiliaton....nasty boy on ebay Austin Healey 7
HealeyRick Nasty Boy Slalom Austin Healey 1
HealeyRick DMH was a Nasty Boy Austin Healey 2
aero3113 Nasty Boy Art Austin Healey 28
aero3113 Nasty Boy Austin Healey 15
turtle Nice Nasty Boy for Sale Austin Healey 10
HealeyRick 100S Nasty Boy on Auction Austin Healey 1
drambuie The nasty boy Healey version may very well be more true to the original intent! Austin Healey 14
bighealeysource Anyone looking for a 100-4 Nasty Boy ? Austin Healey 4
HealeyRick Nasty Boy Ride Along Austin Healey 6
Frankenhealey Well-built Nasty Boy on Ebay Austin Healey 7
Frankenhealey Calling Cottontop - Quad SU Nasty Boy - Craigslist Austin Healey 3
C 100-6 Resto-Mod Nasty-Boy Brake Upgrade - Help... Austin Healey 2
HealeyRick Nasty Boy Up-date Austin Healey 15
HealeyRick Nasty Boy First Start! Austin Healey 8
HealeyRick Go For A Ride In A Nasty Boy Austin Healey 1
HealeyRick Nasty Boy Up-date Austin Healey 5
JamesWilson $52K Nasty Boy.... Austin Healey 2
dougie Sweety Nasty Austin Healey 12
HealeyRick Nasty BN7 Sells for $75k Austin Healey 6
Lin Nasty Boys Article Austin Healey 14
HealeyRick Nice Nasty Austin Healey 14
J Nasty back to original??? Austin Healey 18
HealeyRick Nasty Thoughts - Driving Impressions Austin Healey 15
Superwrench Nasty Hot Interior Austin Healey 3
jlaird Nasty stuff Spridgets 2
HealeyRick Nicest Nasty? Austin Healey 7
HealeyRick Nasty Healey Progress Austin Healey 3
Frankenhealey Nasty Nash Austin Healey 1
HealeyRick Nasty Healey Austin Healey 66
davester OK, so what is that nasty scraping noise? MG 2
RickB T-Series Clutch Slave-rebuild or replace? [Pretty nasty...] MG 16
T Can you top this for nasty brake fluid? Triumph 12
X Nasty travel Spridgets 8
Jim_Gruber Errrrrrrr!!!!!!! Frustration!!!!!!!! Nasty Words!! Spridgets 15
B Nasty Boys! Triumph 7
DrEntropy My "pink wire" car is bein' NASTY! Other Cars 28
Jim_Gruber Boy was I ever surprised on Saturday Spridgets 11
aero3113 100 Nast boy vs Ferrari Austin Healey 3
HealeyRick My New Favorite Boy Band Austin Healey 7
Boink Teaching my boy to drive the Frogeye... Spridgets 8

Similar threads

Top