AH Build Update ... March 20, 2024

[HealeyPassion]

Well it's finally coming together! After a bit of a false start, yesterday the engine came to life in its new home with all new wiring. A multi-year effort that finally has it's new heart running, albeit still in a bare chassis. The engine is a "performance street build" with head by Hap Waldrop in S.C., cam by Dema Elgin, rocker arm assembly by Gary Patrick, a few DWM items, MegaSquirt computer and custom injection, plus lots of detail stuff. The engine has about 10-12 hours run time on an engine stand before being reintroduced to the chassis.

The wiring was another 6-week effort for all the new electronics.

I'm ecstatic to finally have the engine and chassis back together and running!! It's been a long time coming!

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Jerry]

great, hope to see the dyno results on that engine!

 

[HealeyPassion]

A dyno is definitely in the plan ... and I'll report the results whatever they are!

I should also note that a Forum Member and frequent poster, Dougie (Doug Escriva) came to my rescue during the engine build. The rods on my original engine were bad ... long story short, at some point during the car's early life (not sure when because I knew the previous owner and he didn't do it) the rods had been removed and replaced facing the wrong direction... it will run like that but the rod wear will be extensive. I didn't really want to pop for custom racing rods, but did want good ones. Doug had a beautiful set of Healey rods from one of his previous race engines. He let me have them (well some money did change hands) and my machinist pronounced them great. The whole rotating assembly was balanced to within 1/2 gram. So thanks again Doug!

 

[dougie]

A dyno is definitely in the plan ... and I'll report the results whatever they are!

I should also note that a Forum Member and frequent poster, Dougie (Doug Escriva) came to my rescue during the engine build. The rods on my original engine were bad ... long story short, at some point during the car's early life (not sure when because I knew the previous owner and he didn't do it) the rods had been removed and replaced facing the wrong direction... it will run like that but the rod wear will be extensive. I didn't really want to pop for custom racing rods, but did want good ones. Doug had a beautiful set of Healey rods from one of his previous race engines. He let me have them (well some money did change hands) and my machinist pronounced them great. The whole rotating assembly was balanced to within 1/2 gram. So thanks again Doug!

Happy to have helped with this great project. Can't wait to see it completed...

 

[Lin]

looks darn nice and knowing you Steve it will run even better!
Lin

 

[Randy Forbes]

... plus lots of detail stuff.

Just from what I can see in that one (1) picture, looks like that's going to be the first BILLION Dollar Healey!

I'm a detail person, and I think I could pour over the details on your build for days

I am curious though, is there a particular reason that you stuck with a conventional distributor, versus a stand alone (crank-trigger, 1 coil per plug) type?

Beautiful work, can't wait to see the rest of it__even if you make the rest of us look like total slackers

 

[HealeyPassion]

Just from what I can see in that one (1) picture, looks like that's going to be the first BILLION Dollar Healey!

I'm a detail person, and I think I could pour over the details on your build for days

I am curious though, is there a particular reason that you stuck with a conventional distributor, versus a stand alone (crank-trigger, 1 coil per plug) type?

Beautiful work, can't wait to see the rest of it__even if you make the rest of us look like total slackers

Randy, good question... and I do have an answer ... but not sure it would be satisfactory. The distributor is not just an upgraded Lucas unit, it is a all electronic GM High Energy (HEI) unit that was machined to fit. It has a couple nice features for my build, 1) is has built in plugs that can be wired into the ECU (they are on the back lower portion of the distributor and not really noticeable from the top view), 2) while it is a HEI GM unit, it is the early version so the coil pack can be mounted away distributor leaving the distributor to look more old school, 3) it is electronic and has connection to my electronic tach (face of tach is original) and 4) last but not least, I had one just like this on my last build and liked it so it was a proven component for me... and I was reengineer so much it seemed a "safe" choice. Oh, and I kinda like that it appears old school. All that said, yes it could be argued that a crank-trigger arrangement would have been current engineering. .... maybe next time?

 

[HealeyPassion]

FYI, if you are interested in details, you might consider checking out the HM JAN 2022 has on article on the fuel injection build and the HM March 2022 has an article on the internals.

Or, happy to answer questions about it.

Cheers

 

[Editor_Reid]

FYI, if you are interested in details, you might consider checking out the HM JAN 2022 has on article on the fuel injection build and the HM March 2022 has an article on the internals.

Or, happy to answer questions about it.

Cheers

And there are more articles by Steve on his project, including one in the issue that just went in the mail this past week, and another is planned for th next issue, the May issue.

 

[HealeyRick]

Beautiful work as always Steve. Tuning with a laptop on a chassis dyno? Hardly seems fair.

 

[HealeyPassion]

Beautiful work as always Steve. Tuning with a laptop on a chassis dyno? Hardly seems fair.

Rick, funny you should ask "tuning with a laptop on a chassis dyno" .... yup... in fact, the laptop is Bluetoothed to the MegaSquirt ECU so I don't even have to plug it in!! .... I think Donald would love it.

Cheers

 

[HealeyRick]

I'm sure both Donald and Geoff would have loved it. I remember reading about Geoff testing the cars on the public roads of Leamington Spa. so perhaps the neighbors would have appreciated it also.

 

[HealeyPassion]

I got my naked Healey out in the park today. This weekend I start getting it clothed! Panels are already painted on the inside. It has a date with the painter in about 3 weeks to get final exterior paint.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Editor_Reid]

I got my naked Healey out in the park today. This weekend I start getting it clothed! Panels are already painted on the inside. It has a date with the painter in about 3 weeks to get final exterior paint.

Cheers,
Steve

That's a thing of beauty Steve. As the British say, "It really looks the business!"

 

[dougie]

Spectacular work Steve !

 

[HealeyPassion]

Well, spoiler alert... if you were at the 2024 Conclave in WI you know I got my "almost done" EFI Healey there. The interior was about 80% done, it wasn't tuned, etc. but it was there! On Friday before the Conclave, I went by Auto Weave Upholstery and picked it up in a borrowed enclosed trailer and just kept going! Didn't even go home to detail it. Following the Conclave I returned it to Auto Weave to finish the upholstery. I picked it up last Monday and took it to get the alignment done. Then on Thursday last, my tuner and I put it on a chassis dyno to do the ECU tuning. We got the A/F ratio nicely dialed in and the ECU is very happy. Then I took it home! It's been out for 11 weeks!... happy to have it back in my shop!! Following that, my wife and I took a ride around our area (rain was coming so didn't stay out to long). It's running and driving great! Much more to do but on a more relaxed schedule now that the Conclave is over! Getting the car to the Conclave, and the downtown Elkhart Lake car show has been a goal since the Conclave was announced last November! What a struggle to hit that deadline!!! Being there made it all worth it!
Cheers,
Steve

 

[HealeyPassion]

Next stage... after getting it back from upholstery, alignment and some tuning work...got it out in the park before the snowfall to get some pictures.

 

[HealeyPassion]

One more that better shows carb access panel.

 

[Healey Nut]

Looks awesome

Who stole your wipers

 

[Healey Nut]

That's a thing of beauty Steve. As the British say, "It really looks the business!"

Or possibly even the dogs b————cks