wire wheel conversion to road wheels

[maxwedge5281]

I just purchased a 1959 bn6 with wire wheels. I prefer the healey disc road wheels over the wires. anyone with steel wheels interested in a trade? my 60 spoke wire and appropriate hubs for a matching set of solid disc wheel hubs and rims? thanks, maxwedge

 

[Deleted member 21150]

maxwedge, I wish I had steel wheels to offer up to you! I still have my Centerlines on my 100!

 

[PHulst]

No engine in the car? Or are the front springs replacements?
There is a lot of air between the top of the tire and the fender in that photo.

Neat car - I've got a 59 as well.

 

[maxwedge5281]

no it has a 250 inline Chevrolet six cylinder motor and tremec 5 speed transmission. this combination must be even lighter than a small block chevy or ford engine!

 

[Randy Forbes]

maxwedge, I wish I had steel wheels to offer up to you! I still have my Centerlines on my 100!

I've got a nice set of Wheel Vintiques Ralle Wheels (think 1970 Corvette/Camaro style) that are taking up too much space in the garage.

I'll let them go cheap + shipping; I just can't bring myself to throw them out!
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf...heels-(Corvette-style)&highlight=randy+forbes

I had a set of restored/powdercoated original disc wheels, and hubcaps, but they have since been sold

 

[Randy_Gay]

I have a set of original disc wheels that need some work.
Sure are skinny, though.

 

[maxwedge5281]

I am more interested in the front disc wheel hubs. I would most likely go to minilite bolt on wheels or have the healey road wheels widened....

 

[steveg]

no it has a 250 inline Chevrolet six cylinder motor and tremec 5 speed transmission. this combination must be even lighter than a small block chevy or ford engine!

Can you post a picture of the engine?

 

[maxwedge5281]

steve, i will post a few pictures in a couple of weeks. the car was not nearly as nice as it was depicted. the owner allowed brake fluid to leak onto the drivers side front fender apron, foot box area and frame rail. so i am in the process of cleaning and repainting. the engine was worn, but i was able to locate a rebuilt hot rod inline six 250 motor sitting in a local shop. i have installed new gauges, new wiring harness and several other lesser items. i am going to move the engine back about an inch to make room for a puller electric fan. one major surprise was that the drivers side foot box had been cut and modified for clearance for the slave cylinder. i replaced the slave cylinder with an internal hydraulic throw out bearing and rewelded the foot box. so i have been busy. i will paint the engine healey green and add a finned vale cover and side covers and i hope this gives a nice engine compartment when finished. with the mods to the engine i bought as well as adding a hei distributor. headers, four barrel intake and holley carb i am hoping for about 225 horsepower. with the tremec five speed I expect this to make a nice cruiser.

 

[Randy_Gay]

This is a 250 Chevy with twin 2 barrels. Hope the photos post.
Definitely lighter than the Austin engine.

 

[steveg]

Nice. What are the carbs?

 

[Randy_Gay]

Thanks. Those are two barrel Holley / Webers. Working on a manifold for three HD8's for a more authentic look.

 

[HealeyRick]

Six cylinder swaps into a Healey aren't as popular as V8 ones, but are much easier than doing the metal mods to put in a V8. Dad had a '67 Pontiac LeMans Sprint that featured a 4 barrel equipped OHC 6 that put out 215 hp from 230 c.i. Car and Driver infamously dropped one into an E-Type and it might have made a decent Healey swap back in the day: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blo...-moments-pontiac-ohc-six-powered-jaguar-xk-e/ One of the cooler 6 cylinder Healey swaps I've seen is the all-aluminum Chevy Vortec 4200 that has 291 hp but needs some intake re-fabbing to fit under the Healey bonnet: https://jalopnik.com/one-of-the-last-american-inline-six-engines-was-in-your-1794604005

 

[maxwedge5281]

randy..... i sent you a private message!

 

[Hangtown Healey]

I converted with a BJ8 which is much easier than a 1006 or earlier 3000. The BJ8 brake discs have through bolts so you can make up adapters and bolt them on to the BJ8 hubs and cut off the splines. If you insist on stock front drums, you should get the disc wheel hubs for a 1006. I have a set of those hubs under the house. If you keep your wire wheel rear brake drums, you will need some adapters which used to be available in the right sizes from Wheel-Adapt.

 

[steveg]

Thanks. Those are two barrel Holley / Webers. Working on a manifold for three HD8's for a more authentic look.

Are they progressive 2-barrels? People used to put those on 240Zs.

 

[Randy_Gay]

Yes, actually they are Carter / Webers and are progressive. They work well, although are a bit lacking on this engine.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Six cylinder swaps into a Healey aren't as popular as V8 ones, but are much easier than doing the metal mods to put in a V8. Dad had a '67 Pontiac LeMans Sprint that featured a 4 barrel equipped OHC 6 that put out 215 hp from 230 c.i. Car and Driver infamously dropped one into an E-Type and it might have made a decent Healey swap back in the day: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blo...-moments-pontiac-ohc-six-powered-jaguar-xk-e/ One of the cooler 6 cylinder Healey swaps I've seen is the all-aluminum Chevy Vortec 4200 that has 291 hp but needs some intake re-fabbing to fit under the Healey bonnet: https://jalopnik.com/one-of-the-last-american-inline-six-engines-was-in-your-1794604005

I think the Jag V12--2 sixers--that Martin 'Frameman' Jansen stuffed in a Healey was the most outrageous one I've 'seen:'

https://www.engineswapdepot.com/?p=162

 

[RonR]

If the topic is still steel wheels, I have a set of four but no front hubs. You won't need rear hubs.
Who is the manufacturer of the 60 spoke wire sheels you are interested in trading? How old are they?

 

[maxwedge5281]

still lots to be done but coming along. a couple of pics of progress in the engine compartment! progress to me, maybe not to the purists?