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100-4 in a box

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Norm73B

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I am going to view a Healey that was dismantled in the late 70s early 80s. It has been in pieces since. The person who is taking me to see it said it had a huge 4 cylinder engine.

Is there someway to evaluate a box (or boxes) of parts. Having got a good way through the refurbishment of our 73B while still driving it I am familiar with the basics of LBC. My only experience with Healeys was in my misspent youth and Healey lovers would probably shoot me for what I did (However the car is still on the road some 44 years later)

Can anyone offer some guideance or is it really a shot in the dark and if the price is right do it?

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am going to view a Healey that was dismantled in the late 70s early 80s. It has been in pieces since. The person who is taking me to see it said it had a huge 4 cylinder engine.

Is there someway to evaluate a box (or boxes) of parts.

or is it really a shot in the dark and if the price is right do it?





/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, IMOP its just a shot in the dark.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
If it's a small box I'd tend to be a little bit skeptical
 
Supose we will see a pic.
 
If you are familiar with MG's, you will be astounded at how much big Healey parts cost. You could easily have Several thousand dollars worth of missing parts & not even know it until you get well into the project. Rob has good advice.
D
 
a huge 4 cyle.? humm id like to visit that one myself, it doesnt say "john deer" on the side does it? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I bought my 1958 100-6 the same way, and it turned out
very well. When buying a basket case there will probably
be some bits missing. Of course they'll be the parts
no one reproduces and are ultra rare.

I'd suggest finding someone locally that is intimate
with big Healeys, and knows /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif what to look for. Pay
special attention to the frame as a bent or rusty
frame will be expensive.

Good luck!!!
 
The suggestion to take along someone that knows Healeys is very sound- they should have some idea of what's rare and familiarity with the potential trouble spots....

Some boxes may be total rubbish, some good, and some might have a little gems hidden at the bottom. I got a BJ8 glove box knob (rare and not reproduced to my knowledge) that way- in with dross that didn't seem worth bothering with otherwise....
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. The visit has been put off a week or so by the current owner so I have some time. I will take lots of pictures and I am going to contact a friend who has had a 3000 since the 70s and has completed a restoration himself, to see if he will accompany me.

According to the 3rd party putting together the meeting, the current owner dismantled the car in order to do a complete refurbish as a daily driver. Life intervened and it has sat in his garage since. Who knows what parts have disappeared in the intervening years. Hopefully, my friend will have advice.

I am more than a little concerned about the price and availability of parts. If it is beyond my limited means, at least an enthusiast will have seen the bits and perhaps can get someone capable to undertake the task. I have a pretty good understanding of my limits and if it is a real 100-4 would not want to see it scraped or start it and do it right.
 
I'm curious to know to what level it has been disassembled, and whether there is any documentation of the disassembly process (sketches/photos/notes)...just figuring out the order of washers, nuts, etc, even with the help of a shop manual, can be a daunting challenge. BTW, the Healey 4 cylinder engine is a big (heavy) engine. I think it's worth your trouble to go see it, but leave your check book home.
 
Nevets, I will not know the extent or even the reason until I see it. If the owner is like I was in the 70s, he probably figured he would remember evevrything and will have no pictures, diagrams or notes. If he is really like me he will by now realize he cannot remember where anything goes or what belongs with what. Thank goodness for digital cameras. I will post my findings
 
Where are you in Southern Ontario. I'd be glad to accompany you on your quest. I can tell you what's what and what's missing, etc.
Rich C
 
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