• 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

"Healey 5-Speed"/Pete Delaney Contact

Share this page

B

Blue964

Freshman Member
Country flag
Offline
I'm in the process of trying to put together a package - for myself! - of a five speed gearbox conversion for my Mk2 3000. I can get the gearbox and someone to fit it but seem to have hit a brick wall finding Pete Delaney who took over the Smitty conversion kit which is my preferred route - all purists look away now!
Has anyone out there been in contact with Pete recently or knows of anyone who has. I got one email from his wife about six/seven months ago and that was all.

Any help or news would be much appreciated. I'm currently running a centre shift box with straight cut gears but the whining is driving me nuts!!
 
Rob Glasgow

Rob Glasgow

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
Derek, While that might be true, I think most everyone who has commented on changing to a 5-speed says it was a vast improvement. While I've certainly enjoyed my Healey for the past 56 years, I've always thought the gear change could be improved and if my transmission were to fail, I would go with a Toyota or Tremec unit.
Of course, I would keep the original unit just in case the next owner wants it as it came from the factory. Just as I have done the the original starter and oil filter.
 
Michael Oritt

Michael Oritt

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Blue--

You are not the first person reporting difficulty in reaching Delaney. I believe Pete lives in North Carolina where there is a very active chapter of AHCA and perhaps if you contacted someone in that club you might have some luck.

In any case stick with it--the Toyota 5-speed conversion is great. I installed a Smitty's conversion in 2002 and have not regretted it for a minute.
 
steveg

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Michael Oritt said:
Blue--

You are not the first person reporting difficulty in reaching Delaney. I believe Pete lives in North Carolina where there is a very active chapter of AHCA and perhaps if you contacted someone in that club you might have some luck.

In any case stick with it--the Toyota 5-speed conversion is great. I installed a Smitty's conversion in 2002 and have not regretted it for a minute.
Click to expand...

Ditto:encouragement:
 
OP
B

Blue964

Freshman Member
Country flag
Offline
Thanks guys for the input!! Looks like I've opened up the same old can of worms Derek...I just want to really enjoy my Healey more, it's the fourth one I've had over about a forty year period and the gearbox still doesn't get any better! - and I'm afraid I find overdrives a pain, I've got too used to five speed boxes on Alfas etc. I'm going back to my roots here......
I'll certainly try the North Carolina chapter route, thanks Michael.
 
OP
B

Blue964

Freshman Member
Country flag
Offline
Found Pete Delaney! Thanks for the input to all.
But also stumbled across a guy in Belgium who does the same thing. Choices!!
Still want to go ahead with it although I agree it's not everyone's way to go.
Cheers!
 
Michael Oritt

Michael Oritt

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
"why it is always Toyota gearboxes that are installed?"
-----------------
Specifically--Because those are the transmissions the conversion bell housing is designed to accommodate.
As to why Toyota was chosen as opposed to Nissan or others I would venture a guess that it has to do with the brand's popularity and the various units' availability.
 
red57

red57

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Online
I may be wrong but I've always understood the reason for Toyota transmissions is they were one of the few with detachable bell housings (as well as being very common) - most newer trannies have integral bell housings and cannot be easily adapted to another engine.
These days other options exist like Tremac, but in the '90s when I made the change, there were no other games in town.

Dave
 
T

TodE

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
red57 said:
I may be wrong but I've always understood the reason for Toyota transmissions is they were one of the few with detachable bell housings (as well as being very common) - most newer trannies have integral bell housings and cannot be easily adapted to another engine.
These days other options exist like Tremac, but in the '90s when I made the change, there were no other games in town.

Dave
Click to expand...

I am guessing we are going to have to change to some other gearbox, due to the lack of Toyota transmissions available and the price has gone up considerably over the last few years. If I come by a large junk yard, I stop to ask if they they have any. Most of the time they say "nothing that old".
 
HealeyRick

HealeyRick

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
TodE said:
I am guessing we are going to have to change to some other gearbox, due to the lack of Toyota transmissions available and the price has gone up considerably over the last few years. If I come by a large junk yard, I stop to ask if they they have any. Most of the time they say "nothing that old".
Click to expand...

Cape International sells a kit (with transmission) that uses a Getrag from a BMW (I don't know which model): https://www.cape-international.com/shop/drivetrain/gearboxfivespeedconversionbn4bj8244-detail

The Tremec T5 would be a good choice. Volvo guys are able to adapt it to their bellhousing with an adapter plate, a much simpler solution than recasting a new bellhousing: https://www.cape-international.com/shop/drivetrain/gearboxfivespeedconversionbn4bj8244-detail Don't know if it's possible to do this with a Healey. A brand new T5Z is available for under $2k, so it would be cost effective if an adapter plate could be fabricated.
 
dougie

dougie

Luke Skywalker
Country flag
Online
DerekJ said:
Not going to install one myself but I’m curious to know why it is always Toyota gearboxes that are installed?
Click to expand...

Derek - The Toyota W-Series 5-speed is a strong, well engineered, light weight unit that was very reasonably priced ($300-$400) at the breakers a few years back (I bought a few). Vintage race groups here in the US allow a replacement transmission with the same amount of forward gears as the stock unit (4-speed + overdrive = 5-speed). Under race conditions, the Toyota gives you the performance of straight cut gears and no awful loud screaming winding sound, just the sweet song of the big six.......

 
D

djf181008

Freshman Member
Offline
Blue964 said:
Found Pete Delaney! Thanks for the input to all.
But also stumbled across a guy in Belgium who does the same thing. Choices!!
Still want to go ahead with it although I agree it's not everyone's way to go.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Any chance you could please pass on contact details for Pete Delaney? I'm in Australia and looking to source conversion kits for our customer cars.
 
Michael Oritt

Michael Oritt

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
The W-series boxes are popular in applications other than our Healeys. Check out "Martin Crawlers" who uses them extensively for rock-climbing applications.

Best--Michael Oritt
 
WHT

WHT

Jedi Hopeful
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Having purchased a T-5 from Driven Man, I wish I had absolutely made every effort required to find a Toyota transmission and buy one of Pete's kits. Pete can sometimes help you find a good transmission.

Regards, Bill
 

Attachments

  • Transmission Box 1E.jpg
    Transmission Box 1E.jpg
    2.3 MB · Views: 97
  • Transmission Box 1E_2.jpg
    Transmission Box 1E_2.jpg
    439.9 KB · Views: 96
  • TDamage 1.jpg
    TDamage 1.jpg
    2.1 MB · Views: 93
  • TDamage 3.jpg
    TDamage 3.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 94
  • TDamage 2.jpg
    TDamage 2.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 96
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
HealeyBN7 Reaching Pete Delaney - Healey 5 Speed Austin Healey 26
60TR3A "Car Crazy" on Speed Channel: "Healey Week" Austin Healey 6
B Healey 5-Speed Conversion Austin Healey 27
Robert560 Speaking of dowel bolts - Healey 5 Speed guys.... Austin Healey 5
CharlieCarpenter Smitty's Healey 5-Speed info??? Austin Healey 13
giwplay1 Everything you need to know before purchasing an Austin Healey Austin Healey 15
Editor_Reid Healey 100 Frame Diagram Austin Healey 1
dougie Healey Hardtop on BAT Austin Healey 8
dougie Austin Healey 4000 Austin Healey 3
Patrick67BJ8 Healey Mechanic Needed - El Paso, Texas Area Austin Healey 0
T Healey In An Ice Cube Austin Healey 6
dougie VSCDA Healey World Challenge Road America Austin Healey 0
dougie Healey World Challenge 2024 Road America Racing 0
R Healey 100 Dipstick Stuck Austin Healey 12
L For Sale Austin Healey Parts!!! Austin Healey Classifieds 0
tahoe healey Healey Video Austin Healey 0
W Nash Healey Austin Healey 5
S Wanted WTB: 3.5 ratio diff/pumkin for '67 BJ8 Healey 3000 Austin Healey Classifieds 0
dougie Celebration of Austin Healey Double Event September 2024 Austin Healey 2
E For Sale Austin Healey 100 and 3000 parts Austin Healey Classifieds 1
nevets Letting the Healey go... Austin Healey 4
dougie Healey Racing Road America Fall 2024 Austin Healey 1
R Big Healey 100 Head Austin Healey 4
PAUL161 Photo: What Model of Healey? Austin Healey 7
E Wanted 1963 Healey 300 mark 2 front grille wanted Austin Healey Classifieds 0
Guido36 Webers on a Healey 100 Austin Healey 6
E For Sale Driver quality 1963 Healey 3000 mark 2 Austin Healey Classifieds 1
Editor_Reid Summer Edition of "Austin-Healey Quarterly" Austin Healey 4
dougie Healey Racing Austin Healey 13
P Wanted Wanted: Healey 100-4 frame Austin Healey Classifieds 4
red57 Alternative Healey Austin Healey 2
Dandare Healey Website Links Austin Healey 4
John Turney An Important Healey Up For Sale Austin Healey 1
M For Sale Austin Healey 100-4 Lemans Kit OEM Austin Healey Classifieds 5
V Opinions on 1953 Austin-Healey Austin Healey 26
dougie Did Big Healey Drivers Go Soft? Austin Healey 8
C What to do with my late father's Healey 100 Austin Healey 5
Martinld123 Steering Wheel Alignment [Lost centering on steering box 1956 Austin Healey, BN2] Austin Healey 14
B Healey Won't Start - No Spark Austin Healey 38
Editor_Reid "Austin-Healey Quarterly" e-zine Spridgets 2
Editor_Reid "Austin-Healey Quarterly" e-zine Austin Healey 8
BoyRacer Silver Healey - Chassis Color? Austin Healey 17
HealeyRick Perfect Healey Floor Jack Austin Healey 14
T Netflix Christmas Film with a Healey Austin Healey 4
W For Sale 1954 Nash-Healey Le Mans Coupe Other British Classifieds 2
N For Sale Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite Spridgets Classified 0
dougie 1960 Austin Healey 3000 Works Lightweight vs. 1962 Ferrari GTO Austin Healey 6
Cutrog1 For Sale Healey 3000 BJ8.... a restoration saga Austin Healey Classifieds 0
roscoe An Unusual Healey Mission Austin Healey 2
D Healey 3000 BT7 rear panels Austin Healey 0

Similar threads

Top